Thud!
The bartender fell to the ground, curling up in pain and writhing.
"White Shark" Hamilton gave a heavy snort, said nothing, turned around and walked to the second floor, making the wooden stairs creak under his feet.
Having seen the excitement, the drunkards dispersed one after another. Captain Ireland and his group, unaffected, returned upstairs to continue their card game.
Klein took this opportunity to follow him up the stairs.
He had returned to "Flying Fish and Wine" not to deal with "White Shark" over a non-existent threat, but purely to extract more intelligence from this tavern owner who had connections with multiple pirate forces. After all, he had named his new identity Gehrman, with the hidden implication of hunting down blood-soaked pirates and using their spirits, flesh, and Beyonder characteristics to replace those waiting to be released within the "Writhing Hunger."
Port Damiro had no gas resources, so the hallway on the second floor was quite dim. The candlelight flickered faintly in the brass sconces embedded in the walls on either side, casting weak shadows.
Klein observed his surroundings as he wiped a hand across his face, silently transforming into one of the guards from the first floor.
He compensated for the difference in clothing and accessories with his illusion-creating abilities.
Having made his preparations, he headed toward "White Shark" Hamilton's room, guided by his spiritual intuition.
He passed by the card players first without attracting anyone's attention.
He stopped in front of the several guards guarding the passage and lowered his voice:
"There's a bit of trouble downstairs again."
"By the Storm! What's happening tonight?" one of the guards exclaimed.
"I hope those lovelies aren't hurt," another guard said, a little concerned.
He was referring to the prostitutes who depended on the bar.
"They're fine," Klein said, passing the guards. He arrived at "White Shark's" door and politely raised his hand to knock.
"Who is it?" Hamilton asked warily.
"Boss, it's me. Something happened downstairs again!" Klein recalled the forms of address he had gathered from the earlier commotion and deliberately hoarsened his voice.
"Damn it!" Hamilton roared. "Come in and explain what happened!"
Klein turned the handle and walked in.
As he conveniently closed the door, he canceled the illusion, his facial muscles rapidly writhing as he reverted to the previous identity—a new patron with blond hair, blue eyes, and ordinary features.
"You..." Hamilton was stunned at first, then opened his mouth wide to shout.
At the same time, illusory fish scales appeared on the back of his hand, and his already tall and obese body swelled another size.
Suddenly, his heart pounded violently, and a powerful, instinctual fear gripped his throat.
At this moment, he felt that the stranger standing by the door was a demon starving for many days, scrutinizing his flesh and soul with a cold and greedy gaze.
In an instant, "White Shark" Hamilton was thrown into extreme panic, unable to formulate any effective response.
Klein leisurely walked to the sofa and sat down, politely smiling:
"Can we have a calm conversation now?"
The feeling of being targeted by a horrifying monster abruptly disappeared, and Hamilton relaxed. His body deflated like a punctured balloon.
He no longer recklessly attempted to call for help. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"A hunter," Klein casually replied. "I heard you have connections with multiple pirate forces. I want to know about that."
"No, I don't..." "White Shark" instinctively denied it.
He immediately felt that maddening sense of hunger again, and felt as if the man's eyes had taken on a dark red hue.
Klein considered his persona for a moment and smiled gently:
"You have two choices.
"One: answer frankly. Two: be killed by me, and then answer frankly."
Kill and commune with spirits? "White Shark" Hamilton had heard similar rumors. He swallowed with difficulty and asked:
"Why do you want to know?"
Klein smiled:
"I am a hunter. I chase bounties."
Hamilton suddenly felt that the man's polite smile contained an indescribable hint of madness and couldn't help blurting out:
"You, are you crazy?
"I've seen many adventurers like you, but they all ended up dead at the bottom of the sea!"