Nine-Tailed Fox

"So you're in charge of this lot?"

The village chief turned slightly and asked Buck in a grave voice.

"Our village doesn't welcome the Marines. Please leave this island!"

"...Chief, you've got the wrong person."

Buck scratched his head, exasperated, and turned the chief toward Atlas.

"She's the Marine!"

"Oh, right. My mistake. So you're in charge of these Marines?"

The old chief's eyes were a little unfocused, but he pressed on with his speech.

Thud, thud, thud!

His wooden cane struck the ground hard, making a dull sound.

"Our village doesn't welcome Marines! Leave this island at once!"

"That's right! We don't welcome you Marines! We already told you nothing was wrong, but you came anyway. You just want to squeeze money out of us!"

"We've seen your true colors! How are you any different from those pirates?"

"Get off Gatam Island! We don't want to see you!"

With the chief leading them, the villagers behind him raised their hammers and brandished them at Atlas's group.

They hurled every provocation they could think of.

It was as though they were trying to make Atlas and the others angry.

[Get angry! The people have spoken. Are fools like these worth saving? Wouldn't it be better to leave them to their fate?]

At the back of the crowd, a bright-eyed young woman with a sweet smile did her best to go unnoticed. A pink glow shone in her eyes as she murmured under her breath.

But things did not go the way she imagined.

"Heh!"

Atlas's lips curled in mockery.

"What the hell are you laughing at?"

"Get out of our village! Filthy Marines! You make me sick!"

Atlas's laugh seemed to ignite a powder keg. The already agitated villagers erupted, cursing the Marines before them with ever more vicious words.