Chapter 124: Robbing the Robber—and Picking Tang Shen as the Target

Tang Shen continued to smile brilliantly, though his tone was now vastly different from the friendly demeanor he had displayed moments ago. "Captain, do I need to say anything more? In truth, slaughtering all of you and pinning the blame on the Alvida Pirates wouldn't be difficult for me at all, would it?" As he spoke, his gaze swept lightly over the group, his face still fixed in that radiant smile.

Beneath his calm words, a chill struck the hearts of everyone left alive. The captain, kneeling before Tang Shen, was so terrified that he collapsed limply onto the deck. No one doubted that Tang Shen meant exactly what he said. Everyone’s eyes narrowed in panic, and as they swallowed hard, the fear etched upon their faces deepened. Under Tang Shen’s piercing stare, many averted their eyes, their gazes drifting toward the pathetic, trembling captain on the floor.

No one wanted to die, just as they had previously surrendered under the threats and coercion of the pirates. To stay alive, they were willing to do anything—and besides, it wasn't their money being spent, so why should they risk their lives for it? The true colors of the crowd began to show.

"Captain, just give him the payment already!"
"Exactly, exactly! I need to get home."
"You should just pay up; he finished the job, and you gave your word."

Tang Shen merely watched the collapsed captain with a smile. The merchant captain’s face was ashen, but he was paralyzed by terror. He knew that Tang Shen could slit his throat at any moment.

"Go to my cabin... get it from under the bed!" He dared not even meet Tang Shen’s eyes, let alone stand up, so he roared the order at his first mate. Once the command was barked, he slumped back onto the deck, trembling like a leaf.

Before long, the first mate returned, clutching a bag with a face full of dread. He didn't dare look up to meet Tang Shen’s eyes, trembling as he handed over the bag. The moment Tang Shen took it, the first mate scrambled away into the crowd, curling into a ball, his clothes soaked through with cold sweat. He was consumed by fear and dread, his nerves still frayed from the sight of the headless pirate corpses he had seen in the cabin, their faces frozen in expressions of terror and confusion.

Tang Shen opened the money bag with a smile, checking the contents. Just then, his steel sword flicked, the tip pressing firmly against the captain’s throat. The cold, sharp point pierced the skin, drawing a bead of blood. In an instant, the merchant captain’s legs gave way completely, and the pungent scent of urine drifted through the air.

"Don't... don't kill me! Please, don't kill me!" The captain’s regret was profound; he had only intended to use a standard merchant’s trick, never imagining he would cross paths with a man like Tang Shen, who operated without any principles. Trying to swindle him was too cliché, too naive.

Tang Shen curled his lip, his wrist flicking to perform a graceful flourish with his steel sword before he sheathed it with blinding speed. *Such a coward.* Sometimes, people who only bow to force are quite pathetic.

He turned and walked away with a carefree air. He had never cared for the opinions of others—pirates, marines, or even bounty hunters; Tang Shen saw things more clearly than most. To him, this had simply been a bit of extra pocket money. He wasn't the type to slaughter innocents—at least, not unless the situation was truly exceptional. As long as his interests were centered on himself and those he cared about, what did it matter if he stood against the whole world?

He reached the edge of the ship. *Whap!* With a push from his toes, he leapt into the air, vaulted off the railing, and vanished in a blur, landing moments later on the deck of the Alvida Pirates' ship. This was his prize, after all. It might be ugly and crude, but it was a ship, wasn't it? That fat pig’s taste was truly abysmal—not only was she ugly, but her aesthetic sense was just as bad. Tang Shen couldn't even be bothered to mock it.

Yes, you guessed right: Tang Shen had never intended to buy a ship. He didn't have much money, so why buy one when you can just take it?

*Thud!* He landed heavily on the deck, his knees absorbing the impact. As he prepared to explore his new spoils, the cabin door creaked open. A cautious figure crept out, hunched over, with a bag slung over her back. At the same time, Tang Shen heard her muttering, "How can this pirate crew be so poor?!!!"

*What the—?!* Tang Shen went silent. If he hadn't happened to arrive just now, his prize would have been picked clean by this person. This was unforgivable!

To think someone was trying to scavenge his loot—he had to teach them a lesson. The person emerging from the cabin froze upon seeing him, then offered a bright, cheeky smile. Her eyes darted around, and she turned to bolt away. Tang Shen paused, stunned, as he looked at the young thief's face.

*Wait. What?* This was too coincidental! How could he run into her here?

Though she looked quite young, it was indeed her—the Cat Burglar, a girl with a complex inner world. She was strong yet timid, emotional yet forced to bow to life's harsh realities. She liked to smile, but deep down, she was always weeping.

Tang Shen didn't hesitate. His right hand shot out, catching her by the collar with unerring precision. He dragged her back toward the cabin, ignoring her struggles. No matter how she twisted, she couldn't break free.

"Let me go! Let go of me!"
"Let go, or I’ll fight back!"
"Dammit, is this how you treat a girl? You have no shame!"

Nami struggled with all her might, trying to flip herself around, but the hand gripping her collar felt like it possessed a magical strength. She couldn't escape, couldn't even turn over, and was forced to follow where he dragged her. No matter how she threatened him or tried to play the victim, Tang Shen remained silent, hauling her into the cabin.

Nami’s eyes darted frantically, searching for an escape plan, but she eventually gave up. It was better to save her energy for a real chance to flee. Indeed, this thief was Nami. Tang Shen hadn't expected to meet her so early; it was a strange twist of fate, especially since she had tried to pull a "thief stealing from a thief" act on him. That was simply unforgivable!

As he dragged her into the room, another figure appeared, a bump clearly visible on their head. Upon seeing Tang Shen, the person collapsed to their knees with a thud. They began kowtowing frantically, begging for mercy: "Don't kill me! I tried to stop her, but I couldn't beat the person who was stealing! I was knocked unconscious—please, I beg you, don't kill me!"