When the wounded man was brought over, Karl nearly sucked in a sharp breath.
Good grief—over twenty bullet wounds.
If it weren't for Karl's Holy Light barely keeping him alive, this guy would've been dead long ago.
While channeling healing energy into him, Karl asked helplessly,
"What exactly happened here?"
"Uh… h-he thought that since he had your Holy Light on him, he could just charge in without fear, so…"
"…I see."
Karl stared at the reckless Marine in disbelief.
I gave you a support buff, not a Berserker mode!
Who told you to play the hero and tank bullets with your face?!
Twenty gunshots—he practically earned those himself.
Without Holy Light sustaining him, death would've been guaranteed.
Karl let out a long sigh, silently reminding himself:
He's a teammate. ×3
Two concentrated pulses of Holy Light later, the reckless Marine finally regained consciousness.
Seeing Karl, he immediately understood and grew emotional.
"Thank you, Karl! I—I was too impulsive. When I saw civilians being slaughtered by pirates, I just… I lost control."
"This isn't entirely your fault," Karl said calmly.
"But remember—only living Marines can carry out justice."
"…I understand."
Ten minutes later, the sound of gunfire in the town finally died down.
The Marines began cleaning up the aftermath.
"Karl! The Firelock Pirates totaled thirty-two people—twenty killed in action, twelve captured! No Marine casualties!"
"This is a complete victory!"
"It's all thanks to you! Without your ability, there's no way we'd have taken them down without losses!"
"Yeah!"
"Karl is amazing!"
"Karl, you're the best!"
The recruits were buzzing with excitement, showering him with praise.
Karl felt slightly embarrassed.
After all… he'd basically been slacking.
He cleared his throat and raised a hand.
"Everyone, calm down. While I did provide support, in the end, you are the ones who took down these pirates."
"This isn't my achievement, or anyone's alone."
"It belongs to all of us."
"Marine Victory! Justice Will Prevail!"
Karl delivered the motivational speech smoothly—old habits from the 108th Branch.
Judging by the fired-up expressions around him, it worked perfectly.
As expected… morale-boosting speeches really are humanity's greatest productivity tool, he thought.
Just then, a middle-aged man approached Karl, eyes filled with gratitude.
"Thank you! Thank you so much! If the Marines hadn't arrived in time, our town would've been doomed!"
"You're too kind," Karl replied.
"This is simply our duty."
"Binz—take a team and return all the stolen property to the townspeople."
"Yes!"
The man nearly burst into tears, bowing repeatedly in thanks.
The recruits stood taller, faces brimming with pride.
Ain walked over, glancing at the pirates bound tightly with rope.
"So… what should we do with these scum?"
"What else?" Karl replied lightly.
"Send them to Impel Down?"
Ain froze, then hesitated.
"You mean… kill them?"
She made a slicing gesture across her neck.
"They chose to become pirates," Karl said calmly.
"Then they should've been prepared for this."
Captain Derman shouted desperately,
"No! You can't kill me! I've surrendered! Marine regulations forbid executing prisoners!"
"That's right! We surrender! Send us to Impel Down—we'll repent!"
The pirates erupted in panic.
Die if we resist. Die if we surrender. Then what was the point of surrendering?!
They clearly knew Marine protocol.
But rules were dead things.
People weren't.
Karl, a ten-year veteran, smiled gently as he walked up to the loudest one—Derman.
He drew his blade.
Derman shut his eyes instinctively.
A warm liquid seeped down his leg, pooling on the ground.
Seconds passed.
No pain came.
Confused, Derman opened his eyes.
The ropes binding him had been cut.
His hands were free.
"Take it," Karl said, handing him a pistol.
"…What?"
Derman swallowed hard, trembling, unable to accept it.
The recruits watched in confusion, unsure what Karl was planning.
"I said—take it."
Karl raised his own gun, clearly threatening to shoot if Derman refused.
"I'll take it! I'll take it!!!"
Derman's back was soaked in cold sweat as his shaking hand reached out—
Bang!
A bullet pierced his forehead.
Derman collapsed, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Captain!"
"Boss!!!"
Karl turned calmly to the recruits.
"You all saw that, right? He tried to grab my gun and attack me. I shot him in self-defense."
"No tattling to Instructor Zeff later, got it?"
The recruits blinked—then instantly understood.
"Ah—yeah, exactly!"
"That's what happened!"
"We'll testify for you!"
The remaining pirates looked at Karl in terror.
This Marine is terrifying.
He could've killed the captain outright—but instead made it legally justified.
He's not cruel.
He's professional.
Karl turned to the middle-aged man.
"If I'm not mistaken… you're the town mayor, right?"
The man nodded.
"Yes. I'm Ragged, mayor of Spring Rain Town."
Clack.
Karl placed the pistol into the mayor's trembling hands.
He hadn't expected that reaction.
"Don't be nervous," Karl said softly, leaning closer.
"These pirates… I'll leave them to you."
"I think you understand what I mean."
The mayor steadied himself, eyes blazing as he looked at the bound pirates.
"Rest assured, Officer. I won't let these monsters go."
Karl patted his shoulder approvingly, then turned back to the recruits.
"Move out! The Hunter Blade Pirates are still waiting for us!"
"OOOHHHH!!!"
The Marines withdrew like a tide, leaving nothing behind.
After they departed, the townspeople slowly surrounded the remaining eleven pirates.
"You!" one woman screamed.
"You killed my husband and stole everything we had!"
A pirate shouted back in panic,
"What are you doing?! I didn't mean to! He resisted—what else was I supposed to do?!"
"I'll make you pay!"
The woman lunged forward, swinging a curved blade she'd picked up from the ground.
Blood sprayed across her face.
It didn't ease the pain in her heart.
On the way back to the internship ship, distant gunshots and screams echoed now and then.
Karl listened, smiling silently.
This, he thought,
is what pirates deserve.
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