Linden City, as the trade hub of the east coast, handled an astonishing volume of cargo, with docks bustling with countless ships in a lively scene.

But this only applied to merchant vessels.

Secret Port.

Several natural sea cliffs surrounding Linden City had formed massive caves, extremely well-hidden, serving as secret bases for nobles to evade principality tariffs and stockpile private armed forces.

But once reaching a certain scale, it couldn't remain hidden. The naval admiral of Linden City couldn't possibly be unaware, yet with these families deeply rooted and benefits exchanged, he could only turn a blind eye.

The Black Sails Pirate Crew's brigantine was docked at one such secret port.

There were no paved roads leading to the secret port, only a narrow packed-earth path barely wide enough for a carriage, flanked by towering greenwood trees in complete desolation.

The clanging of metal against metal continued relentlessly, sparks flying as blades struck armguards, all parties fighting with bloodshot eyes where life and death hung by a thread.

Within the greenwood.

"Too slow! Too slow! How do you expect to make a living being this slow?"

Ren moved effortlessly, deflecting each swift, lethal strike with his armguards.

Two burly, vicious-looking men in leather armor attacked Ren from both sides, their blades swift and merciless. Professionally trained adults wielding cold steel could cleave flesh and bone far easier than imagined - a single successful strike meant death or maiming.

A thunderous clang rang out like metal breaking.

Ren blocked forcefully with his left arm, the impact bending the longsword's edge. One bounty hunter's hand split open from the recoil, joints completely numbed as his weapon clattered to the ground.

Silver flashed faster than sight - razor-sharp claws already embedded in the throat, iron-hard nails digging through flesh to crush the windpipe against bone before twisting sharply, snapping the neck like breaking bamboo. The head lolled at an unnatural angle, instant death.

Seeing his companion fall, the remaining bounty hunter showed no panic, his mental fortitude extraordinary and skills far superior. His sword came at Ren like a sudden storm.

Having dispatched one, Ren had no intention of prolonging this deadly dance - this was no child's play. Even lions use full strength against rabbits - how could life be treated lightly?

Amid the chaotic swordplay, Ren's armguards deflected every strike as his clawed hands moved with increasing frenzy, sparks flying wildly.

The bounty hunter gradually lost ground, realizing his opponent's overwhelming strength advantage. Feinting an upward thrust to make Ren cross his arms defensively, he suddenly slashed sideways aiming for Ren's abdomen to spill his guts.

But despite his massive frame, Ren proved unexpectedly agile, leaping back to perch seven meters up a tree, claws embedded in bark, his cold glare making the bounty hunter's hair stand on end.

I'm dead.

The bounty hunter's first thought.

Ren pounced from above, unafraid of being impaled.

Instinctively, the bounty hunter aimed for Ren's abdomen - the optimal counter.

As expected.

A deafening clang scattered birds from the trees as the longsword bounced harmlessly off Ren's armguard, the impact numbing the hunter's sword arm.

Just as he seemed about to be gutted,

his left hand proved more dexterous than his right. As the sword fell behind him, his other hand caught the hilt where Ren couldn't see. Learning from earlier mistakes, he knew reckless swings would be blocked - only a thrust would work. Faster than thought, a "Returning Horse Thrust" stabbed lightning-fast at Ren's head, leaving no room to dodge.

Drip... drip...

Crimson blood oozed from Ren's palm onto the gravel below, stark against the stones - he'd caught the blade barehanded in a vice-like grip.

"Not bad. No wonder you dared come for me."

Ren held the sword immobile despite the hunter's desperate efforts to free it.

The bounty hunter scrambled back, drawing a folding knife from his belt for emergencies.

"Cass! Boss!"

He shouted his leader's name, knowing he couldn't turn this around alone.

"Hahaha." Ren's terrifying laugh revealed his fangs and maw, dropping the sword to lick blood from his claws, his monstrous visage horrifying. "Smart plan - sending your boss after our first mate. Cass, was it? Tough luck drawing the short straw."

Ren already knew the outcome. Even the famed "Dawnblade" naval officer from Blue Bay Port had fallen to Ox in minutes - what chance did some no-name bounty hunters have?

As if on cue, Ox arrived carrying "two halves" of a body - upper and lower sections - gripping an arm and leg in one hand, the corpse of Cass still gushing blood from the massive waist wound.

"Damn, brother."

With the situation completely controlled, Ren might as well have popped champagne.

Seeing his leader's gruesome remains, the bounty hunter's face turned ashen.

In that moment of shock - CRACK!

Ren flashed past. Tendons snapped, bones crunched, and a severed forearm went flying, completely crippling the swordsman as blood gushed from the shoulder stump.

"Who sent you?"

Ox casually tossed the bisected corpse aside like trash, questioning the last bounty hunter.

"Who needs orders to kill pirates? Just finish it."

The swordsman remained defiant, ignoring his mortal wound.

"Respect."

Ox needed no further words. His massive greatsword moved like foam as he granted a merciful death - one thrust through the chest emerging from the back, then a flick sending the body crashing lifeless to the ground.

With all bounty hunters dead,

Ren wondered, "You think some city lord sent them to silence us? Steal that bank vault's gold? Is the captain in danger?"

He figured they'd been targeted, the attackers waiting until he and Ox were alone on this path to the secret port.

Ox pondered before responding, "Impossible. Our windfall's nothing to nobility who've done business here for generations. The casino and bank were just warnings to competitors. For reputation, they'd have underlings take the fall - everyone knows local nobles' hypocrisy. Besides, they know our strength - these amateurs prove nothing. If nobility sent killers, they'd use proper retainers or the city garrison."

Convinced by Ox's flawless logic,

Ren sighed, crouching by a corpse. "These days anyone with skills thinks they can be bounty hunters. Fine to fool buddies - no harm done when friends get tricked, gives you some comfort to laugh off. But don't fool yourself - look how you ended up?"

Even in death, Ren kept twisting the knife. Ox clicked his tongue - Captain Li Site's vicious one-liners had corrupted several crew members.

But the captain was right about one thing - birds die for food, men for wealth.

Just trying to make a living, now lying headless.

Ox closed the swordsman's eyes before searching the bodies.

Ren joined in collecting spoils.

The corpses yielded only a dozen silver coins and spare coppers - no important documents. Clearly bounty hunters gambling everything for riches.

They also found eleven paper wanted posters, drawn by skilled specialist artists. Even with minor inaccuracies, the likenesses were unmistakable across races.

Ren flipped through, searching for himself.

"Fuck, my bounty rose by thirty. Almost makes me want to turn myself in."

He complained, still just one person.

"Probably added by Blue Bay Port lord's relatives - uncles and such. Killed his whole cultist family anyway - did the world a favor."

Ox pocketed the silvers indifferently, unconcerned about his own bounty - no amount mattered if you couldn't collect.