Chapter 305: Death, Pain, Awakening, Redemption
Monet was speechless. The tragic night in Dressrosa, orchestrated by Doflamingo, where King Riku was framed and manipulated by Doflamingo and his soldiers to slaughter the defenseless citizens, had bathed the island in a sea of red. The cries of babies could not stop the violence from continuing.
"Do you agree? Senior, do you allow yourselves to be saved? Should I listen to your requests?"
"..." Senior opened his eyes. "Since we lost, we have to admit defeat. You can kill or torture us, do as you wish."
Eric clapped his hands and laughed, "Well said, Senior. You are indeed a man with responsibility."
Mont Blanc Cricket opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he closed it in vain.
Seeing Mont Blanc Cricket's hesitation, Eric asked, "Mont Blanc Cricket, if you have something to say, just say it."
"Captain, can we spare his life?" Mont Blanc Cricket's expression was conflicted. "I've fought him before, and I know his character. He just followed the wrong person..."
"Mont Blanc Cricket!" Senior interrupted Mont Blanc Cricket, "The young master has been so kind to us, and I've never felt like I followed the wrong captain! We are just a defeated pirate crew, there are countless people like us on the seas!"
"What about that woman 'Lucian'? She's dead, what will happen to her?!" Mont Blanc Cricket retorted, spitting saliva at Senior's face, mixing with the tears in Senior's eyes.
"..." Senior was left speechless. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. After a long pause, he finally muttered, "I'm sorry to her..."
"Shut up!" Mont Blanc Cricket swore. "During the battle, you were still thinking about her. Your young master may be dead, but she's still alive! Don't you care about her?!"
(Corazon died in the winter of the year 1509, and Lucian discovered that Senior was not a bank clerk when it was raining heavily, which should have occurred in the following year, 1510. When Senior looked at her, winter had turned to spring, and when she was wearing baby clothes, it was 1511. I will assume that she has not died yet and was taken to the Dressrosa hospital.)
Senior closed his eyes, hiding the tears in his eyes. "I leave Lucian to you, Mont Blanc Cricket. Please take care of her."
"You..."
"Enough!" Eric interrupted their argument and said to Mont Blanc Cricket, "Since Senior was defeated by you, I'll leave his disposal to you."
"Thank you, Captain." Mont Blanc Cricket lifted the bound Senior and took him to a corner where the others couldn't see.
"Whoosh—"
Eric splashed water on Sugar to wake her up and asked the two sisters, "Before you die, is there anything you want to say?"
"..." The two sisters' eyes were hollow, their tear-streaked faces gazing up at the sky.
"Is that so..." Eric raised his gunblade. "Then—farewell."
...
Eric looked at the two figures in the pit, silently.
They had fallen into eternal sleep, appearing like an ordinary pair of sisters. Monet, with a more adult figure, smiled as she cradled the young Sugar in her arms. She buried them both together, the final act Eric could do for them.
"Eric ." Akame walked over with concern and gently asked, "Are you regretting killing them?"
"..." After a long silence, Eric spoke slowly. "Even if I could do it again, I'd still do the same. They were loyal to Doflamingo, they were our enemies."
"Sugar's power was too dangerous. If she had found an opportunity, she could have wiped us out. Keeping her around was like a ticking time bomb. If I let them go, they would have surely come after us for revenge on Doflamingo's behalf. As the captain, I have to be responsible for your safety."
Even though Eric knew Sugar was the enemy, after killing her, there was an inescapable shadow in his heart. Killing an enemy who looked like a little girl made Eric feel a strange, indescribable sensation.
Kurome, sensing Eric 's sadness from his words, worriedly murmured, "Brother-in-law."
Akame reached out and pulled Eric 's head into her embrace, smiling softly and comforting him, "You're still you, Eric . You're still the kind-hearted fool, without change. I'm glad I left the dark empire and met you in the light. I'll stay with you, and walk this path together."
"As your power grows stronger, I fear that your power will erode your heart, and the desire for power will consume your kindness. I'm so glad you haven't changed..."
Eric responded emotionally, "Akame ..."
Kurome squinted and bent down, facing Eric , who was leaning in Akame ' embrace. "I'll stay with you too, brother-in-law."
Eric couldn't tell what Akame was thinking, but the arms holding his head tightened suddenly.
It hurt a little...
◇
After taking care of the Don Quixote family problem, there were still many messes to clean up in Dressrosa.
For example, after the toys returned to their human form, some waves were stirred up. Some pirates who had turned into toys resumed their old ways, robbing and fighting with the kingdom's army, who had come to eradicate them.
However, once Kyros and the members of the Dawn Pirates joined the battle, these criminals were quickly suppressed, and the remaining members of the Don Quixote family were also taken care of.
Mont Blanc Cricket and Senior, after talking, made an agreement. In exchange for awakening Lucian, who had been in a vegetative state, Senior pledged to protect Dressrosa for the rest of his life as a form of atonement, and the two men made their agreement.
After feeding Lucian a magic bean, she slowly woke up from her dazed state. The first thing she saw was Senior, now dressed in baby clothes and with a slightly plumper figure, his face with small freckles, instantly covered with tears.
Even the big man, Senior, behind his sunglasses, shed two tears in an instant.
In her vegetative state, the things Senior had done for her played like a slideshow in her mind. She tightly hugged the man in front of her.
Senior choked up, saying, "I want to see your smile once more..."
Upon hearing this, the woman named Lucian slowly released her arms and moved away from Senior.
Her eyes shook desperately, and her lips twitched in an attempt to force Fujitora , but the tears in her eyes couldn't stop. In that ugly expression, which looked both like crying and smiling, Senior showed a heartfelt smile.
To Senior's eyes, Lucian's smile was the most beautiful smile.
(END CHAPTER)
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