Chapter Sixty-Two: I Have No Idea What You're Talking About

The Sharp Horn Pirates were wiped out overnight.

The instigator of this disaster returned unscathed to the Nightfall Tavern.

Tartamie changed into his uniform, once again becoming a discreet bartender.

After confirming Tartamie’s opinion, Maud dropped himself into a chair.

Since even the owner didn’t mind the bloodstains, Maud saw no need to be polite.

“Got a smoke?”

Pleased with tonight’s harvest, Maud couldn’t resist the urge for a post-battle cigarette.

Tartamie nodded and produced a pack and lighter from a drawer, as though it contained everything one could imagine.

Maud cast a curious glance at the drawer, then took the offered cigarette, lit it, and took a drag.

This body wasn’t addicted to nicotine yet, but one smoke now could easily start him down that road.

He didn’t care in the slightest.

In this life, you should do what you want.

Maud smoked leisurely, while Tartamie mixed him a drink.

As for Wolf Rat, he’d gone straight upstairs to tend to his wounds as soon as they returned.

Half an hour later, bandaged and patched up, Wolf Rat came down, sat by Maud’s side, and ordered a drink from Tartamie.

“With Kazt dead, the Sharp Horn Pirates are finished.”

“Indeed. Now you don’t have to be on edge anymore, Wolf Rat.”

Maud set his glass down and lit another cigarette.

“???”

Wolf Rat glanced sidelong at Maud, and after a moment’s realization, burst out laughing—only to pull his wound and cut his laughter short, then forced a sincere tone:

“Usopp, it’s all thanks to your help. I really don’t know how to thank you.”

“Say no more—it’s all in the drink.”

“To us!”

Wolf Rat quickly raised his glass and clinked it with Maud’s.

After idling together for more than ten minutes, Maud drained his glass and stood to leave.

“Heading out?” Tartamie asked.

Wolf Rat also rose, watching Maud.

Maud nodded. “See you tomorrow.”

Under their gazes, Maud pushed open the door and left the tavern.

Back at Saul’s Weapon Shop, Maud went straight to the washroom.

Bailey, who was tied up at the corridor’s edge, heard the sound, looked up slightly, and when he saw Maud, hurriedly curled up and pretended to be asleep.

Maud passed Bailey, washed up, and headed upstairs to his room.

Before returning, he’d already discarded his bloodstained coat in an alleyway of the residential district.

He carefully hid the Black Crow under the sheets, then lay down, closed his eyes, and soon drifted into a deep sleep.

…………

The next day.

Maud awoke and instinctively reached beside himself.

To his surprise, his hand met only empty sheets.

“Where’s my sword?”

Startled, Maud sat up and hurriedly turned back the sheets—nothing.

“Where did it go?”

The Black Crow had vanished; a faint premonition of trouble rose in Maud’s heart.

He quickly checked under the bed—still nothing.

“Could someone have…”

As a worrisome possibility occurred to him, Maud pressed his hand to his forehead, feeling uneasy.

He opened his door and stepped into the corridor, casting a wary glance at Saul’s tightly closed door before tiptoeing downstairs.

He still held a sliver of hope—perhaps Sunny had simply taken the Black Crow.

Crossing the corridor, Maud soon arrived at the kitchen door.

There he saw Saul sitting impassively in a chair, a black-and-red longsword in his hand.

Sunny, wearing an apron, was busy preparing breakfast.

Under the table, Bailey was still tightly bound, his head buried, his posture full of schadenfreude.

“Morning,” Maud greeted calmly, then glanced at the Black Crow in Saul’s hand and said nonchalantly, “Saul, when did you buy another fine sword?”

“Heh.”

Saul pulled a wry smile.

Maud smiled along, then said earnestly, “It looks quite elegant—must be another quality blade, isn’t it?”

“Heh.” Saul chuckled again, but dispensed with pretense and cut straight to the point.

“Well, you little rascal, sneaking around and getting yourself a sword, and you’ve already tasted blood with it? Quite the talent, aren’t you?”

“…”

Knowing he’d been found out, Maud forced an awkward smile, wisely keeping silent for fear of saying something wrong.

Seeing Maud’s silence, Saul unsheathed the Black Crow, tossed the scabbard aside, and with a grin that didn’t reach his eyes, said, “So? Turns out you know how to use a sword. Show me some moves, will you?”

“…”

“If you can put on a decent display, I’ll let this go. If not, and you so much as step out the door in the next few months, I’ll break your legs!”

“Do you mean it?” Maud eyed Saul’s angry expression with caution.

If he were forbidden to go out, that would be disastrous.

He’d finally managed to raise his constitution to one star and was planning to take advantage of the momentum to harvest Albay’s experience next.

“Hmm?”

Saul hadn’t expected Maud to agree so readily. He shot a quick glance at Sunny, then tossed the Black Crow at Maud’s feet.

“Relax. Ask anyone on this street—when have I ever gone back on my word?”

“You said it.” Maud picked up the Black Crow, gripping it tightly.

Saul raised an eyebrow at Maud’s textbook sword grip, once again glancing at Sunny with a hint of surprise.

Sunny set aside her work and came to stand by Saul.

She’d witnessed Maud’s swordplay the day before and knew he’d been a complete novice.

But now, something seemed different.

She gazed at Maud, puzzled.

Knowing Sunny had betrayed him, Maud shot her a fierce look, but Sunny pretended not to notice.

Turning to Saul, Maud said solemnly, “Shall I begin?”

This was a matter of great importance—whether he could go out and harvest experience in town—so he wasn’t about to be careless.

Saul nodded.

Maud took a deep breath, stepped into an open space, and raised the blade before him.

After absorbing Gabdon’s experience last night, he now felt no awkwardness holding the sword; instead, a sense of solid confidence filled his palm.

Maud’s gaze sharpened, as if he truly were a swordsman with budding mastery.

Swish!

His arm shot forward, slashing three times in rapid succession, weaving a fleeting “*” of sword light.

Watching Maud’s three strikes, Saul couldn’t help but look at Sunny.

Are you kidding me?

The muscles of Saul’s gaunt face twitched.

Sunny quietly turned away and returned to the counter to prepare breakfast.

From Saul’s reaction, Maud knew he’d succeeded.

He feigned a cough to draw Saul’s attention, then said seriously, “You gave your word.”

“What word? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Saul replied blankly.

“???”

Maud was stunned.

At the counter, Sunny nearly sliced her finger.

Under the table, Bailey let out a sigh, suddenly nostalgic for the freedom of the wild woods.

Thinking back, the streams there… so clean.

And so, with Saul’s feigned ignorance, Maud was grounded.

And on this day—

News of the Sharp Horn Pirates’ overnight destruction spread through every tavern, becoming the hottest topic in town.

“Usopp took out the entire Sharp Horn crew on his own?”

“I heard he killed Kazt with a single strike!”

The rumors grew ever more exaggerated.

And the reason? It all started with those Jackal Pirates from last night, boasting to anyone who’d listen.