Months after saving San Ricardo, Puss promised many things that he has gone through in the years of his adventures. Some he could never forget for how much it impacted him in his life. It was going to be five years since he worked with his long-lost friend, Bard Bjarte. When Puss and El Guante Blanco went their separate ways, he couldn't get himself up. The dangers that lurk when he first became a bounty hunter. First experiences are the hardest and the worst. Not until they met in the Archipelago once he was lost.

Prologue: First Meeting

Puss sneaks through the lush forest, seeing in the foreground of the sandy beach. One of his targets that will double his gold. Wearing a shady hat, long black coat with dark leather pants looking towards the ocean's horizon. The moon's glow bleeds through the wavering waters as the night sky brightens. Small but faint, a small figure zooms by the moon. He chuckled faintly. He was an easy target for Puss. The sounds of distant roars and crickets that covers the sound of his footsteps. He opens the scrolled wanted poster for the last time.

"Stealing gold doubloons, stealing captured reptiles and killing them for their hides. It is him indeed. . ."

Beside the man lays a large cyan colored cage, yet empty. The sturdy metal reflects a piece of the moonlight everywhere, deterring the use of the campfire the man lighted. Curious of the choice of color, it didn't hinder Puss of his goal.

He steps slowly, one step at a time. His boots scratching through the soft sand, like its digging. Every inch, it weighs on him not only the sand turning wet as he nears the beach, but the aftermath upon getting the man's head. Proving to himself that he is more than just a student that El Guante taught. He sees the man's right hand. Having a drink while he rests until the dawn of day.

"Look, there is no reason to sneak at me anymore."

Puss hissed, miserably failing on his stealth. He readies further, sheathing his sword out, unbeknownst to him the man's ability.

"You should know, of the many sins you have done until now. You must be tired of being hunted by foes like me." Puss cleared up about his constant movement and escape throughout the Archipelago.

"But of course, you modig katt. But you know me so well, you should know my name, don't you?" He stands up and straightened his coat. He pockets two swords for each hand, three strikes through his left eye leaves a swell of fear of his doings. His smile to Puss is what stands up to him most. "You were named the Fearless one in Carr!"

He smiled, but this time, it shown with proud. "Really, well so it seems everyone knows the tale." He tugs next to his cyan cage, taking one of his swords out in front of him. "I'm just known as Bard, mate. But it seems now, you can call me Bard the Fearless One." He laughs mirthlessly. It makes it feel real, thankful for himself.

Both hears louder shrugs of the bushes atop hills of the sandy beach west of them, out comes two more bounty hunters, both looking for the same price for his head.

"Hmm, perhaps we've overstayed my welcome here." Bard removes his second sword. One of the hunters, a female with black paint on her face shoots an arrow from her crossbow. Bard reacts quickly and flings his sword cutting the sharp tip of the arrow at top speed. The other hunter, more muscled and wears a Viking armor with an axe, throws it at Bard. Puss stops at his track to see Bard's reacting dodging left. The axe coming straight to Puss, he jumps left quickly. Barely cutting his fur. Puss lifts his head up to see a standoff with the two hunters and Bard himself.

"The Fearless one!" The woman yelled. "We have come for your bounty!" Bard sighed. "Well yeah? So is that cat."

Puss staggers back up, collecting his hat and turns back at Bard. "Unless you surrender, I would not mind taking all of you out." Bard looked to him with wonder. "Why don't we make a deal then."

"What are you suggesting."

"Take these two out of my misery, and I'll see to it that you will be rewarded greatly, and personally. But only if you work with me, and me alone."

Puss wondered about this deal, where there are many things can be of his, with a mastermind like Bard by his side. Yet he knows his own etiquette. "I work with and trust no one."

"I don't expect you to. Look at that bounty price, and double it, think of how many more you can get if you work for me."

Puss knows the wordplays when it originates from powerful ones. "Why would I do that?"

"I know your struggles Puss, you want to prove something to yourself, don't you? You're struggling just to survive. I can see it myself." He walks toward Puss, but the two bounty hunters charge in behind.

"You know how this is going to end, so make your choice."

Puss is conflicted inside, yet with the two hunters coming for him, he had no choice. He jumps in front of Bard, throwing his sword that punctured the wet sand, tripping the woman hunter down, her head hitting the side of the cage. Leaving her unconscious. The man swings his hands left, yet his slow reactions gets to him, as Puss kicks the hunter on his face, and slams him down. Puss quickly ties his hands through a complex way that makes it impossible for him to let go. Puss grabs his sword and used the ball of his sword. Slamming it to the hunter's head and leaving him too, unconscious.

"Well, you have proven yourself to me. Perhaps you're stronger than you look mate." Bard walks calmly back to his wooden chair. The fire he made slowly dies down as Puss collects his sword and goes to him.

"I just wish I will not regret this."

"That is up for you to decide Puss." He throws to Puss a leather bag filled with golden doubloons, the first pay for him.

"Are you up for your next job?"

"Fine, then tell me."