As the island's outline grew clear on the horizon, a smell of rum, gunpowder, and cheap perfume drifted over on the wind.
It was a typical lawless haven occupied by pirates. Figures crowded the docks, and the clamor could be heard from far away.
But when the warship flying a seagull flag, with a man wearing a justice-emblazoned haori standing at its bow, came into view of everyone in the harbor, that clamor stopped dead.
It was as though someone had pressed pause on time.
A pirate drinking straight from a raised barrel spilled all the liquor in his mouth down his tangled beard and over his body without even noticing. His drunken eyes instantly widened beyond the size of brass bells, and much of his drunkenness vanished.
A vendor hawking weapons by the docks dropped his long blade with a clang. Without even bothering to pick it up, he turned and ducked into an alley.
"It's... it's the Marines!"
Someone let out a shrill, cracking scream, like a ladle of cold water splashed into boiling oil.
The entire dock erupted.
"Run! Run for your lives!"
"It's the War Demon! That monster's here!"
"Set sail! Get this damn ship moving!"
Fear was contagious.
The pirates who had been swaggering about a second earlier now wore nothing but terror on their faces.
They threw away their weapons, knocked over stalls, and rushed desperately toward their ships. In an instant, the docks descended into utter chaos.
Some were too panicked to untie their mooring ropes despite fumbling for ages; others, desperate to leave port first, rammed straight into the friendly ships beside them.
The sounds of trampling, cursing, and crying mingled together.
Lin Xuan stood at the bow, coldly watching the farce his name had sparked.
A faint smile curled his lips.