The Marine Officer's gaze fell on the shackles around Ash's wrists.
He frowned slightly and turned to the two Marines guarding him, confusion clear in his eyes.
The Petty Officer stepped forward, personally unlocking the restraints on Ash. After freeing him, he leaned toward the two Marines and whispered a few words before returning to the Officer's side.
"They were worried a conflict might break out with the villagers," the Petty Officer explained quietly. "They didn't want to be distracted guarding a suspect, so they shackled him directly."
The Officer let out a slow sigh and muttered, "How… efficient."
The Petty Officer forced a stiff smile.
With Ash's interruption earlier, the tense standoff between the Marines and villagers had already been defused. There was no longer any reason for both sides to remain openly hostile.
The Marine Officer turned his attention back to Sali, his meaning obvious from his expression alone.
Why are you still blocking the entrance?
Sali understood immediately. He pursed his lips before replying, "Did you bring wanted posters? These pirates were captured by us. The bounties should be paid. Our village suffered heavy losses."
The Marine Officer rolled his eyes.
Before he could respond, the Petty Officer stepped in smoothly. "We were hunting pirates at sea. We didn't bring wanted posters with us. That said, anyone capable of controlling a pirate ship is likely a cadre. Their bounties shouldn't be low, even if we don't know the exact amounts yet."
Sali frowned but said nothing further, holding Pini back before he could start running his mouth, and stopping Youki before he could add fuel to the fire.
Seeing their restraint, the Marine Officer spoke indifferently, "If you don't feel comfortable handing them over directly, then bring the pirates, and all of their heads, back to the base with us. We'll verify them against the wanted posters there and pay out the bounties."
Sali nodded without hesitation.
He immediately turned and instructed several strong villagers to assist the one-eyed man, speeding up the beheading process.
Left unattended for a moment, Pini, still sitting atop the eaves, opened his mouth again.
"Heh, for someone who hasn't eaten much salt, you're not too bad."
The Marine Officer looked up at him, clearly confused.
The Petty Officer, who seemed familiar with many villagers, asked directly, "What does 'eating less salt' mean?"
Pini deliberately copied the Officer's earlier indifferent tone. "Ah, it just means talking like that. Cold and detached."
The Marine Officer's face darkened.
He flung his greatcoat back, turned around sharply, and walked away without another word.
Every Marine present looked equally speechless.
What kind of humor was that supposed to be?
From a distance, the Officer's irritated voice drifted back. "My taste isn't heavy. I just have a toothache and don't feel like talking."
The Marines struggled to hold in their laughter.
For once, several of the young villagers cracked smiles. Pini and Youki burst into loud, unrestrained laughter.
Unfortunately, this rare lighthearted moment had nothing to do with Ash.
He missed the joke entirely.
Right now, he only wanted one thing, to completely clear himself of the pirate suspect label.
As the seemingly unapproachable Marine Officer walked past him, Ash swallowed his questions and held his tongue. Instead, he turned toward the far more approachable Petty Officer, hoping to settle things cleanly with Sali present.
But the Petty Officer was already busy.
"Relax," he said briefly. "From your appearance alone, it's obvious you're not a pirate. Still, when you're officially cleared depends on Lieutenant Commander Nanger's decision. For now, stay put and don't cause trouble."
With that, he directed the Marines to assist the villagers in cleaning up and burning the beheaded pirate corpses.
Ash watched as Marines and villagers moved busily around him.
None of it involved him.
Feeling abandoned, Ash found a relatively clean corner and sat down, hugging his knees as he sorted through his thoughts.
The two Marines who had shackled him earlier stood nearby, still dutifully guarding him as a suspect.
"So this wasn't a joke," Ash thought bitterly. "I really transmigrated. And of all places, it had to be this inhumane pirate world."
He exhaled slowly.
"And where's my cheat? Don't transmigration stories usually come with some kind of golden finger?"
After silently mocking himself twice, Ash forced his mind onto more serious matters.
"First of all, this world is insanely dangerous. Pirates roam freely, burning, killing, and plundering. Crews like Straw Hat's, who act more like adventurers, are rare exceptions."
"Living as an ordinary civilian is impossible."
"Then there's the Heavenly Tribute to the Celestial Dragons. Where would a penniless nobody like me get that kind of money?"
"Joining the Marines isn't exactly safe either. Monsters like Akainu and Onigumo don't hesitate to sacrifice their own men, and they kill civilians without blinking. Those bastards are barely human."
"But becoming a pirate?" Ash scoffed inwardly. "I might be ruthless when necessary, but I'm not an animal."
"My values aren't that twisted. I genuinely don't understand what those so-called 'Free Pirates of the Sea' find enjoyable about murdering innocents."
"The Revolutionary Army?" He shook his head mentally. "Dragon's group stirs rebellion, then disappears once the fighting starts. They overthrow rulers, but don't fix the system. A new king still demands Heavenly Tribute. Without Marine protection, it's still pirate territory."
"What's the point of changing names if the suffering stays the same?"
"This world respects strength above all else."
"Instead of wreaking havoc on civilians, why not go straight for the World Government? If you're already branded the world's worst criminals, then fight the source. Anything else is just trash."
A clearer option began to surface.
"Pirate Hunter."
"You don't have to rob civilians like pirates, and you don't have to kneel to Celestial Dragons like Marines. Pirate scum are everywhere, and every one of them is worth Berries."
"But that path demands strength."
"In the end… the Marines might still be the best starting point. They have structured training, access to combat techniques, and among the elites, even Six Powers and Haki."
"In this world, without power, you don't even have the right to survive."
Ash clenched his fists.
"I'm weak right now. Overthinking won't change that. I need a foothold first."
A dry laugh escaped him.
"If only I had a Devil Fruit. People say even dogs won't eat them, but if a Mera Mera no Mi dropped in front of me right now, I'd swallow it without hesitation."
"Damn it. No golden finger."
Suddenly, another thought struck him.
"Wait."
"What year is it in the Sea Calendar?"
Cold sweat crept down his back.
"If I landed in some random era, then my only advantage, my knowledge of future events, is worthless."
While Ash wrestled with that realization, time passed quietly.
The village cleanup was finally completed.
Due to the sheer number of pirate heads, the village sent seven people, including Sali, Pini, Youki, and the one-eyed strong man, just to carry them all.
As for asking the Marines for help?
Out of the question.
After all, every one of those heads was worth Berries.