Chapter 78 – Proposal of Liberation
PLACE: The Market Streets
Cleaica by daylight was a contradiction painted in gold and ash.
The upper streets gleamed with polished marble, fountains, and banners displaying the royal crest — a sun chained by crowns. Merchants barked prices for fine silks and wines imported from the Red Line itself. Nobles strolled lazily with parasols, their laughter echoing between arches.
But one only had to step two streets lower to see the truth.
Children with hollow cheeks sat by gutters, begging for scraps. Soldiers extorted coins from vendors too poor to resist. A woman who didn't kneel quickly enough to a passing Marine officer received the butt of a rifle to her ribs.
Arthur walked the streets with Lisa and Leo, a hood pulled low to conceal his silver hair.
Leo's jaw clenched tighter with every sight. "This isn't just tribute day. They do this every week."
Lisa scribbled observations into a small notebook. "Systematic oppression. Keep citizens divided — nobles bribed with luxury, poor silenced by hunger. Classic Celestial Dragon economics."
Arthur's gaze swept the market. He didn't need Lisa's analysis to see the truth — but he valued how she put it into words the crew could act on.
"Notice the Marine rotation?" he asked quietly.
Lisa adjusted her glasses, scanning rooftops. "Three-man patrols every six minutes. Snipers on balconies. Too disciplined for a backwater kingdom — clearly Navy HQ involvement."
Arthur's lips curved faintly. "Which means they expect trouble."
Leo gave a bitter laugh. "Of course they do. When you're this cruel, you're always waiting for the people you crush to bite back."
---
They ducked into a narrow alley. Sunlight filtered down in thin shafts, illuminating the dust floating in the air.
Leo rested his guitar against the wall and leaned on it like a crutch. "Arthur… why are you really here? Pirates don't risk their necks to play hero."
Arthur studied him for a moment. Then he crouched, picking up a small stone and turning it in his fingers.
"Because tyrants always overreach," he said finally. "And when they do, they create cracks. Cracks where something new can be born. I'm here to break what's rotten — and build something stronger."
Leo frowned. "That sounds like a speech my father would've made. He died for it."
Arthur's silver eyes gleamed with quiet steel. "Then he was closer to the truth than most."
For the first time, Leo saw something in Arthur that unsettled him more than any blade or Haki could — conviction. Not the loud, blustering kind of zealots, but a calm, unshakable certainty.
"…And what do you want from me?" Leo asked cautiously.
Arthur stood, dusting off his hands. "Your music. Your axe. And your voice. I'll free your family. In return, you'll fight with us. Not as a tool, but as a crewmate."
Leo's breath caught. For years, he'd dreamed of saving his family. But no one had ever offered more than empty hope. This man — this pirate — spoke as if it were already decided.
Lisa crossed her arms. "Arthur, are you serious? Adding him means another life we're responsible for. Another target on the Navy's list."
Arthur turned to her, expression calm. "He's already a target, Lisa. The difference is whether he stands alone, or with us."
Lisa fell silent.
Leo bowed his head. His fingers brushed over his guitar strings, and a soft chord hummed through the alley. It was not cheerful — but steady, resolute.
"…Then I'll play for you. And I'll fight with you. If it means seeing my family free again."
Arthur extended his hand. "Welcome aboard, Leo Von Seo."
Leo hesitated only a heartbeat before clasping it.
-----
Elsewhere in the city, Surv and Rio were not exactly blending in.
"Surv, for the love of— stop frying the fish stalls!" Rio hissed, pulling her away as sparks of electricity danced between her fingers.
"He tried to shortchange me!" Surv snapped, her hair frizzing with static. "Do I look like someone who lets scams slide?"
"YES!" Rio groaned. "That's literally what undercover means! You're supposed to let it slide until later."
On a nearby rooftop, Alex sighed into his rifle scope. "Children. I work with children."
Rus lumbered up beside him, holding an entire roasted boar leg. "At least they're entertaining."
Alex pinched the bridge of his nose. "One day we'll actually complete reconnaissance without drawing attention. One day."
Down in the crowd, several vendors muttered about "strange foreigners." Marines were already glancing their way.
But Surv only grinned, sparks snapping between her teeth. "Let them come."
Rio facepalmed. "We are so screwed."
---
By afternoon, the crew reconvened at Cleaica's central square.
A massive iron cage dominated the plaza. Inside, dozens of ragged prisoners knelt in silence. Among them — Leo's mother and younger brother.
Leo froze, his breath catching. His brother's once-bright eyes were dull, his face bruised. His mother clutched him protectively despite her own shackles.
The king of Cleaica sat on a high balcony above them, fat and jeweled, goblet in hand. His laughter boomed across the square as he tossed scraps of bread down to the prisoners.
"Behold!" he declared. "The fate of those who defy tribute! Let all remember — defiance brings chains!"
Citizens bowed their heads. None dared move.
Arthur's crew stood at the edge of the crowd, hoods low. Rage simmered in their veins, but Arthur raised a hand — hold. Not yet.
Leo's nails dug into his palms hard enough to draw blood. His voice shook. "Arthur… that's them."
Arthur's gaze lifted to the balcony, then back to the cage. His tone was steady, but his eyes burned.
"Then that decides it. We're breaking the palace."
---
Back aboard their ship, the crew gathered. The sea breeze carried the salt tang through the open cabin windows.
Lisa laid a map of Cleaica Palace on the table. "Outer gates guarded by Marines. Inner halls by royal knights. Underground cells for prisoners. Too many layers to brute-force."
Arthur traced a finger across the map. "Then we split. Team A infiltrates the palace, frees the prisoners. Team B handles CP9 and Marines in the streets. Two fronts — one goal: liberation."
Hiroshi leaned on his sword, smirking faintly. "Finally, a real fight."
Rio frowned. "We're talking Admirals potentially showing up. You think we're ready?"
Arthur's silver eyes locked on him. "Ready or not, the storm's already coming. We just choose whether to ride it — or drown."
Leo sat quietly in the corner, guitar across his knees. His heart hammered as he realized what Arthur was asking. This wasn't just about saving his family anymore. It was about tearing down the kingdom's chains completely.
Arthur turned to him. "Leo. You said you'd fight with us. Do you still mean it?"
Leo's fingers tightened on his guitar. He thought of his brother's bruises. His mother's shackles. His father's execution.
He strummed a single, sharp chord — a note like a blade slicing through silence.
"I mean it."
Arthur nodded once. "Then tomorrow… Cleaica begins to fall."
---
Middle of the South Blue Sea
Far away the city, on a Marine warship anchored offshore, vice- Admiral Kizaru leaned lazily against the rail. His golden light glimmered faintly in the dusk.
"Silver hair, hm?" he drawled, watching the city's faint lanterns below. "So troublesome… and so fast. Guess I'll have to move at the speed of light."
Behind him, CP9 agents sat in silence, awaiting orders.
Cleaica slept uneasily that night, unaware the next day would bring rebellion, blood, and freedom — all at once.
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