Chapter 18

"They brought him over, and they saw that the guy had been shot more than twenty times."

"If it weren't for Karl's Holy Light keeping him alive, he would have died a long time ago."

Karl reluctantly used the Holy Light to heal him and asked:

"What happened?"

"Well, this guy thought with your Holy Light, he could be fearless, so…"

"Scoff!"

Karl sighed and looked in horror at the reckless man who had been shot more than twenty times.

"I didn't give you a Berserk buff!"

"Why do you still consider yourself a berserk? No wonder he got shot more than twenty times; he deserved it! If not for his Holy Light sustaining his life, the guy would be dead."

"Ah… Karl sighed and muttered to himself, "He's my teammate…"

After two applications of the Holy Light, the reckless man finally regained consciousness. Seeing Karl, he seemed to realize something and was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Karl! Yes, I was too impulsive. Mainly, I saw those peaceful villagers being killed by the pirates, and I don't know why..."

"It's not your fault, but you must remember that only a living fleet can administer justice."

"Well, I'll remember that!"

Ten minutes later, the gunfire in the town gradually subsided, and the fleet was cleaning up the chaos.

"Karl, among the pirate musketeers there were 32 people; 20 were killed and 12 captured alive. We have no losses, which can be considered a great victory!"

"It's all thanks to you!" "If it weren't for your ability, how could we have defeated the pirate musketeers without a scratch!"

"Yes! Long live Karl!"

"Long live Karl!"

The recruits were very excited and praised Karl one by one, which made Karl a little embarrassed. After all, he had indeed been idle!

"Well, don't worry. Even though I'm using my ability to help you, in the end, it was you who defeated all those pirates. It's not my or anyone else's merit."

"It's our collective effort! The Marines will prevail! Justice will prevail!"

Karl was well acquainted with this set of battle cries. He used to rally his subordinates the same way when he was in the 108th division. Seeing the joyful faces of his colleagues, Karl couldn't help but sigh, realizing that chicken broth is indeed humanity's original source of productivity!

While the fleet was celebrating, a middle-aged man approached Karl excitedly.

"Thank you! Your fMarines arrived just in time. If it weren't for you, the residents of our town would have been in danger!"

"You're too kind. This is what our fleet is supposed to do. Binz, gather the men and return the treasures and other items stolen by the pirate gunners to the town residents."

"Yes!"

Hearing Karl's words, the middle-aged man was even more grateful and expressed his thanks to the fleet. The recruits held their heads high and were in high spirits.

Ain approached Karl, pointed to a group of tied-up pirates, and asked:

"What should we do with this scum?" —

— How else can we deal with them? Are we going to send these guys to Impel Down? —

Ain hesitated and asked uncertainly: —

— You mean take all of them... — Then Ian made a gesture as if cutting his throat. —

— Who forced them to become pirates? You should know this if you want to pursue this line of work. —

Upon hearing this, the captain of the pirate gunners, Deman, excitedly shouted to Karl: —

— No, you can't kill me! I surrendered! According to the fleet's rules, you can't kill me! —

— That's right, you can't do this! We know we were wrong! We're ready to go to Impel Down to repent! —

The pirates immediately became agitated. If they didn't surrender, they'd be killed. If they surrendered, they'd be killed.

— Wouldn't surrender be a waste of time? —

These pirates knew the fleet's system well, but the system is rigid, while people are adaptable.

Karl, a ten-year veteran, smiled and slowly approached Deman, who was shouting the loudest. He drew his saber and brandished it in front of Deman.

Deman instinctively closed his eyes, and a dim liquid seeped from his trousers, pooling on the ground in a black puddle.

He waited a long time but felt no pain. He opened his eyes in confusion to find that the rope binding him had been cut by Karl, and his hands were free.

— Take it! — Karl handed a gun to Deman.

— Huh? —

Deman gulped and trembled, hesitant to take it.

The recruits at the training camp, watching the scene, were equally puzzled, not understanding what tricks Karl was playing.

— I told you to take it! —

Karl shouted loudly, pointing the gun at Deman, as if he was going to shoot him if he didn't take it.

— I'll take it! I'll take it!!! —

Deman's back was already covered in sweat as he raised his trembling right hand and slowly reached for the gun.

— Bang! —

A bullet hole appeared between Deman's eyebrows, his eyes filled with utter confusion, and he collapsed to the ground.

— Captain! —

— Boss! ---

— Everyone... You all saw it! He tried to grab my gun and attack me, so I killed him! I was forced to defend myself! —

— Don't tell Zephyr about me when the time comes! —

The recruits were startled, then quickly agreed: —

— Ah, yes, yes! —

— Don't worry! Karl, we're not villains. —

— Yes, we can vouch for that. —

The pirates looked at Karl with horror, as if they had lost their parents. —

The heart of this marine officer is truly twisted! Clearly, the captain could have been killed outright, but he insisted that the captain died "by the law". He really cries himself to death... —

— Uncle, if I'm not mistaken, you are the mayor of this town, correct? —

The middle-aged man nodded: —

— Yes, my name is Rajed, the mayor of Chunyuy. —

— Phew! —

Karl slapped a gun into the mayor's hand. Initially, he wanted him to decide the fate of these pirates, but he didn't expect him to be frightened. —

— Hm, Uncle Rajed, don't worry. — Then Karl whispered in his ear: —

— I'll leave these pirates to you. I think you understand what I mean… —

Rajed calmed down, turned his head to look at the bound pirates, and a flash of anger appeared in his eyes. —

— Don't worry! Sir, I will never let these scoundrels go.

Karl patted the mayor on the shoulder with relief, turned, and shouted to the recruits:

— Let's go! The pirate sword hunters are still waiting for us!

— O-o-o!!!

The Fleet, having landed on Spring Island, retreated like the tide, leaving not a trace behind.

After the Fleet's departure, the town's residents, who had survived the disaster, stared at the 11 bound pirates.

— It's you! You killed my husband and took all our money!

One of the pirates screamed in horror and anger, a hint of panic in his eyes:

— What do you want to do! I didn't want to do it; who made him resist me!

— I want you to pay for it with your life. —

A middle-aged woman with red eyes lunged at the pirate in a yellow shirt with a machete she had picked up. —

Blood splattered on her face, but it did nothing to ease the grief in her heart. —

On the way back to the training ship, hearing occasional shots and cries, Karl smiled and said nothing. —

This is the fate the pirates deserve. —