Capture

At dawn, the sun slowly rose in the distance, its rays breaking through the shackles of night.

Naruto Village came alive as cooking smoke slowly rose and the villagers began their day's work.

A seagull carrying a backpack flew across the sky, landed on the island, perched on a rock, raised its neck, and cried out.

Hearing the cry, many people came out of their homes and walked up to it, taking out coins and placing them in its pouch while taking a newspaper.

"Mother, I'm going out to play."

Inside a house in Naruto Village, an eight- or nine-year-old boy quickly finished breakfast, slammed his bowl onto the table, stood up, and called out to his mother, who was busy nearby.

His mother was a gentle woman. Looking at the boy, she reminded him, "Eli, you can go out and play, but don't run around. The Marines are coming to collect the Security Fee today, so don't go near the village chief's home, and don't offend the Marines. Stay far away if you see them."

"I remember." The boy named Eli nodded.

The woman added, "Also, don't go near the shore. A huge sea fish has appeared in the waters around the island, so be careful."

"Can I go to the beach?"

Eli looked up at his mother and asked, "I want to collect shells on the beach."

The woman shook her head. "No, it's too dangerous."

"Alright."

Eli nodded, ran out of the house, and headed toward the entrance of the village.

There stood a thick, sturdy tree, its leaves lush and green, its crown spreading like a canopy.

Eli arrived beneath the tree and waited quietly. Before long, a little girl came over.

"Lia."

Eli waved at Lia.

"Eli."

Lia smiled happily, revealing the gap where her front tooth was missing.

"Hasn't Angelo arrived yet?" Lia walked over to Eli and asked curiously.

"I don't know what he's doing." Eli sounded a little dissatisfied.

"Let's wait a little longer."

Lia nodded, and the two stood to the side and continued waiting.

After a long while, a figure finally appeared in the distance and ran toward them.

"Angelo, you're too slow."

Seeing him, Eli called out in dissatisfaction.

"The Marines are coming to the village today. I begged for ages before Father agreed to let me come out and play." Angelo was a slightly shorter boy with a bowl cut and a somewhat dull-looking expression.

Hearing this, Lia waved her hand and said, "It's fine. Let's go play."

Angelo looked at the two of them and asked, "What are we playing today?"

"I wanted to go collect shells on the beach, but Mother said there's a huge sea fish there, so I can't go." Eli looked rather regretful.

Lia said as well, "Father told me about it too. He said that sea fish is six or seven meters long and can even overturn a small boat. He told Lia to stay away from the shore."

"Don't worry."

Angelo smiled when he heard that. "Father told me that the Marines are coming today, and he'll ask them to deal with it."

"That's great."

Eli immediately cheered.

"Captain Kurume, this is the Security Fee for this time."

The village chief handed a cloth pouch to the man in a Marine uniform before him, looking somewhat cautious.

"Very good."

Captain Kurume opened the pouch, checked the Belly inside, and nodded in satisfaction. Then he said, "Our Marine 154th Branch will continue protecting Naruto Village."

After saying that, Captain Kurume yawned. "It's getting late. We should leave."

However, the village chief said, "Captain Kurume, Naruto Village has run into some trouble. We hope the Marines can help deal with it."

"Trouble?"

Captain Kurume looked at the village chief and asked, "Were you attacked by pirates? But we didn't receive any message from you."

"No."

The village chief hurriedly said, "It's a sea fish."

"A sea fish?" Kurume frowned. "What's there to worry about with a sea fish?"

The village chief said, "This sea fish is enormous, at least six meters long. It has been swimming around near the island, and now no one dares go near the shore."

"I see."

Captain Kurume nodded, then said, "It's just a sea fish. We'll help you kill it."

"Then we'll be troubling the Marines."

The village chief hurriedly thanked him.

But Captain Kurume snorted and said, "Dealing with a sea fish like this requires cannon shells. Commander may even have to take action personally. Our costs are considerable."

"I understand, I understand..."

The village chief hurriedly took out another cloth pouch filled with Belly. It was smaller than the previous one, but stuffed full.

"Leave it to us."

Captain Kurume nodded, put away the pouch, and led the Marine soldiers back to the warship.

"Lieutenant Colonel Berio, that's the situation."

Kurume handed both pouches to the man behind the desk.

"Dealing with a sea fish? What a troublesome job. This little money isn't nearly enough."

Behind the desk, the burly Lieutenant Colonel Berio looked dissatisfied with the payment for dealing with the sea fish.

Kurume hurriedly said, "The village is rather poor. This is already a fairly large reward for them."

"Then we'll help them out."

Berio nodded, put away the two cloth pouches, and said, "Captain is still waiting for the Security Fee at Manro Town Branch Base. We must return by tomorrow at the latest, so we only have one day. You'll be responsible for this. Lead the sailors in killing this sea fish. You may use the cannons."

"Yes."

Captain Kurume hurriedly answered, then left the room and shut the door behind him. His expression turned gloomy.

I'm the one in charge, but the sailors are the ones taking action. Even if we use the cannons, the branch base will have to foot the bill in the end.

Yet you're keeping all the payment for yourself, without even thinking of sharing it.

This kind of thing has happened many times before.

Greedy, hungry for credit, reckless, and foul-tempered. Kurume was thoroughly sick of this superior.

Kurume's expression was ugly, but he still left the cabin and came onto the deck. He ordered four sailors to go to the village and ask the chief for freshly slaughtered pigs and cattle. Then he had people prepare large fishhooks, fishing nets, crossbows, harpoon guns, and other equipment.

All the sailors then sprang into action and began preparing to capture the sea fish.

At dusk, Xia Qiu swam his massive body into the harbor and immediately caught the scent of blood.

What is this?

Following the scent, Xia Qiu swam toward the harbor. A Marine warship was docked there, its huge hull giving off an oppressive feeling.

In the waters near the hull, a lamb lay in the water, blood still remaining on it and releasing a bloody scent into the sea.

What is this?

The moment Xia Qiu saw the lamb, his eyes lit up. He could finally change up his diet.

Xia Qiu swam toward the lamb, approached it, opened his mouth, and prepared to bite down.

But just as his jaws were about to close, Xia Qiu pulled back, split his huge mouth in a silent laugh.

Did you think I'd fall for that?

A Marine warship, a lamb, an iron chain attached to it, and a ring of fishing nets around it.

This was clearly bait meant to lure in prey.

And in this stretch of sea, the only prey worth setting up such an elaborate trap for was him.

This was obviously aimed at him.

How could he possibly fall for it?