"Damn brats!" Baz roared, trying to struggle, only to realize that his shadow was no longer complete.
Ann's heavy sword was now positioned between his legs. One more inch forward, and he would lose his manhood forever.
Rhett: Why is everyone looking at me? Did I teach them that? I really don't know!! Well, I'll just beat up Ace and Sabo later and ask them what's going on.
"I suggest you stay still," Ann said expressionlessly, her heavy sword not moving an inch.
Baz's men finally snapped out of it. They raised their weapons and charged.
"Boss!"
Rhett: Hey, your boss is still being held at sword point by two kids. What are you doing? Trying to get him killed?
Ace grinned. His longsword held Baz's neck on one side, and his flintlock pistol aimed at the pirate charging in front. "One more step, and your boss's head is going to be in a different place."
Make that three swords now.
Sabo moved quickly. His silver-white longsword traced elegant arcs through the sunlight.
His swordsmanship wasn't as powerful as Ann's or as sweeping as Ace's. Instead, it carried the characteristic elegance and precision of noble swordsmanship. Each strike neatly knocked the weapons out of his enemies' hands.
His blade left small cuts on wrists and ankles — enough to immobilize them but not fatal. Well, of course they couldn't move. Their tendons were cut.
"BAM!"
Another pirate was sent flying by Ann's heavy sword, embedded directly into the wooden wall of the tavern. Pirate-san became pirate paste.
The reason the three little ones fought so brutally was intentional on Rhett's part. He had first taken them to see the fishing village that had been destroyed. The burnt village, bodies charred beyond recognition — scene after scene left a deep impression on the three little ones.
The three of them had lived either in Windmill Village or in a noble's home. They had never seen the cruelty of the open sea.
On the sea, what Rhett wanted to do was give them a somewhat proper sense of right and wrong. Basic moral judgment. In the original story, Dadan and her mountain bandits played a huge role in keeping the three from growing up twisted.
As for why Ace always thought of himself as a cursed bloodline — that wasn't Dadan's fault. She was just a small-time mountain bandit. She didn't have the knowledge or perspective to explain why everyone hated Roger so much.
She was just an ordinary bandit who could pin down a Navy vice admiral, beat him senseless, and make him afraid to fight back.
By the time Rhett strolled over, the battle was already over. Baz was tied up with his own belt. His men were stacked on top of each other like a pile of firewood. The one on top was whimpering, "Mom, I want to go home..."
Rhett crouched down to survey the results. "Ace, good shooting. But —" He pointed at Ace's longsword. "Was your blade turned the wrong way when you were switching weapons? Were you trying to cut your own arm? I only saw it for a second, but I saw it."
Ace's face turned bright red when he realized Rhett had noticed. "I-It was a tactical move! I was trying to scare him!"
"What kind of tactic? It's just that you're not skilled enough at switching between the two weapons yet, Ace~~~"
Sabo couldn't help but laugh out loud. Ace immediately lunged at him and put him in a headlock. "Don't laugh! You almost got hit by a bottle earlier!"
Ann silently put away her heavy sword, pulled a bag of berries from Baz's pocket, and handed it to Rhett, her eyes sparkling.
"Well done." Rhett ruffled her golden hair and tossed the bag of berries to the three of them. "This is your prize."
In the distance, the townspeople who had rushed over after hearing the commotion watched the scene in stunned silence. Someone whispered, "Those three kids... they actually beat Baz?"
Under the setting sun, Rhett (wearing his mask) led the three triumphant little ones toward the Marine branch. Ace gesturing and reenacting his moves as they walked. Sabo earnestly correcting his sword grip. Ann counting the berries in the money bag, a tiny smile on her lips.
"Uncle Rhett, where are we going next?"
"I'll show you the dark side of the Navy. Then we'll head home. Can't let your mother worry too much." Rhett waved his hand casually.
---
The setting sun painted an unnamed town in the East Blue the color of blood. In the village below, civilians had been slaughtered. Rhett and the three little ones had arrived too late. Most of the killing was already done. They stood quietly atop the bell tower.
The three little ones wanted to go down and help, but Rhett stopped them.
First, most of the villagers were already dead. Second, the pirates below were far too strong for three children who had only trained for three or four months.
Rhett said to the three little ones, his tone light, "This moment is important. Before you go trying to bring justice, think about whether you'll make it out alive. In this world, staying alive comes first. Only help others if you have the strength. Don't cause trouble if you don't."
An invisible mist spread through the town, keeping the dying villagers barely alive. If they received proper medical treatment, most of them would probably survive.
Seeing that their uncle was now involved, the three little ones stopped asking to go down and instead thought about what he had said.
The evening wind carried the smell of smoke, brushing against their clothes. Down below, the pirates were laughing as they threw the last bags of stolen grain onto their wagon.
"Move faster!" The scar-faced pirate captain kicked open the door of a general store. "Take everything valuable!"
Just as the villagers' cries filled the air, the sound of organized footsteps came from the distance. A squad of Navy soldiers marched in formation. The major leading them wore a military sword at his waist, his cape billowing.
"It's the Marines!" An old man with a deeply lined face staggered out of the crowd. "Officers, please save us!"
The major raised his hand, signaling his soldiers to form a line. His cape of justice stood out vividly in the sunset. "Everyone, attention! Protect the civilians!"
Gunfire erupted. The pirates "panicked" and retreated, abandoning some of their stolen goods.
The major stepped on one of the pirates' fallen flags and announced with righteous authority, "We are East Blue Branch 29. The pirates have been driven out by the forces of justice! You are safe now!"
The white-haired village chief approached on trembling legs, tears in his cloudy eyes. "Th-Thank you so much, sir..."
"It's our duty." The major helped the chief to his feet before he could kneel. He turned and ordered his soldiers, "Help the villagers clean up this mess!"
The soldiers immediately spread out. Some helped the injured. Others reorganised the scattered goods.
Sabo leaned on the bell tower railing, his eyes shining slightly. "Uncle Rhett... these Marines seem... kind of decent?"
Rhett's lips curled into a knowing smile. He simply raised a finger to his lips.
"Shh. Wait and see. There might be another surprise."
Rhett had chosen this place for a reason. He had looked into this major. He was just like that other rat — Major Nezumi.