New Shining Star |『 Male Reader 』• One Piece

Page 55: The Abyssal Hunter

"The time is the Great Pirate Era!"

"Countless pirates fight desperately for the One Piece, the great treasure left behind by Gold Roger, the Pirate King."

"Y/n L/n, a young man whose body can transform into a buffalo after eating the Ox Ox Fruit Model Water Buffalo, also takes the sea to become the Pirate King."

"As Y/n and his friends overcome numerous adventures, the World Government is less and less able to ignore their existence."

"The crew, on its way to the New World, will speed along the Grand Line again today!"

"Name's Kieran," he said. The moment the name left the hooded man's lips, silence settled between them like a thick fog. Souta, Fuyuto, and Y/n each reacted in their own way.

Souta's brow raised in recognition, Fuyuto's ears twitched slightly, and Y/n? He simply leaned back slightly against the bar, his grin not quite faltering but his gaze sharpening with interest. Though the three remained casual, they couldn't ignore the lingering looks still resting on them from the tavern's patrons.

Some had resumed their drinks, pretending not to care, but the slight stiffening of shoulders and the subtle shift in the air told a different story. Souta exhaled lightly, keeping his voice low. "So... you're the guy that attacked a Celestial Dragon, huh?" he said.

Kieran, still seated, barely reacted at first. Then, his golden eyes flicked sideways toward Souta, just a side glance, unreadable and calm. He didn't immediately confirm it, but he didn't deny it either. Instead, he gave a slight nod to the bartender.

As quickly as that, a fresh drink slid into his hand. Kieran huffed, swirling the liquor in his glass before downing a sip, his lips quirking in a near-smirk. "I have my reasons," he muttered before placing the drink down with a soft clink.

Then, almost like an afterthought, he exhaled with dry amusement. "Plus, those bastards deserve it more than anyone," he added. Souta looked at him before he gave a slowly approving nod. "Yeah, no argument there..." he muttered.

But Y/n hummed, tilting his head. "I get that," he admitted. "But you know... even if most of them are evil, I'm sure not all of them are," he said, surprising Souta. However, his words earned him a sharp glance from Kieran.

His golden eyes narrowed slightly as if weighing Y/n's words carefully, trying to figure out if he was naïve or if there was something else beneath the statement. Y/n chuckled, reading Kieran's expression with ease. "I didn't say to trust them," he clarified, swirling his own drink.

Then, Y/n flashed a mischievous grin. "But in a way, you never know. After all, we're pirates... and you don't see us going around killing and stealing, do you?" he added. Kieran studied him for a moment before finally nodding. "Fair point," he said before nodding to the bartender for another drink.

Just as the bartender slid Kieran his drink, Fuyuto spoke up, watching the man down his liquor effortlessly. "But aren't you even a little worried?" the mink asked. "Walking around on an island full of bounty hunters, even if you're hiding yourself?" he asked, looking at the hood on Kieran's head.