Are you Marines or CP?

"Vice Admiral! Vice Admiral Kuzan!"

"What is it?"

"It seems there's someone on the island... it should be..."

"Why are you so long-winded and hesitant? Spit it out!"

"It's the escaped Vice Admiral Sauron, and he's being fired upon!"

Meanwhile, Mo Xingchen was staring at Sakazuki's command ship. William scratched his head and asked softly, "Colonel, aren't we going to open fire?"

"Hmm, just fire a few shots into the sea to show we're doing something. Anyway, the Buster Call is a team mission, a few more shots from us won't make a difference. Are you really going to kill a bunch of defenseless scholars?"

"Uh~ Then should we stop Vice Admiral Sauron? He's already attacking the warships."

"Don't worry about him, Kuzan will handle it! William, it's right to uphold justice, but remember not to dirty your own hands. Don't worry, I'll be here to cover you!

A general must remain unfazed even if the Red Line collapses before their eyes, and their heart is filled with thunder yet they show no change. Such a person can be appointed as a Great General... Damn it!"

William was listening intently when he heard Mo Xingchen curse, and when he looked again, the person was gone. Tch! Is this being unfazed? Is this being appointed a Great General? Bah!

William leaned on the railing, searching for Mo Xingchen's figure. He found him in the air to the left of a refugee ship, kicking away a cannonball.

Then, he saw Mo Xingchen use Geppo to land on Sakazuki's warship. His aura erupted as he spoke word by word:

"Anyone who attacks the refugee ship again! I'll kill them!"

The officers on Sakazuki's warship looked at each other, bewildered, then all turned their heads to stare at their superior officer.

Sakazuki questioned:

"Mo Xingchen, what do you mean by this?"

"Exactly what I said."

"Do you know that if even one archaeologist sneaks onto the refugee ship, this entire Marine operation will be a joke!"

"Heh, Sakazuki, don't try to flatter me! I'm not buying it! I'll ask you, what are we Marines here to do?"

"Execute the Buster Call!"

"And who sent the refugee ship?"

"The World... Government."

"And who screened the civilians to board the ship?"

"Uh... CP9."

"So whether there are archaeologists on the refugee ship, it's none of your damn business! It's none of the Marines' damn business! If you like cleaning up CP's mess so much, should I recommend you to CP to work there, Marshal Kong!"

"You... you... what are you all standing around for! Execute the Buster Call!"

Sakazuki was rendered speechless by Mo Xingchen's retort. He stammered for a long time, then, in a fit of rage, turned and yelled at the stunned soldiers.

Mo Xingchen unleashed his spiritual sense, searching for Kuzan's location. After all, Robin was too small a target, while Kuzan and Sauron were much more obvious.

After searching for a while, he finally found their figures in the northwest direction and shot up into the sky using Geppo.

Sakazuki let out a heavy "Hmph" as he watched Mo Xingchen leave, but he no longer gave the order to attack the refugee ship. He had indeed been a bit reckless just now. Even if there was a mistake, it would be CP's responsibility, not the Marines'!

As soon as Mo Xingchen arrived, he saw Kuzan fighting Sauron, with a sobbing little Robin standing beside them. Sauron's body was half-frozen, yet he was still comforting Robin, "Run... Robin! Use my raft to escape to the sea! Remember, when you're sad, laugh like I taught you, Dede hee hee... cough cough... Don't look back! Run!"

Seeing Robin finally turn and flee, Sauron shouted with his last strength, "Remember your mother's last wish, live well! Robin!"

Mo Xingchen landed beside Kuzan and looked at Sauron, who was completely encased in ice, and teased, "Hey, hey, hey, I say, isn't it inappropriate to bully a little girl like this!"

Kuzan panicked at the words and quickly explained, "Don't talk nonsense, I didn't lay a hand on her!"

"Tch, then it would have been better to give her a quick end. To a child this small, you're shattering her pillar of support right before her eyes. Are you planning to become the nightmare of her life?"

"Ah? Then what should I do! I don't know!"

"Since you've decided to let her go, be gentler later. Don't keep that stern face, properly explain things to the little girl. By the way, what are you going to do with this big guy?"

"Sigh~ I tried to reason with him, but Giants are stubborn and don't listen to reason! It's difficult, he's one of my few friends. Do you have any good ideas?"

Mo Xingchen pondered for a moment, his eyes lit up, "I've got it. Use your ability to control, find a relatively safe place, freeze him for a day and a night, leave him a message, and tell him to wake up and roll back to the Giant homeland. And don't come out wandering around anymore."

"Was Sakazuki's warship attacking the refugee ship just now?"

"Yeah, I stopped them and gave him a good scolding."

Kuzan placed his hand on Sauron, reinforcing the ice, then said apologetically to Mo Xingchen, "Then I'll go check on that child first. Can you help me settle Sauron?"

"Go on, go on!"

Robin ran through the forest with her head down, her legs feeling as heavy as lead, but she couldn't stop. She couldn't let down her mother or the chance to escape that Saul had fought for her. She had to endure the pain, only letting out soft sobs, afraid to cry out loud lest the pursuers hear her.

Just as she finally reached the shore, Robin's heart stopped the moment she looked up.

Beside the bamboo raft sat the man who had frozen Saul.

"I've decided to let you go! I want to see how far the seed that Saul tried so hard to preserve can grow.

You're free to hate me, but you should be thankful that you can escape with your life right now. Live a low-key life from now on!

I've left two ice paths on the sea. Just follow them, and you'll reach another land.

And remember this! I am not your comrade. If I find out you've done anything illegal, I'll be the first one to arrest you!"

Kuzan stood up and walked towards Robin.

"My mother is still on the island! And Saul..."

"It's no use! If you really can't bear it, if you don't have the courage to escape, then do as you please!"

Kuzan interrupted Robin's plea and walked away without looking back.

Little Robin numbly got onto the bamboo raft, curled up with her knees hugged to her chest, and looked back at the burning Ohara. Fragments of memories flickered incessantly.

The first time Professor and everyone celebrated her birthday, The day she became a scholar, The first time the Professor took her to read books, The warmth of her mother's embrace, Saul shouting for her to live.

As she thought, tears streamed down little Robin's face, yet she smiled bravely.

"Dedelei~ Hee hee hee hee~"