Kuruno

Naval Base Headquarters

"Honestly... I told them to keep things quiet lately..."

"At a time like this, they're still causing me trouble!"

Kuruno sat in a soft leather chair, a cigar between his fingers, facing the window and looking down over his territory.

"My deepest apologies, Colonel Kuruno!" A marine soldier stood before the desk and saluted. "We are investigating those people spreading rumors everywhere."

Controlling public opinion was one of their usual methods. As long as everyone claimed the island was peaceful and stable, those inspectors would not investigate too deeply.

When those people left, they would be given a little money as a gesture. Both sides benefited, and neither offended the other.

In the end, a world where only the civilians got hurt was achieved.

"But... haven't you noticed that the townspeople's attitudes have changed somewhat lately...?"

With one leg crossed over the other and a cigarette in hand, he casually glanced at the marine standing before his desk.

"Yes!" Cold sweat formed on the marine's forehead. "The townspeople have indeed been contacting one another more often lately."

"That's because the people in town are trying to raise money."

"No, no, no! That isn't the main reason..." Kuruno gently shook his head. "It's because they aren't showing me enough respect!"

Cold sweat kept dripping from the marine's forehead. He stood there without daring to even breathe loudly, completely afraid to move.

"You really know how to create trouble for me." Kuruno shook his head in dissatisfaction.

"By the way, did a rat sneak onto my turf?"

Recently, he had kept the harbor under strict surveillance, yet someone had still slipped in.

"You should have killed that person already, right?"

The marine looked shocked. "Th-this wouldn't be appropriate, Colonel! That person's crime shouldn't warrant death, should it?"

"You can't do it? Don't tell me you're new here!" Kuruno rose to his feet. "Let me tell you, I'm the boss here."

"If that's the case, what gave you the courage to talk back to me? If I tell you to kill, then kill! Why so much nonsense?"

He drew the large saber resting on the desk and brought it down in one slash, cutting the marine to the floor.

"Someone, drag him out! He's an eyesore!"

"..."

Kuruno pulled out a tissue and wiped the blood from his blade, casually tossing the paper onto the floor.

Power was the most wonderful thing in the world. It intoxicated people until they could not pull themselves free, allowing them to do whatever they pleased.

"Sorry to interrupt."

Watching the man before him become so intoxicated, Jin An was somewhat reluctant to disturb him. After all, this might be the last time the man ever exercised his tyranny.

"Do you know what it means to interrupt me?" Kuruno raised his saber.

Jin An thought for a moment before answering, "It means I interrupted you?"

"Has anyone ever told you... that you're really good at making people angry?"

Perhaps because he was too agitated, the muscles on his face twitched. The flames of rage in his heart seemed ready to destroy everything first.

"I advise you not to make a move." Jin An was not flustered in the slightest. He even felt like laughing.

Why did this guy look like a gorilla when he got angry? And he was surprisingly quiet.

If it had been anyone else, they would have been jumping around already, declaring they would not rest until one of them was dead.

"I'm a marine colonel. No matter what I encounter, I won't act on impulse." Kuruno sounded rather proud.

"Then let's talk about what happened between you and those pirates." Jin An had encountered such a cooperative criminal for the first time and immediately became interested.

"Me? Pirates?" Kuruno did not react at first.

"That's right, you and the pirates on the eastern side of this island." Jin An nodded firmly.

"A mutually beneficial partnership," Kuruno said bluntly.

He was not flustered at all. He had long recognized the person before him as the "rat" he had spotted earlier.

This was his territory. Without his orders, no one could leave this place.

"I think you're a little too confident." Jin An spun the key in his hand.

"My guess is that this is the key to your safe."

"I'd quite like to see what you've been keeping in there..."

"The marines bear the duty of defending peace. You've already become a colonel, so there should be medals in there that you earned over the years."

Jin An laughed and walked toward the safe with the key.

Kuruno frowned. Though he was confident he could control everyone in the room, he still did not want anyone seeing what was inside the safe.

"My friend, don't be hasty. Let me show you something good first!"

Bang!

Before he had even finished speaking, he pulled the trigger on the gun in his hand.

Seeing Jin An fall, he revealed a disdainful smile.

"Trash like you wants to play spy?"

"Strange. Why has no one come to move the body after so long? Those bastards are getting more and more outrageous!"

He pulled open the office door and walked out.

Strangely, the corridor was still silent, as though he were the only person left in the entire building.

"Wow! You really are rich!"

Suddenly, sounds of rummaging through drawers and cabinets came from inside the office.

Kuruno hurried back. The moment he saw the person inside, his entire body froze.

"How are you still alive?"

Jin An took out a deformed bullet. "Oh, this thing is poor quality. I didn't feel a thing when it hit me."

He wiped it off and casually tossed it over. "You should be careful. I'm not very good at controlling my strength."

Whoosh!

A sharp sound rang out as the bullet whistled past Kuruno's ear.

Kuruno raised a finger and lightly brushed his cheek. The blood on his fingertip was exceptionally glaring.

It was obvious that he was no match for this young man. If the other party wanted to kill him, a single finger would be enough.

He began to panic and cried out, "Who exactly are you?!"

"Someone as strong as you came all this way just to toy with me?"

Jin An smiled. "You think too highly of yourself..."

"People as narcissistic as you are rare..."

"Once you get to prison, you should bring your cellmates plenty of laughter."

Kuruno's face turned pale with rage. He drew in a deep breath, nearly grinding his teeth to pieces.

When had he ever been toyed with like this? The man before him did not take him seriously at all.

"Everything I own was obtained legally."

To prepare for inspections, he had long since legalized most of his assets. If they wanted to pick at that, he had nothing to fear.

"I only said you were rich. I never said your money came from improper sources. Why are you so anxious?"

"Besides, I've already got your evidence in my hands."

Kuruno asked in confusion, "Then why did you come here? If you have something that can prove my crimes, wouldn't it be enough to report me directly?"

"Because I need to use your base to wait for someone. Once that person arrives on this island, the first place they'll come is here. It's much more convenient to wait here."

"Since you have nothing to do anyway, why not wait with me?"

"When the time comes, I'll send you on your way."

Those within the marines who could uphold justice were worthy of respect.

But there were also many people like Kuruno. Desire could make people abandon many things, until it blinded their eyes.