On this vast sea, how far can one go without ambition?
At this moment,
Lafitte had been waiting for a long time.
Though good things are worth the wait, one fears waiting too long, leading to decay, rot, and ultimately, oblivion.
Fortunately, that concern would not become reality.
At least, the choice made back then, in accordance with his heart...
A memory flashed through Lafitte's mind—Sol's words to him in that forest.
"Heh..."
Lafitte's lips curled into a smile. He removed his hat, lowered his arm, and held it across his body as he offered a gentlemanly bow to Maude.
Unlike his usual reserved demeanor, this time, his gesture was unusually solemn.
Following that, there were no further declarations or overly sentimental oaths.
After the bow, Lafitte placed his hat back on and met Maude's gaze.
The two locked eyes in silence for a moment.
Some things simply do not need to be said twice.
Maude smiled faintly as well.
No one is omnipotent.
Everyone has their strengths, but also their weaknesses.
Just as Lafitte needed the potential future Maude could offer, Maude too needed Lafitte's abilities.
Navigation, foresight, and strategy—these were the assets Lafitte could provide.
Like a capable guide, Lafitte could spare Maude many detours.
"Guide..."
The thought suddenly crystallized in Maude's mind.
This title, spoken spontaneously, struck directly at the core of Lafitte's being.
Guide.
This was how Lafitte saw himself. It was a title befitting his role as a navigator and the essence of his Devil Fruit ability.
Until now, he had never shared this notion with Maude.
But hearing the word directly from Maude at this moment evoked a strange sense of emotion in Lafitte.
"Lafitte, the title 'Demon Sheriff' is rather dull. Why not go with 'Guide'? I think it suits you better."
"..."
Lafitte's lips twitched slightly, and the surge of emotion he had just felt ebbed away like the tide.
Seeing Lafitte's reaction, Maude chuckled lightly.
"Lafitte, I can't promise we'll reach the summit, but I do have the capital to try."
As he spoke, Maude turned his gaze to Momoo, who was barely alive. There was something he wanted to verify.
Lafitte nodded at Maude's words.
What constitutes "capital"?
It's not something that can be explained in a simple Q&A.
However...
Lafitte glanced at the black notebook in Maude's hand.
Instinct told him that this might be what Maude referred to as his "capital."
And for that, Lafitte was intrigued—as he always had been.
Just like Sol had once said to him:
"Maude is special."
Lafitte believed that, and he was willing to lower himself and wait for Maude's response.
If things didn't go as hoped, it would merely mean finding another path.
That was why he was here.
Maude pulled a quill pen from the spine of his black notebook, flipped it open, and wrote Momoo's name in the blank space above a horizontal line.
Once done, Maude closed the notebook and made it disappear in front of Lafitte and Bailey.
In their eyes, the black notebook vanished into thin air without the slightest sign of a Devil Fruit ability.
"If it's not a Devil Fruit..."
Lafitte's eyes flickered with curiosity.
The phenomenon of the notebook appearing and disappearing seemed to leave no other explanation but Devil Fruit powers. Yet Maude denied it.
Still, Lafitte would not question Maude's words.
If it wasn't a Devil Fruit, then it was the "capital" Maude had mentioned.
Lafitte silently observed Maude's next move without interruption.
After making the notebook disappear, Maude leapt into the sea, stabbing Momoo in a vital spot with his blade before using Moonwalk to return to the shore.
Sheathing his bloodied blade, Maude watched as Momoo took its last breath.
There were no gains.
"As expected..."
Maude had prepared himself for this outcome.
After all, it was a Hunter's Notebook, not a Beast Hunter's Notebook.
"Let's go. Time to collect the spoils of war. As for the notebook, we'll discuss it later."
Maude strode toward Arlong's base.
He knew Lafitte wanted an explanation, but now was not the time.
Lafitte nodded gently, spinning his cane playfully before resting it against his shoulder and following closely behind Maude.
Bailey glanced back at Momoo's corpse, swallowing nervously.
Sitting on Maude's shoulder, Bailey muttered to himself, "So much meat... we can't let it go to waste!"
The trio headed toward Arlong's base, seemingly ignoring Nami and her companions in the distance.
At this moment, Nami and the others were staring at Arlong's corpse, as if in a dream.
The shadow that had loomed over Cocoyasi Village for so long had been dispelled in such an abrupt and unexpected manner.
The result felt both casual and sudden.
It was difficult for Nami and her friends to calm their emotions.
When they finally regained their senses, the young man who had defeated the Arlong Pirates was already entering the base.
"If only... he had come sooner."
Nojiko's lowered gaze glimmered, as if capturing a precious memory.
"Incredible..." Genzo pulled down his hat brim to hide the tears welling in his eyes, his voice thick with emotion. "I'll go tell the others."
"I'll come with you."
Nojiko withdrew her gaze from the base and nodded.
The Arlong Pirates were no more.
They needed to spread this news to everyone immediately.
To free everyone... from years of oppression!
Nami, however, remained silent as she walked toward the base.
Her deal with Maude was not yet complete.
"Nami..."
Genzo instinctively called out to her.
Nojiko placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered, "Let's go inform the others first."
Genzo looked at Nojiko, then nodded silently.
What they had just witnessed was far too momentous to express their gratitude alone.
Inside Arlong's base.
The tower-like structure stood five stories tall, covering a sizable area.
Though not majestic, it carried an air of grandeur.
Maude walked past the fishmen's scattered corpses without a glance, stopping at the main door.
Lafitte and Bailey followed closely behind.
Maude pushed open the door and stepped inside.
"Split up and search. The Arlong Pirates should have plenty of treasure—enough for us to get a proper ship."
Maude addressed Lafitte and Bailey, then headed toward a room likely holding treasure.
With their current small sloop, Lafitte's navigation skills might suffice to get them over Reverse Mountain.
But once they entered the Grand Line, sailing with such a tiny boat would be out of the question.
And in the East Blue, the quickest way to amass the funds needed to buy or build a large ship was here, in Arlong's base.
Obtaining the Arlong Pirates' wealth was one of Maude's main reasons for coming here.
Lafitte ascended the stairs directly.
If Maude started from the bottom, he would begin at the top.
Bailey darted off in a flash, vanishing from sight.
But he wasn't searching for treasure—he was looking for the kitchen.
Lafitte climbed to the top floor and began his search.
Before long, he entered a peculiar room filled with nautical charts.
Near the window stood a desk equipped with a full array of tools.
"This is... a survey room?"
Lafitte's eyes scanned the charts.
As a navigator, his interest was immediately piqued.
-------
Want to read ahead of schedule?
Join here: patreon.com / emperorgarus
There are more than 100 advance chapters available for you!