Not wanting to be continuously pursued by the Marines stationed on the island, Rowan staged a false escape by boat before quietly slipping back ashore under the cover of night.
This trick might not deceive the Marines for long, but for Rowan, the length of time didn't matter. All he needed was enough opportunity to uncover the truth of the situation.
"Time to head to Ger City."
Rowan stood at a distance and glanced toward the small town where he had lived peacefully for almost a year. After a brief moment of hesitation, he shook his head and turned away, following the winding road that led toward the bustling central city of the island.
Ger City housed an underground intelligence organization. A large portion of the pirates Rowan had hunted in the past had been located using information purchased from that very place.
He followed the long road, crossing hills and narrow paths, keeping his presence as low as possible.
Two hours later
Rowan, wearing his familiar leather hat pulled low over his eyes, stepped onto the busy streets of Ger City.
He hadn't made any particular effort to hide his tracks, and the people around him didn't seem overly alarmed. It appeared that whatever had happened in Tamor Town had not yet spread this far.
But Rowan wasn't simply interested in what had occurred in Tamor Town. More importantly, he needed to find out who had framed him and why.
Only then could he escape the relentless pursuit of the Marines.
Just as Rowan was making his way toward the underground intelligence network, a sudden fluttering filled the air. Large stacks of newspapers rained down onto the street from a delivery gull overhead, and many pedestrians casually picked up copies to read.
Moments later
"Unbelievable!"
"Ghost Hand Rowan… actually massacred an entire town?!"
"Impossible! He's the one who took down several pirates with bounties over ten million!"
Shocked voices rose up all around.
Rowan's steps paused.
He slowly pulled the brim of his hat lower, walked through the crowd without drawing attention, and silently picked up one of the newspapers.
The bold headline at the top immediately caught his eye.
The Tarro Town Massacre!
According to the report, a small and peaceful town of just over seventy residents had been completely plundered and slaughtered overnight. Every building had been burned to ashes, and after an official Marine investigation, the culprit had been identified as none other than the pirate hunter known as Ghost Hand Rowan.
A flicker of cold anger flashed across Rowan's eyes.
As he stood there reading, the chatter of the crowd reached his ears from all directions.
"I always thought that Ghost Hand Rowan was different from ordinary pirate hunters. Turns out he's just another monster."
"Pirate hunters are no better than pirates. When money's involved, they'll do anything."
"I hope the Marines catch him soon and put an end to this madness."
Rowan's fingers slowly tightened around the newspaper, crumpling the paper in his hand.
He remained silent.
After a few seconds, he turned away, stepped into a nearby alley, and tossed the newspaper into a trash bin without another glance.
Crossing several more streets, Rowan finally reached his destination a tavern that appeared ordinary from the outside.
The tavern was nearly empty. Only the owner sat lazily behind the counter, yawning out of boredom.
Rowan entered quietly.
Without speaking to the proprietor, he walked straight through the main hall, pushed open a hidden door in the back, and descended a narrow staircase leading underground.
The stairway was cramped and dimly lit, but once Rowan reached the bottom, the space suddenly expanded into a wide and elegant hall. It was furnished with luxurious sofas and tables, resembling a refined private club rather than a secret base.
"…This is truly shocking news."
"That Ghost Hand Rowan guy tsk tsk. Looks like we've got one less competitor in the bounty hunting business."
"More than that. The Marines will definitely issue a bounty on him now. I bet it'll be at least twenty million Berries."
Several bounty hunters were lounging around with newspapers in hand, discussing the matter excitedly.
At that moment, Rowan stepped down into the hall.
The instant they saw him, all conversation abruptly stopped.
Every eye in the room turned toward Rowan.
Some gazes were mocking, others wary, and a few openly nervous.
Rowan's expression, however, was completely calm chillingly calm.
He swept his eyes slowly across the room.
A heavy silence followed.
No one dared to continue joking or speaking recklessly. Although Rowan was now in serious trouble and possibly about to be branded a criminal, his strength was undeniable.
Most bounty hunters worked in teams and only targeted minor pirates. But Ghost Hand Rowan had operated alone, repeatedly hunting down pirates with bounties exceeding ten million Berries.
In the underground world, strength was everything.
And Rowan possessed overwhelming strength.
Seeing that none of them dared to speak, Rowan withdrew his gaze and walked straight toward the inner chamber of the facility. He pushed open a heavy door and stepped inside.
Only after the door shut did the hall finally erupt with murmurs again.
"Damn… I didn't expect him to show up here at a time like this."
"Looks like the Marine blockade failed completely. Typical incompetence."
Another hunter took a long drink and laughed.
"I wonder what he's planning. He can't work as a bounty hunter anymore. Maybe he's here to buy information and flee the West Blue."
"Who knows?" someone shrugged. "Whatever it is, it won't be boring."
Inside the inner hall of the underground facility
The atmosphere was far quieter. Thick walls and heavy doors completely blocked out the noise from outside.
The room was modestly furnished with a sofa, a large bookshelf, and an office desk.
Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man with a thick beard, leisurely smoking a cigar. This was Terrence—the head of the underground intelligence organization.
Beside the desk stood a young girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old, with long black hair. She was carefully sorting through stacks of documents with calm, practiced movements.
Despite her youthful appearance, Rowan had recognized her immediately the first time he saw her months ago.
She was none other than Nico Robin the "Demon Child" wanted by the World Government.
At present, she was still hiding in the shadows of the underworld, using her incredible memory and intellect to manage information for this organization.
"Oh, oh, oh… if it isn't Ghost Hand Rowan himself," Terrence said with a faint smile as he looked up. "I didn't expect you to show up at a time like this."
"The timing certainly isn't ideal," Rowan replied calmly.
He looked directly at Terrence and continued, "You already know about my situation. That means you should know exactly what kind of information I've come here for."
Terrence chuckled, removing the cigar from his mouth.
"About Tarro Town, I assume. As it happens, I do possess some inside information. But considering your current status, selling intelligence to you carries considerable risk."
He leaned back in his chair.
"So naturally… the price will be double."
Rowan stared silently at Terrence for a long moment.