บท 3: Chapter 3 - Sakazuki
Chapter 3 - Sakazuki
"What's that place ahead, Hibari?"
A slightly hoarse, deep voice rang out on the spacious deck of the battleship, startling the bored little girl sitting by the ship's railing.
The girl, named Hibari, had two playful pigtails and a round, adorable face.
When Hibari heard the voice, she didn't answer. Instead, she puffed out her cheeks, turned her little head to the other direction, and looked out at the vast sea.
"Hmm? What's with that attitude? Can't you show some respect to your father? I took time out of my busy schedule to take you back to our hometown."
"Hmph! Stop lying to me. Grandpa Sengoku already told me. You're here to deal with the coup in the Kingdom of Prince. Visiting our hometown is just a side trip, isn't it?"
Hibari turned around angrily and saw a burly man, over three meters tall, wearing a red military uniform with a large "Justice" cloak draped over his back, and a white military cap on his head. The middle-aged man wore a stiff smile as he walked out of the cabin.
The man's square face rarely showed a smile, making it look especially awkward.
If someone didn't know him well, they might think he was angry.
With a rigid smile, he said dismissively, "I'm an Admiral of the Navy. What kind of coup requires the involvement of an Admiral? Your Grandpa Sengoku just asked me to check the situation since I was taking you to North Blue for a vacation. Compared to our visit home, that's just a side task."
Hibari thought carefully about what the man said and realized it made sense.
Though she was young, she knew her father was one of the highest-ranking officers in the Navy Headquarters, one of the three Admirals.
Admiral Sakazuki, code-named Akainu.
In theory, unless something happened to the World Nobles, an Admiral, as the Navy's highest combat power, wouldn't be dispatched easily.
For a small North Blue country like the Kingdom of Prince, even if a coup occurred and they requested Navy assistance, the Navy would typically send a Vice Admiral, or at most a Rear Admiral.
"Really?" Hibari looked up.
Akainu quickly nodded, very specific. "Of course. Have you ever seen Daddy lie? By the way, I heard you've been learning navigation from Granny Tsuru and received some praise. Is that true?"
Hibari's face instantly lit up with pride. She jumped down from the railing, hands on her hips. "Of course it's true. I've been learning very seriously. Granny Tsuru said I've made great progress."
"Well then, I'll have to test you." Akainu gave a stiff smile, ruffled Hibari's hair, and pointed to the faintly visible island ahead. "Do you know what that island is?"
Hibari thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I do. The first lesson Granny Tsuru taught me was about the geography of our hometown. Based on our route, the next island should be Spider Miles, part of the Lubneiru Kingdom, and the birthplace of Montblanc Norland. Am I right, Daddy?"
"Hahaha, well done. That indeed is Spider Miles. Beyond that port, after a few more islands, we'll reach the North Blue 177th Branch base, where you'll meet Uncle Adila. He's been eagerly asking about you."
On the deck, the Navy soldiers handling the sails and ropes exchanged glances, thinking they must be seeing things.
It was the first time they'd seen Admiral Sakazuki show such a gentle side.
Even though his smile still looked quite terrifying.
Just then, Akainu suddenly stood up, turning to look at the sea in another direction, his brows furrowing slightly.
"It's been over ten years since I've been to North Blue, and this place still feels disgusting."
"But eating people, that's going too far."
He muttered a few words, then turned back and pointed in that direction, loudly asking behind him, "What's the nearest island on that route?"
The navigator stationed in the lookout tower atop the mast quickly started checking the charts.
Soon, a soldier saluted and loudly answered, "Admiral Sakazuki, the nearest island on that route is Red Leaf Village, a small village on the outskirts of Lubneiru Kingdom."
"Turn the battleship around. We'll check that island first," Akainu said in a deep voice.
"Yes, sir!" The soldiers, without questioning, promptly began executing the order.
Hibari, curious, looked in that direction but saw no island, puzzled, she looked at her father.
"Why are we turning around?"
"There's something I need to handle. Hibari, are you tired? If so, go rest in the cabin."
"A demon! That guy's definitely a demon! No human could be that terrifying!"
Ripper Jericho's legs trembled like noodles as he looked at the hellish scene before him. He had no more desire to charge and kill Rosha.
He just wanted to leave this cursed place, get back to the bar in Spider Miles, drink a few large gulps of the strongest rum, and sleep, forgetting today's events.
Of the pirates present, only he was still standing; the others had turned into scattered pieces.
Like they did to those weak villagers earlier, the man before him used the most brutal methods, tearing the pirates' limbs from their bodies, and scattering them everywhere.
Blood radiated outward, mixing with the dirt and ashes beneath, forming a nauseating mud.
Humans are strange creatures.
Cruel to others, feeling no discomfort.
But when the roles reverse, turning the abuser into the abused, they can't bear it.
The sickening sound of tearing flesh still echoed, as a skeletal figure crouched, head buried in a pirate's chest, growling like a beast, frenziedly tearing.
"Ugh!"
Jericho's stomach churned, and he vomited up the wine and food he had consumed earlier.
He dared not stay any longer, retching as he sprinted toward the docked ship.
He didn't even bother retrieving the tens of thousands of berries collected in the village.
Jericho just wanted to leave.
However, someone didn't want him to leave so easily.
"Roar!!"
A beastly roar came from behind, followed by the sound of wind rushing toward him. Jericho, terrified, rolled forward without thinking, dodging the incoming attack.
In a flash, he had pulled out two one-foot-long wrist blades, ready on his wrists, and watched cautiously.
Rosha, eyes blood-red, with blood dripping from his mouth, grinned, his white teeth clattering, and tilted his head, staring at Jericho.
That gaze was like a predator sizing up its prey.
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