Satch was older, and unlike Marco, who had grown up aboard the Whitebeard Pirates' ship since childhood, he had drifted across the seas for several years before joining the Whitebeard Pirates.
Listening to Marco's account, Satch realized that the main conflict between Marco and that New Marine was not simply a matter of opposing positions as "Marines" and "pirates."
At the same time, Satch was astonished by that New Marine's naivety.
He had dared to risk his life against a division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates over something so trivial. If the New Marine had encountered anyone else aboard their ship rather than Marco, he would probably already be dead by now.
After all, not every pirate was like Marco.
"Hey, Satch."
"What exactly do you think that guy was so angry about?"
Gazing out at the vast sea, Marco could not help recalling the look in that New Marine's eyes.
Marco had rarely seen such hatred-filled eyes.
What he usually saw from others was respect, fear, flattery, and the like.
Marco could tell that Terry Black's resentment was directed at him personally, not at his identity as a pirate. That was what puzzled him.
"If I had to put it bluntly, the conflict between you and that New Marine was really just a misunderstanding."
"Though calling it a misunderstanding isn't entirely accurate either."
"Because you did benefit by using your own influence."
"Whether people respected or feared you, the end result was that you got the goods from that owner without paying."
"And in that New Marine's eyes, what you did was undoubtedly plundering—the sort of thing pirates did."
Satch lightly draped an arm around Marco's shoulders and explained with a smile.
"?"
"Doesn't that happen all the time when we buy things on Sphinx Island?"
"The shopkeepers don't