Exchange Hostages!

Wude pushed through the crowd, chasing after the "madman."

He felt that these "female doctors" were acting suspiciously. They had wandered around the island for ages without seeing a single clinic or hospital.

The female doctors roughly stuffed a cloth strip into the man's mouth. Two swordsmen stepped forward, lifted the man, and carried him away.

"They're not even trying to hide it anymore." Wude, following behind them, broke out in a cold sweat.

Shady doctors without an examination room, accompanied by swordsmen? That was ridiculous!

A woman in white high heels walked over and blocked his path. She bent in greeting. "Mr. Rengoku, Miss Daisis invites you to meet with her."

"Not interested." Wude waved his hand, walked around the woman, and continued following the madman ahead.

"Miss said that as long as you come, she'll tell you everything you want to know." The woman in white heels smiled. "It's fine if you don't go. This entire island is Miss's territory. Some innocent people may suffer a few small punishments. As a Marine vice admiral, can you really stand by and do nothing?"

"..." Wude really wanted to say that his name was not Rengoku Kyojuro, and he was not a Marine vice admiral either.

"Fine. Lead the way." Wude agreed.

The woman walked ahead, while Wude followed behind with one hand "casually" resting on his sword hilt.

He wanted to see who Daisis had kidnapped. If it was pirates or those greedy Marines from yesterday, he would turn around and leave. Let them die for all he cared!

If they were truly ordinary civilians, he would save them while he was at it, then hear what secrets this island held.

Inside a restaurant private room.

Daisis sat bored by the window, her high heels tapping their thin pointed heels against the floor.

When she saw Wude enter the room, her cheeks suddenly reddened.

Her fabric-saving white top barely covered her abundant curves. Below her ultra-short skirt were white stockings that wrapped around her long, rounded legs without sacrificing any beauty.

Her loose white hair was lifted by the wind outside the window, making her face appear even smaller and more delicate.

"Where are they?" Wude looked around the empty room. There was only one idiotic woman grinning foolishly at him. The hostages were nowhere to be seen.

"Sit down first. We can talk things over slowly. Once I'm happy, I'll let them go." Daisis looked at Wude, feeling her heartbeat race faster and faster.

"Can you tell me who you kidnapped?" Wude asked.

"Several Marines." Daisis lowered her head and replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

He sat next to me!

"Oh." Wude no longer cared. "What do you want to tell me? Just say it. We Marines don't fear death, and we won't bow to criminals."

"So righteous." Daisis looked up at the powerful man. "Stop being a Marine. This island is all mine—"

"Don't even think about it. We Marines are defenders of justice. We never bow to evil forces, and we won't be threatened." Wude thumped his chest and spoke with righteous conviction.

"A man with unshakable will... I like him even more." Daisis stared hungrily at Wude, making chills run all over his body.

Was this woman about to use some kind of trick?

From the moment he had entered, he had been observing his surroundings, searching for places where people might be hidden.

"Mr. Marine, if you're willing to date me, I'm willing to release—"

"I refuse!"

Wude hurriedly moved his chair away. What a crafty criminal.

Not only did she want to recruit him, she wanted to release those scumbag Marines. Most importantly, she was after his body too. Unforgivable!

"Why? If you date me, those Marines can live, and you'll have more money than you could ever spend. Wouldn't that be more carefree than being a Marine?" Daisis looked at Wude in confusion. Why though?

"...?" So she was offering money. Wude considered it for 0.001 seconds, then immediately refused.

Money was not important. He could just rob a few more pirate ships. The important thing was that he did not like those greedy Marines.

Bang!

Wude slammed his palm onto the table. "Are we Marines the kind of people who fear death? No!"

He stared into Daisis's eyes. "Money is not a necessary measure of feelings, and feelings are not meant to be traded!"

"That was so good!" Daisis looked at the man with blazing eyes. She pushed a fruit platter before Wude. "Have some. Say more. I love listening."

"What exactly do you want to tell me?" Wude looked at the woman, pinching a slice of fruit between his fingers.

"I've taken a liking to you. You're handsome, strong, and such a gentleman." White steam puffed from Daisis's head as she turned into a steam girl.

"Not interested." Wude put the fruit into his mouth and shook his head. This woman was way too direct.

Daisis said nothing. She lowered her head and watched Wude eat the fruit, her smile gradually twisting into something sick and warped.

"That's not up to you. I already have the power to control you and make you mine." Daisis jumped up happily. "Big brother, come in!"

Creak.

The door opened, and Xiluo walked in, his gaze toward Wude filled with apprehension.

"My blood can be stored in any food or drink. Mixed into my blood is a toxin that is terrifying to outsiders. Anyone who consumes my blood—even the tiniest trace of it—will have their life at my mercy."

Xiluo said smugly.

"Pfft!" Wude spat out the fruit and spread his palm in a gesture that said, "And then?"

Xiluo's expression changed drastically.

Wude still remembered what the madman had said before being dragged away. He had not let down his guard.

"Now you can tell me, right? Of course, I don't mind beating it out of you myself." Wude drew his sword with one hand and looked at the two of them.

"I think you'd better not make a move." Daisis waved her hand and smiled.

Wude frowned at that slender, pale index finger. It moved in slow, rhythmic circles, and drowsiness washed over him.

Hypnosis...

Hypnosis existed in the pirate world too. Without knowing about it in advance, it was nearly impossible to guard against and easy to fall for!

Hallucinations began appearing before Wude's eyes. Before his consciousness completely slipped away, he gave Kuroh one final command.

Kuroh condensed into form inside the room, raised a leg, and kicked Wude in the face.

Boom!

Wude shot away with a whoosh, smashing through the wall and flying out of the restaurant.

"What the hell broke my hypnosis?!" Daisis furiously kicked a chair.

"Bring them over!" Xiluo shouted toward the door.

Kuroh picked up the sword that had fallen to the ground and flew after Wude.

"Is that the legendary Okatana Technique?!"

Daisis stared in shock at the weapon flying away. The people on the street were dumbfounded as well, because they could not see Kuroh. In their eyes, it was simply a sword that had suddenly flown off by itself.

In a building some distance away, a wall was smashed open.

Wude crashed through the wall, then burst straight into another room.

The man and woman originally inside that room screamed in terror.

Wude landed in the main hall, which was full of young women.

They all screamed as they looked at him.

"Uh, I only told you to kick me awake. Wasn't that a bit too much force?" Wude held his head and looked at Kuroh, who had landed before him.

"Use less force next time. Forget it, there won't be a next time." Wude took the sword Kuroh handed him and walked out of the Pleasure District while holding his head.

Kuroh nodded blankly. Less force next time. Got it.

Wude ran through the streets toward the restaurant, his blade ringing as it left its sheath.

"Stop, Mr. Marine. She and they aren't Marines who aren't afraid of sacrifice, are they?" At the restaurant entrance, Xiluo shoved a little girl bound with rope in front of him.

Behind the little girl stood the old man who often sold Wude dinner, along with a group of ordinary passenger ship travelers who had just arrived on the island.

"Marine of justice, what will you choose?" Daisis threatened.

Wude looked at the familiar little girl, the old man, and the many ordinary people with swords held to their necks by Xiluo's swordsmen.

He stopped at a distance and raised his hands in surrender, while Kuroh quietly crept toward Daisis.

Come on, let's exchange hostages!