Although this breakfast didn't taste very good, they still had to force it down to keep up their strength for the journey ahead. No matter how bad it tasted, they had to grit their teeth and eat.
Just as the group finished eating and was preparing to set off, there was a sudden bang, a gunshot. Shirakawa's protective shield automatically activated, and a bullet collided with it, sending sparks flying as the bullet deflected off course.
"What's going on? What's happening?"
Hearing the sound and seeing the bullet, Buggy was startled and clutched his head in panic.
Everyone turned toward the direction the bullet had come from. Shirakawa's expression was grim. Fortunately, the bullet had been aimed at him; if it had been Katherin or Buggy, that shot could have been fatal.
"Who's there?"
Shirakawa shouted.
"Tch. I thought my marksmanship was pretty good, how'd I miss?"
In response to his shout, a figure stepped out from the shadows. Behind him, a dozen or so more men emerged, one after another.
Just by looking at their clothes and appearance, it was clear these people were no good. Several bore visible scars, some fresh, others long-healed.
"Who are you?"
Shirakawa asked again. Buggy and Shanks were already in position, ready to fight.
Although Buggy's strength wasn't top-tier, he was a pirate. These guys shouldn't pose much of a threat to him.
"We're the mountain bandits in these parts. If you know what's good for you, hand over all your money and valuables, oh, and leave that girl behind so we can have some fun."
"Hahahahaha!"
As the leader said this, his men burst into loud, raucous laughter. Their eyes glinted with disdain as they looked at Shirakawa's group, and leered with lust at Katherin.
"You filthy scum, if you keep staring like that, I'll gouge your eyes out!"
Katherine felt completely violated under their gazes, squirming with discomfort.
"Oooh, feisty one, huh? I love girls with fire, makes breaking them all the more fun."
The leader licked his lips grotesquely as he spoke, his face twisted in lechery.
"Alright, boys! Get 'em! And remember, don't hurt the girl!"
"Relax, boss. We know the drill. We'll wait till you're done and then we'll take our turns!"
"Haha, everyone gets a piece!"
Hearing them speak so casually about such depravity, Shirakawa's face darkened. These men didn't regard them as threats at all, as if Shirakawa and the others were ants, ready to be crushed at any moment.
"You should feel honored."
Shirakawa's voice came out slow and cold. Yet everyone felt as if the temperature around them had suddenly dropped.
"What did you say?"
"You should feel honored... to die by my hand."
"Hahahaha! You little punk, still trying to act tough? I'll make sure you're the last one to die so you get to witness what I'll do to your friends."
The leader had shivered for a moment, but quickly dismissed it. He figured it was just his imagination. The kid in front of him looked young and harmless. What was there to be afraid of?
"Buggy, Shanks, don't hold back this time. Kill them all."
"I was thinking the same."
Shanks replied.
From the way these bandits talked, it was clear they'd committed countless atrocities. Against scum like this, Shanks wouldn't show mercy.
As for Buggy, he could handle being looked down on by those stronger than him. But being disrespected by weaklings? That was just asking for death.
The dozen or so bandits charged forward. Katherine also pulled two daggers from behind her waist.
"What, you plan to fight too?"
Shirakawa asked, surprised.
"Of course. No one insults me and lives."
Katherine's gaze was firm and resolute.
"I thought those daggers were just for decoration. Didn't expect you knew how to fight."
Shirakawa had noticed her carrying the daggers when they first met, but she had never used them.
"Well, I am a princess. I've had training. Besides, you guys never gave me a chance to fight."
"Hm, fair point."
With them around, Katherine never had the opportunity to act. As long as she stayed behind them, she was completely safe.
"Just be careful. If you get hurt, I'm not helping."
"Don't worry. These small fries can't touch me."
"Wow, confident much."
"You bet."
Katherine grinned proudly and took Shirakawa's compliment without hesitation.
As both sides clashed, Shirakawa held back. Instead, he kept a close watch on the one with the gun. Neither Buggy nor Shanks could yet dodge bullets, so if the guy tried a sneak attack, someone could seriously get hurt.
Shirakawa noticed the gunman's face gradually turning grim, and his men were dropping like flies. They couldn't even last three moves against Buggy or Shanks. Even Katherine had already taken out two.
He used to do this to others... and now, it was being done to him. Fear started creeping into his heart.
"Monsters... you're all monsters! I'll kill you all!"
He muttered under his breath and raised his gun, aiming it at Buggy in hopes of a clean kill.
But Shirakawa wouldn't give him the chance.
The moment the gun was lifted, Shirakawa was already beside him. Two simple movements: draw, strike, sheath.
The gunman only saw a flash of white light, then his prized gun split cleanly in half, a smooth cut marking the break.
"Impossible… my gun…"
Guns were rare in these parts. His authority came entirely from owning one.
The moment it broke, Shirakawa could feel the man's aura collapse; he was no better than the weakest of his underlings.
"You monsters... you're not human!"
The man dropped to the ground, trembling, unable to hide the terror on his face. His pants were already soaked.
"How pathetic."
Shirakawa shook his head. But he felt no pity. Scum like this didn't deserve it.
"No! Don't kill me!"
The man cried in panic as Shirakawa raised his blade.
"Oh? Why not?"
"If you kill me, our boss won't let you off!"
"Won't let me off? Good. I wasn't planning to let him off either."
Shirakawa didn't waste another word. The blade came down, swift and merciless.
The fight was already over. Not a single bandit was left alive.
"I heard that guy say we're monsters."
Shanks said, approaching Shirakawa and glancing at the corpse.
"Yeah."
"Monsters? Us? What a joke. He's just ignorant."
"It's because of the isolated environment they live in. They have no idea how vast the world is. We're in the latter half of the New World, after all. Not many people even make it here. So they think this is the entire world."
"What a sad place, this island."
Shanks sighed. For someone like him, who longed for freedom, staying on one island for a lifetime was unthinkable.