The Marines did not care what Ash was thinking.
From a distance, they had already spotted him leaning against a tree, his body supported by a machete planted in the ground, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the village.
Only when they drew closer did they realize how young he actually looked, barely more than a youth.
That realization changed nothing.
Blades were drawn. Rifles were raised.
Ash was covered with blood from head to toe, his face streaked red, and a machete rested at his side. To the Marines, that alone was enough to justify caution.
Ash reacted instantly.
He released the machete, letting it fall to the ground, raised both hands high, and shouted before anyone could speak.
"I'm not a pirate! I was kidnapped and brought here! The blood and the machete belong to the pirates. Their bodies are up ahead by the field ridge. Sali from the village told me to hide here while they fought the pirates inside the village!"
One of the Marines, a Petty Officer wearing a blue kerchief around his neck, leaned toward the Officer and whispered, "Sir, he really does look like a civilian. He's young, and Sali is indeed the leader of the village's fighting men."
The Marine Officer did not respond immediately.
He studied Ash closely, eyes sharp and unreadable. After a moment, his brow lifted slightly, as if something had crossed his mind.
"Assign two men to keep an eye on him," the Officer said calmly. "He comes with us. We're heading into the village."
---
Inside the village, the scene was soaked in blood.
Corpses lay scattered everywhere.
A few belonged to villagers and were being carefully gathered and identified one by one. The rest were pirates, piled crudely together without ceremony.
A one-eyed young man stood among the dead, methodically beheading pirate corpses. Bodies were kicked aside into a heap, while severed heads were briefly rinsed in a basin before being stacked separately.
Near the village center, dozens of pirates were tied hand and foot, huddled together in fear, their bodies bruised and broken. Around them lay more pirates with shattered arms and legs, rolling on the ground and screaming in agony.
Sali stood nearby, his expression dark and hollow, listening as the Village Chief recited the names of the dead. With each name, the weight in his chest grew heavier.
Compared to him, the shorter and sturdier Youki radiated barely restrained fury.
He carried a Zanbatō, clearly seized from a pirate, his eyes bloodshot as he circled the captured men. At his side stood a boy who looked thirteen or fourteen at most.
Youki growled, resting the massive blade against his shoulder, "tell me. Which one of these bastards killed someone from the village?"
Without hesitation, the boy pointed. "Big Brother Youki, that red-haired one with the scar over his right eye. He killed Uncle Bam and Aunt Lian."
"Good."
Youki stepped forward, grabbed the red-haired pirate by the collar, and dragged him out.
"I surrendered!" the pirate screamed. "I already surrendered!"
"Anyone who didn't surrender is already dead," Youki replied coldly. "Go repent in hell, pirate trash."
The Zanbatō rose and fell.
The pirate was cut cleanly in half at the waist.
Before the body could even go limp, another young man stepped forward, lifted the two halves without a word, and carried them away, leaving long trails of blood as he tossed them onto the corpse pile.
"Damn it," the one-eyed man cursed when he noticed. "What use is the lower half? Throw it farther away next time."
A sharp whistle suddenly pierced the air.
Sali and the others immediately tensed, gripping their weapons and converging toward the village entrance.
As the one-eyed man passed by the pirates lying on the ground, still howling in pain, he delivered quick finishing strikes to their necks, ending their cries one by one.
Pini appeared atop a low eave near the entrance and shouted, "Big Brother Sali, the Marines have arrived!"
Sali subtly waved a hand behind him.
Without a word, the young men lowered and sheathed their weapons.
Moments later, the Marines entered the village.
The commanding Officer surveyed the scene, the piles of pirate corpses, the blood-soaked ground, and the villagers standing in grim silence. His brow furrowed slightly.
"The pirates will now be taken into Marine custody," he said flatly, gesturing for his men to move forward.
"Wait."
Sali raised a hand, stopping them.
The Marine Officer's eyes sharpened. "Are you trying to prevent us from taking the pirates?"
Before Sali could answer, Pini spoke from above with a mocking laugh.
"When the pirates slaughtered our village inside your jurisdiction, you were nowhere to be seen. Now that the pirates are already captured, you show up to talk about justice?"
Some Marines looked uncomfortable. Others glared angrily.
"Shut up, Pini!" Sali snapped.
Then he turned back to the Marines, his tone cold. "Put away those looks. We are not pirates."
Youki stepped forward, his voice trembling with anger. "Our village pays Heavenly Tribute to the Kingdom. Isn't it your duty to protect us? Explain how pirates passed your base and reached our island!"
"Oh?" the Marine Officer replied impatiently. "So now you question Marine justice?"
"Don't lecture us about justice!" Sali roared. "Forty-seven villagers are dead. Eighty-six injured. Elders, women, children, all because you failed!"
His voice shook with fury.
"Behind us is the Kingdom's island. To the left is the Calm Belt. To the right is your Marine base. Tell me how pirates sailed straight to our home!"
The Petty Officer quickly stepped in, trying to ease the tension.
"Sali, you misunderstand. This wasn't a lone pirate crew. They're part of the Wolf-Guzzling Pirate Group, retreating after failing to enter the Grand Line."
"Their fleet has eight ships. Our forces intercepted them nearby and destroyed three ships led by their main vessel. Only after the battle did we learn that four ships escaped Reverse Mountain and returned."
He gestured to the exhausted Marines behind him.
"We split our forces immediately to search surrounding islands. This ship slipped through and raided your village. This was not negligence."
"No one expected them to scatter and raid villages after failing the Grand Line."
Both sides burned with anger.
The villagers had lost too much.
The Marines had just fought a brutal battle and were being accused of incompetence.
The atmosphere grew heavy, thick with resentment.
Then a voice cut through it.
"Uh… sorry to interrupt."
Ash stepped out from behind the Marine formation, smiling awkwardly.
"I didn't mean to break the mood," he said lightly, "but since we're already in the village, they can confirm I'm not a pirate."
He raised his bound wrists slightly, showing the handcuffs digging into his skin.
"Do I really still need these?" he added. "My wrists are already turning red."
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Bro can't read the room lol
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