A Branch Wiped Out (Please Bookmark and Recommend)

The boy was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery.

Outside the operating room, the woman held the still-dazed Nini in her arms and wept silently.

Zhong Hao had a favorable impression of this woman who had risked her life to protect her children. Seeing how heartbroken she was, he felt rather awful and stepped forward. "What happened to your daughter? Has she always been like this?"

The woman looked up at him, then shook her head. "No. Nini is a little timid around strangers, but she's never been like this before. I don't know if she was hurt somewhere or whether she can recover." As she spoke, she tightened her hold on her daughter and gently stroked the back of her head.

Zephyr stepped forward and waved a hand in front of Nini's eyes. Seeing no response, he said, "Perhaps she was traumatized by what happened earlier. She thought her brother had been beaten to death and refused to accept that 'reality,' so her mind shut itself off. She should recover with time."

Zhong Hao suddenly asked, "Earlier, you said you lost your husband and home three days ago. What happened?"

The woman shuddered all over, as though she had only just realized something. She abruptly looked up at Zephyr. Seeing his white military uniform, she grabbed the hem of his coat and said in a trembling voice, "You're Marines! You're Marines! I haven't seen you before! I haven't seen you before! You're from another branch..." As she spoke, she suddenly choked up.

Zephyr noticed something was wrong with her expression and frowned. "Yes, we're Marines. Is there something you need to tell us?"

The woman burst into loud sobs. "Why? Why did you only come now? Why couldn't you have come three days earlier? Why... sob...!"

Although Hina was only thirteen or fourteen, she possessed a woman's natural sensitivity. Having never experienced the slaughter of a battlefield, she was softhearted. She stepped forward, took the woman's hand, and said, "We're Marines from Headquarters. If there's anything you need help with, please tell us."

After quite a while, the woman finally calmed down somewhat. "My name is Beren. My son is Erwen, and my daughter is Aivini. We're residents of Lukesen Island to the south. Three days ago, my husband suddenly rushed home and wanted to send the three of us off the island. Only on the way to the shore did I learn that a group of pirates had suddenly arrived on the island. They burned, killed, and looted their way across it, destroying every village on the island."

"My husband was a Marine captain. At the time, after putting us on a ship, he turned around and ran back to the island. Though I desperately tried to stop him, he still went back. He said, 'The colonel and his troops are locked in a bitter battle. I have to go back and support them.' After that... there was never any more news. I brought Erwen and Nini aboard the ship to Pus Island. Since we left in such a hurry, we had no money on us. We couldn't find work on the island either, so we could only beg. In three days, Nini and the others have only eaten six pieces of bread."

Zephyr clenched his fists, making the air crack explosively. Smoker, who had hurried over, immediately began shouting about setting sail to wipe out the pirates. Hina was more attentive. She ran out and soon returned with two bowls of plain porridge and four pieces of bread, handing them to the mother and daughter.

Zhong Hao frowned, feeling somewhat puzzled. "As far as I know, not everyone on this island is coldhearted. How could no one give you a decent meal?"

After thanking him, Beren fed Nini a mouthful of porridge and bread before answering, "That isn't the case. When I first arrived on this island, I found three jobs. But half a day later, I was fired from all of them. Only after I begged did one restaurant owner secretly tell me that some criminals had threatened them, leaving them no choice but to dismiss me."

"And those criminals specialize in capturing and selling slaves. No one else dares to offend them. They don't dare give me work, and they don't dare give me money."

Smoker began shouting again. "What kind of criminals are that arrogant? Tell me, and I'll beat them to death."

Beren shook her head without speaking, but Zhong Hao understood. "No matter how vicious or savage they are, they can't possibly intimidate every kindhearted person on the island. That leaves only one possibility: the slave traders are backed by this country's powerful figures, perhaps even the king. And they probably aren't protecting the slave traders because they covet the profits from the slave trade. They're secretly sheltering them as buyers. Yesterday, the eight sedan bearers beneath that king's carriage all had iron collars locked around their necks."

But inwardly, he thought, A kingdom that has courted death to this extent—no wonder it drew Dragon here.

When Beren nodded, Smoker glanced at Zephyr, and both fell silent. If it had been anyone else—whether pirates or a major force from the underworld—they would have attacked without another word. But the Euro Kingdom was a member nation of the World Government, and there was nothing they could do.

Zhong Hao looked at the silent Smoker, then at Zephyr, and thought, The Marines have too many restraints. Justice cannot be carried through, and it is constantly tainted. Teacher must often feel heartbroken over Marines like this.

For a time, silence fell outside the operating room. Then a soldier ran up to Zephyr, saluted, and handed him a Den Den Mushi.

