Chapter 23: Gunner Silva Joins the Crew
Silva staggered back to his home base, his mind clouded with turmoil. The place was well-equipped, far from being just an ordinary house.
It belonged to his adoptive father, Shiruba Bonaparte, a renowned sniper from the island of Gunners. Though he once came close to claiming the title of the world's best marksman, he had ultimately fallen short against a previous world champion. Middle-aged and childless, he had adopted Silva, a prodigious orphan with exceptional talent.
Silva's eyesight and perception were extraordinary, allowing him to master long-range precision shooting at a young age. He had competed in numerous shooting tournaments, amassing a wealth of honors. With each victory, his arrogance grew.
Bonaparte had often warned him to stay grounded, not to be blinded by vanity. Though Silva would nod in agreement, deep down, he dismissed his father's advice. Eventually, Bonaparte forbade him from participating in competitions, insisting that he focus on mastering different firearms and honing his skills by hunting wild beasts.
But after Bonaparte passed away last year, Silva returned to the tournament scene, effortlessly claiming championship titles time and time again. He was hailed as a future world-class sniper, and his confidence soared to new heights.
Yet today, in his first real battle—a duel where life and death were on the line—he had lost to an unknown pirate sniper. Years of accumulated glory had crumbled in an instant.
"I'm sorry, Father... I was wrong... I'm not worthy of that title yet!"
He wept openly, recalling his father's words: A sniper who has never experienced life-and-death combat cannot truly be called the best. The competitions had never been about skill alone; they were a spectacle, a tool for gambling, a way to lure traders and pirates into spending fortunes.
"Roger Pirates... It's all your fault! You destroyed everything I worked for!"
His thoughts twisted, and he fixated his hatred on the Roger Pirates, convinced that Peterm had taken everything from him.
...