They Couldn't Win

But the king's words made one thing clear: the Hasa Kingdom might truly be finished.

"Don't worry about anything else. Just get out of here. Go as far away as you can."

In truth, even the king didn't know whether a Yonko could track down his people once they had fled across the world.

Surely a Yonko wouldn't have time for all that.

"If we leave, what will happen to you, Your Majesty?"

"I'm not leaving, no matter what!"

"Neither am I! The Hasa Kingdom is my home. Why should I leave it because of a few people like them?"

The king had expected this response.

He knew his people too well. He also knew he might not be able to persuade them.

"But do you understand what will happen if you stay?"

"Of course we do. If it comes to that, we'll take them down with us."

His people were still a little naive.

Against ordinary pirates, they might have stood a chance. They could have beaten them easily. But these were no ordinary pirates.

The king sighed. From the high platform, he looked down at the determined faces of his people, and a deep helplessness spread through him.

At times, he hated how stubborn they were. If only they would run.

Christol's ships arrived sooner than anyone expected. Just as dawn began to break, several pirate ships appeared in the waters near the Hasa Kingdom.

Men and women, young and old, took up weapons. They stood along the shore and silently watched the pirate ships draw closer.

The king stood at the front, gripping a massive hammer—his weapon.

Things had come to this. None of them had a way back.

Aboard his ship, Christol saw the people gathered on the shore.

He gave a contemptuous snort.

"Is there