East Blue, Seto Sea.
Aboard the ship of the Battleaxe Pirates, the crew was throwing a wild party. They didn't know why their captain had suddenly announced a celebration, but that didn't stop them from having a good time.
As the alcohol flowed, their excitement grew and the atmosphere quickly reached its peak.
At the center of the celebration stood the captain of the Battleaxe Pirates—Kirei Yasen.
His massive frame was twice the size of any of his crew. Standing among the scrawny pirates around him, he seemed like a walking beast.
He raised a mug the size of a basketball and drained it in one gulp.
Bang!
The mug slammed heavily onto the table in front of him.
"Boys!"
His rough and excited shout brought the party to a sudden halt.
Yasen stared at the silent crew, his eyes sweeping across them.
"Do you know why I announced this party?"
Looking at his stunned subordinates shaking their heads wildly, he grinned.
"Because the spy I planted in the Marines has finally made his move. He's going to poison the food at the branch on Windbell Island.
"We'll arrive there before sundown tomorrow. And when we do, we'll wipe out the entire Marine branch. Not only will our name spread like wildfire, but all the treasure on that island will be ours! Hahahahaha!!!"
At first, the crew was shocked. Then they exploded into madness.
"Whoooo!"
"Captain, you're amazing!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Kill them all!"
"The captain is the best!"
"Hahaha!"
Yasen watched the bloodshot eyes and wild expressions of his crew with a twisted smile.
"Tonight! Eat and drink your fill! Tomorrow! Kill for me with everything you've got! Hahahahaha!!!"
A thunderous cheer erupted from the brightly lit pirate ship.
Time passed slowly, and at some point, the sky began to brighten.
They were getting closer and closer to Windbell Island...
* * *
East Blue, Windbell Island.
The Island was named after the countless windbell flowers that blanketed its hills and fields.
The climate was pleasant, and because the island lay in a remote corner of the East Blue, pirates rarely passed by. As a result, it remained unusually peaceful.
If there was one problem, it would be the island's Marine branch...
Due to its isolated location, information was slow to reach the outside world. That led to the rise of a "tyrant."
65th Marine Branch, commanded by Sinan Slynn. In his younger days, he had been a passionate and idealistic Marine. But a conflict with the higher-ups changed everything.
Through shady internal politics, he was exiled to the far edge of the East Blue.
At first, he was angry, lost, but he quickly adapted.
If he couldn't resist, he would enjoy.
Soon, a corrupt base commander was born. And thanks to his overwhelming strength, he slowly took control of the entire island.
Both the underworld and the authorities fell under his grasp, and he began to lose himself.
On a mountain behind 65th Marine Branch stood a vast estate, covering thousands of square meters.
The sun was already high when Sinan finally rose from his bed of pleasure. Years of indulgence had left him weighing over 300 pounds, though it only made him seem more imposing.
He casually shoved aside two young girls he had taken from the island, then got out of bed.
"Beard!"
A moment later, there was a knock at the door.
While he was in the middle of getting dressed, Sinan called.
"Come in."
A voice answered, "Yes, sir." Then a butler in a black suit stepped inside.
"Sir."
Sinan yawned. "Mmm. I partied all day yesterday. Did anything happen?"
The butler, Beard, bowed slightly and replied with respect, "Nothing major, sir. Though the families of those two girls came by, asking about them. Should we...?"
Letting out a cold snort, Sinan said, "Break their legs and toss them out. Do they not know who rules this island?! To think they dared come knocking! Must be tired of living. Right—what about those rookies sent here by HQ? Any signs from them lately?"
Beard nodded. "They've been quiet. No suspicious behavior."
Sinan murmured for a few seconds.
"In that case, offer them a few benefits. If HQ bothered to send them here by warship, they probably have some backing. They must've pissed off someone and are just hiding out here. No need to push things too far. And get breakfast ready."
Beard bowed and left.
Soon, a table full of rich dishes was laid out in the villa's grand dining hall.
Sinan sat down and tried to eat like a nobleman. However, with his bloated frame and cruel expression, the effort was anything but elegant.
He threw a giant chicken leg into his mouth, bones and all, and crunched loudly before swallowing. Then he asked, "Breakfast tastes better than usual. Did we get a new chef, Beard?"
The butler lowered his head and responded, "Not exactly. A merchant ship docked yesterday and they brought in a batch of... special spices. That's probably why the flavor's different."
Sinan gave a nod, unconcerned.
He didn't see Beard's lowered face behind him, nor the faint, curling smile on the butler's lips.
'Special enough to kill you…'
A flash of hatred flared in his bloodshot eyes, then vanished without a trace.
* * *
East Blue, Windbell Island, the Marine Base.
Under the shade of a tree, five soldiers stood silently, their expressions cold and severe. Witnessing the chaotic state of the Marine base before them, their disgust was plain.
Inside the base, gambling and drinking ran rampant. Half of the thousand-strong division was drunk.
The youngest of the five growled in anger, "Damn it. These scumbags deserve to be wiped out. I can't take it anymore."
The largest soldier remained calm. "Easy. It's happening today. Just wait a little longer. Sinan's food has already been poisoned. As for these degenerates, how many survive the night will be up to fate."
One of the others, more rational, spoke up.
"Still... not all of them deserve to die, right?"
The burly soldier glanced at him. "We don't have time to sort good from bad. If we judged each person individually, how long would that take? Besides, these men have followed Sinan, abusing this island for over a decade. How many of them could possibly be clean? If they die fighting pirates, that's a better end than they deserve. And those who survive…we'll deal with them later."
The rational soldier nodded. He wasn't a pedantic person.
After watching for a while, the five grew restless and returned to their quarters to prepare.
* * *
Late night.
The Battleaxe Pirates' ship slipped into a secluded part of the island.
The crew jumped into the water and waded ashore.
The five soldiers were already waiting.
The burly one among them nodded to Yasen, then he gestured to the others, who led the majority of the pirates toward the Marine base.
He himself joined the pirate captain and a handful of his elite subordinates as they slipped toward the mountain villa.
A few soft chirps of crickets echoed. Then, the front gates creaked open.
The butler, Beard, stood silently, holding the door ajar...
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