What exactly could make a six- or seven-year-old child say something like that?
He didn't even know Rojen and his group.
Could it be that the Marines really arrested people indiscriminately, without caring about right or wrong?
"Why would the Marines arrest us?"
Rojen asked softly, casually taking out some candy from his pocket and handing it to the child.
After receiving the candy, the child swallowed several times, obviously craving it badly, his eyes lighting up. But he carefully looked around, and only after confirming no one was paying attention did he quickly hide it away.
"You don't know? The Marines are all demons. Whenever they see people, they arrest them. As long as you're young, strong, and physically whole, they'll take you away."
"Why?"
The crew members were shocked. Could the Marines really just arrest people at random?!
"Fleet Admiral Anuki said that everyone on this island must become Marines, otherwise they won't be given food!"
The child's next sentence shocked everyone even more.
"Fleet Admiral? Everyone must become Marines?"
What kind of situation was this? There was actually a place in the world where people were forced to become Marines? And since when had that guy called Anuki become a Fleet Admiral?
"If I remember correctly, the current Fleet Admiral of the Marines is called Sengoku, right?"
Nalene said blankly.
"That's right, Sister Nalene, it's that guy Sengoku. He even saluted me once!"
Chaporos said happily.
Everyone ignored Chaporos as if he didn't exist.
"Heh heh, this Anuki guy sure is bold. He's basically sealing off the island and crowning himself king!"
Rojen laughed, finding it rather amusing.
A lunatic this audacious had appeared within the Marines, yet there had been no response whatsoever.
No wonder so many people in this era chose to become pirates. Thinking about it, anyone who still held even a shred of hope in the World Government wouldn't end up doing something like that.
"Anyway, you should leave quickly. Once the patrolling Marines arrive and see you, you'll definitely get arrested!"
The child urged them anxiously.
Looking at the child's worried expression, then glancing at the lifeless, hopeless faces of the civilians on the street, everyone felt a heavy weight settle in their hearts.
In this vast city, there were barely any ordinary humans left. The few who remained were crippled people who had already lost all hope and were merely waiting for death. The only one still holding onto hope was this young child.
What kind of utterly deranged military base was this?!
"Destroy it!"
Jason shouted angrily.
Hearing about it from the outside was one thing; seeing it up close was another. The despair of the civilians, the child's worry and fear, everything here was suffocating beyond endurance.
Suddenly, the sound of dense footsteps approached.
The child's face instantly filled with terror as he cried out loudly.
"Oh no, they're here!"
Before Rojen and the others could even react, the child had already turned and sprinted away.
Three or four breaths later, a squad of Marines quickly arrived and surrounded the group.
"Outsiders? There are actually still outsiders bold enough to come here?"
The Marine Ensign leading them said with amusement.
"Why can't we come here?"
Rojen asked in return.
"Hah, this is the kingdom of the Marines. Ordinary people don't have the guts to come here."
The Ensign chuckled.
"Oh right, I almost forgot to ask, interested in becoming Marines?"
Everyone was surprised. Judging from this, the Marines didn't seem as terrifying as the islanders had described, at the very least, they were polite enough to ask first.
"Sorry, but, "
Rojen was just about to refuse, but before he could finish half a sentence, he was interrupted by the officer.
At that moment, the expression on the officer's face became exaggerated, almost grotesque.
"Uh, I forgot to mention, you don't actually have the right to choose!"
"From this moment on, I hereby announce that you are all Marines!"
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Was this some kind of joke?
They were pirates, yet someone was actually forcing them to become Marines.
"Um, we're pirates!"
Trens interjected speechlessly.
"Pirates?"
The officer's expression changed instantly, and he waved his hand.
"Eliminate them!"
The Marines behind him reacted quickly, immediately aiming their guns at Rojen and his group.
"What I hate most is people pointing guns at me!"
As soon as the Marines made their move, Jason was the first to erupt in rage. Taking large strides forward, he charged straight into the crowd.
"What nerve, daring to fight back here!"
The officer was furious and led his men in attacking.
What happened next shocked the entire street.
The huge commotion caused the homeless drifters lying by the roadside to open their confused eyes.
Then, their pupils suddenly contracted as shock rapidly filled their gazes.
"Ahhh!"
Screams rang out one after another.
And those screams were from the Marines!
On this island, there were actually people daring to attack the Marines!
"Th-they've gone crazy!"
After witnessing a scene they could never have believed possible in their entire lives, the despairing and confused people unconsciously muttered.
Just as they struggled to sit up and stared fixedly at the group in the center,
"I don't care what shady secrets this island is hiding, or how deep these waters run!"
"But from this moment, now that we, the Nether Soul Pirates, have arrived, no matter who it is, no one is allowed to stand in our way!"
Rojen's face was icy cold, his voice calm, yet it spread clearly throughout the entire street.
"Marines? Demons? Even if they really are demons, I'll kill them all the same!"
"In this world, no one has the right to force others to do things they don't want to do!"
"If your own strength is still too weak to defend your freedom, then today, let Nether Soul lend you that strength!"
Each sentence resounded directly in everyone's hearts, briefly clearing the confusion clouding their minds.
"Who are they?"
Someone muttered. In their blurry eyes, one figure after another came into focus.
"Are they… declaring war on the Marines?"
The people suddenly reacted, their whole bodies trembling as they struggled to stand up.
The Marines sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain, blood flowing everywhere, silently confirmed this unbelievable reality.
"Marines, come out!"
Suddenly, an enraged shout echoed throughout the entire city.
"Anuki, get out here and die!"
"Corrupt justice has no reason to exist! Trash that strips away others' freedom deserves only death!"
"We're pirates, being enemies of the Marines is in our nature!"
Voices rang out one after another, instantly making the once-quiet streets lively.
The massive disturbance also alerted all the Marines across the island.
Meanwhile, in the dark underground prison of the island…
A calm voice suddenly echoed out, instantly awakening pairs of eyes.
"Someone… is challenging the Marines!"
"Really? Someone is actually challenging Anuki?"
"Are we… going to be saved?"
Some voices were already tinged with sobs.
"I don't want to be a Marine! Please save me!"
"They absolutely have to win! I don't know who had the courage to challenge that demon…"
"But they must win!"
Beneath this island's calm exterior, far too much despair, fear, and tragedy had been buried.
And when the sound of dawn finally rang out, the people who had been oppressed erupted with boundless hope in their hearts.
(End Of This Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395