Chapter 26: Balu’s Death and Gin’s Resolve

In the distance, across the sea, a line of pirate ships stood at the horizon, their menacing cannons unleashing volleys of red fire, streaking like meteors into Raven Port.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The bustling port descended into chaos. Flames rose everywhere, screams piercing the air, shattering the survivors' world.

"Pirates! Pirates are here!"

"Help!"

"The Marines are in the port, we—"

Hope flickered in the crowd's eyes, only to vanish as they turned to the harbor.

The two warships docked there, unable to evade the first salvo, were engulfed in flames.

Their crews fled toward the port.

"Run!"

From the first cry, people scattered, hiding behind cover.

The once-impenetrable city walls seemed frail against the torrent of steel, offering no safety.

Ships in the port had no room to dodge, catching fire within moments.

Amid the blazing inferno, countless vessels burned.

The heat licked Gin's pale face. Having just set up his plan in the city, he hadn't even acted when Krieg's attack struck early.

"Lord Gin, Balu… Balu's still on the ship!" a pirate stammered, unable to believe the scene, wanting to rush aboard but blocked by flames.

He could only listen to the agonized wails, powerless.

"Who did this?"

"The Marines? No, even corrupt ones wouldn't do this."

"The other pirates who came with us? But their ship's hit too…"

The pirates buzzed with anxious speculation, finding no clear answer.

Or rather, they subconsciously avoided the only answer.

Gin didn't.

He tugged his headband, teeth clenched.

Krieg's actions were incomprehensible, unacceptable. Even pirates should value their crew!

Then, a tall figure, cradling two pirates, burst through the flames from the ship's cabin, leaping into the sea.

Splash!

"It's Balu!"

"He's alive!"

The crew dove in, pulling the exhausted Balu ashore, but fell silent.

Gin pushed through, his pupils shrinking at Balu's state.

Burned beyond recognition, Balu's neatly groomed hair was gone, his skin charred and peeling, reeking of burnt flesh.

"Big Brother Gin, it hurts…" Balu's weak voice rasped.

Gin reached out, as he always had to comfort his friend, but there was no unburned skin to touch.

"Hah…" Balu gasped, nearly blind, his blurry gaze searching. Finding nothing, he asked about the two he'd saved. "Are they… alive?"

Gin glanced at the two charred, unrecognizable bodies, unable to bear the truth. "They're unconscious, but alive."

"That so?" Balu's lips curved faintly.

"Pity I can't see."

"Hey, Big Brother Gin, leave this place. Leave that man."

"I saw it long ago—he doesn't see comrades, only tools to discard. This time it's me, next it could be you."

"…"

Gin bowed his head in silence, nearly breaking his teeth. Balu, seeming to understand, smiled weakly. "Still so stubborn. Live for yourself for once…"

His voice faded, carrying unfulfilled regrets as he drew his last breath.

After a few seconds of silence, Gin stood, wiping his face, his gaze resolute.

"The captain's wrong. We should correct him, not betray him. Move out!"

"Yes, sir!" the crew roared.

At Gin's command, the pirates who'd entered the port sprang into action, weaving through cannon fire to strike pre-scouted targets, dismantling the city's defenses.

Ammo depots exploded one by one. Guards organizing rescue efforts faced direct pirate assaults.

In minutes, Gin controlled most of the city's depots and guards. His gaze locked onto Kuro, hurrying toward him.

Gin's tonfa spun, accelerating until they blurred beyond sight. With such force, even steel would warp if struck.

"Time to enjoy the main course!"

Kuro glanced at Gin, then at their burning warship.

Thankfully, his caution had limited their losses, unlike Gin's crew, but several men were still trapped aboard.

Their wails weakened, then stopped, and Kuro's killing intent peaked.

In his years of piracy, he'd never suffered such a blow.

These were Gawain's hand-trained elites, the crew's lifeblood, invaluable.

How could he not ache at their loss?

"I'll gut you first, then Admiral Krieg," Kuro said coldly, as if stating a fact, his ten claw blades unsheathing with a shing.

This time, no one would hold him back!

"Spoon!"

In an instant, Kuro vanished, his overwhelming killing intent omnipresent.

Slash!

Five claw marks tore upward, nearly disemboweling Gin.

"So fast!"

The sharp pain spiked Gin's adrenaline. All he saw was a blurred figure—Kuro's erratic, high-speed movement outpacing his senses.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Cutting sounds surrounded Gin as claw marks appeared on the ground, walls, and bodies.

This was the strongest foe he'd faced at sea, bar none.

Such speed left normal men defenseless. Gin could only spin his tonfa faster, shielding himself like a barrier.

One mistake, and he'd die!

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