Chapter 3: Sakazuki

"Skye, what is that place ahead?"

A slightly hoarse, deep voice echoed across the wide deck of the warship, waking up the little girl who was sitting on the ship's railing, looking a bit bored.

The little girl had her hair tied into two funny pigtails and had a very round face, making her look very cute.

When the girl named Skye heard the voice, she didn't answer the question. Instead, she puffed up her cheeks and turned her head toward the vast sea.

"Hmm? What's with that attitude? Can't you show some respect for your father? I've taken time out of my busy schedule to bring you back to your hometown."

"Hmph! Don't try to fool me. I heard what Grandpa Sengoku said. You're here to resolve the coup in the Prince Kingdom, and returning to your hometown is just an excuse, right?"

Skye replied angrily, turning to see a burly man over three meters tall, wearing a red military uniform, a large "Justice" cloak draped over his back, and a white military cap on his head. The man wore a stiff smile as he walked out of the warship's cabin.

The man's square face rarely showed a smile, making him look especially awkward.

If people didn't know him, they would think he was angry.

He smiled stiffly and said in a disdainful tone, "I'm your father and an Admiral of the Navy. Do you really think a coup in a small kingdom needs an Admiral? As for what Grandpa Sengoku said, it was just because he saw I was taking you to the North Sea on vacation and asked me to check on the situation. But compared to us going home, that's secondary."

When Skye heard this, she thought carefully and found it to be true.

Although she was young, she knew that her father was one of the Navy's highest powers, one of the three Admirals.

Admiral Akainu, real name Sakazuki.

Theoretically, an Admiral wouldn't move unless there was a serious problem, like with the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons.

As for a small kingdom like Prince, even if a coup happened and they requested naval support, the Navy would at most send a Vice Admiral or even lower.

"Really?" Skye looked up.

Akainu nodded confidently and said, "Of course. Have you ever seen me lie to you? By the way, I heard you've been learning navigation from Grandma Tsuru and received some compliments. Is that true?"

When Skye heard this, she smiled proudly, jumped down from the railing, put her hands on her hips, and said, "Of course it's true. I've been learning seriously, and Grandma Tsuru said I've made great progress."

"Is that so? Then I'll test you now." Akainu smiled with that stiff smile, extended his big hand to pat Skye's head, and pointed to the island that was beginning to appear on the horizon, "Do you know what island that is?"

Skye thought for a moment and then answered, "Yes, the first lesson I learned from Grandma Tsuru was about the geography of our homeland. Based on our route, the next island should be Spider Miles Port, part of the Luberun Kingdom. It's the hometown of the 'Liar King' Norland. Am I right, Dad?"

"Hahaha, indeed, you have learned well. That is Spider Miles Port, and after passing it, a few more islands ahead is the North Sea's 177th branch base, where you'll meet Uncle Adela. He's been calling constantly to ask about you."

On the deck, some sailors working on the sails and ropes were watching the scene in amazement, not believing their eyes.

It was the first time they saw Admiral Sakazuki acting kindly and gently.

Although the smile on his face still looked scary.

At that moment, Akainu suddenly stood up and turned his head toward another direction of the sea, frowning slightly.

"I haven't been back to the North Sea for ten years, and this place is still as disgusting as ever."

"But eating people, that's a bit too much."

He muttered a few words, then turned back, pointed in that direction, and asked loudly, "What's the nearest island on that route?"

A sailor in the lookout tower heard the question and quickly began checking the route records.

Soon, the sailor saluted and replied loudly, "Admiral Sakazuki! The nearest island on that route is Red Leaf Village, a small village part of the Luberun Kingdom."

"Turn the ship around, let's check that island first," Akainu said in a deep voice.

"Yes, sir!" The sailor didn't ask why and began executing the order quickly.

Skye looked curiously in that direction but didn't see any island, so she looked at her father with confusion.

"Why are we changing course?"

"There's something to handle. Sky, are you tired? If you're tired, go back to the cabin and rest."

"Devil! That man is definitely a devil! Humans can't be this terrifying!"

Jack the Ripper's legs were shaking like noodles as he looked at the bloody scene in front of him, with no desire left in his heart to approach Rorschach.

All he wanted now was to leave this cursed place, return to the tavern at Spider Miles Port, gulp down several shots of the strongest rum, and sleep to forget what happened today.

At this moment, only Jack was still standing, while the rest of the pirates had turned into pieces.

Just as they had treated the weak villagers earlier, the man in front of them used the most brutal methods to tear the pirates' limbs apart and scatter them everywhere.

Blood spread into the muddy ground, mixing into a foul-smelling sludge.

Humans are strange creatures.

When they treat others cruelly, they feel no discomfort.

But if the roles are reversed and they become the victims, they can't bear it.

The sound of tearing flesh still echoed in Jack's ears, while he saw the skeletal figure bending over on the ground, burying its head in a pirate's chest, growling like a beast as it tore and devoured frantically.

"Ugh!"

Jack's stomach churned, and he vomited everything he drank and ate tonight.

He no longer dared to stay and started running towards the port where the ship was docked, retching along the way.

He didn't even bother with the tens of thousands of berries he had collected from the village.

Jack just wanted to escape.

But someone didn't want him to leave so easily.

"Roar!!"

A wild beast's roar came from behind, and soon the wind rushed towards him, scaring Jack so much that he immediately rolled forward, dodging the beast that lunged at him from behind.

With a swift move, Jack drew two short swords from their sheaths and stood cautiously, looking at his opponent.

Rorschach's eyes were red, and blood was dripping from his mouth as he grinned, grinding his sharp teeth, tilting his head to stare at Jack.

That look was that of a predator examining its prey.

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