Note: This chapter will be shorter than usual.
Leo sat silently on a massive, curved root of a Yarukiman Mangrove, his robe pulled tight, concealing his face and white hair. He was barely visible in the shifting shadows of Grove 46, yet his internal radar was screaming the target was near.
The massive shadow fell over him before the man's footsteps could be heard. Leo kept his head bowed, only raising his gaze slowly to look up at the towering figure that blocked the weak sunlight.
Leo managed a low chuckle. The fish has definitely caught the bait. A nice, chunky brute of a fish.
"Hey, why are you laughing?" the pirate demanded, his voice a low growl. "Didn't you cause a stir a while back? Said you wanted to join a strong crew. Well, here I am. Show me some respect."
Leo slowly stood, still not showing his face. "Yes, I said I wanted to join a strong crew. But you don't look strong. You look like a single, high-level lackey for someone else."
The pirate's massive hand shot out, grabbing Leo's shoulder."What did you say, kid?! Don't disrespect me! Everyone on this Grove knows my name—tell anyone about me, and they'll go silent from fear!"
Leo didn't flinch."Okay, okay," Leo conceded, shrugging the hand off easily. He lowered his voice, acting defeated but impressed. "You're right. You're tough. I misjudged. I'll join you. But are you alone? Where are your other crew members? I need to know the strength of the full crew before I commit."
The pirate puffed out his chest, completely swallowing the bait. "Ha! That's better! Of course, I came alone right now to recruit you! Why would we waste the Boss's time? Let's go. We'll meet the rest of them. They're waiting for us at our base."
He paused, squinting at Leo's covered face. "But why are you hiding your head? Are you a beautiful woman? The Boss might like that even more!"
"I don't show anyone my face except for people I trust," Leo replied, his voice flat. "I'll show you when we meet your others. It's part of my... privacy oath."
"Hmph. Fine. Let's go, then."
Leo suppressed a victorious grin. Perfect. He led me right to the Boss's hidden location.
The pirate turned and lumbered off toward the dilapidated, shadow-cloaked building in the distance—the Dark Inn. Leo followed silently..
They reached the inn. The pirate pushed the rotten door open, revealing the smoke-filled, cramped space. The air was heavy with the smell of cheap whiskey, sweat.
The Boss was indeed a truly massive man, surrounded by a dozen armed pirates. This was the full roster. This was the boss's room.
The Boss looked up, his predatory eyes fixing on Leo. "Ah, so this is the newcomer you brought me. Come in, dog. Let's see what you can do."
The pirate swaggered into the center of the room. "Boss! Today we got a new strong crew member! He's going to be a great asset!"
Leo slowly stepped into the doorway, his eyes darting quickly across the assembled crew. He counted them precisely: One, two, three,... eight. Total: eight targets. Excellent.
"Yes," Leo said, his voice unusually loud in the cramped space. "Everyone is finally here."
The Boss frowned, confused by Leo's strange behavior. "What? Why are you counting us, kid? Are you making sure we have enough chairs?"
"No," Leo said, taking a single, slow step backward, his back hitting the wooden door. The smile was gone. His eyes, now visible above the cloth, were ice cold. "Just so I don't miss anyone."
Before anyone could react, Leo yanked the door shut, the ancient wood rattling ominously. A heavy, antique deadbolt, which Leo had spotted outside moments earlier, slammed home with a deafening CLANG. The inn was instantly plunged into near-total darkness, save for a few shafts of weak light cutting through cracks in the walls.
"Hey!" the Boss roared, his voice filled with sudden alarm. "Why are you closing the door, idiot?!
Leo's laugh started low, a guttural, joyous sound that echoed strangely in the confined space. It was the laugh of a man who had planned every single detail of his victory.
"Because, Boss," Leo yelled, his voice now ringing with terrifying excitement, "my dream has finally come true.
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