"Enough nonsense. Since we've already decided to do this, we have to wipe them all out. Even after CP9's screening, who knows whether there might still be archaeologists hiding aboard the evacuation ship..."
After a pause, Sakazuki said without hesitation, "For Absolute Justice. Evil must be dealt with without leaving any room for mercy. Continue the bombardment until the evacuation ship is blasted into the bottom of the sea."
"Yes, sir!" The adjutant hurriedly saluted, then continued directing the cannons aboard the Marine Warship to fire at the evacuation ship.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Amid the terrified cries of the civilians aboard the evacuation ship, several more cannonballs capable of easily blasting the vessel to pieces flew toward them.
The fragile, beautiful petals of Senbonzakura began to dance, flying of their own accord toward the cannonballs soaring through the air.
"Boom! Boom!"
Almost instantly, the cannonballs swept by the petals were detonated in midair, like pink fireworks blooming above the sea.
"That bastard still hasn't stopped..."
Seeing that Sakazuki was continuing to bombard the evacuation ship, Kuzan was deeply provoked by this slaughter of innocent civilians. It went against the justice he had upheld in the past.
"Yaen, hold Sauron back for me. I'll be right back."
After throwing out those words, Kuzan instantly transformed into a stream of cold air and headed toward Sakazuki's Marine Warship, shouting angrily,
"Sakazuki, you bastard! What the hell are you trying to do? Stop right now!"
The next moment, magma and ice surged simultaneously from Sakazuki's Marine Warship.
Clearly, no one had expected Kuzan and Sakazuki—these two men whose powers were as incompatible as ice and fire—to start fighting openly before so many Marines in the middle of such an important military operation as the Buster Call, simply because of their conflicting ideals.
Yaen.
Yaen stiffly turned his head and looked at Sauron standing before him, whose single finger was larger than Yaen's entire body. He couldn't help cursing inwardly again and again.
Kuzan, you idiot. Bringing me ashore with you was one thing, but you actually left me behind and told me to hold Sauron back? With these skinny arms and legs of mine, what am I supposed to use to stop him?
Much to Yaen's surprise, however, Sauron was extremely friendly and showed no intention of attacking. Instead, he bent down and asked,
"Your name is Yaen? Are you a Marine?"
"No, I'm not," Yaen answered honestly.
"Then why are you with Kuzan?" Sauron asked.
"I... I was forced to..." Yaen continued answering honestly.
"Then..."
Sauron turned his head to look at the Marine Warship in the distance, where vast amounts of magma and ice continued to surge, and said, "Yaen, do you want to escape with me?"
"Huh?!" Yaen froze slightly, never expecting Sauron to say something like that.
Sauron continued,
"I'm guessing Kuzan brought you along because you were preparing to join the Marines, but you blocked Sakazuki's bombardment to save the civilians."
After a pause, Sauron continued, "Given Sakazuki's personality, he'll very likely do something unpleasant to you afterward. Why don't you escape with me?"
The corner of Yaen's mouth twitched slightly. He rejected Sauron's kindness and said, "Thank you for your concern, but there's no need. I have a reason I must remain in the Marines."
"Dereshishishi, I see. Do you already have a justice you wish to believe in?"
Sauron let out his peculiar laugh and said,
"You dared to oppose Sakazuki at great risk to protect the civilians. That conviction is worthy of recognition. It seems your justice is a fine one."
Then Sauron's expression turned solemn.
"Regardless, I have to take advantage of Kuzan and Sakazuki's fight to start escaping. Yaen, since you don't want to escape with me and instead want to stop me, come and try."
To be honest, Yaen didn't want to stop Sauron. Aside from not wanting to earn merit, the more important reason was that he greatly approved of Sauron.
But...
As Yaen lightly flicked his sword hilt, the petals protecting the evacuation ship instantly turned back. They flew continuously around Yaen as he spoke,
"I'm sorry, Sauron, but no matter what, I still have to take some action."
Sometimes, even when he didn't want to, one still needed the resolve to swing a blade. Yaen possessed that resolve.
As Sengoku's adopted son, during this Buster Call military operation that the World Government was watching closely, Yaen could act under the guidance of his personal convictions and save the evacuation ship.
But from the standpoint of being Sengoku's son, he couldn't remain indifferent to Sauron's escape under these circumstances.
Otherwise, Yaen's actions might bring unnecessary trouble and suspicion upon Sengoku.
And that was something Yaen would not allow.
I'm sorry. Even if it's only for show, this is necessary.
Yaen sighed inwardly. In the next instant, a vast number of petals surged rapidly toward Sauron.
"Zzzzz..."
In an instant, as the beautiful, fragile petals swept past, countless densely packed wounds appeared across Sauron's skin, and thin streams of blood began to seep out.
This was especially true because Sauron had no intention of attacking Yaen. He simply turned and fled, sprinting wildly.
From a distance, it looked as if Sauron had become a man made entirely of blood in the blink of an eye.
However, Yaen knew very well that with Shikai Senbonzakura's attack power, Sauron's wounds only looked dense and frightening. In reality, they were merely superficial injuries.
For Sauron's monstrous physique, injuries of this level were not even worth treating.
At that moment, Sauron also discovered the special nature of the dreamy pink petals and murmured in surprise,
"These seem to be... blades?"
Even though those blades were incredibly fine, resembling cherry blossoms, they would still be fatal to Little Robin, who was only eight years old and was being protected in Sauron's palm.
However, when Sauron lowered his head anxiously to look at Little Robin, he found that the constantly dancing and circling petals had perfectly avoided her with astonishing precision.
"Little Robin, are you all right?" Sauron asked softly as he sprinted through the storm of petals.
Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, making Little Robin look both pitiful and helpless. Yet at that moment, she was captivated by the breathtaking cherry blossoms dancing before her. After freezing for a moment, she shook her head and answered,
"N-no... I'm fine. Sauron, these flowers are so beautiful."
"Mm."
Sauron nodded. How could he not understand Yaen's intentions?
Rather than an attack, this was more like a farewell escort.
"He's a good man," Sauron concluded.
Recalling the scene of Yaen saving the evacuation ship, Little Robin nodded sincerely.
"Mm, he's a good man."
Before you continue