Then, a ferocious grin that could scare any child appeared on his face. "Kid, didn't your parents tell you to hide when you see people like us?"
Goku tilted his head curiously. "Hide? Why hide?"
Captain Jack paused again, then roared with laughter. "Hahaha! Listen to this! He actually asked why he should hide! Hahahaha!"
The pirates behind him didn't join in the laughter this time; instead, they all felt a cold shiver run down their spines.
They knew their boss was getting genuinely angry.
Sure enough, Jack's laughter died down, replaced by a sinister expression and eyes filled with murderous intent.
"The fact that you aren't hiding means we haven't killed enough people to make you afraid."
"In that case, men, let's paint this place red today!"
Captain Jack drew his cutlass, radiating a bloodthirsty aura.
"Ohhh! Kill them! Kill them all!"
"Captain! We've been itching for some slaughter! Let's turn this place into a river of blood and show them the power of the Killer Bee Pirates!!"
The pirates unsheathed their weapons, savage grins plastered on their faces as their eyes gleamed with a predatory red light.
Upon hearing those terrifying words, the townspeople hiding in their houses tucked themselves even further away, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Those caught in the alleys who hadn't managed to escape in time couldn't suppress their fear any longer and began to flee in panic.
Seeing this, Goku pulled the Power Pole from his back. After twirling it a few times, he leveled it at Captain Jack and narrowed his eyes. "You really are bad guys! I guess I'll just have to beat you up!"
"Beat us up?"
Captain Jack and his crew exchanged looks before doubling over in laughter.
"Hahaha! This brat says he's going to beat us up?"
"Hahaha! Stop, I'm gonna die laughing!"
"He's got the pose down, I'll give him that! I bet if he hit me, it'd actually feel kind of nice! Ahahahaha!!"
Captain Jack laughed so hard a snot bubble popped out. He wiped it away carelessly, his face returning to a cruel sneer.
"Kid, since you're so eager to meet your end, I'll take your head!"
He had already decided to cleave the boy in half right down the middle to further cement the fearsome reputation of the Killer Bee Pirates!
Goku didn't say another word, but he secretly tensed his muscles, staying alert.
'This big guy looks strong. He must be really tough!'
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from behind him:
"Trash will always be trash, only capable of bullying children."
"I think the Killer Bee Pirates should just rename themselves the Trash Pirates."
A young Marine in uniform strode forward, stepping in front of Goku to shield him. He stared down the dozens of ferocious pirates without a hint of fear and spoke without turning around:
"Hey kid, taking down villains and upholding justice is a Marine's duty. Just find a place to hide and stay safe."
Goku blinked, looking completely dazed.
'Huh? What's a Marine?'
Still lacking in worldly knowledge, he was genuinely confused.
Regardless of Goku's reaction, the Killer Bee Pirates immediately went on high alert at the sight of a Marine.
"A Marine? Why is there a Marine here?"
"Captain! There were no warships at the port when we arrived, and this island doesn't have a Marine base!"
"Yeah, this is really strange."
"Quiet!"
Captain Jack raised a hand to silence his men's uneasy chatter.
He calmly surveyed the surroundings before relaxing, a contemptuous smile forming on his face.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're all by yourself, aren't you?"
Based on their earlier observations of the island and their knowledge of the Marines, if there were a large force present, they would have been surrounded long ago. It was impossible for only one Marine to show up.
Sure enough, the young Marine crossed his arms and said unhurriedly, "So what if I'm alone? It's more than enough to deal with the likes of you."
Though his tone was flat, the blatant mockery in it immediately ignited the pirates' rage.
"Hmph! Big words! You think you're one of the Three Admirals or something?"
"Exactly! Even if an Admiral were here, our Captain wouldn't lose!"
"Kill him and turn him into mincemeat! Let the Marines see what we're capable of!"
Captain Jack's grin grew more deranged. He pointed his cutlass at the Marine and laughed. "Did you hear that, Marine? Today is the day you die!"
"Heh, a bunch of fools who don't know how big the world is," the young Marine mocked.
"Men, watch me take this Marine's life!"
Captain Jack stopped talking and let out a roar, swinging his blade down at the young Marine.
