章節 20: Cornered

As Orion and Roman were tailing the two groups stealthily, he noticed that the way the group of men were following indicated that they were trained.

[I don't feel much of a threat from any of them other than that man with the sword with on his back, from the strength of their aura he seems to be the strongest at the D+ Rank but seeing the way that they're able to avoid detection from the 4 Amazon Lily warriors, they should be trained quite well. I wonder who they are…]

While Orion was lost in thought, the 4 girls turned into a secluded alley. And as to be expected, the group of mysterious stalkers followed.

Not knowing they were being followed the 16 year old Hancock turned to face her sisters.

"Sisters, we need to take a break! Shaya, as your princess I order you to stand guard and keep a watch out!"

The silver haired girl nodded emotionlessly and moved to keep watch. After seeing her leave, Boa Sandersonia said to her sisters.

"How long are we going to have to keep running? We escaped from Mary Geoise over a week ago but we're only getting further and further away from returning to the grand line."

Hancock frowned as she replied.

"I know but what can we do there are marines all over the red line keeping watch of anyone who escaped the hands of the celestial dragons. We just need to avoid capture until things calm down, they can't keep up the constant monitoring of the red line forever, when they stop we can return to the grand line and from there it'll be easy to get in touch with the Kuja Pirates."

Marigold looked nervous as she asked.

"Do you think we'll get in trouble… When they find out what happened to us over the past four years?"

Hancock glared at Marigold as she barked.

"We are never to mention what happened over the past four years! We just stick to the story and everything will be alright, got it?"

Both sisters nodded meekly hearing Hancock's orders.

Sandersonia looked at the silver haired girl standing watch as she whispered just loud enough for her sisters to hear.

"What about Shaya, are we really going to take her back with us?"

Hancock looked at Shaya disdainfully as she replied.

"How can we take her back, she's not one of us so we can't trust her to keep her mouth shut."

Marigold looked at Shaya's back with a frown as she asked.

"What are we going to do then? Her strength is the real deal, even if the three of us teamed up I'm not sure…"

Hancock interrupted her sister mid-sentence.

"We don't need to attack her. Either she gives her life for the princesses she promised to protect or if she makes it to the grand line with us, we just make a break for it when the time is right."

Both sisters nodded but Sandersonia turned back to look at the silver haired girl with a guilty expression.

[I'm sorry but we really can't afford to bring you back!]

While the 3 sisters were talking in the alley, 5 men were watching them from the roof of the building opposite their position.

"Lieutenant commander Adams, target's confirmed. All four girls were escapees of Mary Geoise after Fisher Tiger's break in! The 3 Amazon Lily warrior's aren't particularly dangerous but that Shaya, code named "Bloody Rain" is listed as a dangerous target."

The man known as Lieutenant Commander Adam was a handsome blonde dressed in a white suit and black sunglasses" printed on the back. He also had a 5" long sword strapped to his back.

The man flashed a calm smile as he said.

"Roger, Petty Officer Hina, return to HQ and let Captain Smoker know that the target's are about to be brought in."

Hina was a pink haired woman wearing a purple suit and a smoking a cigarette. She nodded to the handsome blonde and ran off in another direction.

Seeing Hina leave, Adam's smile turned from a temperate one to a sadistic one as he said.

"Boys we only have an hour to enjoy ourselves before, our dear Captain arrives so be fast in taking them down, leave the so called bloody rain to me!"

When they heard that the other 3 marines licked their lips in anticipation.

Seeing them preparing to attack, Roman turned to Orion with a slightly worried expression hidden under the mask.

"Are we really not going to help them?"

Orion shook his head as he watched the marines preparing.

"Not yet, only if they look like they can't handle it. We can't afford to bring trouble to dad and uncle Walter unnecessarily, whatever they're planning at the moment, they're trying to be as covert as possible. Forcing them into the spot light ahead of schedule would be the worst possible outcome."

Roman nodded as everything Orion said was 100% true.

Orion could tell even though he accepted what he said Roman was still a bit tense. He put his hands on Roman's shoulders to comfort him.

"Don't worry so much, those 4 girls aren't weak. Especially that silver haired girl!"

Roman nodded as he too could feel that they weren't weak.

While Roman and Orion were speaking, the marines had appeared before the girls blocking off all possible paths of retreat.

As Adam looked at them, he looked like a predator eyeing his prey.

"Haha little escapees, you've been cornered like the little rats you are. Now just give up without a fight, I wouldn't want to damage your delicate little features before getting to enjoy myself."

As he said that, he couldn't help but eye the 4 girls from top to bottom, licking his lips in the process.