Victory and Tenderness

"Take down Captain Kuro!"

The pirates roared as they charged at Kuro.

Under the effects of hypnosis, they had completely lost the ability to think. The only thing left in their minds was the goal of killing Kuro.

The sudden change caught even the Marines off guard. They could not understand why the pirates had suddenly started fighting amongst themselves.

Facing the berserk, mindless pirates, the Marines instinctively opened up a path and let the pirates reach Kuro.

When the Little Cat Brothers leaped through the air and launched a frenzied assault on Kuro, the Marines finally let out the breath they had been holding.

They really were fighting amongst themselves!

Though they did not know what had happened, infighting among the pirates was a good thing for the Marines. It could effectively reduce their own casualties.

At Colonel Rhode's signal, the Captains immediately relayed the combat orders to the Marines.

"Fall back!"

"Rebuild the defensive line! Don't let a single pirate escape!"

"Quick, treat the wounded!"

The Marines swiftly retreated and rebuilt their defensive line around the edge of the battlefield. Shield walls and rifles surrounded the pirates still locked in combat.

At the same time, the squads responsible for support rushed in, moving the injured Marines to safe areas for emergency treatment.

Colonel Rhode grabbed Luo Ya, who still wanted to rush back into the fight, and dragged him away. He roared at him, "Idiot, go bandage your wounds!"

"What wounds?"

Luo Ya had not reacted yet.

Only when he looked down did he realize that several bloody gashes had appeared across his chest at some point. His flesh was split open, and pale ribs could faintly be seen beneath.

The moment he became aware of the wounds, his body's deception of his mind vanished, and bone-deep pain came flooding in!

"Hiss—"

Luo Ya sucked in a sharp breath, his scalp twitching violently.

Damn it, why did he have to point it out?!

It hurt like hell!

He did not know when Kuro had cut him. Maybe he had felt the pain at the time, but with his entire focus on the battle, his body's instincts had completely blocked it out.

Colonel Rhode was wounded too. Blood had long soaked through his waist and abdomen, but until Kuro was captured, he could not withdraw.

"Luo Ya, go to the Medical Team in the rear!"

"Colonel Rhode!"

Suppressing the pain, Luo Ya tore off his shirt and wrapped it around his chest as a bandage. He tied the sleeves together and pulled hard.

Hiss—!

Fuck, that hurt like hell!

"I can still fight!"

Luo Ya panted heavily, his gaze savage.

As long as Kuro was not dead, he could not back down. If he could not see Kuro fall with his own eyes, he would never accept it!

Colonel Rhode's face darkened, but seeing Luo Ya grit his teeth through the pain, he swallowed the rebuke on the tip of his tongue.

"Focus and don't hold us back!"

"Yes!"

At the center of the battlefield.

Kuro's hair hung loose around his face. His blood-covered body swayed unsteadily, and he could barely stand. Most of the Cat Claw Blades in his hands had broken.

Pirate corpses littered the ground at his feet.

And now, death awaited him as well.

Kuro finally understood something.

The more calculating a person was, the more likely he was to fall into an unexpected predicament. The reason things had reached this point was precisely because of his own "cleverness."

So, he decided to stop thinking.

"I'll kill every last one of you!"

Kuro lowered his head, his body swaying.

That bizarre posture instantly awakened the pirates' fear, wrenching them free from the effects of hypnosis.

"Captain Kuro!"

"No, please stop!"

"Please spare us! We had no idea what was happening just now!"

"It was the First Mate! He betrayed you!"

The pirates begged in terror.

But Kuro's swaying only grew more violent.

Whether they were subordinates who had betrayed him or the Marines standing guard around him, they were all targets for his revenge.

Until his body collapsed, he would not stop!

Spoon Death!

A flash of cold light vanished in an instant!

"Ahhh!!!"

The pirates screamed one after another as bloody gashes kept appearing across their bodies. They wanted to flee, but tightly packed shield walls and black gun barrels surrounded them on all sides.

