The moment Nojiko used her Observation Haki and saw what was happening below, Amon had immediately rushed down with Bell-mère and Nojiko.
Fortunately, he was not too late.
He arrived just as Major Nezumi was about to execute Genzo and the others.
The officer standing at the front of the square paused slightly when he saw Amon and Bell-mère with her two daughters appear.
There were still stragglers?
No… if they were stragglers, why would they walk straight into the trap?
Without hesitation, the officer drew his gun and aimed it at Amon.
"Stop right there. Take one more step and I'll blow your head off."
Amon acted as if he had not heard a single word and continued walking forward.
"What are you yelling for?"
Just as the Marine was about to fire, Major Nezumi stepped out from inside.
"Oh? I didn't expect there to be a few fish that slipped through the net."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Men, arrest them. If they resist, kill them on the spot."
This time, Nezumi intended to kill a few as a warning to the rest.
"You don't deserve to wear that uniform."
Bell-mère suddenly stepped forward, fury blazing in her eyes.
"Do your actions live up to the word justice?"
"The Marines are supposed to be the embodiment of justice. What you're doing now is no different from pirates, burning, killing, looting without restraint! Or are you pirates yourselves?"
She had once been a Marine. Her sense of justice ran deep.
But today, these so-called Marines had shattered everything she once believed in.
"Justice?"
Nezumi burst into loud laughter as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"She talks to me about justice! Justice? Does justice even exist in this world? Winners write justice. The victor becomes king, the loser becomes bandit. Today, I can kill all of you and pin the blame on pirates. Then I capture a few pirates to take the fall and execute them. Who would dare say I'm not righteous? By then, people might even praise me as a Marine filled with justice. I'll get promoted, get a raise, gain the title of justice, and earn admiration."
He raised his pistol with a cruel grin.
"Since you love talking about justice so much, the underworld is a fine place to preach it. I'll send you there right now!"
The surrounding Marines lifted their rifles as well, sneering as they waited for the order to fire.
"Hahahahaha…"
Applause rang out.
"Brilliant. Truly brilliant. So this is the Marine's so-called justice?"
Amon clapped slowly, laughing.
"Today, I've really broadened my horizons."
Bell-mère was shaking with rage, ready to charge forward, but Amon's voice remained light.
"As for the underworld, we won't be going. It's too lonely down there. You should go instead."
When Amon first came, he had only planned to rescue the villagers and perhaps teach these Marines a lesson.
He had no desire to make enemies of the Marines. After all, they represented the world's justice and possessed the highest combat power in this world. If Headquarters truly sent Admirals or even the Fleet Admiral after him, it would become difficult for him.
Even if he was invincible on his ship, he could not hide on it forever.
But Nezumi's words had ignited something cold in him.
Amon knew the original story.
Nezumi was the true culprit behind Cocoyasi Village's ten years of suffering.
A Marine colluding with pirates, exploiting civilians under the banner of justice. That kind of filth did not deserve mercy.
And judging by the grins on the faces of his subordinates, they were just as rotten.
Amon did not mind cleaning up trash like this.
"So arrogant."
Nezumi sneered.
"Let's see who ends up in the underworld."
"Fire!"
Bell-mère and her daughters' faces went pale. They were ordinary people. They had never faced a firing line like this.
Amon, however, still stood there with a faint amused smile.
"Hmph."
Bang.
Just as the soldiers were about to pull their triggers, Amon let out a cold snort.
His Conqueror's Haki erupted fully.
In an instant, the rifles shattered under the invisible pressure.
It was his first time using Conqueror's Haki directly in combat.
The result was satisfactory.
The Marines felt as if the air itself had been sucked away. A suffocating force crushed down upon them.
"Pff!"
Under the pressure of that overwhelming Haki, Major Nezumi spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Y-you… who are you?!"
Everything had changed too suddenly.
All he heard was a cold snort. Then his chest felt as if a mountain had slammed into it.
His pupils shrank in terror.
"Someone who's going to kill you."
Amon had deliberately restrained his Haki.
If he had used his full strength, Nezumi would have died instantly. But that might have affected Bellmere and the others too.
Moreover, he wanted him to taste fear.
Step by step, Amon walked forward.
Nezumi trembled violently.
"D-don't kill me!"
"You can't! I'm a Marine Major! If you kill me, Headquarters will send an Admiral to destroy you!"
"Oh?"
Amon smiled faintly.
"That's fine. I don't mind."
"No, no! I was wrong!"
Nezumi collapsed to his knees, all dignity gone.
"I'll give you money! I have a lot of money!"
"As long as you spare me, I'll give you ten million Beli! No… one hundred million Beli! I can give you one hundred million!"
"A hundred million?"
Amon clicked his tongue lightly.
"That is quite a lot."
"Looks like you've been skimming quite well. A Marine Major with a hundred million Beli."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Unfortunately, I'm not interested. I'm a businessman. And businessmen value credibility."
"I said I'd send you to the underworld. How could I break my word?"
Nezumi's face turned utterly pale.
Amon did not toy with him any further.
He raised his hand and swung forward without restraint.
In the next instant, Major Nezumi's body was crushed apart.
Silence fell over the square.