Lister slipped out of the warehouse.
Nami, who had just been knocked out, suddenly opened her eyes.
After her pupils flicked about, she sat up sharply.
She glanced at the door and curled her lip. "What a rookie. He doesn't even know how to knock someone out. Hilarious. Sounds like he's going after the other half of Bloodhammer Henry's stash. No way, I've got to tail him. Maybe I can skim a little extra."
She mocked him, but she had also noticed how weak Lister was, maybe even weaker than her. Otherwise that chop wouldn't have failed to knock her out. What unsettled her was his speed. If he had swung a blade at her neck instead of a knifehand, she would probably be dead. And that golden finger swallowing every last Beli had shocked her. Not knowing what he was, she didn't dare try a sneak attack. Better to play along.
Seizing the opening, Nami sprang up, stuffed all the gold into a sack, and slipped out of the warehouse with it.
Lister meanwhile was creeping toward Bloodhammer Henry's quarters when a conversation drifted to his ears.
"Bamboo Pole, the captain wants to wash his face. Fetch a basin of water to the captain's cabin," a burly man ordered a tall, skinny one.
"Fat Dog, why are you making me do the captain's chore?" Bamboo Pole grumbled.
"Going or not?" Fat Dog lifted his hand to slap him.
Panic flashed over Bamboo Pole's face. He clearly feared Fat Dog. Under the threat, he muttered, "Don't hit me. I'll go."
"Hmph. Should've just agreed at the start. Made me waste words."
Hearing this, Lister's eyes lit up. A clean way to get close to Henry.
He wandered down the corridor as if clueless.
Bamboo Pole spotted him and brightened. "Lister, over here."
"Brother Bamboo Pole, Brother Fat Dog, what is it?" Lister approached with a meek air.
"Relax. No beating," Bamboo Pole said. "The captain wants his face washed. Go draw a basin of water and take it to the captain. Clear?"
"Clear." Lister nodded obediently.
As a slave, anyone on the ship could order him around. Hesitate and you got a kicking. His first week aboard had been exactly like that.
Seeing how readily Lister accepted, Bamboo Pole patted his shoulder, satisfied. "Good. You're learning to obey. That's a proper slave. If I'm in a good mood one day, maybe I'll put in a word with the captain and get you promoted to trainee pirate."
"Thank you, Brother Bamboo Pole." Lister answered with a look of surprise.
The two men slung their arms over each other's shoulders and strolled off. Watching them go, Lister smiled. "You think well of me? After I take down Bloodhammer Henry, I'll make sure you get a quick end too."
Knock, knock, knock.
"Enter."
Lister stepped into the captain's cabin with a basin of water. "Captain, the water you asked for."
Bloodhammer Henry lounged half drunk in his chair. "Set it there."
"Yes." Lister set the basin on a stand. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
From the instant he'd entered, Henry's eyes had locked onto him. Lister decided to advance by retreating.
"Wait," Henry called.
"Captain, do you need something?"
"What's your name?" Henry squinted at him through drink-heavy eyes.
"Lister, Captain."
"Lister. I remember. The slave Fat Dog brought back ten days ago." The Iron Hammer Pirates hadn't recruited lately. The only newcomer was the slave Lister. He stood out. Twenty years old, yet a body weaker than a woman's.
"I see. I hadn't noticed before—you're rather pretty. In that case, you'll stay and attend me tonight," Henry said.
"Huh?"
Lister was blindsided. So the man hadn't been wary at all. He was coveting his looks. Lister might not have had a fancy degree or salary back in his old life, but he had confidence in his face. Being eyed by a burly man like this was beyond the pale. Get lost.
Henry chuckled. "Serve me and you'll be mine. No one in this crew will dare bully you, and you'll climb fast, maybe to a rank just under me. Any objections?"
"I don't like men," Lister said evenly.
Fine. Another reason Henry had to die. Covet his looks and you court death.
"You dare refuse me?" Henry's round eyes bulged. Killing intent rolled over Lister.
Right after crossing over, that might have cowed him. Not now. He had seen blood, and he had a Devil Fruit. He had all the confidence he needed, and a heart set on killing Bloodhammer Henry. Fear would not sway him.
Instead, he saw an opportunity.
He put on a show of fear, shuffling toward Henry with a submissive tremble. "I… I understand."
"Good boy." Henry laughed, smug.
In the next instant, a blur streaked across the room. Lister closed the distance, whipped a dagger from his sleeve, and drove it at Henry's neck.
The blade punched clean through his throat.
Bloodhammer Henry's eyes went wide with disbelief. The timid, cowering Lister had dared to strike, and he had done it in one blow.
"The humiliations of these days end here. Goodbye, Bloodhammer Henry."