Lord Shimura's been hunting the Viper for years. You're lucky he didn't take one of your hands when you tried to sneak aboard his ship.
― Jin Sakai
The Viper of Hakata Bay is a smuggler operating from Iki Island, and a potential duel opponent for Jin Sakai. Known only by his alias, The Viper has gained infamy for evading samurai capture for over 20 years. The Viper has a predominantly negative view of the samurai, much like most of the residents of Iki Island, due to his persecution at their hands, as well as a confrontation with Kazumasa Sakai in the past, which resulted in the Viper losing all feeling in his little finger.
The Ghost of Iki Island[]
The Viper is introduced by the sake merchant, Kenji, who tries to sneak on to his ship to gain passage from Iki Island to Tsushima. After being caught, Kenji avoids the threat of maiming by offering his horse Miku as collateral, as well as 10 times the asking price. Kenji returns to the Viper with his friend Jin Sakai, who can choose to either be confrontational or defuse the tense situation, mentioning that the enormous debt owed by Kenji is unlikely to be paid off by the time Kenji gathers the funds, as half the Island wants him dead. Jin will then ask the Viper to lower the cost.
If Jin tries to defuse the situation, The Viper agree to the terms as long as Jin brings him the navigation charts stolen by the Eagle Tribe, which contain invaluable information about key smuggling routes, claiming that if deciphered by the Mongols will expose every weakness in the Shogun's fleet. If Jin is confrontational, The Viper will duel him, and after losing the Viper will agree to the terms, however Jin must still recover the navigation charts for him, as well as an artwork which the Viper claims will "take his mind off his cracked ribs" on the journey to Tsushima.
Note: You can still fight him in a replay duels in New Game+ if you have beaten him in the normal game.