"I understand. I won't do anything reckless. Thank you for your help, Violet, Olivia, and Kalifa."
Yamato's voice was filled with despair as she turned away, her gaze distant. Without waiting for a response, she walked back to her room, each step heavier than the last.
"Is she... going to be okay?" Koala asked hesitantly, her brow furrowed as she watched Yamato's retreating figure. The worry in her voice was evident.
Olivia shook her head, letting out a helpless sigh. "Just let her calm down for now. She needs time to process everything. Imagine being told that the Revolutionary Army is no better than the Celestial Dragons—a group that burns, kills, and loots without mercy. Would you be able to accept that easily?"
Koala shivered at Olivia's blunt words, her arms instinctively wrapping around herself. "No way! Don't talk about us like that, Da-Mei!" Her protest was almost childish, a mix of disbelief and defiance.
Olivia looked at her with a faint smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. She turned to Ain and asked, "Should we inform Luffy about this? And more importantly, what's our next step?"
Ain, who had been quiet until now, seemed to suppress her emotions. Her lips tightened as she nodded apologetically to Olivia, then reached for the Den Den Mushi. After dialing, she waited, her hand trembling slightly.
"...Ain?" came Luffy's familiar voice from the other end of the line. "What's going on?"
Ain closed her eyes for a brief moment, steadying herself. "Captain," she began softly, recounting in detail everything Violet had witnessed. Her voice remained calm, but the weight of her words was suffocating.
On the other side, Luffy fell silent. The Den Den Mushi didn't make a sound, but the tension was palpable. Ain and Koala exchanged uneasy glances as they waited.
Minutes passed before Luffy finally spoke, his tone darker than they'd ever heard. "I've changed my mind," he said, his voice laced with anger. "Killing him outright would be too easy. I'll capture him alive and let him suffer. He'll pay for what he's done!"
His declaration sent chills down Ain's spine, but neither she nor the others objected. They knew better than to argue. Ain responded simply, "Understood."
After the call ended, Ain turned to the group, her face serious. "The plan remains unchanged. Our next destination is the Flower Capital. Let's move!"
Meanwhile, Luffy's expression had turned grim. His fists were clenched, and the air around him seemed to vibrate with tension. The other officers—Darius, Dev, and several others—watched him warily.
A Marine lieutenant stationed in the Flower Capital stood nearby, his face pale and filled with regret. "It's all my fault..." he muttered, his voice trembling. Tears welled up in his eyes. "I should've brought Colonel Ogg and the others' bodies with me when we retreated. I failed them... I failed you, Vice Admiral Luffy."
Luffy's piercing gaze landed on the lieutenant, silencing him. "Enough," he said coldly, his voice commanding. "We're heading there now—Those who master the Moonwalk, follow me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Luffy propelled himself into the sky, his body moving with incredible speed. Without hesitation, Darius, Dev, and Macaron followed, their determination matching his. Behind them, a few other officers struggled to keep pace, their Moonwalk techniques still unrefined.
The rest, unable to follow through the air, clenched their fists in frustration and quickly organized the troops to continue on foot.
Luffy, however, was already far ahead, his focus solely on the Flower Capital. As he approached, his sharp eyes spotted a horrifying sight: more than a dozen Marine corpses tied to wooden stakes at the city gate. The sight made his blood boil.
He descended swiftly, landing in front of the stakes without hesitation. Ignoring the startled cries of the guards nearby, he began untying the bodies, his movements gentle despite his fury.
"Enemy attack! Kill him!" The shout came from one of the samurai guarding the gate. Seeing Luffy's Marine attire, they immediately assumed he was an intruder and charged at him with their swords raised.
Luffy didn't even glance in their direction. The samurai' blades came down with ferocious speed—only to meet an invisible barrier of lightning that crackled to life around him. In an instant, the samurai were engulfed in a flash of electric blue, their screams cut short as their bodies were reduced to charred husks.
The stench of burnt flesh filled the air, but Luffy remained unfazed. He carefully untied the remaining bodies, his hands trembling slightly as he laid them down side by side. Though he didn't recognize most of them, their uniforms and badges told him all he needed to know. Among them was Colonel Ogg, whose courage in battle had been well-known.
Kneeling before the fallen soldiers, Luffy adjusted their uniforms, his face somber. "You didn't deserve this," he whispered. "Please wait a little longer. I promise the one who did this to you won't escape justice."
By the time Darius and the others arrived, the gruesome scene had pushed their emotions to the breaking point. The sight of their comrades' desecrated bodies filled them with rage.
"Vice Admiral!" Darius called out, his voice hoarse. "We—"
"You'll stay here," Luffy interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Guard their bodies. Make sure they're treated with the respect they deserve. Leave the rest to me."
As he finished speaking, a shadow loomed overhead, casting a dark veil over the area. The sunlight was blotted out as a massive airship descended from above, its engines roaring ominously.
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