There was nowhere to run.

Even the moon seemed to have been dyed red with blood.

When everything fell silent, all the pirates had collapsed in pools of blood. Only Kuro remained on the desolate battlefield.

"I lost."

Kuro raised a trembling hand and pushed at the nonexistent glasses on his face with his palm. Then his entire body fell stiffly to the ground.

"Thud!"

After a brief silence.

"We won?"

The Captains stared blankly.

Had they really defeated the nightmare that had hung over the 153rd Branch?

Colonel Rhode raised his longsword.

"We won!"

Though the Black Cat Pirates had erupted into infighting and caused a few twists, there was no doubt that this battle was a great victory for the 153rd Branch!

The Marine 153rd Branch had finally defeated "Hundred Plans" Kuro!

"We won!!!"

"Oohhh!!!"

The Marines raised their weapons and cheered.

Successfully bringing down a Great Pirate worth 16 million was an extraordinary honor even among the Marines of the entire East Blue!

Luo Ya smiled. The nerves stretched taut within him finally relaxed, only for exhaustion and pain to rush in. His body involuntarily fell backward.

"So sleepy."

"Hey, Luo Ya!"

The next afternoon, at Syrup Estate.

Luo Ya jolted upright in bed, his mind filled with images of his battle with Kuro. Those Cat Claw Blades held side by side made it hard to breathe.

Right, it was already over.

Luo Ya wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, got out of bed, and entered the bathroom next door to splash his face vigorously.

"Whew~~"

He felt much more awake at once.

Luo Ya looked up at his reflection. His upper body was bare, and his chest was wrapped in a messy tangle of bandages, making him look like a rice dumpling. There was even a bow tied at the edge.

It was flashy and gaudy. One look was enough to tell that whoever had done it was a complete amateur.

Still, it was good to be alive!

Not long after, Kaya pushed open the door carrying a medical tray. When she saw Luo Ya standing by the window, a delighted smile appeared on her face.

"Luo Ya, you're awake!"

"Mm."

Luo Ya smiled and nodded, his eyes drifting toward the medical tray in Kaya's hands.

Ointment, bandages, scissors.

Well, damn. So you were the one who wrapped me up like a rice dumpling.

Kaya set down the tray, then pulled Luo Ya over to sit down. Happily, she began unwrapping the bandages. "Luo Ya, I'll change your dressing."

"Okay."

Luo Ya sat with his back to Kaya, his face twitching from time to time.

Hiss—!

Could you be gentler? I'm scared of pain!

Luo Ya endured the discomfort and asked, "Where are Colonel Rhode and the others?"

"They left."

Kaya said softly, "Uncle Rhode said they needed to escort the pirates back to the branch as soon as possible, so they took the Warship back this morning."

"I see."

Luo Ya nodded slightly. Escorting the Black Cat Pirates was indeed very important. Resting and celebrating could wait until they returned to the branch.

"Did Fullbody leave with them too?"

"Mm."

"Then why am I still here?"

"..."

I held you back and wouldn't let you leave!

Kaya blinked and made up an excuse on the spot.

"My father said, um, that taking down the Black Cat Pirates was mainly thanks to you. You helped our family resolve a crisis, so he wants to thank you and let you stay behind to recover first."

"Our estate is quiet, and we have dedicated servants and cooks. It's definitely better for recovering than the branch, right?"

"Don't worry. Once you've recovered, Father will send you back to the branch."

A sound argument, indeed.

What a sly girl!

Trying to fool Lord Luo Ya? She was seriously overestimating herself.

It seemed his plan to seduce a rich woman was progressing quite well, but he could not get too proud. He still had to keep working at it!

"Luo Ya."

"Mm."

"I've decided. I want to become a doctor!"

"A doctor? Why?"

"Hehe, because if I become a doctor, then whenever you get hurt, I can treat your wounds and help you get better sooner."

"...Thanks!"

If possible, though, it was better not to get hurt at all.