Ryan Pirates vs. South Blue Marines

After finishing their meal, the three found an inn and settled in.

Not long after checking into the inn, Ryan noticed the two people who had followed them during the day and tracked them through his senses.

Ryan carefully sensed their auras and discovered that the targets were in a room across from theirs.

So they were hiding here to keep an eye on us.

After confirming their location, Ryan called Beli over and directly shoved the door open. The two people inside had been discussing something.

When they saw Ryan and Beli barge in so openly, they recovered from their initial shock, exchanged glances, and immediately tried to flee.

But before they could even make it out the door, Ryan and Beli knocked them unconscious and subdued them in an instant.

Ryan said to Beli, "Tie them up."

Beli found two ropes and tied up the unconscious pair. Ryan looked them over and felt that something was off, as though something was missing.

Then he found two scraps of cloth and stuffed them into the two men's mouths. Looking at his handiwork, Ryan nodded in satisfaction.

A while later, the two woke up. Once they realized they were tied up, they tried to cry for help, only to find that they could not make a sound with rags stuffed in their mouths.

Ryan was very pleased with his cleverness as he watched them struggle. If they had managed to shout and caused a commotion, the rest of his plan would have become difficult.

Drawing the sword at his waist and placing it beside their necks, Ryan spoke slowly.

"I'll ask you a few questions. You must answer honestly. Satisfy me, and I'll let you go. If you dare lie to me, I'll cut off your heads and send them to your families."

"If you want to cooperate, nod. If not, then..."

As he spoke, Ryan made a throat-slitting gesture.

Upon hearing Ryan's words, the two hurriedly nodded.

Satisfied, Ryan removed the rags from their mouths and signaled Beli with his eyes to kill them immediately if they made any sudden moves.

He just did not know whether Beli understood what he meant.

Seeing Ryan's look, Beli nodded in tacit understanding, indicating that he got it.

After seeing Beli acknowledge him, Ryan began the interrogation.

"Why were you two following us?"

"We came to the harbor to meet Captain Pino. When we saw you come down from Captain Pino's ship, we knew something had happened, so we were sent to follow and monitor you."

Ryan continued, "Who is behind you?"

The two hesitated before speaking. They did not want to die.

"Boss Rong. Boss Rong is the South Blue chief of the Slave Hunting Association."

"I've only heard of the Hunter Association. Why haven't I heard of the Slave Hunting Association?"

"You may not know this, but while the Slave Hunting Association has little reputation, it has existed for more than two hundred years. It specializes in helping nobles capture and sell slaves. Every slave captured in the South Blue is brought here, then sold throughout the South Blue."

Ryan was quite shocked to hear this, because the organization had never appeared in the Pirate King he had watched in his previous life.

And this Slave Hunting Association had existed for over two hundred years. In other words, it had been trafficking people for over two hundred years.

After pondering for a moment, Ryan continued questioning them.

"Tell me where the Slave Hunting Association's base in the Goth Kingdom is, and where this Boss Rong of yours is."

The two fell silent and began to hesitate. They knew the consequences of betraying Rong. They would certainly die horribly, and even their families might be implicated.

This man was definitely not looking for Boss Rong for anything good. Based on their earlier deductions, Pino was most likely already dead.

Seeing that they remained silent, Ryan guessed their concerns and smiled.

"Don't worry. As long as you tell me, I'll let you go. If I don't say anything, Rong won't know it was you who betrayed him, right?"

"But!" The smile vanished from Ryan's face.

"If you don't tell me, I'll kill you right now."

"You promise you'll let us go?"

"Of course. Would killing two minor characters like you make any difference to me?" Ryan said disdainfully.

"Fine, we'll tell you. Boss Rong is at the base. The base is at the Marine Branch."

"What do you mean?"

"Boss Rong is the highest-ranking officer of the Marine Branch. Naturally, the safest place for the base is inside the Marine base."

Ryan was utterly shocked. He had never expected the South Blue's largest human trafficker to be the highest-ranking officer of the Marine Branch.

As Ryan knew, the Goth Kingdom's Marine Branch managed the Marines throughout the entire South Blue, and its highest-ranking officer was a rear admiral from Marine Headquarters.