"Buru buru."

Zephyr picked up the receiver. The Den Den Mushi transformed into Sengoku's likeness, complete with a braided beard on its chin.

"Sengoku, what is it?" The two had known each other for decades, so he spoke casually.

"Zephyr, you should be near Pus Island right now. There's an important mission. Lukesen Island south of Pus Island has been occupied by the Iron Pirates. The branch Marines have been completely wiped out. Not a single survivor remains. Headquarters orders you to proceed to Lukesen Island immediately and annihilate the Iron Pirates."

"Annihilate?" Zephyr repeated.

"Yes. Not one can be spared. Zephyr, I know you follow a policy of not killing, but this time is different. An entire Marine branch has been wiped out. This is an atrocity never before seen in all of West Blue. If we don't use thunderous measures to intimidate the pirates, who knows how many branches will suffer in the future? Besides, this debt of blood must be repaid." Sengoku's voice was brimming with killing intent.

Zhong Hao knew just how kind Zephyr was. Even when pirates had slaughtered his family, his heart had not fallen into darkness. Seeing his predicament, Zhong Hao interjected, "Mr. Zephyr, you don't need to struggle over this. When the time comes, you won't have to act. The recruits and I are fully capable of completing this mission. Isn't that why we came to West Blue?"

"So it's Zhong Hao. Zephyr, you can do as he says," Sengoku said.

"Rest assured, Teacher Zephyr. We definitely won't have any problems." Smoker and Hina raised their hands together, loudly echoing Zhong Hao's words.

Zephyr looked at them, gritted his steel teeth, and said, "We will complete the mission."

"Protect the future of the Marines, Zephyr." With that, the Den Den Mushi hung up.

"Wiped out... no survivors... wiped out..." Beren leaned against the wall, her eyes vacant as she kept murmuring those words.

Zephyr patted her shoulder. "Your husband was a hero. He did not fear death and fought to the very end. He upheld the Marines' duty and the justice in his heart. Don't worry. We will avenge him, and we will avenge the entire branch."

Since he was helping, he might as well help to the end. Zhong Hao said to Zephyr, "Mr. Zephyr, you know about Erwen's situation too. Though he's young, he's extremely brave. To protect his sister, he refused to let go even in the face of death. His character and determination are both excellent. Someone like him, someone with such a strong sense of justice, is also the child of a Marine martyr. Why not enlist him in the Marines and bring him to the training camp for careful instruction?"

A row of dark lines appeared across Zephyr's forehead. He had always wanted Zhong Hao to become his disciple, but before he could take in this disciple, another one had been shoved into his hands. Was this a roundabout rejection? Though he had come to admire the boy after hearing Erwen's story, it would have been perfect if Zhong Hao had joined him as well. Two boys of similar age, trained together—that would have been ideal.

However, he did not know Zhong Hao's thoughts. One master, Garp, was enough for him. As for Zephyr, who had repeatedly helped him and considered his interests, Zhong Hao would show him great respect, but becoming his disciple was absolutely impossible.

Hearing Zhong Hao's suggestion, Hina was the first to agree. She clapped her hands and said, "Hina doesn't like Big Smokey. Hina likes brave junior brothers."

Smoker's face darkened in embarrassment. Annoyed, he said, "Hey, hey, I'm right here. Could you not say that in front of me?"

After thinking it over, Zephyr nodded in agreement. "I also admire that brave and righteous boy."

Zhong Hao then introduced Zephyr to Beren. "This is Zephyr, a former Marine Admiral and a powerful figure renowned throughout the world. With him as Erwen's master, Erwen will surely have a bright future. When we return, come with us to Marine Headquarters. The medical care at Headquarters is more advanced, and Nini can receive better treatment there as well."

Though it seemed strange for such a young child to say such things, Beren's heart was filled with gratitude. She had often heard her husband speak of Marine Headquarters with admiration, so she knew that an Admiral was an extremely important person. Following him would certainly offer better prospects than staying in West Blue, and it would fulfill her husband's wish. More importantly, Nini could be treated.

"Thank you! Thank you all!" She repeatedly thanked them, sobbing uncontrollably.

Zhong Hao smiled faintly and thought, This can count as my compensation, I suppose. After all, Erwen was injured because I indulged my own selfish motives.

He had a favorable impression of Beren, especially because he himself had once had a mother who abandoned him. One had risked her life, while the other had abandoned him. The difference was obvious.

Moreover, her actions had indirectly allowed Zhong Hao to awaken Observation Haki and reach the Steel-Cutting Realm in swordsmanship.