The Marine Who Refused to Hand Over the Children

The grain ship had just docked when twelve Marines boarded via the gangplank.

The man in the lead was only in his twenties. He wore a short officer's coat, a pistol at his waist, and the insignia of the 16th Branch pinned to his left sleeve.

He did not inspect the cargo crates first. Instead, he swept his gaze over the deck and the sailors' hands.

"Who's in charge?"

Lorne stepped forward half a pace.

"Lorne, chief steward of the Morning Bell Caravan."

"Qi Hai, branch major."

The young officer took out a military supply manifest.

"Twelve crates of medicinal herbs. The branch has paid in full. We'll count them now, then unload them once everything is confirmed."

Su Hang hid behind the stacked tarps, leaving only a narrow gap to watch through.

The Marines Qi Hai had brought stood in steady positions, but they had not surrounded the crew.

Every muzzle pointed downward, and no fingers rested on the triggers.

This was not a team sent to silence witnesses.

Lorne handed over the fake manifest.

"The medicinal herbs are at the stern. We ran into pirates during the voyage, and two crates were damaged. Major Qi Hai will need to inspect them personally."

The quartermaster standing behind Qi Hai immediately spoke up.

"There's no need to inspect the crates. Carry them into the warehouse first."

Qi Hai turned his head.

"You're in charge of the inventory?"

The quartermaster smiled.

"I'm responsible for the handover. This batch has special seals and cannot be opened outside."

"Article Nine of the supply regulations states that damaged crates must be inspected on site."

"Major, this shipment was personally approved by the branch chief."

Qi Hai held out his hand.

"All the more reason to inspect it."

The quartermaster pressed a hand against the crate lid.

"Major Qi Hai, you've only just been transferred to Grey Stone Island. You don't understand how the branch handles things here. I'll take over these twelve crates. You just need to sign."

Qi Hai looked at that hand.

"Move it."

"You—"

"I don't repeat myself."

Two Marines stepped forward. They did not touch the quartermaster, only blocked his retreat.

The smile vanished completely from the quartermaster's face, and he could only slowly remove his hand.

Qi Hai pried open the first fake medicine crate.

There were no medicinal herbs inside, only dismantled false panels and a bloodstained wooden tag belonging to a child.

The deck fell silent in an instant.

Qi Hai picked up the tag.

"What is this?"

The quartermaster took half a step back.

"Something the caravan hid privately. How would I know?"

"The crate number matches the military supply manifest, and the seal was issued by the branch."

"They forged the seal!"

Qi Hai looked toward Lorne.

"Where are they?"

Lorne did not answer.

Qi Hai's gaze swept over the crew cabins.

A few moments later, the cabin door opened. Alan stepped out first, followed by twelve children in clean clothes.

The youngest child saw the Marine uniforms and immediately shrank behind Alan's legs.

Qi Hai's grip on the wooden tag slowly tightened.

"They were originally inside the crates?"

Alan answered.

"In the hidden compartments of the cargo hold."

The quartermaster suddenly drew his pistol.

"Fishman pirates! Major, these are all pirate family members! The Morning Bell Caravan is smuggling criminals—arrest them immediately!"

The moment the muzzle rose, Qi Hai had already seized his wrist.

Crack!

The pistol slammed onto the deck.

The quartermaster had both arms twisted behind his back, his face pressed against the crate as he knelt.

"Qi Hai, you dare arrest me?"

"A branch supply manifest was used to traffic people, and a quartermaster threatened witnesses with a gun. Is that enough reason to arrest you?"

"Do you know who I work for?"

"Save it for your interrogation."

Qi Hai raised a hand.

"Cuff him."

The Marines took out handcuffs without the slightest hesitation.

The quartermaster struggled and roared.

"The branch chief will strip you of your rank! These people don't even have identities! No one would investigate if they died at sea!"

Qi Hai stopped.

"Say that again."

The quartermaster panted heavily. Realizing he had misspoken, he immediately changed his words.

"I mean, they could be spies sent by pirates."

Qi Hai crouched down until they were eye level.

"You just said you didn't know what was in the crates."

The quartermaster's face turned pale.

"I was only guessing."

"You guessed remarkably well."

From behind the tarp, Su Hang's hand slipped through the gap and flicked the original manifest onto the deck.

The sheet of paper spun through the air and landed by Qi Hai's feet.

Qi Hai did not look for where it had come from. He merely picked up the manifest.

The twelve numbers on it perfectly matched those on the military supply manifest, and each number was followed by an age and a transfer price.

The final seal belonged to the 16th Branch's military supply warehouse.

