Chapter 17

A group of pirates from the West Sea successfully crossed the Reverse Mountain and, having barely set foot on the first half of the Grand Line, were aflame with a thirst for plunder.

They might not have needed the riches, but the desire to do something grand for the first time on the Grand Line and an irresistible pull towards adventure drove them to seek loot.

Their goals were simple – money, fame, women, and wine.

They were unaware that an ordinary marine corps ship was quietly approaching them. Karl, holding a rifle, takes aim and pulls the trigger.

— Bang!

A lookout on the pirate ship fell from the watchtower, bidding life a pitiful farewell with a groan.

— Damn, I'm out of practice... — Karl shook his head hopelessly.

At the 108th Branch, he was a sharpshooter, but two months without practice had unsettled his shooting accuracy.

— Brother Karl, you hit the target from such a distance with one shot, that's just incredible marksmanship! — Ain, having become his fan, applauded enthusiastically.

— Alright, enough flattery, prepare to land on the island!

Chunyu Town.

— Wow-ha-ha! A worthy island of the Grand Line, teeming with riches! — a tall, thin man with a spear on his back greedily eyed the gold and silver looted by his brothers and chuckled with delight.

This was Deman, the Captain of the Musketeer Pirates, with a bounty of 13.5 million Belli. He had been languishing in the West Sea, so he ventured to the Grand Line to try his luck. He didn't expect the first robbery to go so smoothly.

Remembering how reporters had just been filming him, Deman eagerly anticipated the soon-to-be published news about his heroic feats! How much would his bounty increase?

— Boss Deman, we've almost gathered everything. If we take more, the ship won't hold it. Let's leave quickly! If the marines arrive, it will be trouble!

Deman looked at the city consumed by flames, the trembling residents, the crying women and children, and a fierce light ignited in his eyes.

— Don't hurry, since we're here, let's throw a big celebration. Guys, listen up! Ransack this town, kill all the men and children, and the women... —

— Ha-ha-ha! Brothers, do as you please with them!

The crew immediately began to howl like wolves, interrupting each other: — Oh-oh-oh! Boss is wise!

— Boom!

The door of the antique building, adorned with luxurious carvings, was kicked in. A tall pirate burst inside, greedily eyeing the lavish decor.

— I'm rich! No one has looted this house yet, ha-ha-ha! Today is my lucky day!

Shouting a strange cry, the tall pirate burst into the room and began looting everything he deemed valuable.

In the corner of the room, a mother and daughter clung to each other, trembling and hiding under the bed. They held their breath, hoping that the vicious pirates wouldn't find them.

An awful fate awaited the defenseless mother and daughter if the pirates discovered them.

Soon, the slightly anxious footsteps drew closer and closer. The mother and daughter instinctively held their breath. An old shoe appeared in front of them. The pirate crouched, rummaging through the clothes in their wardrobe.

"Hey, why is there only women's clothing here? Could it be...?" A spark lit up in the pirate's eyes. He realized why the house was so quiet; someone must be hiding.

If nothing else happens, it's most likely a woman!

"Heh-heh-heh..." The man laughed and scratched himself unabashedly.

"Don't hide, I know you're here, you can't escape. I promise I won't hurt you!"

The pirate roughly toppled the wardrobe, and with a crash, it fell to the floor.

"A-ah!"

The daughter, clinging to her mother, screamed in fear. The tall pirate listened attentively.

"Ha-ha-ha, so you're hiding here! I found you so easily!"

The pirate was about to reach out and lift the large bed when a hurried shout came from outside.

"Marines are coming! Marines are coming! Retreat! Retreat!"

"Damn those marines!"

The man stomped his foot in frustration and quickly ran out of the room. The mother and daughter immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Sweat drenched them to the skin, but fortunately, they were saved.

On the training ship.

"Karl, you're the most experienced marine here. This operation will be under your command!"

"Remember, even though this group of pirates isn't strong, be cautious in everything."

Karl smiled easily. In general, the informal outing was almost over, so let it be a warm-up.

"Don't worry, Mr. Zefa, leave it to me!"

With these words, Karl stepped forward in front of a group of recruits ready for battle, concentrating the sacred light in his hands.

"May the sacred light bless you, and may the marines be victorious!"

"The marines will be victorious!"

The new recruits, who had long awaited battle, enthusiastically shouted the slogan and, under Karl's command, surrounded the town, gradually tightening the siege and cutting off all escape routes for the pirates who were looting the town.

"Damn it, it's the marines, guys, attack!"

"Boom! The battle is about to begin."

The top recruits easily dodged the pirates' bullets and struck back. These lowlifes were simply helpless against the well-trained cadets from the training camp.

Ain looked at the tall, slender man, and a spark shone in her eyes.

"Shave!"

"Damn you, woman, you think you can defeat me? I'm Deman, the 'Musket' pirate! Go to hell!"

Deman quickly aimed his musket at Ain and, after a simple reload, fired over a dozen bullets in succession. A worthy pirate captain, he still had some skill.

"Damn!"

Ain urgently used "Shave" to dodge to the left, but her arm was still grazed by several bullets. Frowning from the intense pain in her arm, she continued to press on.

But soon, a warm force soothed her pain. Turning her head, she saw the wound quickly healing under the treatment of the golden energy and disappearing in just three seconds.

"Is this the healing effect Karl talked about? It turns out you can only understand the power of this force by experiencing it personally!"

Without a doubt, Ain suddenly became extremely brave. Approaching Deman holding the musket swiftly, she smacked him.

"What did you do to me?!"

Deman watched in horror as he grew smaller and smaller. In an instant, he transformed from a middle-aged man into a young boy. If it had ended there, that would have been fine, but Ain smacked him again.

Now he transformed from a young boy into a child, unable even to lift his beloved musket.

"Tie him up!"

…

Temporary commander Karl sat on a simple wooden bench in the center of town, legs propped up as he leisurely blew smoke rings, as if this battle had nothing to do with him.

A bearded pirate with a gun quietly emerged from an alley, aimed a musket at the motionless Karl, and growled.

"Go to hell, pretty boy!"

He pulled the trigger—Bang!

Karl, who had already noticed, easily dodged the pirate's attack by slightly turning his head and calmly looked at the pirate who attacked him.

He hadn't noticed this pirate before, but he had a feeling he was going to be attacked, though he hadn't fully awakened his observation Haki; Karl would rather call it a half-awakening!

"Hey, that's too much, are you jealous of my good looks?!"

"Damn it!"

Seeing Karl easily dodge, the pirate hastily reloaded his gun. But just as he was about to aim, Karl's right hand appeared in his line of sight.

"Target lock!"

"Whistle!"

A bloody hole appeared between the pirate's eyebrows, and he fell to the ground in confusion, unable to understand why this seemingly harmless pretty boy was so deadly.

"You got what you deserved. At least your death slightly improved the average looks of all men."

After some time, a new recruit from the training camp ran over and looked around. Seeing Karl, his eyes lit up.

"Karl, someone is injured. The situation is urgent. Go take a look!"

Karl was taken aback. What is going on?

He was supposed to be in the "buff"! How could anyone else be seriously injured?!