Massacre

Second Bear hurriedly began treating Big Bear's wounds.

But just then, Big Bear grabbed Second Bear's hand and said tremblingly, "It... it was them... who killed... Ruhua... and Master... Revenge..."

"Big Brother, don't talk yet. Let me treat your wounds first."

"Revenge!" After finishing those words, Big Bear passed out.

"Big Brother!" Second Bear cried out and immediately began treating Big Bear's wounds as quickly as he could.

"How is he?" Locke asked, turning back after watching Carmen block the Marines' bullets.

"He'll be fine. He just lost too much blood." After quickly stopping Big Bear's bleeding, Second Bear wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Hearing that, Locke let out a small sigh of relief.

"Captain Locke, leave these people to us. I want to avenge the villagers who died." After tending to Big Bear's wounds, Second Bear stood up and spoke to Locke with a determined expression.

"All right!" Seeing the resolve in Second Bear's eyes, as well as Panda's and the others', Locke nodded in agreement.

Locke nodded at Carmen, who was blocking bullets nearby.

Phantom: Blade Slash

As soon as the words fell, the Marines across from them cried out one after another and dropped their guns. Numerous cuts of varying sizes had suddenly appeared on their hands, blood pouring from them.

Carmen then swept her outstretched hand to the side, and the guns scattered across the ground flew away.

"Leave the rest to you." Having done that, Locke stopped and spoke to Second Bear and the others behind him.

Roar! Roar!

Two bear roars rang out at once. Then Panda and a polar bear charged out from behind, rushing toward the Marines still clutching their hands and screaming.

"Stop howling! Draw your swords and prepare for close combat!" the Marine officer ordered nervously.

But it was already too late. Second Bear and Panda had charged into the Marines and begun a one-sided slaughter.

Though these Marines were well-trained, how could they possibly stand against two Devil Fruit users, even if the two had once been nothing more than ordinary civilians?

Seeing that his side had no ability to resist at all, the Marine officer quietly retreated to the warship before roaring down at the Marines below, "Retreat! Get aboard, now!"

"Trying to run?" Locke looked at the officer, who had somehow returned to the warship. Purple light flashed around his hands, and a massive door appeared between the Marines and the warship, blocking their retreat.

"Set sail, quickly!" Seeing the Marines below blocked by the suddenly appearing door, the officer hurriedly ordered the Marines who had remained aboard.

"Oh? Are you calling for them?" Yun Zhinnan appeared behind the officer, carrying an unconscious Marine in each hand.

"Who are you? Don't kill me! I have money—the money on the ship is all yours! Please, don't kill me!" The officer was decisive. Seeing Yun Zhinnan behind him and realizing his orders were useless, he immediately dropped to his knees and begged for mercy.

"Of course I won't kill you."

Hearing Yun Zhinnan's words, the officer visibly relaxed.

"But they might." Yun Zhinnan pointed at Second Bear and Panda, who were fighting the Marines below.

"You... you can't do this." The officer completely broke down, tears and snot streaming down his face.

"Hmph! Just stay here quietly!" Yun Zhinnan did not look at the officer again.

"Ah! I'll fight you!" The moment Yun Zhinnan turned away, the officer charged at him hysterically.

"A feeble struggle." Yun Zhinnan did not even turn his head. He merely shifted slightly to dodge the attack, then kicked the officer, sending him crashing onto the deck.

Before long, Panda and Second Bear had dealt with all the Marines below. Perhaps because they were too enraged, they left no survivors.

Yun Zhinnan then brought the officer before Locke.

Seeing the officer, Second Bear and Panda, who had just finished fighting, wanted to rush over and finish him off. But Locke raised a hand to stop them.

"Don't be hasty. I have something to ask him first. You can deal with him after I'm done."

Hearing Locke's words, the two stopped moving, though they continued staring murderously at the officer as if they wanted to eat him alive. The sight frightened the officer so badly that his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.

"What's your name?" Locke asked, crouching in front of the officer.

"Please let me go!" Having just seen Locke stop the bear brothers, the officer assumed this kind-looking man was their leader, so he hurriedly begged.

"He's asking you a question!" Panda stepped forward and kicked the officer.

"My name is Sofira," the officer said fearfully after taking Panda's kick.

"Sofira, is it? What's your position in the Marines?"

"I'm a lieutenant commander from the East Blue's 16th Branch." After being kicked, Sofira became much more obedient. As long as Locke asked something he knew, he told him.

This gave Locke a general understanding of the situation in the East Blue. It truly deserved its title as the weakest sea in the anime. The highest bounty was only twenty million, and that pirate was Arlong of the Arlong Pirates—the one Locke had seen in the anime, who controlled Nami's village.

"Then one last question: why did you attack this village?" After learning what he wanted to know, Locke asked again.

"It wasn't me! My superior ordered me to do it. I didn't want to either!" Sofira began crying again.

"Just tell me who it was," Locke said again.

"It was the colonel of the 16th Branch, Colonel Nezumi. He told me to do it. It really had nothing to do with me! Please, let me go!"

"So it was him." Having received the answer he wanted, Locke stood up and muttered.

"All right, he's yours." Locke looked at Second Bear and Panda.

"No!" Seeing Second Bear and Panda walking toward him, Sofira screamed desperately.

"Please, let me go!"

Ignoring Sofira's cries, Panda grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away.

"You pirates will pay the price for this."

"The Marines won't let you go."

"Reinforcement ships will be here soon. You'll all die in... Ah!"

Before Sofira could finish speaking, Panda dealt with him.

"I'd like to see how the Marines plan to keep us here." Locke dismissed Sofira's words with disdain.

After settling matters here, Locke returned to the ship to see how things were. Although he had sent Annie back early, he was still somewhat worried.