On their way from the docks, the local islanders inevitably encountered the long, angry procession of the Darons Kingdom citizens.
But to their surprise, the Darons Kingdom citizens paid them absolutely no mind, simply marching past with their makeshift weapons, their eyes locked on the mountain.
In the tense, suffocating atmosphere, the locals didn't dare act recklessly or block their path.
Only when the citizens of the Darons Kingdom disappeared at the end of the street did the locals dare to speak.
"Are these the pirates the village chief mentioned?"
"What pirates? They can't possibly be pirates! What kind of pirates would dress in such rags and carry wooden pitchforks?"
"Besides, I didn't see any strong men among them—just the old, the weak, and the disabled."
The islanders glanced at each other, completely unsure of what to say or do.
"Where are they heading?"
"I noticed they were moving directly toward that large mountain."
"Hey... could it be that the couple living up on the mountain have gotten into some trouble?"
Those living on the island naturally knew about the quiet couple residing on the mountain—the man had been imposing but cheerful, and the woman was incredibly gentle.
However, something must have happened to the man, as he hadn't returned from his voyage for a very long time.
Everyone on the island knew the gentle woman was heavily pregnant.
"Hey, should we go check out the commotion?" a nosy islander spoke up.
Several nearby citizens gave him a strange look, rolled their eyes, and shook their heads.
"You go if you want. I do not like sticking my nose into other people's dangerous business."
"Exactly. It's obvious the man caused some sort of terrible trouble outside, and now these people have come looking for payback."
Feeling there was no real danger to the main village, the locals dispersed, leaving only a few idlers with nothing better to do secretly following the Darons citizens from a safe distance to watch the excitement.
...
In the dense jungle, Roger had cleared a flat area on the mountainside months ago, where he had built a beautiful secluded villa and several acres of farmland for his new family.
Portgas D. Rouge, who was gazing out from the second-story balcony, suddenly spotted a dense angry crowd of people marching at the foot of the mountain.
Her heart filled with extreme unease.
She knew the peaceful islanders wouldn't collectively intrude upon her home without a grave reason.
That left only one terrifying answer.
'Pirates!'
Those people were likely vicious pirates who had discovered her husband's identity.
Rouge's freckled face turned pale with fear.
She took a deep breath and decided to flee the villa before the mob noticed her.
The loyal maid who usually cared for her rushed in frantically, but before she could speak, Rouge cut her off.
"Octaville, I know a group of men is coming for us. There is no time to talk—we must run right now."
Rouge acted decisively, clutching her visibly pregnant belly as she retreated toward the dense back mountain with Octaville's desperate help.
Not ten minutes after they slipped out the back door, the furious citizens of the Darons Kingdom arrived at the villa!
They kicked the heavy oak door open and frantically searched every single corner for the Pirate King's wife.
Not in the kitchen!
Not in the secondary bedroom!
Not in the study!
Not in the master bedroom!
They gathered in the villa's pristine living room, furiously smashing all the expensive furniture around them in a blind rage.
Soon, their leader emerged from the master bedroom, holding an old-fashioned photograph and roared at the crowd.
"Everyone! Look what I found!"
"It is a photo of that butcher and his wife!"
The picture showed a beaming Roger and a smiling Rouge holding each other.
At this moment, the happy photo only strengthened the mob's absolute resolve to find the woman and end the bloodline.
"I found something too!" an elderly man in tattered clothes shouted from the balcony.
"There is a half-finished cup of hot tea sitting right here! She couldn't have gone far!!!"
The old man raised the teacup as he shouted, then slammed it violently to the ground, shattering it.
"Footprints here by the back door! It must be that woman!"
Soon, the people of the Darons Kingdom made another crucial discovery—they found fresh footprints winding from the back gate deep into the jungle.
"Got her!"
"She couldn't have gone far! A pregnant woman can't run fast in the jungle!"
"The Devil's offspring shouldn't be allowed to live in this world! Hunt them down!"
Blinded by years of festering hatred and grief, the crowd frantically charged down the jungle path, thoroughly convinced they would capture Roger's wife and execute her today.
Before long, the rushing Darons citizens spotted the exhausted figures of Rouge and Octaville struggling up a steep incline.
"There they are! Over there!"
"Quick, grab them! Don't let them escape!"
"Our chance for revenge is right here! We cannot let that demon spawn get away!"
Rouge, being heavily pregnant and Octaville, being an ordinary maid, stood absolutely no chance of physically outrunning the Darons' avengers.
Despair surged in their racing hearts.
Soon, the disheveled, demon-like citizens appeared less than fifty meters behind them, their makeshift weapons raised.
BOOM!
A brilliant, blinding sword beam suddenly cut across the sky!
It sliced directly through the dirt path ahead of the Darons citizens, obliterating all the trees and rocks in its massive range.
A sheer, smoking chasm over a meter wide and three meters deep now lay permanently between the Darons citizens and their helpless targets.
The front-runners halted their companions, nearly falling into the fissure.
Though terrified and confused by the sudden obstacle, their hateful gazes remained locked entirely on Rouge.
Soon, a tall figure descended from the sky, landing softly on the opposite side of the fissure.
It was the Dark king, Silvers Rayleigh, who had long vanished from the world's sight.
Now, he stood with his famous sword drawn, facing thousands of grieving Darons citizens entirely alone.
"Everyone... turn back," Rayleigh said, his voice heavy and calm.
"Since I'm here, your goal will not be achieved today."
"I wish to avoid any more unnecessary bloodshed. But cross this line... and you will die."
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