All the Marines on Baterilla Island began withdrawing toward the docks. Although Kyros and the others had stopped them in time, the effects of the incident involving the arrest of pregnant women had begun to spread.
In just one day, nearly all the islanders had learned that the Marines and the World Government's CP9 intended to arrest and execute every pregnant woman on the island.
For a time, every household with a pregnant woman was gripped by panic, and an atmosphere of terror spread across all of Baterilla Island.
Yet amid this atmosphere, the World Government's ships and the Marine warships remained securely docked at the harbor. For several consecutive days, hardly anyone disembarked, aside from quartermasters who occasionally went ashore to replenish supplies.
Sanjer Motta, who had been knocked unconscious by Issho, regained consciousness the following morning after being out for an entire night. When he awoke, however, he was not aboard his own ship, but in the prison cell of a Marine warship.
Sanjer Motta was not alone. His "colleagues" had all been detained by the Marines, and even the brat who had followed at Sanjer Motta's side had not been overlooked.
After Kyros and the others made a move against the World Government's people, Rear Admiral Cob keenly realized that something was wrong.
As it happened, he had been injured by Sanjer Motta. Using that as an excuse, Rear Admiral Cob immediately reported himself sick and handed full command of the Marines over to Kyros, allowing this outsider colonel to take complete charge of the Marines on the island.
After gaining command authority, Kyros ordered the Marines to detain every CP9 agent, confiscate their Den Den Mushi, and cut off CP9's contact with the outside world.
Kyros's original intention had been to block the news and buy