Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: p@treon.com/CosmicKaminari
----------
As Drake gave up resistance, the chaotic battlefield finally quieted down, and all three Marine officers were tied to the gallows.
From the moment they infiltrated, their fate was sealed.
"Damn Marines, threatening me with Page One's safety!"
"Sis, stop!"
Ulti furiously beat Drake, the tips of her high heels stained with blood. If her brother hadn't been pulling her back with all his might, she would have beaten Drake to death.
Page One's expression was grim. He still somewhat respected the Marine who had defeated him, and even if they were to kill him, it shouldn't be in such a manner.
"Stop hitting him, he'll die!"
"Huh? So what?!"
Ulti grew even angrier, kicking Drake hard in the abdomen again, her entire high heel embedding itself.
"Pfft!"
Drake's back arched high, his eyes rolled back, and a large amount of blood mixed with internal organ tissue flowed from his mouth as his consciousness grew increasingly blurry.
Death was approaching.
At the critical moment of life and death, Daichi spoke faintly.
"Ulti, stop."
"...."
Ulti's kicked leg stopped.
The next second, the girl tearfully threw herself into Daichi's arms.
"Waaah, Daichi ♡, thank you for saving Pay-Pay. If I lost Pay-Pay, I wouldn't be able to live either."
"Eh? Did Daichi save Pay-Pay for my sake?"
"Wuwu, I'm so touched!"
"Daichi ♡, how should I repay you?"
"I know! Let's get married!"
Daichi: "..."
Ulti, while acting cute and coquettish, secretly observed Daichi's reaction.
Damn Daichi, always flirting with disreputable women. Now this beautiful girl is throwing herself into your arms, let's see how you can resist.
She waited for about 10 seconds.
Seeing Daichi unmoved, Ulti immediately became furious. She lifted her leg and kicked Daichi hard in the shin.
"Damn it, say something!"
"Oh!"
Daichi sighed helplessly, grabbed Ulti by the back of her collar, and lifted her up like a little chick.
Then, he put force into his arm.
I'm throwing you!
"Waaahhh~~~"
As the girl disappeared into the distance, the world became much quieter.
Daichi clapped his hands in satisfaction, then turned to face the ruins of the tavern. After some time, the captains returned one after another.
Anger was etched on everyone's faces.
Marco came to Daichi's side and, seeing the three tied-up Marines, instinctively frowned.
Today's plan was completely disrupted.
Given the current situation, if the captains were to obediently go back and appease their subordinates, they would surely be seen as weak and incompetent.
The pirates were attacked; there's no reason to swallow their anger.
Everyone in this world knows what happens when you provoke the Whitebeard Pirates, and if they don't get an explanation, where would they put their face!
And Beast Pirates.
The Marines were captured by Daichi and his group, so how to deal with them depended on Daichi's decision; he couldn't forcibly interfere.
Daichi scanned the captains.
"How do you plan to deal with these Marines?"
"Of course, we'll kill them!"
The captains were burning with rage.
They were happily attending the banquet, drinking to their heart's content, when suddenly they were bombarded by a bunch of bastard Marines who appeared out of nowhere!
Is there any justice left?!
"You're right!"
Daichi grinned and raised his voice.
"Hachinosu is a pirates' paradise, a pirate holy land that Marines absolutely cannot set foot in, but now arrogant Marines have extended their hands here!"
"We will never allow such a thing to happen!"
"Hachinosu without Marines is the true pirates' paradise!"
"Daichi is right!"
The captains roared excitedly.
Daichi's expression turned cold, and he raised his greatsword.
"Announce it: tomorrow at noon, I will publicly execute these three damned Marines in Pirates Plaza!"
"Ooh ooh ooh!!!"
The captains roared excitedly.
Publicly execute Marines!
Just thinking about it made their blood boil with excitement!
This was a warning to the Marines!
Marco frowned.
Killing Marines was fine, but if they were publicly executed, the Marines' face would be completely lost, and they would surely react.
Daichi looked at Marco, a smile blooming.
"Scared?"
"Hmph, how could I be!"
Marco snorted coldly.
He just didn't want to cause trouble, not that he was afraid of angering the Marines. Over the years, the Whitebeard Pirates had sunk countless Marine warships.
This time, they really should teach the Marines a lesson!
The news spread quickly.
The next day, morning.
As the news spread, the pirates of Hachinosu welcomed a carnival. The public execution of the Marines completely ignited their emotions, and they rushed to Pirates Plaza.
Meanwhile, in the Southwest Sea.
Warship, operations meeting room.
"Damn pirates!"
The officers' faces were twisted with anger, and even Kizaru, who was usually calm, now had an extremely solemn expression.
The entire Hachinosu was celebrating; there was no way they couldn't sense it.
Only three hours remained until the execution.
Headquarters support would definitely not arrive in time. To rescue Drake and the other two, they could only rely on the forces of their three warships.
The only silver lining was that Whitebeard was not on the island.
Not long ago, the Moby Dick left Hachinosu. They initially thought Whitebeard intended to ambush them, but they never found any trace of the Moby Dick.
Whitebeard had truly left.
The question now was whether to rescue them or not!
Vice Admiral Momonga took a deep breath and rationally spoke: "Drake and the others are SWORD. We shouldn't risk rescuing them."
"..."
The officers fell silent.
SWORD is composed of Marines who have already submitted their resignations. They don't have to follow any orders and can act freely, even engaging the Four Emperors without permission.
However, with the right to free action, there are naturally restrictions. In necessary circumstances, the Marines can unconditionally abandon SWORD.
And the current situation was caused by SWORD's unauthorized actions, so they should bear the consequences of their failure.
They knew very well how many pirates were gathered at the execution plaza on Hachinosu. With their limited forces, attempting a forced rescue would likely lead to their own demise.
No one wanted to sacrifice themselves in vain.
But the problem was the public execution. If the Marines did nothing, it would severely damage morale.
The officers looked at Kizaru, awaiting the final decision.
Kizaru stood in front of the tactical board, looking at Daichi's photo pinned there, his eyes behind his glasses filled with helplessness and solemnity.
"Today's young people are truly terrifying."
It had been a long time since he had been led by the nose by pirates. This situation seemed like a coincidence, but experience told him that someone must be manipulating everything from the shadows.
And that mastermind was very likely the unknown man in the photo.
"Vice Admiral Momonga, Vice Admiral Doll."
Kizaru turned to face the two Vice Admirals.
They had to rescue Drake and the others.
The safety of the three not only concerned the Marines' face and morale.
Drake was his friend, and he couldn't just watch that kid die. Also, Kujaku was Vice Admiral Tsuru's granddaughter. He wouldn't have the face to return and see Vice Admiral Tsuru if he didn't bring Kujaku back to Headquarters.
He never thought he would have to be reckless once.
"Immediately assemble elite squads of Captain rank and above. We're going to bring those three brats back!"