Being able to place the Slave Hunting Association within the Marine base meant that the entire base knew about it. There was no way to conceal slaves coming and going every day.

Who could have imagined that the greatest darkness came from beneath that banner called justice?

Ryan suddenly thought of the group he had sent into the Marine base during the day. Hadn't they just escaped the tiger's den only to enter a wolf's lair?

"Can you let us go now?"

"Sure!"

With a smile, Ryan cleanly and decisively severed both their heads with his sword, then walked out after finishing.

Beli asked in confusion, "Didn't you promise to let them go?"

"Let them go? Do you think they would stop doing this after being released?"

Ryan looked seriously at Beli. "What is my promise worth? If keeping my promise leads to even more people suffering later on, then I'd rather be someone who breaks his word."

"Can a reputation be weighed in pounds and exchanged for human lives?"

Beli was left completely stunned by Ryan's question.

Ryan was no saint. He had only done what he believed was right. If someone had lived on Earth in the twenty-first century, they would surely be unable to tolerate human trafficking and enslaving people.

Ryan's most basic moral principles meant that if he had not seen it, that was one thing. But now that he had seen it, he had to do something.

One should take on responsibilities according to one's abilities, and Ryan was quite confident in his own strength.

Beli smiled at Ryan.

"Although I still don't fully understand the deeper meaning of your words, Ryan, what you did must have been right."

"Is that so?"

Having a brother who trusted him completely felt good.

The corners of Ryan's mouth lifted slightly.

"Come on. Accompany me to the Marine base."

Lory watched the two figures walk away, her expression dazed.

Some things had to be done by someone. If not you, then me, or him.

The world would never lack heroes. Everyone could become the hero in their own heart; it was merely a matter of how capable they were.

Just as kindness did not come in degrees, neither did it need to.

Would you say a Young Pioneer helping an elderly grandmother cross the street was less kind than someone donating to the Red Cross?

Nor did doing a good deed automatically make someone a good person. Such things were relative.

Ryan was going to do what he believed he should do, regardless of the outcome. Perhaps he would become a hero in some people's hearts. Perhaps he would become a great villain in others'.

So what? What did it matter how the world saw him? All he needed to do was be himself.

With that thought, Ryan's steps became even firmer.

That night, the usually quiet entrance to the Marine base welcomed two visitors, though these two were unwelcome guests.

One man carried a sword, dressed in white as pure as snow.

The other held an axe in each hand, with green hair and a green robe.

"Stop! Unauthorized personnel are forbidden from entering the Marine base."

"Stop, or I'll shoot."

Before the words had even left their mouths, the two men's heads separated from their bodies.

"Don't we need to find someone and ask where Rong is?"

Ryan: "..."

Had he been too focused on looking cool? Had he forgotten? Ryan would never say something so embarrassing to Beli.

"No need. Kill a few more, and he'll naturally come out."

Another group came out. They had probably heard the commotion just now.

The one leading them was a Marine lieutenant colonel, effectively the number-one man at this base.

Ryan said calmly, "Tell Rong to come out."

Hearing Ryan's arrogant words, the lieutenant colonel immediately roared, "Kill them! How dare they provoke the Marines!"

Dozens of gun barrels instantly aimed at Ryan and Beli.

"Leave them to you, Beli."

Beli charged directly into the crowd with both axes in hand. Seeing Ryan remain still, the lieutenant colonel felt that they were being looked down upon.

Drawing his blade, he charged at Ryan alone.

"Tell me, are you stupid? Do you really want to die that badly?"

With a single move, Ryan instantly killed the lieutenant colonel.

A sharp-eyed Marine nearby saw this and immediately sounded the alarm.

"The lieutenant colonel is dead! Hurry and notify Rear Admiral Rong!"

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The alarm rang through the Marine base, and more and more Marines rushed over.

Before long, Ryan's target, Rong, finally arrived.

When Rear Admiral Rong appeared, the gathered Marines stepped aside and opened a path.

