How would you feel if someone you had just offended came up to you carrying a bloodstained blade?
The residents of Town all wet themselves, at any rate.
Before Randall even did anything, they dropped to their knees.
Then came the maddening wailing and howling.
"We're sorry! We were wrong!"
"We know we were wrong! Please be magnanimous and forgive us!"
"We had no choice! That pirate forced us!"
"..."
Randall heard more than enough. It was all the same old routine anyway.
No matter how they phrased it, their point was always the same: they had done nothing wrong.
He had absolutely no interest in saying even a single word to these people.
Flying Finger Pistol: Many Stars!
His right hand flickered at incredible speed, sending countless points of light shooting out, as beautiful as a sky full of stars.
That single attack killed most of the civilians.
Blood flowed, staining the paving stones red.
Those who survived turned ashen at the sight, trembling like leaves.
Randall unleashed another round of Flying Finger Pistol, finishing off the rest.
Only one person remained.
Christa's father.
Just moments ago, he had watched hundreds of his fellow townspeople die within seconds!
By now, terror had left him unable to move.
Of course, Randall had not deliberately spared him because he intended to let him go.
He simply felt that letting him die like that would be too easy on him.
Ten minutes later, Randall wiped the blood from his face, picked up Texas, and left.
He made his way to Texas's pirate ship.
Although he knew it was impossible, he still wanted to try his luck.
What if Christa's mother was still alive...
After all, she was a woman...
Randall swiftly killed every pirate he could see.
Then he went into the cabin.
When he saw what was inside, he fell silent.
He had already had his suspicions when Texas mentioned his works of art earlier.
But seeing them with his own eyes still shocked him.
He truly could not believe that anyone in this world could be so twisted.
Even the Celestial Dragons ought to have you branded on their backs!
No, the Celestial Dragons often had "surprises" in store.
It was hard to say which of them was more twisted.
In silence, Randall approached one of the "works of art."
Beside it was a note:
"A very proper Marine. An officer who actually stayed behind to cover his subordinates' retreat.
Excellent. I am very pleased."
The work of art beside it:
"She volunteered to be a plaything to protect her daughter.
Excellent. I am very pleased."
Randall closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then tightened the hand holding Texas.
Crack—
It was the sound of a neck snapping.
He twisted Texas's head off and found a piece of cloth to wrap it in.
Then Randall rose into the air.
Qi Wave!
Amid a blaze of white light, that hell on earth turned to dust and sank beneath the sea.
Then Randall returned to his own ship as fast as he could.
He did not want to spend even one more second in this place.
"Big Brother Randall!"
Christa, who had been staring blankly into space, broke into a smile as lovely as a flower.
Randall could not help smiling too.
The weather was lovely that day. Zephyr sat in his little courtyard, leisurely basking in the sun and drinking tea.
But even as he let his mind wander, he could not help thinking about the students who had gone out to complete their graduation assessments.
Randall in particular.
A week had already passed, and he had no idea how things were going.
Just as Zephyr was gazing absently at the clouds rolling across the sky, his Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.
Purupurupuru~
Click~
Zephyr picked up and said casually:
"Hello, this is Zephyr."
"Instructor Zephyr! Where are you right now? I'll come find you!
There's something I wanted to talk to you about!"
Zephyr froze at those words.
He immediately looked down at the Den Den Mushi.
Even on the Den Den Mushi, the face it mimicked looked rather handsome.
It was Randall.
"Randall?! Where are you right now?!"
On the other end, Randall was rather bewildered by Zephyr's anxious tone.
He paused for a second before saying:
"Um, Instructor Zephyr, I just got to headquarters!
Did something happen?"
Zephyr let out a long breath and said:
"No, nothing happened!
I'm at home! Come over first!"
"Sure thing!"
Zephyr hung up and gave a little chuckle.
"I didn't expect the kid to be back already.
Did he hear about that pirate out at sea and realize he was no match for him?"
A little while later, there was a knock at the door.
"Get in here, you brat!"
"You got it!"
The door swung open, and Randall poked his head inside.
Zephyr was about to speak when he noticed another figure following Randall in.
A delicate, doll-like little girl.
Clutching the hem of Randall's clothes, she stood obediently beside him, a little behind.
What was going on?
Had Randall gone out once and come back with a kid?
Fortunately, Randall had no idea what this outwardly stern old man was thinking, or he might have keeled over.
He was only sixteen!
Zephyr also realized how ridiculous his thoughts were.
He discreetly cleared his throat, then said:
"Randall, did you discover a little problem with the target you picked?"
At that, Randall slapped his thigh and said:
"Instructor Zephyr, how did you know?
The opponent I picked had a huge problem!
With strength like his, his bounty was barely over a hundred million. Isn't that just setting people up?
I'd say at least three hundred million would be reasonable!
I thought I was going to steamroll some weakling, but it nearly turned into a life-or-death battle!
It took me a whole lot of effort to finish that scumbag off!"
Zephyr nodded at every sentence Randall spoke.
Indeed, there really was a problem with that man's bounty.
Yes, three hundred million was reasonable.
Yes, it had taken a whole lot of effort to finish him off...
Wait, what?
"Hold on a second!"
Zephyr was a little dazed. "Who did you say you finished off?
That Texas fellow?"
Randall nodded and said:
"That's right! What's wrong?
Oh, right, his head's here!
I brought it back specially."
What was wrong?
You're asking me what's wrong?
I'd like to ask you what's wrong!
Weren't you only as strong as a Rear Admiral when you set out?
How did you turn around and kill a pirate who could rival a Vice Admiral?
And how much time had even passed?!
Zephyr took a moment to recover, then stared at Randall.
It was as though he wanted to see right through him.
"Good. Very good!"
Randall waved a hand and said:
"Oh, Instructor Zephyr, none of that matters.
The main reason I came was to discuss what to do about this little one!"
As he spoke, Randall rested his hand on Christa's head.
He indicated that she was the little one he meant.
Zephyr looked at Christa for the second time.
Before Zephyr could ask, Randall took the initiative and explained the situation.
This had happened, then that, and so on.
Before you continue