"Of course. Since we've already decided to do this, we must leave no loose ends. Even though CP9 has already screened them, who's to say there aren't still archaeologists hiding among the evacuees...?"
After a pause, Sakazuki declared coldly, without hesitation:
"For absolute justice. When dealing with evil, there can be no mercy. Continue the bombardment—don't stop until that evacuation ship is sunk to the bottom of the sea."
"Yes, sir!" The adjutant immediately saluted and barked orders for the battleship's cannons to resume firing at the evacuation vessel.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Amidst the terrified screams of the civilians aboard, several more shells hurtled toward the already-battered ship—each one powerful enough to tear it apart completely.
And then—petals. Fragile, beautiful cherry blossoms began to swirl through the air, dancing upward toward the incoming cannonballs.
Boom! Boom!
In the blink of an eye, the shells that the blossoms touched exploded midair—each burst like a bloom of soft pink fireworks over the sea.
"That bastard… he's still not stopping…"
Kuzan's expression darkened. Watching Sakazuki continue the merciless assault on unarmed civilians deeply shook the ideals of justice he had always stood for.
"Yahn, hold Saul off for me. I'll be right back."
With those words, Kuzan turned into a rush of icy wind and shot toward Sakazuki's warship, roaring:
"Sakazuki, you bastard! What the hell are you doing? Stop this right now!"
The next moment, magma and ice surged into the air from the deck of the battleship.
No one could have expected that during such a critical military operation as a Buster Call, these two—Kuzan and Sakazuki, fire and ice incarnate—would clash in front of so many naval soldiers over a difference in ideology.
---
Yahn slowly turned his head with a stiff motion and looked up—way up—at the towering figure of Saul, whose finger alone was bigger than his whole body. Inwardly, he cursed.
"Kuzan, you idiot. Dragging me ashore was bad enough—but you left me here? With him? You want me to stop Saul? With these twig arms and legs? Are you kidding me?"
To his surprise, though, Saul didn't attack. Instead, he crouched down and asked kindly:
"You're Yahn, right? Navy?"
"No, I'm not," Yahn answered truthfully.
"Then why are you with Kuzan?" Saul pressed.
"I... I was forced to." Yahn continued to speak honestly.
"I see..." Saul glanced at the distant warship, where lava and ice still raged. Then he turned back and said:
"Yahn, do you want to run away with me?"
"Huh?!" Yahn blinked, stunned by the unexpected question.
Saul continued, "I'm guessing Kuzan brought you along intending for you to join the Navy. But you risked your life to block Sakazuki's cannon fire and protect the civilians."
After a pause, he added, "Knowing Sakazuki, he won't let that slide. He'll likely come after you later. Why not run away with me while you still can?"
Yahn's mouth twitched slightly. He appreciated Saul's offer, but shook his head and replied:
"Thank you for the concern, but I have my own reasons for staying in the Navy."
"Dereshishishi... I see. So you've found a justice you believe in."
Saul chuckled in his strange, signature laugh.
"You stood up to Sakazuki to protect innocent people, knowing full well the risk. That kind of conviction... I respect it. That's a justice worth recognizing."
Then, Saul's expression turned serious.
"Either way, I have to take this chance—while Kuzan and Sakazuki are fighting—to get away. Yahn, if you really want to stop me, then go ahead and try."
To be honest, Yahn didn't want to stop Saul. Not just because he had no desire to earn credit for it—but more importantly, because he genuinely respected the man.
But...
With a subtle flick of his wrist, the hilt in Yahn's hand responded. The cherry blossoms that had protected the evacuation ship immediately swirled back, now dancing around him in a protective storm. He spoke calmly:
"Sorry, Saul. I have to at least make a move."
Sometimes, even if your heart isn't in it, you still have to draw the blade. And Yahn understood that well.
As Sengoku's adopted son, Yahn could follow his personal convictions and use his power to protect the civilians.
But as Sengoku's son—with the eyes of the World Government watching this Buster Call—he couldn't just stand by and let Saul escape without doing anything.
If he did, Sengoku might face suspicion, or worse, repercussions.
And that—Yahn could not allow.
Sorry, but even if it's just for show, I still have to act.
With a silent sigh, Yahn commanded the petals.
A storm of cherry blossoms surged toward Saul like a pink tidal wave.
Shhhhhh—
The petals danced past, and countless tiny, shallow cuts appeared on Saul's skin. Thin trickles of blood began to flow.
Especially since Saul had no intention of fighting back and instead turned and sprinted away with all his strength.
From a distance, in just a moment, he looked like a man covered in blood.
But Yahn knew full well: for someone with Saul's monstrous strength, the shallow cuts from the Senbonzakura's Shikai form were little more than scratches. They looked worse than they were—Saul didn't even need to treat them.
At that moment, Saul seemed to realize something about these ethereal, floating cherry blossoms. He murmured in surprise:
"These... are blades?"
Though small and delicate like flowers, they were still deadly weapons. To an eight-year-old girl being carried in Saul's palm, even a single stray petal could be lethal.
But as Saul looked down at little Robin, worried for her safety—he saw the blossoms gracefully part around her, not a single one coming close.
"Robin, are you okay?" Saul asked as he ran, voice low and gentle.
Robin's eyes were still wet with tears. Fragile, frightened, and helpless. But then she looked up, mesmerized by the swirling petals all around them.
"I... I'm okay, Saul. These flowers are... beautiful."
"Yeah."
Saul nodded, understanding instantly.
This wasn't an attack.
It was a farewell.
"He's a good man." Saul said quietly, almost to himself.
Robin remembered the moment Yahn stopped the cannon fire and saved the evacuation ship. She nodded, softly but firmly.
"Mm. He's a good man."
---
Currently at chapter 135 for advance chapters
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