In the Name of Justice

Elsewhere, aboard the pirate ship at the harbor.

A pirate staggered toward the captain's cabin, drenched in sweat and disheveled, having even run out of one of his shoes.

"Bad news, Captain! The warehouse, the warehouse..."

He braced himself against the cabin door, gasping for breath. "Th-those prisoners, they've all been released! Not a single one is left!"

"What?!"

The captain slammed his palm onto the wooden table before him, knocking the wine bottles over and spilling liquor all across the tabletop.

The flesh on his face twisted with fury, and his already vicious eyes seemed ready to spew fire as he snarled through gritted teeth, "Quick! Come with me and take a look!!"

As soon as he spoke, he seemed to recall something and added sharply:

"Right! Bring all the mortars with you!! Blow those bastards who dared ruin my plans to pieces!"

The pirates dared not delay. They hurriedly pushed four pitch-black mortars and rushed in a disorderly mob toward the warehouse.

Several battered oil lamps around the warehouse cast a faint glow, making the surrounding scene flicker between light and shadow.

The warehouse doors, once tightly shut and secured with heavy iron chains, had now been forcibly smashed open, covered in cracks of varying depths.

The warehouse was empty. The five hundred captured kingdom soldiers who had been held there had vanished without a trace.

"Damn it! That brat must have done this!!"

The captain stared at the empty warehouse, trembling all over with rage as the fury in his chest seemed ready to burst free.

"He actually let my valuable hostages escape! Once I catch that brat, I'll skin him alive and make him understand how formidable I am!!"

He suddenly raised his right hand and smashed it against the mortar beside him with all his strength.

With a deafening clang.

The surrounding pirates all shrank their necks, while fine cracks even spread across the ground beneath their feet.

Just then, a loud and resolute voice suddenly rang out from all directions, tearing through the silence of the night.

"Surrender yourselves! Pirates!!"

The pirates froze and sharply turned their heads, only to see dense ranks of kingdom soldiers pouring out from the alleys around the warehouse and from behind the rooftops.

Every soldier held a rifle, their expressions solemn as their gun barrels aimed in unison at the pirates, surrounding them on all sides.

"You are already surrounded! Drop your weapons, and surrender! We will spare your lives!"

"Hahahaha!"

The captain was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter, the anger on his face immediately replaced by contempt.

He swept a disdainful glance over the kingdom army surrounding them and sneered:

"Have you forgotten how we sent you running with your tails between your legs last time? And you dare come encircle me again?"

As he spoke, he slapped the mortar's barrel. The pirates behind him immediately understood and swiftly adjusted the weapons, swinging the black muzzles toward the soldiers in unison.

"I'm afraid you won't get that chance..."

A cool voice suddenly sounded from the direction of the warehouse. It was not loud, yet every person heard it clearly.

The unexpected voice startled every pirate. They all spun around, their eyes filled with vigilance and confusion.

From the shadows at the warehouse entrance, a young man in a pure white suit slowly emerged.

He stood tall and walked with composure, his immaculate white attire especially conspicuous in the darkness.

"Who the hell are you?!"

The captain was both shocked and enraged, his brows tightly furrowed and his eyes full of disbelief.

Why had another brat appeared?!

Where was the brat who had released the prisoners earlier?!

He had no time to think further. His heart hardened, and a vicious glint flashed through his eyes.

Whatever. Whoever you are, brat, if you dare ruin my business, I'll just blast you to death!

He roared at the pirates beside him, "Aim half the cannons at that brat! Blow him to death!"

"Fire!!"

Meanwhile, in the open space behind the tightly guarded ranks of soldiers, the king and several ministers watched the scene with tense expressions, their faces filled with worry.

They exchanged glances, each seeing unease in the others' eyes, before turning in unison toward the cold-faced young man in a black suit beside them.

"Mr. Lucci, will this really be all right?"

The king's voice trembled slightly as his gaze remained fixed on the white-clad young man targeted by the mortars.

"Those pirates' mortars are extremely powerful. Last time, our soldiers suffered heavy losses from those very weapons. That child..."

Not long ago, Beiyuan Heng had suddenly appeared before them and calmly informed them that he had rescued all five hundred captured soldiers, telling the king to immediately gather the royal guards and remaining soldiers to eliminate the pirates.

At the time, the king had been deeply hesitant. The pirates possessed numerous mortars and formidable firepower. They had to proceed slowly and could not launch a rash attack, lest they harm the surrounding civilians.

But Beiyuan Heng had merely smiled faintly and said in a relaxed tone, "It's fine. Leave this to me."

And so things had become what they were now.

Lucci slightly raised his eyes and calmly watched the battlefield ahead, his expression entirely unruffled.

"Just watch carefully. The World Government's decisions do not make mistakes."

Though he and Beiyuan Heng did not get along, pirates of this caliber could not possibly pose any threat to Beiyuan Heng.

"Fire! Fire already! Blast that brat into scraps!"

The captain's roar rang out.

Following his command, pitch-black shells shot toward Beiyuan Heng in unison, accompanied by piercing whistles.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!

Violent explosions erupted one after another. Flames shot into the sky, and scorching shockwaves swept outward, blasting the surrounding ground full of craters as thick smoke billowed.

The blasts were so powerful that the earth itself trembled faintly. No wonder the king and soldiers feared these pirates so greatly.

"Hahaha! Serves you right, you little brat!"

The captain looked at the flames filling the sky and laughed triumphantly, his face bearing a cruel grin.

"Now you know how formidable I am, huh? This is what happens when you dare oppose me!"

The other pirates joined in the laughter, as if they could already see Beiyuan Heng blown to pieces by the shells.

But in the next instant, every laugh abruptly stopped, and their smug expressions were replaced by utter disbelief.

From within the blazing flames, a tall young figure slowly emerged. His steps remained composed, his expression as calm as ever, and even his white suit had not suffered the slightest damage.

At the sight, the captain's smile instantly froze. His eyes bulged wide, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit a fist, his voice full of terror and disbelief. "Th-this is impossible?!"

He pointed at Beiyuan Heng, trembling all over. "Y-you, what kind of monster are you?! Even shells can't kill you?!"

Beiyuan Heng stopped walking and looked up at him, his gaze cool and his tone utterly calm as he answered word by word, "CP9, Beiyuan Heng."

"I will judge you in the name of justice!"