Barn wore a wry smile, the corner of his mouth twitching nonstop. Who would have thought that stepping in to help would saddle him with trouble? Beside him, Yuna kept wheedling in a sugary voice, clinging to him.
"Master! Take me home!"
Barn's expression darkened further. Just then, the sound of synchronized footsteps came from outside the Auction House. They certainly weren't Pirates; Pirates never marched in such perfect step. Clearly, the Marines had arrived. Although Barn had swiftly dealt with the two black-clad men accompanying Marshuk, the nobles who had fled earlier had still leaked word that he was here.
The Marine Rear Admiral leading the force outside had his own concerns. Before he came, Sengoku had repeatedly warned him not to expose Barn's identity. A Pirate whose identity even the Marines helped conceal-Barn was probably the only one in history.
And those were indeed the orders the Rear Admiral gave.
"Nobody fire yet. Assess the situation first."
He tried to rein in the eager young Marines behind him, who knew nothing of the situation, then picked up a megaphone and shouted.
"Listen up, whoever's inside! I advise you to release Saint Malshuk immediately, or we'll open fire!"
The poor Marine Rear Admiral still had no idea that the even more unfortunate Marshuk had already died a gruesome death under Barn's blade. His words, however, successfully reminded Barn of the danger.
Barn hurriedly put on his sunglasses and turned to leave. He had already taken one step, but a sugary voice shackled his legs, preventing him from taking another.
A bead of cold sweat ran down Barn's forehead, and he stiffly turned his head. Fortunately, he couldn't see. Otherwise, the sight of the beautiful Fish-Man gleefully slapping the water in her tank with her tail, a triumphant smile on