He had a square face, and the several scars on it made him look especially fierce. He looked at Beli, who was fiercely fighting the Marines nearby, then at Ryan, who stood with his arms folded before his chest.

Rong turned his gaze to Ryan. Although the green-haired man was formidable, Rong could tell that the white-clad youth was the leader.

"Who are you?"

"The Ryan Pirates."

When Ryan said they were pirates, the Marines nearby laughed, their smiles brilliant.

"Pirates dare to storm a Marine base? They must be tired of living."

"Just two wet-behind-the-ears brats. Once Rear Admiral Rong acts, he'll take them down in minutes."

Rong's deep voice rang out. "Enough. Stop talking."

Upon hearing Rear Admiral Rong's voice, every Marine immediately fell silent. It was clear that Rong had a strong grip on them.

"Why have you two come to the Marine base?"

Ryan chuckled. "Of course, to find you—the South Blue chief of the Slave Hunting Association, Rear Admiral Rong."

Rong's pupils contracted.

"Looks like someone betrayed me." Rong swept his gaze across the Marines.

"Enough nonsense. You're dead today." With that, Ryan raised his sword and charged at Rong.

Rong was no pushover either. He drew his blade and blocked Ryan's strike.

Though he had blocked it, Rong's hands were now trembling nonstop, and blood was faintly seeping from the webs between his fingers.

"Quick, everyone kill him together!" Although they had exchanged only one move, Rong had clearly judged that he was no match for Ryan. Already retreating to the rear, he gave the order.

Upon hearing Rong's command, every remaining Marine charged at Ryan.

Though people constantly tried to block him, Ryan continued advancing toward Rong.

Ten meters...

Nine meters...

The distance grew shorter, while the corpses on the ground grew more numerous. Yet Marines still kept rushing at Ryan without end.

Two minutes later, Rong was surrounded by mangled Marine corpses.

White robes became red robes.

Some people began to break down mentally.

"Demon!"

"He isn't human! He's a demon from hell!"

The remaining Marines had been frightened out of their wits by Ryan. Hundreds of bloody corpses told them that charging forward meant death.

This youth seemed like a demon from hell, tirelessly harvesting their lives.

Rong had also been scared out of his wits and ran toward the base entrance.

Seeing Rong flee.

"Do you think you can run?" A scarlet gleam appeared in Ryan's eyes.

"One Sword Style. Iai. Instant Tiger."

Ryan turned into a streak of light and appeared before Rong as though he had teleported.

Rong, struck across the back, sprayed blood and fell to the ground.

Ryan walked up to Rong, preparing to deliver the final blow.

The dying Rong said, "Why must you kill me?"

"For those who can never return!"

Upon hearing those words, Rong's life's experiences flashed continuously through his mind like a film, finally freezing on that scene.

That day, someone from the World Government had found him and said they could help him become a rear admiral. To Rong, who had remained a colonel for many years, those words had been like heavenly music.

From then on, the Rong who carried justice in his heart disappeared from this world, replaced by a lackey who worked for the World Government.

After he began working for the World Government, Rong sank step by step into the mire, never able to climb back out.

"Y-you... kill me..." Rong spoke the words with difficulty, a smile on his face.

Seeing the clarity in Rong's eyes and his smile at the very end.

Ryan thrust his sword into Rong.

In the final moment of his life, Rong saw that figure running beneath the sunset. It was Rong as a youth.

Thus, the highest-ranking Marine officer in the South Blue—Rear Admiral Rong—died.

"Be a good person in your next life," Ryan said softly.

Thinking of Rong's final look and smile.

Perhaps he had finally realized his mistake. But so what? People had to take responsibility for what they had done.

Ryan's gaze turned ruthless as he looked at the remaining Marines.

He called out to Beli, who was still fighting.

"Leave no one alive!!!"

Five minutes later...

Aside from the dozen or so recruits trembling in place, Ryan and Beli were the only ones left standing in the vast Marine base.

Dressed in red, Ryan walked deeper into the base beneath the lights. He had learned from a Marine before his death that the captured slaves were being held there.

On a quiet night in Sea Circle Calendar 1507, the South Blue Marine Branch was wiped out to the last man.