Hina stepped forward and took Smoker's hand.

  "Smoker..."

  Smoker’s bloodshot eyes fixed on Ol, his forehead vein bulging, and his fists ched tightly, making crag sounds.

  Though he wao tear the pirates apart, seeing the devastation iown made him grit his teeth and give orders.

  “Everyone off the ship, rescue the townspeople!”

  “Team 1, create a safe zone!”

  “Team 2, search for survivors!”

  “Team 3, search the area, see if there are any pirates hiding. Stay alert!”

  “Hina, e with me to put out the fire!”

  "Yes!" The moment everyone received their orders, they moved into a.

  Smoker and Hina headed toward the area where the fire was the worst.

  “Dark Hole!”

  Smoker unleashed his darkness, swallowing debris and helping those trapped escape.

  Hina released thick white smoke, using it to smother the fmes.

  Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.

  The isnd was almost under trol when the Celestial Dragons finally arrived.

  Bancroft, riding a new sve, led a procession of guards and attendants as they disembarked.

  As soon as they set foot on nd, he covered his nose in disgust.

  Though the fires had beeinguished, the smell of charred remains and rotting bodies still lingered heavily.

  “This is such a filthy, chaotid… Lead the way!”

  Just as he finished speaking, a CP agent appeared.

  “Bancroft-sama, please follow me!”

  The agehe way toward the gathering of survivors.

  The CP agents certainly had their skills.

  Though they hadn’t eve foot on the isnd, they seemed to kly where everyone was.

  After winding through several streets, they arrived at the safe zone.

  It seemed the Fang Pirates had made this area their base when they nded, as it was the only intact part of the town. Now, the injured were being treated here.

  Smoker was already waiting at the front.

  He knew how the Celestial Dragons were—he had made sure to hide the women and children early on.

  The remaining people who could still move were lined up, kneeling to greet them, while the severely injured were hidden at the back.

  Bancroft sed the area and then muttered to himself.

  “Why...”

  “Why...”

  Smoker thought he was referring to the town’s destru and quickly stepped forward to expin.

  “Sorry, esteemed Bancroft-sama.”

  “When we arrived, the pirates had already burhe town. The casualties among the civilians are devastating!”

  “Hmph, who cares about that!”

  “Ah?!”

  Smoker was stunned, not knowing how to respond.

  “What I’m talking about is why those filthy peasants aren’t kneeling?!!”

  “...”

  Looking in the dire Bancroft pointed, Smoker's eye twitched slightly.

  Of course, he had to pick the worst pce.

  Those people were the most seriously injured, in danger of dying just from moving.

  They were left there because they couldn’t be moved.

  So far away, ahe Celestial Dragon had spotted them?!

  Now he wahem to kneel?!

  Why not just let them die?!

  Bancroft coldly said, “Bring them here, execute these disrespectful scum!”

  Zephyr rushed forward, “Bancroft-sama, they are just the injured!!”

  “Hm?!” Bancroft gred at him, then turo the CP agent beside him, “Tell me, which is more important—the life of these peasants or the dignity of the Celestial Dragons?!”

  “Of course, the dignity of the Celestial Dragons is more important!” the CP agent responded sharply and without hesitation.

  “Did you hear that, Zephyr?”

  “Mm... I suddenly have a great idea. You’ll carry out the execution. It’ll be very iing!!”

  “What?!” Zephyr's face ged dramatically.

  “Exactly, exactly! That’s the kind of expression I was hoping for!!”

  Bancroft wore a sickly smile on his face.

  “I prefer the expression you have now, rather than the fear the peasants show when fag death!”

  “Of course, you refuse, but... they still have to die. And your words represent the Navy's stance!”

  “You...!”

  Zephyr gritted his teeth, trying hard to hold back his anger.

  The Navy now had three Admirals and others of equal strength. Sengoku was wise and smooth, Garp was reckless and straightforward, while Zephyr was determined and ho.

  The three had different personalities, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

  But when it came to the Wover, Zephyr’s personality was always the o a disadvantage...

  Just as things were at a standstill, a voice suddenly rang out.

  “Bancroft-sama is right!”

  Both Zephyr and Bancroft turo see Smoker.

  Zephyr’s face darkened. “Smoker, do you know what you're saying?!”

  Bancroft, oher hand, ughed loudly.

  “Well said, Smoker! I’m starting to like you more and more!”

  Smoker smiled. “This is my first time meeting a Celestial Dragon. How about I take this honor upon myself?”

  “Oh?!” Bancroft nodded in satisfa. “Sihat’s the case, you carry out the execution yourself!!”

  “Gdly…”

  The versation wasn’t quiet, and the civilians kneeling nearby heard it, causing them to feel cold all over.

  When the Fang Pirates attacked, the young and strong were either dead or severely injured.

  The remaining people were either elderly, weak, women, or children.

  Though they were filled with grief and ahe fear of the Celestial Dragons' turies of power made them too scared to speak.

  As for the injured in the back...

  They were too far to hear or know that they had beeeo death.

  Taylor y at the back, struggling to lift his head and look at the others.

  He was an ordinary mert from Pumiso Isnd.

  He had been busy selling goods, making money, and supp his family, living a peaceful life.

  But the arrival of the pirates shattered that peace.

  He had hidden his wife and daughter in a cupboard, but he hadn’t been able to escape in time and was captured by the pirates.

  Not only did the pirates loot his savings, but they also beat him severely.

  What made him even more desperate was that the pirates eventually found his wife and daughter.

  For their amusement, the pirates locked them in the cupboard, knowing the fire would soon e everything.

  As for Taylor, the pirates broke his arms and legs and threw him onto the street, f him to watch as his wife and daughter were burned alive.

  As the fire spread toward him, Taylor couldn’t move, only able to hear his family’s cries as he let out helpless screams.

  Just when he was at his lowest, two young Navy soldiers arrived.

  With seemingly magical abilities, they put out the fmes and saved his family.

  Afterward, they took Taylor for medical treatment.

  While being treated, he heard that the Celestial Dragons were ing, and fear filled him instead of gratitude.

  To most people, the Celestial Dragons were gods—untouchable and wielding absolute power.

  Though they knew of the Celestial Dragons' behavior, it wasn’t something spoken about often.

  But Taylor, who had traveled far and wide, knew better. He was well aware of the Celestial Dragons' true nature.

  He looked at his beautiful wife and daughter, filled with worry.

  At that moment, Smoker ordered all the young women to hide in the forest at the back of the mountain.

  “No one is to e out unless ordered!”

  Taylor was deeply grateful to Smoker. If there were such a thing as a god, this was what one would look like...

  This was Taylor’s most sihought.

  Suddenly, he saw the Celestial Dragons arguing. Smoker stepped in, said a few words, and then came toward Taylor.

  As Smoker stopped by him, Taylor struggled to lift his head.

  “Smoker-san…”

  Smoker him, theed the others. “Taylor, everyone…”

  “Now, in the name of the World Nobles, I sentence you all freat disrespect! The execution will be carried out immediately!!”

  Everyone was in an uproar. “What?!”

  Taylor’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Smoker.

  The moment, a wave of bck darkness engulfed him...

  Void996