Victory and Warmth

"Kill Captain Kuro!"

The pirates roared, a crazed sound, as they charged towards Kuro.

Hypnotized, they had become like puppets, their minds focused on one thing: ending Kuro's life.

The Marines were stunned by this sudden change. They couldn't understand why the pirates were suddenly fighting each other.

Faced with these wild, mindless pirates, the Marines stepped back, clearing a path for them to reach Kuro.

When the Little Cat Brothers pirates jumped forward, attacking Kuro with wild abandon, the Marines finally let out a collective sigh of relief.

It's a pirate fight!

Even though they didn't know why, the idea of the pirates battling each other was good news. It meant fewer Marines would get hurt.

Colonel Rhodes gave a signal, and his officers quickly shouted orders to the troops.

"Fall back!"

"Rebuild the line! Don't let any pirates escape!"

"Hurry, treat the wounded!"

The Marines quickly retreated, forming a wall of shields and rifles around the fighting pirates.

At the same time, teams of medics rushed onto the battlefield, carrying wounded Marines to safety for treatment.

Colonel Rhodes grabbed Roya, who was still trying to get into the fight, and yelled, "Idiot! Get back there and get patched up!"

"Wounds? What wounds?"

Roya was confused.

He looked down and saw bloodstains on his chest, with glimpses of white ribs among the torn flesh.

As soon as he realized he was hurt, the pain hit him like a truck!

"Hiss--"

Roya gasped, his face contorting in pain.

Damn it, why did he have to remind me!

This hurts like crazy!

He didn't know when Kuro had slashed him. He might have felt it, but he was so focused on the battle that his body had blocked out the pain.

Colonel Rhodes was also hurt, his waist and stomach soaked in blood, but he couldn't stop until Kuro was captured.

"Roya, get to the medics in the back!"

"Colonel Rhodes!"

Roya ignored the pain, ripped off his shirt, and used it as a bandage, tying it tightly around his chest.

Hiss--!

Damn, that hurts!

"I can still fight!"

Roya panted, his eyes burning with determination.

As long as Kuro was still alive, he couldn't quit. He wanted to see Kuro fall with his own eyes!

Colonel Rhodes frowned, but seeing Roya's determination, he held back his anger.

"Focus, and don't slow us down!"

"Yes, sir!"

----

In the middle of the battlefield.

Kuro was a mess, covered in blood and barely able to stand. Most of the claws on his cat-like gloves were broken.

Pirate bodies lay at his feet.

And he, too, was about to die.

Kuro had finally realized something.

The more cunning you are, the easier it is to be caught off guard. His "cleverness" had led to this situation.

So, he decided to stop thinking.

"I'm going to kill you all!"

Kuro lowered his head, his body shaking.

That strange pose triggered the pirates' fear, snapping them out of their trance.

"Captain Kuro!"

"No, please stop!"

"Please forgive us! We didn't know what we were doing!"

"It's the Vice Captain! He betrayed you!"

The pirates begged, terrified.

But Kuro's shaking became more and more violent.

Whether it was the traitors or the Marines guarding the area, they were all targets of his revenge.

He wouldn't stop until he fell!

"Death Shave!"

A flash of light!

"Aaaah!!!"

The pirates screamed, blood spurting from wounds all over their bodies. They tried to run, but they were trapped by the shields and the dark barrels of the Marines' rifles.

There was no escape.

The moon seemed to be stained red with blood.

When everything was quiet, all the pirates lay dead, leaving Kuro alone on the empty battlefield.

"I lost."

Kuro raised a shaking hand, pushed up non-existent glasses with his palm, and then fell to the ground.

"Thump!"

----

After a moment of silence.

"We won?"

The officers stared in disbelief.

The nightmare that had haunted the 153rd Branch, had they really defeated it?

Colonel Rhodes raised his sword.

"We have won!"

Even though the Black Cat Pirates had fought among themselves, this war was a huge victory for the 153rd Branch!

The Marine 153rd Branch had finally defeated "Kuro of a Hundred Plans"!

"We have won!!!"

"Ooooh!!!"

The Marines cheered, raising their weapons.

Defeating a Great Pirate with a bounty of 16 million was a major achievement, even in the entire East Blue!

Roya smiled, his tense muscles finally relaxing. Exhaustion and pain washed over him, and he fell backward.

"I'm so sleepy."

"Hey, Roya!"

----

The next afternoon, Syrup Estate.

Roya suddenly sat up in bed, his mind filled with images of the battle against Kuro, the cat claws flashing before his eyes.

That's right, it's over.

Roya wiped the sweat from his face, got out of bed, went to the bathroom, and splashed water on his face.

"Hoo~~"

He felt more awake.

Roya looked at himself in the mirror. His chest was wrapped in messy bandages, tied with a bow.

Flashy and unprofessional.

Still, it's good to be alive!

Soon, Kaya came in with a medical tray. She smiled with surprise when she saw Roya standing by the window.

"Roya, you're awake!"

"Yeah."

Roya smiled, glancing at the tray in Kaya's hand.

Ointment, bandages, scissors…

So, you're the one who wrapped me up like that.

Kaya put down the tray and pulled Roya down to sit, happily unwrapping the bandages. "Roya, let me change your dressing."

"Okay."

Roya turned away from Kaya, his face twitching slightly.

Hiss--!

Could you be a little gentler? I'm sensitive to pain!

Roya endured the pain and asked, "Where are Colonel Rhodes and the others?"

"They went back."

Kaya said softly, "Uncle Rhodes said they needed to take the pirates back to the Branch as soon as possible, so they left on the warship this morning."

"I see."

Roya nodded. Taking the Black Cat Pirates back was important. Rest and celebration could wait.

"Did Fullbody leave too?"

"Yeah."

"Then why am I still here?"

"..."

Because I didn't want you to leave!

Kaya blinked, quickly thinking of a reason.

"Father said… um, that you were the main reason we defeated the Black Cat Pirates. You saved our family, so he wants to thank you by letting you stay here to recover."

"Our family's home is quiet, and we have servants and chefs, so it's better for healing than the Branch, right?"

"Don't worry, when you're healed, Father will send you back to the Branch."

Logical and well-reasoned.

Clever girl!

Does she think she can fool Old man Roya? She's underestimating him.

It seems my plan to be supported by a rich woman is going well, but I can't get too cocky. I need to keep working hard!

"Hey, Roya."

"Yeah."

"I've decided, I want to be a doctor!"

"A doctor? Why?"

"Hehe, because if I become a doctor, I can treat your wounds and help you get better faster."

"...Thanks!"

If possible, I'd rather not get hurt.