The first half of the Grand Line, Tanli Island, the harbor.
Flames already towered over the harbor, and six pirate ships had spread out to surround it.
Hundreds of pirates guarded the harbor passages on shore, with countless civilian corpses lying on the ground.
Most of the remaining pirates were searching the merchant ships, holding two somewhat blurry photographs.
"Doesn't look like her."
"Doesn't look like her."
"This one doesn't either."
"This one looks a little like her. Cut her down."
"Don't spare any of the children, especially the ones with purple hair."
"Keep looking. Hurry."
"Yes!!!"
Cries and screams filled the ships. Better to kill the wrong person than let their target escape.
Anyone who bore even the slightest resemblance to the woman in the blurry photograph was cut down and thrown into the sea.
Inside a cabin, a mother and child hid in a corner, holding a Den Den Mushi.
They faintly heard the pirates outside mention purple hair and jolted in alarm.
The child's mother seemed to realize something. Her thoughts raced, and she made up her mind.
She placed her child inside a wooden barrel.
She sternly told him not to make a sound or come out, no matter what happened.
Then she found something to cover the barrel, pressed a hand over her mouth, and moved to a room farther away with tears streaming down her face.
When the pirates reached that room and opened the door,
she pushed open the window and jumped out, landing on the deck.
She ran toward the railing, leaped into the sea, and swam down toward the seabed.
Several pirates chased after her, cursing as they jumped in.
Moments later, a streak of red appeared in the water.
Then a pirate surfaced with the woman's corpse in his grip