Chapter 139 The Boy with a General’s Potential

The pirates had been completely wiped out. Under Satoru's command, his elite Navy soldiers executed the operation with precision and efficiency. Though the pirates were formidable, they were no match for Satoru's battle-hardened crew.

"Sir, what about this kid?"

Krar, one of Satoru's officers, gestured toward the unconscious boy lying at Satoru's feet.

In situations like this, orphaned children were usually sent to the Navy Headquarters or handed over to the World Government for adoption and training. Many such children grew up to serve as skilled Navy officers.

"This boy?" Satoru glanced at the child before speaking firmly. "I've decided to take him as my apprentice."

Krar blinked, momentarily stunned. "Your apprentice, sir?"

"That's right," Satoru replied with a faint smile. Despite appearing close in age to the boy, Satoru's strength and experience set him apart.

Krar quickly recovered, shaking his head with a chuckle. "That kid's lucky, sir. Becoming your apprentice is a dream for anyone."

Satoru's expression grew serious. "This boy has the potential to become a general someday. Take him aboard the warship and see that the villagers are given proper burials."

"Yes, sir!" Krar saluted, though inwardly he was astonished. If Satoru believed the boy had such potential, it wasn't a claim made lightly.

---

Hours later, the warship sailed smoothly across the sea.

Inside one of the rooms, the boy suddenly shot upright in bed, his face pale with fear. His chest heaved as memories of the attack flooded back, mixing anger and despair in his expression.

"Where am I?" he muttered, his voice trembling.

"Yo, you're awake," came a calm voice.

Startled, the boy whipped his head around and saw Satoru sitting nearby. He scrambled out of bed, instinctively putting distance between them.

"Who are you? Where is this? Why am I here?" he demanded, his voice sharp with suspicion.

Satoru raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you think about what happened before asking all that?"

The boy froze as the memories returned in a rush—his village burning, the screams of his parents, and the pirates' cruelty. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he didn't let them fall. He clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling with suppressed emotion.

"Did you... save me?" he asked after a long silence, his voice barely above a whisper.

"That's right," Satoru replied. "We buried the villagers before we set sail."

The boy's shoulders shook, but he managed to hold back his sobs. "Thank you... but who are you? You must be strong if you saved me from those pirates."

"I'm a Navy officer," Satoru said plainly.

At those words, the boy's demeanor changed in an instant. Rage and bitterness flared in his eyes as he lunged at Satoru, grabbing his collar.

"Why?" he shouted. "Why did you come so late? Where were you when the pirates were slaughtering everyone? Why didn't you save them?"

Satoru didn't move, letting the boy vent his anger. The questions were like daggers piercing his heart, each one striking deeper than the last.

"I'm sorry," Satoru said quietly. "We were too late."

Hearing the apology, the boy's anger turned to despair. His strength gave out, and he collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably. The other Navy officers outside the room heard his cries and were drawn into the somber atmosphere. None could argue with the boy's words—if they had arrived sooner, perhaps more lives could have been saved.

Exhausted from his emotions, the boy eventually fainted again. An officer gently carried him back to bed.

"Sir, you should get some rest. I'll watch over him," Krar said softly.

Satoru nodded, his expression heavy. He left the room silently, but the boy's words continued to echo in his mind.

---

Chris, one of Satoru's senior officers, approached him later that night. "The sea is vast, Satoru. We can't be everywhere at once. For every village we save, there's another tragedy unfolding somewhere else. That's the nature of this world."

"I know," Satoru replied bitterly. "But this time... it happened right in front of me. I thought my strength could change things, but now it feels like nothing has changed."

Chris placed a hand on Satoru's shoulder. "Even so, you're doing more than most. The fact that you care sets you apart. Don't lose sight of that."

Satoru's gaze hardened. "I won't. But I've decided—I'll destroy every pirate on this sea. If we want to change the world, we have to start by eliminating the biggest source of evil."

Chris smirked, nodding in agreement. "Count me in. Pirates are the cancer of this world, and it's about time someone put an end to them."

Satoru clenched his fists, his resolve unshakable. The revolution he had joined aimed to reshape the world, but his personal crusade had just begun.