Keen Village.
Aqua was still overwhelmed with flattery, clutching tightly at the hem of the young woman's clothes and hiding behind her.
Yet, out of curiosity, she occasionally peeked her small head out from behind the woman to glance at Dunn, Fujitora, Joanna, and the other marines seated across from them.
Through the young woman's account and the orders Dunn had received, Fujitora had pieced together the entire sequence of events and understood why Dunn and the others referred to Aqua as 'Princess'.
"Rear Admiral Fujitora, what brings you to the Kingdom of Orenfence?" Dunn asked, harboring no resentment toward Fujitora for being promoted to rear admiral directly by Orion through the World Military Draft.
He knew their young Fleet Admiral well—unless Fujitora possessed extraordinary character, Orion would never have granted such a promotion, regardless of his strength.
"I was ordered to investigate the Celestial Tribute!" Fujitora replied honestly, without concealment.
"Fleet Admiral Orion discovered that many member nations were exploiting their citizens to meet the tribute demands. To prevent further suffering among the people, he dispatched me from headquarters to conduct covert investigations into all member nations."
"I see," Dunn nodded before adding, "There's no need to investigate Orenfence anymore. This kingdom will soon cease to exist."
Hearing this, Fujitora frowned slightly before turning his head toward the door.
Outside, the colossal birdcage that had descended from the sky and enveloped the entire Kingdom of Orenfence shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight, like a massive Sword of Damocles, evoking awe and dread.
Having learned of Aqua's identity and the general course of events, Fujitora now understood why their Fleet Admiral had reacted with such fury.
He refrained from pressing further on the matter—Doflamingo was right; this was beyond the scope of his duties as a mere rear admiral.
Yet, he couldn't help but worry that Orion's actions might tarnish the Marine's sense of justice.
After a brief silence, Fujitora asked the question that concerned him most, "Destroying the Kingdom of Orenfence is as simple as a single command from Fleet Admiral Orion. What I want to know is, what will happen to the citizens living in this country?"
"They all deserve to die!"
Before Dunn could answer, the young woman shielding Aqua suddenly interjected, her voice trembling with emotion.
"The reason Aqua's mother was... was killed by the royal minister Luke was because some people in Keen Village wanted to curry favor with that royal minister!"
"What did you say?!"
The young woman's abrupt statement struck Dunn like a thunderbolt, leaving him wide-eyed in disbelief as he immediately stood up.
At the same time, hearing the sudden mention of her mother, Aqua, who had been hiding behind him, instantly teared up before breaking into sobs.
"Don't cry, Aqua!"
Upon learning that Aqua was the orphaned child of their Fleet Admiral's comrade from his rookie days, Joanna had been crouching beside her, making funny faces to cheer her up.
Seeing Aqua suddenly burst into tears, she quickly stood and picked her up while speaking gently.
"How about big sister takes you out to play for a while?"
Aqua didn't respond, only biting her lip pitifully, her heartbroken expression enough to melt anyone's heart.
The young woman then looked up at Joanna.
"Officer, could you please take Aqua outside for a walk? I have many things to report to Captain Dunn."
Without hesitation, Joanna carried Aqua out.
As soon as they stepped outside, Joanna noticed many villagers rushing toward the village entrance as if fleeing a disaster.
Before she could react, the Marine Lieutenant who had been standing beside Dunn suddenly dashed out and shouted to the soldiers assembled outside.
"Secure all the villagers of Keen Village! Don't let any of them escape!"
"Aye, sir!"
The Marines acted without hesitation, charging toward the village entrance with rifles raised.
Two villagers attempting to flee were promptly shot down.
"Why are you running?!"
Two leading soldiers swiftly dragged the wounded middle-aged women up like chickens.
"Spare us, Marine-sama!"
"It wasn't our fault! We were forced!"
One of the women, ignoring the searing pain from her gunshot wound, clung to a soldier's leg while weeping.
"It was those nobles from the royal capital! Our families couldn't pay the taxes anymore... If we didn't pay, they... they'd sell us to slavers! Sob We had no choice but to target Aqua and her mother!"
"What are you talking about?"
The soldiers didn't understand why their superiors had ordered the villagers detained—they were simply following orders.
The women's words left them bewildered.
However, one soldier quickly pieced it together, his face darkening.
"Are you saying you also bullied Lady Aqua?"
"No, no! We didn't!"
"We just told the nobles from the capital that Aqua and her mother weren't from our village!"
"They really weren't! We only told the truth! Sobs"
Hearing this, the soldier holding her gradually intensified his killing intent and asked further.
"And then? What did that noble from the royal city do to Princess Aqua?"
"He... they wanted to forcibly take Aqua's mother, but she refused and chose to commit suicide!"
"But rest assured sir, Aqua didn't—"
Splat—
Before the woman could finish her sentence, the soldier holding her didn't hesitate for a moment, swiftly drawing his blade and slitting her throat.
His eyes burning red, he turned to the villagers being restrained by other soldiers ahead.
"Did you all take part in this too?"
As his words fell, the villagers stopped by the other marine soldiers trembled in fear, then all knelt down in unison.
"Hey, hey, what are you all doing?"
Joanna, who was carrying Aqua outside, clearly didn't expect things to escalate so suddenly.
Worried that innocent villagers might be wrongly killed, she hurried over to intervene.
"Don't kill indiscriminately! Captain Dunn and Rear Admiral Fujitora are investigating this matter!"
Seeing Joanna step in to halt the marine soldiers' spreading bloodlust, the kneeling villagers seemed to see hope, scrambling desperately to her feet.
"Marine sir, we're innocent!"
"You can't kill indiscriminately! We... we're all victims too!"
"Wahhh, Aqua, how have I treated you usually? Hurry and tell these marines, or we'll all die!"
Watching the villagers suddenly swarm around her, Aqua instinctively clung tighter to Joanna and whispered weakly.
"Sister, Aqua is scared..."
"Hmm?"
Noticing Aqua's reaction, Joanna trembled slightly before tentatively asking.
"Did they... also bully Aqua?"
Aqua nodded tearfully. "Not long after Mommy and Aqua fled here, some uncles and grandpas would come to Mommy's room every night. They said if Mommy didn't agree, they'd sell Aqua to traffickers!"
Hearing this, Joanna's mind exploded with fury.
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