Chương 31: Chapter 30 - Bandits
Though the leftover bear meat wasn't appetizing, they ate it anyway to fuel their journey.
Just as they were about to set off, a gunshot rang out. Shirakawa's shield instinctively activated, deflecting the bullet.
"What's happening?" Buggy cried, ducking for cover.
They looked towards the source of the shot. Shirakawa's face was grim. The bullet had been aimed at him. If it had hit Catherine or Buggy, it could have been fatal.
"Who's there?" Shirakawa shouted.
"Tsk, I thought my aim was better than that," a figure emerged from the trees, followed by a dozen others.
Their ragged clothes and scars marked them as dangerous individuals.
"Who are you?" Shirakawa demanded, while Buggy and Shanks prepared to fight. Buggy might not be strong, but he was still a pirate, and these men didn't seem particularly formidable.
"We're bandits. Hand over your valuables, and leave the girl for us to have some fun with," the leader said with a lecherous grin.
His men laughed, eyeing Catherine with predatory gazes.
"Keep your eyes to yourselves, or I'll gouge them out," Catherine snarled.
"Feisty, huh? I like that. It's more satisfying to conquer a woman who puts up a fight," the leader said, licking his lips. "Boys, let's have some fun. But remember, don't hurt the girl."
"Don't worry, boss. We'll leave her for you," one of them replied.
"Everyone gets a share after I'm done," the leader added.
Shirakawa's face darkened at their casual disregard for human life. They were treating him and his companions like insects.
"You're lucky," Shirakawa said, his voice sending a chill through the air.
"Lucky? What do you mean?" the leader asked.
"You're lucky you'll die by my hand."
"Hahaha! Still acting tough, even when you're about to die? I'll save you for last, so you can witness my methods," the leader laughed, dismissing Shirakawa's threat. He had been momentarily unnerved, but now he thought Shirakawa was just a naive kid.
"Buggy, Shanks, no mercy this time. Kill them all," Shirakawa ordered.
"I was thinking the same thing," Shanks replied.
Their tone indicated they had killed before and wouldn't hesitate to do so again, especially against such vile people.
Buggy, despite his usual cowardice, wouldn't tolerate being looked down upon by those weaker than him.
The bandits charged, and Catherine drew two daggers from her waist.
"You're going to fight too?" Shirakawa asked, surprised.
"Of course. No one insults me and gets away with it," Catherine said with determination.
"I thought those daggers were just for show. I didn't know you could fight." Shirakawa had seen the daggers before but never seen her use them.
"I'm a princess, you know. I've received some training. Besides, you never gave me a chance to fight."
"That's true."
With Shirakawa, Shanks, and even Buggy around, Catherine had never needed to fight. She was always safe behind them.
"Be careful, then. I won't be responsible if you get hurt."
"Don't worry. These guys are no match for me."
"Confident, aren't you?"
"Of course." Catherine smiled, accepting the compliment.
The two groups clashed. Shirakawa held back, keeping an eye on the bandit leader, who was armed with a gun. Buggy and Shanks might not be able to dodge bullets yet.
The leader's expression grew increasingly grim as his men fell one by one. Buggy and Shanks were too strong, and even Catherine had taken down two bandits.
He was used to being the one overpowering others, not the other way around. Fear crept into his heart.
"Monsters! You're all monsters! I'll kill you!" he snarled, raising his gun and aiming at Buggy.
But Shirakawa was faster. He appeared beside the leader in a flash, his sword drawing and sheathing in a blur.
The leader's gun was sliced in half, a clean cut across its barrel.
Shirakawa noticed the leader's aura diminish instantly. Without his gun, he was no longer a threat.
"Monsters! You're not human!" the leader cried, collapsing to the ground in terror. His pants were damp.
"Pathetic," Shirakawa said, feeling no pity for the man.
"No! You can't kill me!" the leader pleaded as Shirakawa raised his sword.
"Why not?"
"If you kill me, our boss won't let you go!"
"I don't plan on letting him go either." Shirakawa swiftly ended the man's life.
The battle was over. None of the bandits had survived.
"I heard him call us monsters," Shanks said, looking at the corpses.
"Yeah."
"Monsters? We're hardly monsters. He's just narrow-minded."
"It's because of their isolation. They've never seen the vastness of the outside world. Few people from the other half of the New World ever come here."
"The people on this island are truly pitiful," Shanks sighed. For someone who craved freedom like him, being confined to one island for life would be unbearable.
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