Jason moved stealthily through the crowded streets of Sabaody Archipelago, his sharp eyes scanning the busy groves as he honed in on the pirates lurking within the shadows. He had spent the last few hours carefully observing the people around him, using his keen senses and newly enhanced Haki abilities to gather any useful information. The Treasure Hunting System had alerted him to the Ape King Pirates' presence, and now it was just a matter of finding them.
He focused his Observation Haki, reaching out to the nearby crowd. His mastery over this skill had progressed over the years, and now, at the age of ten, he was able to detect the emotions and even surface thoughts of those around him. Through the haze of conversations, laughter, and everyday noise, he heard snippets of talk about the notorious pirates he sought.
A group of rough-looking men stood gathered in a shadowy corner near Grove 17, discussing business dealings in low tones. Jason approached slowly, blending into the crowd as he listened. One of the men, a bandit by the look of him, mentioned doing business with the Ape King Pirates. Jason's eyes narrowed in on the speaker, and with a quick surge of his Observation Haki, he read the bandit's memories, sifting through his mind like turning pages in a book.
There. The image of the Ape King Pirates flashed vividly before him—their ship, docked at Grove 36. Jason grinned to himself. He had found them.
Without hesitation, Jason turned on his heel and made his way toward Grove 36. The sun hung low in the sky as he approached the docks, casting long shadows over the bustling area. In the distance, he spotted the ship with a massive gorilla figurehead at the bow. The crew was busy loading supplies and laughing among themselves, unaware of the storm that was about to hit them.
Jason's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword as he stepped out of the shadows. He had no intention of letting this crew sail away again. With a swift motion, he drew his blade and sent out a Tobu Zangeki—a flying slash. The powerful air pressure from his sword strike cut through the air like a razor and cleaved the Ape King Pirates' ship in half.
The sound of splintering wood filled the air as the ship groaned and began to sink into the harbor, the crew scrambling to abandon ship. Panic spread among the pirates as they leapt to safety on the docks. From the wreckage, a massive figure emerged—a man easily eight feet tall, with rippling muscles and a wild look in his eyes. This was Kong, the captain of the Ape King Pirates, and standing beside him were his lieutenants: Boulder, Stonefist, and Ironhide.
Kong's deep, guttural laugh echoed across the dock as he surveyed the scene, his eyes locking onto Jason—who stood confidently with his sword drawn. "Oi! Who's the bastard that just sank my ship!?" Kong roared, his voice full of arrogance. "Was it you, brat?" His crew erupted into laughter as they sized up the ten-year-old boy standing before them.
Jason remained calm, his expression unreadable. He stared at Kong, then simply replied, "It was me."
Kong blinked in confusion for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed even harder. "A little brat like you?!" he bellowed. "Do you even know who you're dealing with, kid? I'm Kong, captain of the Ape King Pirates! You should run back to your mommy before you get hurt!"
Jason's sharp eyes locked onto Kong, unflinching. His Observation Haki told him what Kong was truly thinking—arrogance and underestimation filled the pirate captain's mind. Jason ignored the laughter and raised his sword slightly. "I'm a bounty hunter," he said coldly. "And I'm here to take your head."
For a moment, the crew of the Ape King Pirates stared at him in silence before bursting into laughter again. Boulder, the First Mate, slapped his knee. "This kid thinks he's a bounty hunter! Kong, let me handle him. I'll break him in two before he can blink!"
Kong grinned at his crew. "Go ahead. Show him what happens when little kids play with grown men."
Jason, still calm, glanced at the other crew members. He noticed Treecrusher, one of Kong's lower officers, standing slightly apart from the rest of the group. The pirate was trembling—Jason could sense his fear. He knows, Jason thought. He can sense I'm no ordinary kid.
Before Jason could react, Kong barked orders. "Everyone, take him down! He's a monster, so don't go easy on him!"
The pirates rushed at Jason, their weapons drawn, but Jason was unfazed. His hand tightened around his sword as his Armament
Haki flickered in the air. The pirates would soon realize that underestimating him would be their last mistake.