Pirates: Invincible from the Start

To Kuta, who had spent his previous life in an age of peace and this one safe and carefree at Isshin Dojo, the sight was utterly sickening.

He would abolish that damned institution of slavery.

And its roots lay with the Celestial Dragons and the nobles.

He could deal with the Celestial Dragons. As for the nobles...

He would have to leave them to the Revolutionary Army.

That was their job, after all!

Creak!

Kuta pushed open the door and walked in.

This room was nothing like the last. It was dark and damp, lit only by a single dim lamp on the ceiling.

There was nothing else inside but two rows of iron cages.

Each row had been divided into cramped cells barely large enough for one person.

Some were empty, but most held people in ragged clothes, their hands and feet shackled.

There were men and women. The men were all young adults, while the women were young girls.

Clearly, this was where the ship held its slaves.

When the captives heard the door open and footsteps approach, they did not even move. Their eyes were dull and numb.

Another guard has come to drag one of us off for that bastard king's amusement.

After being locked up here, they knew what awaited them.

They no longer hoped to leave alive. They only hoped to suffer a little less.

Just then...

Clang!

The sound of chains hitting the floor caught their attention.

They raised their heads and stared at the unfamiliar figures beyond the bars, then at the cage doors that had somehow been opened.

A faint spark stirred in their eyes.

"Come out. You're free."

"Free?"

The captives looked up at Kuta, disbelief written across their faces.

"We're really free?"

"Yeah."

Kuta nodded. His gaze swept