"Seize her!"
Saint Xildes-sama burst into triumphant laughter as he gave the order to his two CP bodyguards.
"No... please don't…"
The little girl's eyes were swollen from crying. Watching the two suited men step toward her, she backed away in terror, struggling desperately.
The two CP agents approached without a word, their expressions blank. They roughly grabbed her by the arms and shoulders, ignoring her gasping sobs. Blood quickly welled up where their grip tore at her skin.
The civilians kneeling nearby could no longer bear the sight. One by one, they turned their heads away, unable to watch the cruelty unfolding.
Gion and the other Marines stood frozen, faces dark with fury. Their rage burned so intensely it felt like it might ignite them from the inside out, yet their limbs were like they'd been sunk in concrete—too heavy to move.
Daren took a deep breath.
"Saint Xildes-sama…"
"What is it, Captain Daren? Do you have a problem with my decision?" Saint Xildes-sama cut him off mockingly, staring at him with a smirk.
Daren's eyes narrowed slightly, but a bright, almost overly enthusiastic smile suddenly appeared on his face.
"Of course not. For Saint Xildes-sama to take an interest in her—it's her blessing, and an honor to the people of the North Blue."
"I'm just worried your subordinates might be a little too rough with your bride. Allow me to assist you."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Daren's figure vanished like a shadow.
A moment later, he reappeared in front of the girl.
Before anyone could see how he moved, the two CP members were pushed back by an unseen force.
With a casual flick of his hand, the long blade at one CP agent's waist was torn free. It spun through the air, twisting and melting into liquid metal. Most of it solidified into shackles, binding the girl's hands and feet.
The rest of the metal formed into a gag, sealing her mouth and cutting off her cries in an instant.
Only her wide, terrified eyes—brimming with tears—remained exposed.
Daren stepped closer, crouching slightly to meet the girl's hateful gaze. His face remained cold and expressionless.
"To serve the great Saint Xildes-sama is your privilege."
He took her by the hand and led the dazed, despairing child to Saint Xildes-sama.
"Saint Xildes-sama, this way, at least your journey will be a little more peaceful."
Saint Xildes-sama glanced at Daren, then suddenly burst out laughing again.
"Hahahaha! Amusing! Truly amusing! You Marines are full of surprises!"
His gaze toward Daren was filled with both approval and twisted amusement.
"You're not bad at all, Daren... I'll put in a good word for you with those old geezers in the government."
Under the countless hateful, grief-stricken stares of the civilians, Daren gave a slight bow and smiled.
"Thank you, my lord."
"Hahahaha..." Saint Xildes-sama laughed again. "Then let's head back."
As his voice faded, a CP agent approached swiftly and dropped to all fours like a trained, obedient hound.
Saint Xildes-sama climbed onto his back without hesitation, arrogantly heading for the port.
The other CP member followed behind, dragging the little girl—her face blank, as if fear had stripped her of all reason.
"No... don't…"
A hoarse voice suddenly broke the silence.
Everyone froze.
The little girl's father was trembling as he slowly pushed himself up from the blood-soaked ground. His expression was hollow as he reached out in the direction where the Celestial Dragons had disappeared.
As if trying to grab something.
But in the end... there was nothing to grasp.
Gion's face twisted with sorrow. She stepped forward, intending to help him up.
"I'm sorry…"
She spoke in a whisper, unable to meet the man's heartbroken gaze.
She watched as the Celestial Dragons' escort reached the lavish government ship, set sail, and vanished into the distance.
Then, on the man's blood-smeared face, a stiff smile slowly appeared.
A smile that held sorrow, despair, and absurdity—so unbearable it was hard to look at.
"Maybe... Lia will end up living a decent life…"
Gion murmured words of comfort even she couldn't believe.
"You should try to live on too—"
Suddenly, the man slammed his head into the wall of a nearby building.
Thud!
Blood splattered across Gion's face.
Her vision blurred, overtaken by a blinding red. Everything twisted before her eyes—upside down, like a scene from hell.
Through the haze, she saw his blood running down the freshly whitewashed wall of City Hall, painted pristine in honor of the Celestial Dragons' visit.
Blood red and snow white... bled together into a grotesque swirl of color.
That dull impact echoed in her mind, again and again... a deafening hum.
Panicked screams erupted—calls for a doctor, shouts of anger, frantic footsteps—shattering the deathly stillness of the street.
"Help him, quick!"
"He's still alive!"
"He can still be saved!"
...
Gion sat motionless, kneeling where she was, her body drained of strength.
In her hand, she clutched a fully bloomed rose.
The thorns pierced deep into her palm, drawing blood.
But she didn't feel a thing.
Live on...
She suddenly realized how meaningless those words had been.
The little girl's mother had already passed away. The man's only light in life had been his daughter.
And now, she had been ripped away—taken by the Celestial Dragons.
This man, whose hands were calloused with soil and hardship, was now completely alone.
What reason—what strength—could he possibly have left to keep living?
In a daze, her thoughts drifted back to what she had once said to that little girl.
"Don't worry. I'm a Marine. I'll protect you…"
"Of course. That's what Marines are for."
Gion suddenly began to tremble.
She looked up, her eyes dazed and empty, staring at the sky.
It was dark. Overcast. As if something had smothered the light.
Boom—!!
A sudden crack of thunder tore through the sky.
Snowflakes began to fall—soft and slow, like drifting feathers.
"It's snowing... but it's still midsummer..."
She muttered blankly.
In the year 1492 of the Sea Circle Calendar, Batia Island—tropical heart of the North Blue—saw its first snowfall in decades.
The snow, though not cold, settled quietly on Gion's shoulders.
She turned her head, stunned, gazing at the silent figure of the North Blue Admiral standing nearby. Her thoughts felt frozen—numbed and hollow.
And in that moment of stillness...
She finally understood.
She understood the words Admiral Sengoku had once said:
"This sea... is far too vast. The light of the Just Seagull flag can never reach every dark, filthy, and forsaken corner."
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake