The moment Groudon appeared, it signaled the end of the war.
Early the next morning, amidst the battlefield ruins.
The two rulers of the Mink Tribe, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, were bound to execution scaffolds, with the Musketeer Squad and Rogue Squad receiving the same treatment.
Most of the Minks hiding in the forest had been discovered by the Pirate army and herded into the execution square.
Faced with an unbeatable enemy, the Mink Tribe was utterly consumed by fear, powerless to resist even if they wanted to.
Even the Moon Lion had been crushed.
"Meowrrrgh!"
Nekomamushi struggled and roared, "This old cat won't let you off even as a ghost! One day, my vengeful spirit will curse you all to death!"
"Shut up!"
Gurd pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Nekomamushi's head. Under the gaze of everyone present, he pulled the trigger without hesitation.
"Bang!"
Smoke billowed from the barrel.
A bloody hole appeared between Nekomamushi's brows, crimson trails flowing down his face as his eyes gradually lost focus.
Dead.
"Boss Nekomamushi!!!"
"Strange Cat!!!"
The citizens cried out in grief and fury. Even Duke Inuarashi, who had always been at odds with Nekomamushi, couldn't hold back his tears.
No one had expected the Pirates to kill Boss Nekomamushi so ruthlessly. Their cruelty filled the Minks with terror.
Gurd coldly surveyed the Mink Tribe.
"Jack, why are we here?"
"To hunt down the Kozuki Remnants!"
Jack answered solemnly.
"Correct!"
Gurd turned his gaze to the Mink citizens.
"Your two kings were retainers of Kozuki Oden, once our enemies. That's why they died!"
"Any association with the Kozuki Clan is a capital offense!"
"I'm well aware that the Mink Tribe and the Kozuki Clan were allies centuries ago, but that era is long gone."
"Most of you have never even seen a Kozuki in your lifetime. You don't know whether they're good or evil—you've simply been indoctrinated with the idea that you're brothers-in-arms with them."
"You are not slaves of the Kozuki!"
"You are free."
"I'm giving you a choice. I hope you'll think for yourselves—will you continue defending the Kozuki and remain our enemies, or will you lay down your arms and submit to us?"
Having said this, Gurd looked at Inuarashi.
"Dog King, I'll give you a chance too. Will you have your people abandon their hatred, or will you let them die alongside you?"
"..."
Inuarashi's face paled.
Nekomamushi's death made him realize this man would truly slaughter the entire Mink Tribe. If he didn't act, everyone would perish.
"Let's go. Give them some time."
Gurd led his subordinates away, heading toward the massive Whale Tree.
Fleets still surrounded Zou below. In their current state, the Minks couldn't possibly escape. If they chose to hide...
He would burn this country to the ground.
If they couldn't be used, they were enemies. Otherwise, these Mink warriors would surely follow the Kozuki to take revenge on the Beasts someday.
Seeing the Pirates leave, the Mink citizens rushed to the scaffolds, frantically freeing Inuarashi and the other bound warriors.
"Duke..."
"..."
Inuarashi sat cross-legged on the ground, covering his face with one hand as silent tears fell, gazing at Nekomamushi's corpse.
He knew he would die today.
Perhaps he could escape, but the consequence would be the Mink Tribe dying in his stead—an outcome he'd rather die than accept.
"Wanda, Carrot."
Inuarashi called two people over, pressing his head to the ground as he pleaded, "I wish to entrust you with this—the future of Zou rests in your hands now!"
"Lord Duke, please rise!"
The two girls were utterly stunned.
Within the Musketeer Squad, they were among the least experienced members—especially Carrot, who was only twelve this year and had just joined the squad. She couldn't even transform into her Sulong form yet.
How could they possibly shoulder such a heavy responsibility?
"We can't—"
Their words of refusal died in their throats as they froze.
The remaining members of the Musketeer Squad and the warriors of the Rogue Squad had all taken up arms, gathering around Duke Inuarashi with flames of vengeance burning in their eyes. It was clear they were prepared to die.
The Duke had entrusted them precisely because there was no one else left to rely on. But if only they survived, it would feel far too cowardly.
"Lord Duke, waaah!"
Carrot couldn't hold back her tears.
Duke Inuarashi stood and faced his people.
"This war was caused by me and Nekomamushi. The responsibility is ours. Now, in my final act as King of the Furry Kingdom, I issue one last command."
"Do not seek vengeance for us!"
"The darkness will soon pass. Please endure it for now. When dawn finally arrives, the strength of the Mink Tribe will be needed!"
This was the King's final plea.
As the Duke picked up his weapon and departed, the people shut their eyes in anguish, unable to bear the sight of their lord marching to his death.
Not long after, in the Whale Forest.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Dust and smoke billowed into the sky, but the battle soon fell into silence.
Beneath the Whale Tree.
The Pirate army climbed the vines like a swarm of ants, conducting a thorough search across the tree's surface.
After hours of waiting—
"We found it, Lord Gurd!"
"At the tail section!"
"It's absolutely astonishing!"
Deep within the hollow of the tree, an enormous Red Poneglyph Text stood at the center. Even from a distance, its weighty historical presence was palpable.
"Hajrudin, move this stone onto my ship!"
"Leave it to me."
The Road Poneglyph was massive and heavy, but to a giant, it was nothing—just a matter of a few people taking turns to carry it.
Gurd returned to the city with his subordinates.
Both Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had fallen, and the elite warriors of the Mink Tribe—the Musketeer Squad and the Rogue Squad—had been wiped out.
Old Man Monkey, representing the elders of the Mink Tribe, bowed with suppressed fury and said, "Pirate Lord, we submit to you."
"At least you know what's good for you."
Gurd glanced at him dismissively.
He could sense the Minks' smoldering rage and resentment, but he didn't care. These people were stubborn to the core—willing to die en masse for someone like Raizo, whom they barely even knew.
He couldn't tell if it was loyalty or sheer stupidity.
If there had been some genuine debt of gratitude, perhaps it would make sense. But from Kin'emon and the others, he saw no remorse or repayment toward the Mink Tribe.
"Speed, take all the Minks between the ages of twelve and eighteen."
"Understood!"
Given the Mink Tribe's growth cycle, twelve-year-olds already possessed decent combat ability. Those younger required care, while older ones were harder to recondition.
After days of turmoil, all the young Minks were taken away and sent to the fortress, where they would face a completely new life.
Starting with manual labor!
Meanwhile, inside the fortress.
An old man wearing a hard hat stealthily sought out Hancock's two sisters.
"Mr. Rayleigh?!"
"Shh!"
Staring at Rayleigh, Sandersonia and Marigold couldn't believe their eyes. They never dreamed Rayleigh would come to rescue them.
"Where's Hancock?"
"Big Sister is on Gurd's ship!"
(End of chapter)