Tatsuki stepped into the hall, ignoring the dozens of flintlocks pointed at his head as if he were walking into his own backyard.
His gaze quickly swept across the room.
Over a hundred hostages were on the left. About twenty pirates were scattered around. The explosives were piled at the main entrance.
'Tsk, the hostages and pirates are mixed together. This is going to be tricky.'
He calculated in his mind, 'I need to find a way to separate them.'
He walked to the center of the hall, looking at the eyes of the hostages, which were filled with hope as they watched him.
Then, he pulled out a megaphone, took a deep breath, and shouted to all the hostages, "Listen up, everyone! I am Tatsuki of Marineford!"
A glimmer of hope ignited in the eyes of the hostages.
"Because the amount requested by the kidnappers is too large, after a long one-minute friendly negotiation with them, Marineford has decided—"
He paused, a look of regret appearing on his face.
"We've decided not to pay! Furthermore, in order not to encourage the pirates' arrogance, Marineford will conduct an indiscriminate artillery bombardment of this location in thirty seconds!"
"Hostages, please rest assured! If you are unfortunately killed, I will personally apply for the highest-standard wreaths for you! I will even have your names engraved on the back of the Cenotaph!"
"Now, the final thirty-second countdown begins! 30, 29..."
The next second.
"Aaaaaah!!!"
The hostage area erupted in screams ten times more desperate than when they were first captured.
"No!"
"Are the Marines crazy?! Indiscriminate bombardment?!"
"Help! I don't want to die! I have money, I'll pay, okay?! Just don't fire the cannons!"
The noblewomen fainted outright. The men were so terrified they collapsed on the floor, the smell of incontinence spreading through the hall.
A few hostages who had originally thought about escaping in the chaos were now so weak in the knees they couldn't even stand, only able to huddle in the corner while clutching their heads.
[Ding! Intimidating civilians, causing mass extreme panic!]
[This behavior seriously violates Marine regulations!]
[Violation Points +100! +100! +100...]
Even the pirates were stunned.
The cigar in Galdo's mouth fell to the floor, and he even forgot to bounce on his spring legs. "Hey... this isn't right. Aren't you Marines supposed to stand for justice? You'd even blow up the hostages?"
"Justice?"
Tatsuki tilted his head and looked at Galdo on the ceiling. "Eliminating pirates is the greatest justice. As for sacrifice... it's a necessary paving stone on the road to justice."
"You... you lunatic! You're more like a pirate than I am!"
Galdo was infuriated, a sense of humiliation and fear making him tremble all over.
"Boys! Do it! Kill this crazy Marine! We're breaking out!"
Galdo compressed his legs, gathering power.
"Yes, sir!"
The pirates had also lost their minds from Tatsuki's words. If they didn't fight for their lives, they would be executed by cannon fire.
They pulled their triggers with grim expressions or raised their blades and charged at Tatsuki in the center of the hall.
On the ship, the Major observing with binoculars screamed in horror. "Oh no! Tatsuki has provoked the criminals! Attack now! It's over, it's all over!"
A flash of fury crossed Sakazuki's eyes. Magma erupted from his body as he prepared to rush out and beat up Tatsuki along with the rest.
However, faster than him was a flash of golden light.
Inside the auction house.
The moment the pirates made their move, the smile on Tatsuki's face vanished. In its place was a bone-chilling indifference.
"Since I don't have to worry about the hostages, clearing the room becomes much easier."
Soru: Instant Hell Murder!
Death arrived before the roar of a sonic boom could even echo through the air.
Bang!
The pirate closest to Tatsuki didn't even have time to scream before his head exploded like a crushed watermelon.
Scalding red and white matter sprayed in a fan shape across the face and pearl necklace of the noblewoman behind him.
The noblewoman froze for a second. Then, an ear-piercing scream echoed throughout the hall.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
But this scream was as insignificant as a mosquito's buzz compared to the bloodbath that followed.
"What?!"
Hanging from the ceiling chandelier, Galdo's pupils shrank violently.
Disappeared?
That Marine disappeared?!
"Too slow."
A gentle voice appeared beside the pile of explosives.
The pirate lackey responsible for the detonation felt a cold sensation on his wrist.
He looked down, horrified to find that his right hand, which had been holding the detonator, had left his wrist at some point and fallen flat on the floor. The cut was so clean that blood hadn't even started to spray yet.
"This... this is..."
Pfft!
Tatsuki's finger pierced through his chest without resistance, crushing his still-beating heart.
Immediately after, a bloody wind swept through the hall.
Shigan: Chaos!
Tatsuki moved through the crowd. Every time he paused, a life was taken.
Moreover, the deaths were gruesome.
Some pirates had their spines kicked apart, their bodies folded like a quilt.
Others had their throats crushed and collapsed limply.
Some were even torn in half by the powerful wind pressure, their internal organs spilling all over the floor.
In just three seconds, blood stained the expensive marble floor of the Auction House.
The hostages were scared witless, forgetting even to cry out. They could only stare wide-eyed as this "Grim Reaper" in a white Marine uniform harvested lives.
Every drop of blood that splattered onto his face made his originally sunny smile appear increasingly bewitching and terrifying.
This is a Marine?
This is ten thousand times more brutal than a pirate!
[Ding! Displaying extreme blood and violence in front of civilians!]
[Ding! Caused 128 hostages to suffer severe psychological trauma!]
[Violation Points: +50, +50, +50...]
Hearing the system's wonderful prompts, the curve of Tatsuki's lips grew wider.
Five seconds.
Only five seconds.
Except for Galdo, who was still on the ceiling, the twenty-odd pirates on the ground had all become mutilated corpses.
Tatsuki stood in the center of the pool of blood, elegantly pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiping the blood from his fingers.
He looked up at Galdo on the chandelier.
"Gulp."
Hanging from the chandelier, Galdo was drenched in cold sweat.
Madman... this Marine is definitely a madman.
"You... don't come any closer!"
Galdo's voice trembled, the springs in his legs compressed to the limit. "If you dare move, I'll smash the main support pillar of this building! Everyone will die!"
"Oh?"
Tatsuki tossed the handkerchief aside and tilted his head. "Then go ahead and smash it. I can escape even if the building collapses. As for these hostages..."
He glanced at the nobles and civilians in the corner who had already wet themselves in fear and sneered, "It is their honor to sacrifice themselves for justice."
"Waaaaah..."
The hostages broke down in tears again, and some even fainted from fright.
[Ding! Expressing extreme remarks that disregard life! Violation Points +1000!]
"You..." Galdo completely broke down.
Just then—
Swish!
(End of Chapter)
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