"This is the topographic map of Foolshout Island!"
Sakura placed a drawn nautical chart on the floor. Fisher Tiger and several officers from the Sun Pirates sat around it.
"The southwestern coast at the island entrance has a large garrison of Marines and agents. But the northern area of the island is a cliff face with weak defenses!"
Fisher Tiger pressed his hand on the chart. "Then should we charge in from the north in one go?"
"No." Sakura shook her head. "We split our forces! One group uses the Fish-men's advantage in the sea to harass and tie down the Marines and agents. Another, smaller team will deliver the person."
Jinbei, sitting cross-legged, stroked his chin and asked, "But wouldn't that allow the central forces to pick us off one by one? Isn't that more dangerous?"
"Our goal is to get Koala home, not to defeat the Marines!"
Sakura pointed at Koala, who was lying prone in front of the chart, completely focused on the outline of her hometown.
Standing outside the crowd, Kuina, who was practicing her swordsmanship, wiped her sweat and let out a cold laugh.
"We, the pirates, need to keep our promises, while those who call themselves 'Justice' can set up ambushes and schemes."
Sakura walked over to Kuina and placed a hand on her head. "This is pirate morality. Do you feel its weight now?"
"Don't look so glum~, cute kouhai~"
Leviathan, wearing a raincoat, emerged from below the deck and patted Kuina's shoulder with the air of a seasoned veteran. "It's precisely because Sakura is this kind of person~ that we're willing to follow her~, isn't that right?"
"Yeah, yeah, my great two-year-old senpai!"
Kuina retorted, reaching up to cup Leviathan's little face and rub it vigorously.
"Hey~ Show some respect to your senpai~"
The noisy sounds echoed in the deep sea. The large speedboat, carrying the group of pirates, once again approached Foolshout Island.
To the southwest of the island, the Marines had set up a temporary base.
Inside a pitched tent, the tall Marine in the yellow and white suit was as usual.
A cup of tea, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper to read all day.
"Sir Hyena, when exactly can I return to Headquarters?"
Kizaru folded the newspaper, his eyes behind the sunglasses fixed on the man sitting properly before him.
Since the pirates escaped after the last battle, they had been waiting on the island for two days.
They hadn't seen the Sun Pirates return, but they had almost fished out all the fish in the nearby waters.
If Hyena hadn't confidently declared that those pirates would definitely return, Kizaru would already be sipping hot tea at Marine Headquarters by now, instead of being here exposed to wind and sun.
"Ultimately, entrusting a mission to the credibility of a bunch of pirates is still not reliable enough~"
Kizaru's tone was drawn out, full of nonchalance and detachment.
After all, it was a secret mission. If it failed, he, a public figure, definitely wouldn't be the one held accountable.
On the other hand, certain guys lurking in the shadows... if they messed this up, they wouldn't get another chance to mess up in the future~
"They will definitely return. I understand this type of person!"
Hyena rubbed the bandages on his body, the elegance and steadiness in his words undiminished.
Your greatest understander is always your enemy. Ever since Sakura and Fisher Tiger committed their major crime at Mary Geoise-
The Cipher Pol intelligence agency had internally established dedicated offices for the two, responsible for collecting information, studying movements, analyzing weaknesses, and mapping their personalities.
Pirates like Sakura and Fisher Tiger valued morality. Therefore, once they promised to send Koala back to her hometown, they would definitely fulfill their vow.
Boom!!!
A violent explosion sounded from the port, causing both Kizaru and Hyena to stand up simultaneously.
"They're here!"
Hyena used his ability to alter scale, stepping out and appearing directly in front of the harbor.
Just as he arrived, flames and shockwaves from numerous explosions swept through, sending debris flying everywhere.
Many Marine soldiers and government agents were knocked unconscious by the blasts.
Fish-men popped their heads out of the seawater one by one, using Fish-Man Karate to harass the shore. Hyena spread his Observation Haki, continuously searching for Fisher Tiger's figure.
At the same time, on the other side of the island, Leviathan used the darkness to leap over the northern cliffs, gliding according to the direction Koala indicated.
Finally, it flew into a town and spat out four figures.
The townspeople, seeing two great pirates enter with two children, took up weapons from their homes and watched them warily.
"Koala!"
A woman with the same hair color as Koala rushed out of the crowd and hugged her tightly.
"Mom..."
The hardships and grievances of her wandering life finally erupted the moment she was embraced by her mother. The girl threw her head back and wept bitterly, tears streaming down her face.
Fisher Tiger walked over to Sakura, patted her shoulder, raised his thumb, and hooked it towards their backs.
Sakura nodded. The two slipped away quietly amidst the townspeople's cheers.
Click! Click! Click!
The sound of weapons and ammunition being handled rang out. The townspeople had already taken out World Government standard-issue weapons and were aiming them at Sakura and the other two, who were preparing to leave.
"Mom! Everyone! What are you doing?! Sakura-nee and Boss Tiger are the benefactors who brought me back!!!"
Koala cried and struggled, but her mother held her tightly.
The armed townspeople slowly advanced, shielding Koala and her mother behind them.
A man, his voice trembling, spoke to Sakura and Tiger: "The... the central agents changed the terms. To get them to spare Koala... we must capture you... You are good people... Please, be good to the end and save her..."
"You bastards! Should good people always have guns pointed at them?"
Kuina didn't hesitate, directly drawing the cursed blade Muramasa. Just as she was about to swing it, Fisher Tiger grabbed her wrist.
Fisher Tiger clenched his fist and swung it forcefully at the townspeople before him.
[Fish-Man Karate: Sea Drum!]
The moisture in the surrounding air was compressed by the fist wind, expanding outward in a shockwave.
The ground cracked in a spiderweb pattern. Buildings in the rear were shattered one after another.
The townspeople, also caught in the shockwave, were sent flying, vomiting blood, rolling on the ground in pain.
"Let's go, Sakura!"
His fist lowered, Fisher Tiger led the way out of the town.
"Boss Tiger, Sakura-nee, Kuina, I..."
Koala's hoarse voice rang out. She struggled free from her mother's grasp and chased after the three.
"We are the pirates who destroyed your hometown! You don't know Tiger, Sakura, or Kuina, understand?!"
Sakura reached out, grabbed Koala's clothes, and threw her. She landed on the ground.
As Koala tried to get up, Kuina, walking past her, knocked her on the head.
Finally, she lay powerless on the ground, watching the three figures' shadows grow farther and farther away.
On the way out, Kuina walked beside Sakura, swinging her small fists in indignant anger.
"Those townspeople are despicable! We should have been harsher with them just now!"
"In this chaotic era, they are just a group of pitiful people struggling to survive."
Sakura sighed, looking towards the horizon where streams of light were gradually beginning to flash.
And the continuously warping and contracting space chasing behind the light.
"The ones at fault aren't them, but... this world!"