As soon as the Warship drew near, Ye Chen leaped toward it. Strawberry gave a disdainful snort. "How arrogant."
Before he finished speaking, he slashed at the airborne Ye Chen. Ye Chen shifted sideways in midair, narrowly dodging the strike, then swung his sword back at Strawberry. Strawberry hastily crossed both swords before his chest.
Boom! A fierce wave of sword energy swept into Strawberry. Though he blocked it, he was still forced two steps back.
"Hm?"
Strawberry frowned, mildly surprised. In that brief moment of hesitation, Ye Chen landed on the Warship's Deck. Lucci and Zeff followed close behind, leaping aboard as well.
Gin hesitated. His blood was boiling, but he held back. Kuina and a ship full of Slaves were still here. He could not abandon them.
Gin could more or less guess what Ye Chen intended. Ye Chen wanted to move the fight onto the Warship. If they fought aboard the passenger ship, he could not guarantee the Slaves' safety.
A Vice Admiral's destructive power was terrifying. If Strawberry destroyed the passenger ship, the Slaves might have no chance of survival.
The Marines would not care whether the Slaves lived or died. Protecting them would anger the supreme Celestial Dragons. These Slaves were bound for the Holy Land to become their playthings; protecting them would put the Marines at odds with them.
If the Celestial Dragons were denied their amusement, they would be furious. No matter how innocent the Slaves had once been, no one dared cross them.
In truth, many Marine officers harbored resentment and complaints, but they could only pretend not to notice.
However excessive the Celestial Dragons' actions were, they were descendants of the creators. Their bloodline alone meant Marine Headquarters had to do everything it could to satisfy their every whim.
Pirates protecting