You... you're dead! You'll definitely die!!! - Rogu barely approached the rather fat pirate, who sat up with difficulty and began to hysterically shout threats. - If you dare to kill me, then Captain Marcello will not let it go so easily! You've killed so many of ours, the captain will definitely grind you into dust! But if you surrender right now, then I can put in a good word for you!
"So you're saying that I killed so many of your people, and you can still plead for me?" Rogu said with a smile. "Then it turns out that you are extremely important to your captain, right?"
"Of course!!!!" the fat man literally shouted this, trying to add weight to his words.
"So, someone as important as you would never betray your captain, right?" Rogu continued with a calm smile.
"I will never betray him! I am the captain's most loyal mate! My life will always be…" The pirate cut himself off as the cold glint of the katana's blade crept up his throat. Rogu was still smiling, but his voice had an icy edge: "So, what about your life? Will it blossom for your captain? If so, I wouldn't mind helping you blossom right here and now. And then… wither."
Cold metal, saturated with the aura of death he had just felt, enveloped the pirate, causing his body to shudder with fear. The fat man's forehead was covered in beads of sweat that flowed down like streams. His voice trembled, saying, "N-no... no, I don't want to bloom..."
- Then answer me: how many of you are there? And what is happening in the village now? - Rogu's voice was calm, but there was a threat in it that left no doubt. - Be careful and honest.
"A-with us... there are only two hundred and thirty-five of us. They are attacking the village now..." the fat man said, sobbing, because the tip of the blade had already begun to pierce his skin, threatening to cut his throat.
A slow, growing terror gripped his mind, every nerve screaming for his inevitable doom.
"He… he wet himself," Ferr whispered, his eyes wide and staring at the pirate.
"Great," Rogu grinned. "You're smart, I like that."
He waved his hand, putting away his katana, and then without further ado, he picked Ferr up and turned around, walking away.
The pirate, seeing that the danger had passed, breathed a sigh of relief. But when he saw Rogu leaving, his gaze changed. Fear gave way to anger and hatred. His hand went to his belt, where a short blade was hidden. He gripped the hilt, waited a moment, then exclaimed something unintelligible and rushed forward, swinging at Rogu's back.
But before his feet touched the ground, the blade of his opponent's katana flashed before his eyes and passed through his body. His bulky body hung in the air, and then, as if in slow motion, it began to separate. A red line appeared from his head to his waist, and when he fell to the ground, his body turned into two halves.
Rogu didn't even turn around, but a line of text appeared in his field of vision:
[Nameless Pirate killed. Reward: 5000 Belly!]
He had gotten used to these messages. After using the Crescent Moon technique, his vision was literally filled with pop-up notifications. But one question still remained a mystery to him: why did the wanted list for the pirate's head say 10,000 beli, but he only got half? Was it because he killed them directly?
He still didn't fully understand how his system worked. But now was not the time to think. So he hugged Ferra and said in a serious voice, "We'll have to run. Ready?"
"Yes!" Ferr nodded.
The next moment, his ears were filled with the sound of the wind.
...
Moonlight Village was built at the foot of a mountain, protected by its massive slopes. A small lake lay in front of the village, and its inhabitants led a simple but contented life: some hunted in the mountains, while others worked the fields. Life here was far from rich, but full of peace and happiness.
In the very center of the village was a large square paved with stone mined from the Moon Mountain. During harvest festivals or after a successful hunt for a large animal, the villagers would gather here, setting long tables laden with a variety of dishes. Here they would enjoy food, laughter, and conversation until late in the evening.
But today there was no laughter or joy in the square. Instead, it was enveloped in a terrible atmosphere, saturated with the smell of blood.
The villagers stood in a circle in the middle of the square. The outer layer of defense was made up of strong men with bows and spears, protecting the old people, women, and children who hid in the center. Beyond the circle lay the bodies of both villagers and pirates. Further away, like beasts of prey, they were surrounded by a pack of cruel pirates, their faces distorted with greed and malice.
Despite the pirates' numerical superiority, they were unable to completely subjugate the villagers. The bandits had greatly underestimated the fighting spirit of the villagers. Although there was no naval patrol and the place was far from civilization, hunting over many years had made the villagers not only dexterous but also fearless. So, instead of surrendering, they grabbed their weapons and entered into a desperate fight.
However, no matter how bravely the villagers fought, the situation inexorably worsened and the situation became more and more desperate. In the very center of the crowd was an old man with a Den-Den-Mushi in his hands, he sighed heavily and handed it to the woman next to him.
"When will the marines arrive?" she asked, her voice trembling and her lips pressed together.
"The earliest time is in three hours," the old man replied, his voice full of bitterness. He looked up at the bloody scene in the square, and his heart sank with despair.
Less than half an hour had passed since the pirates' attack, but the villagers were already forced to go on the defensive, unable to launch a counterattack.
Three hours?
Three hours later, even if the marines arrived, all that would be left to do was bury them.
"We can't rely on them!" the dark-skinned man said loudly. His voice was firm and decisive. "Headman, we have no other choice. We can only fight to the end!"
- That's right! - another villager supported him. - We, the people of Moonlight Village, would rather die than surrender!!!
Surrender would mean giving all power to the pirates. It would give them complete freedom to kill, rob and rape the women of the village. Years of hunting in the mountains had bred in the villagers a fortitude and a burning hatred for the idea of bending their knees even to the most powerful enemy.
— Fight!
— Fight!
— Fight!
Screams filled the square. Even children, as young as eight or nine, clenched their tiny fists and shouted along with the adults, their voices clear but furious.
The village elder, with tears in his eyes, clenched his teeth and said: "We're not cornered yet! We're still holding out!"
Clap! Clap! Clap! - the sound of applause rang out. The pirates surrounding the square parted at once, forming a passage. The cries of the inhabitants gradually died down, as their attention was drawn to the tall man who came forward.
His tousled black hair fell in disarray over his forehead. A cloak hung over his shoulders without an inner shirt, revealing a chest covered in terrible scars from swords and bullets. He walked slowly forward, clapping his hands and glancing at the assembled villagers. His voice, filled with mockery, echoed over the crowd: "I am Captain Marsello. Your courage is worthy of admiration. Therefore, I pronounce upon all of you… a death sentence!"