To his shock, the strike hit nothing but air.
"What?!"
Jack's pupils shrank as he caught sight of the Marine appearing beside him out of the corner of his eye. Alarm bells rang in his head.
But—
It was already too late to react.
"Is this all you've got?"
The young Marine threw a high kick, the heavy force smashing into Captain Jack like a falling boulder. With a deafening boom, Jack was sent flying into a nearby house.
Immediately after, as the rest of the pirates regained their senses and charged at him...
He blurred, weaving through the pirate ranks. Using both fists and feet, he moved like a scythe through wheat, knocking the attackers away one by one.
A few moments later, every single pirate lay unconscious on the ground.
He pulled back his fist and stood tall, a smirk playing on his lips where no one could see it.
'I am so cool right now!'
'That little kid must be looking at me with total adoration!'
He was busy imagining the star-struck expression of the boy he had protected.
But just then, a harsh voice ruthlessly shattered his fantasy.
"Damn Marine! Get on your knees right now, or I'll kill this man!"
The Marine whipped around to see Captain Jack, who he had just kicked away, emerging from an alley holding a civilian hostage.
Jack's blade was pressed firmly against the civilian's throat, his face flushed red with fury.
The hostage was pale, eyes wide with terror.
'Dammit! That kick didn't knock him out?!'
The Marine's eyelid twitched as he felt a surge of regret.
"Mister!!"
Suddenly, a voice shouted from the side.
Goku glared at Captain Jack and the hostage, yelling at the former, "Let go of the mister! Or I'm gonna get mad!"
He had been so distracted by the Marine's skills that he hadn't noticed Captain Jack taking the kind fruit vendor hostage.
The vendor felt the cold steel against his neck and smiled bitterly, blaming his own incompetence.
He had been terrified by the pirates' bloodlust and wanted to run, but when he saw Goku standing up to them for his sake, he had steeled himself to risk his life to save the boy.
The Marine's appearance had given him hope, and he had changed his plan to wait for a chance to pull Goku away.
But things had changed in an instant. Just as he was about to sneak out and grab Goku, the flying Captain Jack had smashed through the wall and landed right next to him.
And then... well, then he couldn't leave.
Which led to the current situation.
Captain Jack ignored Goku entirely, glaring at the Marine as he shouted desperately, "Marine, don't move! Get on your knees! Now! Or I'll kill him!"
The young Marine forgot his embarrassment and frantically racked his brain for a solution.
'No, the distance is too great! I can't reach him while ensuring the civilian's safety!'
Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as anxiety gripped his heart.
'Dammit! Is it... is it going to end like this again...?'
"You deaf, Marine?! I said get on your knees!"
Backing away slowly, Captain Jack felt a slight sense of relief as the distance grew. He momentarily moved the blade away from the hostage's neck to point it at the Marine.
However, just then, a youthful voice rang in his ears: "Extend! Power Pole!"
Whoosh—
A red blur flashed into his peripheral vision. A sudden, sharp pain exploded in his hand, and his cutlass was knocked flying.
"What?!!"
In shock, he instinctively looked to his side and saw that the one who had attacked was Goku—the boy he had completely dismissed!
'Now's my chance!'
The Marine's eyes sharpened, and he lunged toward Captain Jack.
But another figure was even faster.
"Yah—!!"
Having disarmed the enemy, Goku had no more reservations. He delivered a flying kick that slammed squarely into Captain Jack's face.
In an instant, Jack's head visibly buckled, and a massive amount of white foam erupted from his mouth.
A second later, the two-meter-tall giant was sent crashing through several houses by Goku's kick, disappearing under a pile of rubble without a sound.
"Huh? Did I get this strong?"
Having experienced the results of the Turtle School training for the first time, Goku looked at his own body in wonder.
As for the young Marine, he had come to a dead stop, his jaw practically hitting the floor as he stared at Goku's handiwork.
'This... this kid who's barely a meter tall... how does he have so much power?!'
'Could he be a child of the Giant Race?!'
"Hahaha! Well done, kid! Why don't you join the Marines?"
A burly man walked out from a nearby shop, hands on his hips, laughing heartily at Goku.
And he was none other than the Hero of the Marines—Garp "The Fist"!
——