Qi Hai pressed the paper in front of the quartermaster.

"Take a guess at this too."

"Fake!"

"The ink contains blue shell powder used exclusively by the supply warehouse. Ordinary merchants cannot get it."

Cold sweat appeared on the quartermaster's forehead.

"It was done by the people below me without permission! I only handled the delivery!"

"Delivered where?"

"The warehouse."

"Which warehouse?"

"Warehouse Three at the rear."

Alan suddenly spoke.

"He's lying. The people in Deerskin Town said the cargo was sent through the Marine waterway to the Black Gear Workshop after it arrived."

Qi Hai turned around.

"Who did you hear that from?"

"The supply personnel who escorted us."

"Can you identify them?"

"I can."

Qi Hai stood and placed the original manifest directly into an evidence bag.

"Seal the docks. Everyone involved in handing over this shipment is forbidden from leaving port. Search Warehouse Three and the Marine waterway."

The quartermaster hurriedly shouted.

"You have no authority to seal the port!"

"I do now."

"Based on one sheet of paper with an unknown origin?"

"Based on twelve living people."

Qi Hai turned to Lorne.

"I want the complete cargo records, the list of personnel who loaded the ship in Deerskin Town, and every travel permit along the route. Seal the originals. Keep copies for yourself."

Lorne asked.

"Who will protect the children?"

"They'll remain on the ship for now."

"According to port regulations, anyone without identification must be handed over to the branch."

Qi Hai glanced at the children.

"The branch is involved in this case. We cannot hand the witnesses back to the branch."

The wariness in Alan's eyes finally eased slightly.

"You're from the 16th Branch too."

"Which is why I'll recuse myself from the later interrogations and request intervention from a neighboring base."

"The neighboring base could be in on it too."

"Then Marine Headquarters will send someone."

From behind the tarp, Su Hang watched Qi Hai's stance.

This man did not promise that he could protect everyone, nor did he claim that the Marines were absolutely just.

He was only doing what he could in front of him—moving the gun barrels away from the children.

The Den Den Mushi on the deck suddenly opened its eyes.

Brrr-brrr.

Qi Hai answered it.

"This is the rear dock. Qi Hai speaking."

The Den Den Mushi quickly transformed into the grim face of a middle-aged man.

"Who gave you permission to detain the quartermaster?"

"Branch Chief, twelve trafficked refugees were found aboard the ship. Both the military supply manifest and the transport list point to the branch warehouse."

"They're pirate family members."

"There are trafficking numbers on their ankles. The youngest is only five."

"Pirates are not innocent just because they are young."

Qi Hai's voice sank.

"What orders does the branch chief intend to give?"

"Seal the grain ship. Execute every person without identification. The Morning Bell Caravan colluded with pirates—detain them as well."

The expressions of the Marines on deck changed sharply.

Lorne asked.

"No trial?"

The Den Den Mushi sneered.

"What interrogation do pirate family members need?"

Qi Hai looked at his adjutant.

"Record the order."

The face on the Den Den Mushi twisted abruptly.

"You dare question me?"

"An order to execute twelve underage witnesses must be recorded in writing."

"Qi Hai, you only need to obey!"

"Marine regulations require obedience to superiors, but they also require the protection of civilians."

"They are not civilians!"

Qi Hai picked up the numbered wooden tag from a child's ankle and held it toward the Den Den Mushi.

"Someone putting a price on them does not mean the Marines have to treat them as cargo too."

"I order you to open fire immediately!"

Qi Hai drew his sidearm.

Alan's entire body tensed, while Su Hang's right arm silently stretched behind the canvas.

The next moment, however, Qi Hai reversed the grip and handed the sidearm to his adjutant.

"Major Qi Hai refuses the execution order. He voluntarily disarms and accepts a military investigation."

The adjutant did not take it.

"Major, this order was wrong to begin with."

"Take the gun."

"But—"

"Take it."

Gritting his teeth, the adjutant accepted the sidearm with both hands.

Qi Hai turned to his men.

"You can carry out the branch commander's order, or you can take me back to base with them. But anyone who fires at the children will have to explain why in a public hearing."

The twelve Marines did not raise their guns.

Instead, the man at the front shifted half a step to the right, placing himself between the children and the harbor watchtower.

Then, the heavy sound of gears came from the shore.

Three gun emplacements turned at once.

Their black muzzles passed over the pier and locked onto the grain ship's waterline.

The harbor's iron gates dropped, and Navy speedboats sealed off the only exit.

The Den Den Mushi relayed the branch commander's cold roar.

"Qi Hai, if you still refuse to carry out the order, I'll sink your ship along with you!"