Navigating the bustling thoroughfare, Regulus moved with a focused determination that belied his youthful appearance. The cacophony of the port town faded into a dull background hum as he concentrated on the subtle signals his Observation Haki was picking up. The alleyway was just a few more turns ahead, a narrow chasm between two weathered buildings, emanating a distinct aura of unease and ill-intent.
He rounded the corner and stepped into the shadowed confines of the alley. The air here was thick with the smell of stale refuse and something vaguely metallic. Ten figures, rough-looking men armed with an assortment of crude weapons – rusty cutlasses, dented clubs, and a few poorly maintained pistols – were clustered near the dead end, their voices low and menacing as they seemed to be divvying up some ill-gotten gains.
Their heads snapped up as Regulus entered, their initial surprise quickly morphing into sneering amusement. "Well, well, what have we here?" a hulking brute with a missing tooth and a scarred face sneered. "Looks like a lost little lamb."
Another pirate, wiry and twitchy, let out a harsh laugh. "Maybe he's got some coins we can take." They began to advance, their eyes glinting with avarice and a cruel disregard for the young boy standing before them.
At the back of the group, a man with a particularly nasty-looking scar running across his left eye and a captain's hat perched precariously on his head stepped forward. This had to be Roderick, the leader Shanks had mentioned. He sized Regulus up with a dismissive gaze. "Get lost, kid. This ain't your playground. Unless you've got a death wish, turn around and run home to your mama."
Regulus remained unfazed, his amber eyes calm and steady as he took in the pirates' positions and the subtle tension in their movements. His Observation Haki painted a clear picture of their intentions, their clumsy attacks already telegraphed in his mind. He reached into his belt, his fingers closing around the cool grips of the flintlock pistols Yasopp had lent him.
"My captain sent me to deal with you," Regulus said, his voice surprisingly firm and devoid of any childish tremor. "Your… disruptive behavior in this town needs to stop."
Roderick let out a booming laugh that echoed through the narrow alley. "Your captain? What, did your old man send you to fetch us for dinner? Get real, kid. We're pirates. We don't take orders from some… "
Before Roderick could finish his sentence, Regulus moved. He drew the pistols in a swift, practiced motion that surprised even himself. The alley erupted with the sharp cracks of gunfire as two shots rang out in quick succession. The wiry pirate who had laughed earlier staggered backward, clutching his shoulder with a yelp, a crimson stain blooming on his tattered shirt. The hulking brute with the missing tooth barely had time to register the threat before a bullet grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.
Chaos erupted among the pirates. They scrambled for cover, their initial arrogance replaced by a panicked realization that this was no ordinary child. Rusty swords were drawn, and clumsy shots were fired in Regulus's direction. But the young pirate was already moving, his small frame a blur of motion in the confined space.
His Observation Haki was working flawlessly, allowing him to anticipate the pirates' wild swings and poorly aimed shots. He ducked, weaved, and sidestepped their attacks with an almost preternatural agility, the pistols in his hands spitting fire and lead with surprising accuracy. He wasn't aiming to kill, just to incapacitate. Shots landed in shoulders, legs, and even grazed a few heads, eliciting cries of pain and surprise.
The alleyway became a chaotic dance of steel and smoke, the sharp cracks of the pistols punctuating the pirates' panicked shouts. Regulus moved with a focused calm, his youthful appearance masking a deadly efficiency. He reloaded the pistols with surprising speed, his movements economical and precise, a testament to the hours he had spent practicing under Yasopp's watchful eye.
As the number of groaning, injured pirates littering the alley floor grew, Roderick's face contorted in a mixture of rage and disbelief. He was the only one who hadn't been hit yet, his captain's instincts keeping him slightly more cautious. He roared, charging towards Regulus, his rusty cutlass raised high.
"You little brat! You'll pay for this!"
Regulus calmly holstered the now-empty pistols, his amber eyes fixed on the charging pirate captain. He knew that in a close-quarters sword fight, the "Fang of Fenrir" would be his most reliable weapon. With a fluid motion, he drew the dark blade, its obsidian surface reflecting the dim light of the alley.
Roderick swung his cutlass in a wide, clumsy arc. Regulus easily sidestepped the blow, his Observation Haki giving him ample warning. The "Fang of Fenrir" flashed out, its wickedly sharp edge meeting Roderick's rusty blade with a jarring clang. The difference in quality was immediately apparent. Roderick's cutlass shuddered under the impact, a small nick appearing on its dull surface.
Roderick, realizing he was outmatched in terms of skill and weaponry, became more desperate, his attacks becoming wilder and more erratic. But Regulus remained calm, his movements precise and controlled. He parried each blow effortlessly, his own attacks swift and calculated. He could feel Roderick's fear growing with each passing moment, his initial bravado completely gone.
Finally, with a swift feint to the left, Regulus disarmed Roderick, sending his cutlass clattering against the alley wall. Before the pirate captain could react, Regulus moved with lightning speed, the "Fang of Fenrir" pressed against Roderick's throat, the cold steel a stark contrast to the sweat beading on his skin.
"It's over," Regulus said, his voice low and firm. "Tell your crew to stop causing trouble in this town. If they don't, the next time we meet, I won't be so lenient."
Roderick, his eyes wide with fear, could only nod frantically, his throat bobbing nervously against the sharp edge of the blade.
Just then, a chorus of familiar voices echoed from the entrance of the alley. "Well now, what's all the commotion down here?" Shanks's booming voice filled the narrow space. The rest of the Red-Haired Pirates followed behind him, their expressions ranging from curious to impressed as they took in the sight of the groaning pirates and Regulus standing over their subdued leader, the "Fang of Fenrir" still glinting menacingly.
Shanks grinned, clapping Regulus on the back. "Looks like you handled that pretty well, kid. Told you he had it in him, didn't I?" he said, turning to his crew.
Regulus sheathed the "Fang of Fenrir," a sense of quiet satisfaction washing over him. It wasn't a grand battle against a powerful foe, but it was his first real test as a member of the Red-Haired Pirates, and he had passed. He had faced armed opponents, relied on his training, and emerged victorious without causing unnecessary harm. He looked at Shanks, a small, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips. The lion's hunt had indeed begun anew, and Regulus was proving to be a capable predator.