Although, with Yemu's strength, wiping out all of those CP agents would not have been difficult, he truly was not someone who slaughtered for the sake of it.
Sometimes killing really was the best way to solve a problem, but this was not one of those times.
As the surviving CP soldiers scrambled aboard a warship and fled in panic, all of Baterilla Island fell completely silent.
Only the nauseating stench of burnt flesh hanging in the air, along with the charred corpses scattered across the ground, testified to what had just happened.
Even after such a horrific scene, with the screams of those CP soldiers still seeming to echo in their ears, the people who had lost their loved ones still looked unwilling to let it end there.
That was also why Yemu had not continued the killing.
There was no limit to human hatred, especially when it had reached its absolute peak.
But now, it was time to draw a line under all of this.
He tossed Laskey's blood-soaked body in front of the crowd whose hearts were overflowing with revenge.
"I'll leave him to you."
The people around instantly understood. With bloodshot eyes, they threw themselves at Laskey like demons.
Laskey tried to resist, but Yemu had already shattered every bone in his body. Even his Adam's apple had been crushed, leaving him unable to make a sound.
A bloody scene unfolded before everyone's eyes.
The phrase eat his flesh and drink his blood could not have described that moment more perfectly.
It was so brutal that even Fes and Aming frowned as they watched.
Laskey was indeed despicable to the extreme, but was this really the right thing to do?
Just as the two of them were beginning to waver, the red-haired boy descended from the sky and landed beside them.
Noticing the expressions on their faces, as well as the fear on the faces of the others nearby, he spoke.
"You think this is cruel."
"..."
Neither of them said a word, but their expressions said everything.
"You only think it is cruel because you are just bystanders. If it had been your own wife and child who died, could you really stay this calm?"
"..."
For a moment, no one had anything to say.
Then Yemu checked the time and said,
"I'll take these people with me. They won't bring trouble to Baterilla Island. If the Marines or the World Government come later, you can push all the blame onto me."
Only then did the expressions of the surrounding onlookers ease a little.
Yemu turned back to Fes and Aming.
"I'll need your help in a bit. I seized two warships at the northern port. Go find some people to help bring them to the ships. I'll wait for you there."
"May I ask where you plan to take them?"
Fes looked at the men and women, now like wild beasts with blood smeared around their mouths, his face full of concern.
"Of course. I have a country in the New World. To be exact, a country still under construction. No one there will know them, and no one will know their past. They can forget what happened here and live out the rest of their lives there."
That answer stunned both Fes and Aming.
"Is that so? That does sound like a good option."
As if thinking of something, Fes glanced at the girl beside him.
Aming noticed his look and seemed a little confused.
Then Fes turned to Yemu and, with a very serious expression, said pleadingly,
"I have a presumptuous request. Would it be possible for Aming and me to go with them and live in your country too, Captain Yemu?"
Aming froze on the spot, then heard Fes explain,
"We have no way back now."
Aming understood.
As a girl who still held justice in her heart, becoming a pirate had never been the path she imagined for herself.
But at this moment, she truly had no other choice.
Naturally, Yemu had no reason to refuse.
"Of course. You are both more than welcome. Right now, what I lack most is talented people like you."
"That is wonderful, Captain Yemu. Whatever you need, just say the word. Aming and I will do everything we can."
Fes pulled Aming along and the two of them bowed to Yemu together.
Yemu naturally did not stand on ceremony.
"We do not have much time. The warships patrolling nearby must already have noticed something was wrong here. Before sunrise, everyone has to be aboard and out of here. Tell them not to bring too much. Once we arrive, everything they need for food, clothing, shelter, and daily life will be arranged for them."
"Understood. Um..."
As if sensing something in Yemu's gaze, Fes asked softly,
"If there are others who want to follow you too, Captain Yemu, should we accept them?"
"No problem. But to avoid unnecessary trouble, you must make sure you understand exactly who those people are and where they come from. You understand what I mean, right..."
Fes immediately understood.
"Don't worry, Captain Yemu..."
...
With the island matters taken care of, the mission to Baterilla Island was now perfectly complete.
Over at the harbor, following Yemu's instructions, Erik had led the others in seizing the two warships docked there. The soldiers aboard had all been driven into the sea.
When they saw Yemu descend from the sky, they stepped forward and asked,
"Is everything over there settled?"
"Yeah. How are the supplies on these warships? How many days can they last?"
Flare was the one who answered.
"We got lucky. Maybe because they were preparing to withdraw today, both ships are fully stocked. As for how long they can last, that depends on how many people end up coming aboard."
"You do not need to worry about that. It will not be too many."
"Huh?"
Seeing their confusion, Yemu turned and looked back in the direction of Baterilla Island.
"Unless they are truly left with no choice, no one is willing to abandon their home and everything they have to leave with us."
"Yeah."
Erik nodded, understanding.
"So, Captain, what do we do next? We questioned them just now. These warships can cross the Calm Belt, but there is nothing they can do about the Red Line, and the Twin Goddesses cannot possibly drag two warships into the sky."
"I know. So our next destination is not the Red Line, but Impel Down. Once everyone is aboard, we leave immediately. The Marines move fast, so we cannot afford to waste time. By now, Anne and the others should already be waiting for us at the agreed meeting place..."