"Hurry, hurry up, everyone move! Vice Admiral Atlas has given the command. This time, we're going to impart a stern lesson to those fellows. We mustn't lose face for him."
Atlas observed Majors, who was efficiently directing a group of Marine soldiers nearby, and nodded with a sense of satisfaction.
In his opinion, Majors' leadership skills were still commendable.
However, Atlas still intended to find a female Marine as his adjutant; after all, it adds a pleasant touch to the overall appearance. (T/N: SIMP)
As the saying goes, if the secretary has nothing to do, something will happen... (T/N: Nope he is a man of culture)
It seems we have to discuss it with Vice Admiral Tsuru. There's no other way. The majority of female Marines in Naval Headquarters are stationed on Vice Admiral Tsuru's ship, but Atlas considers it more casually. He doesn't necessarily require a female adjutant. As long as the person is strong enough and capable of handling affairs, he prefers not to be entangled in the heavy, mundane matters like Sengoku.
Soon, in Atlas's contemplation, Majors guided a contingent of Marines towards Lauren Frost's location, following the earlier gathered intelligence.
...
"Hey! Lauren Frost, what are you doing, you fool? Why did you choose this cursed place for the handover!"
The slave ship wasn't particularly large. A sturdy man stood at the bow, exuding an air of arrogance. When he spoke, he directly taunted Lauren Frost, the head of the auction house.
"Alex, show some respect to me, I'm your boss!"
Lauren Frost felt a bit dissatisfied upon hearing this, and yet...satisfied?
According to Lauren Frost, this was, in fact, Alex's envy toward him. Previously, the two had held the same status in the auction house. However, when the old guy above them unexpectedly passed away, and coincidentally, Alex happened to be away, Lauren Frost inexplicably emerged as the ultimate victor.
"What a lucky guy..."
Even though Alex harbored considerable dissatisfaction with Lauren Frost's stroke of good luck, he didn't engage in excessive retaliation. After all, everyone was out to make money, and who would want to create trouble over it.
"Hehe... let's get a move on. While you were away recently, a formidable Marine arrived at Sabaody."
"Marine?"
Alex wore a slightly disdainful expression, while Lauren Frost remained as cautious as ever. In Alex's view, with the Celestial Dragons backing them, how could mere lackeys of the World Government pose any real threat to them?
The longer he lives, the more he regresses... Lauren Frost.
Alex looked at Lauren Frost with even greater disdain.
"Hey! What kind of look is that of yours..."
"Slave ship? How audacious of you! How dare you carry out such a brazen act right under the watchful eyes of Vice Admiral Atlas!"
Before Lauren Frost could finish speaking, Majors' voice abruptly interjected into the conversation between the two.
"Marine? I'm not..."
Lauren Frost was a bit flustered by this sudden interruption, feeling somewhat at a loss.
Boom!
As if in response to Lauren Frost, three or five robust men in black suits descended from the air. Judging by their appearance, the likelihood of survival seemed less than 1 in 10.
"Eh!? Vice Admiral Atlas!!?"
Lauren Frost, who instinctively gazed up at the sky, was even more horrified. Unbelievably, the Marine admiral had appeared in person, causing his face to suddenly turn ashen.
He realized that his demise was inevitable today. He had witnessed the massacre firsthand that day, where almost the entire lawless zone was bathed in blood. This man had become synonymous with the devil on that fateful day.
Of course, Atlas isn't here just for Lauren Frost. He hasn't earned that level of attention yet. After all, this is just the beginning, and he'll be accountable for the actions to follow.
"Hmph~ Marine Vice Admiral, behind us are the Celestial Dragons, the world's nobles. Even a Marine Admiral must take orders from them!"
Alex showed no fear, gazing provocatively at Atlas in the sky, as if certain that the Marine Vice Admiral before him wouldn't dare to do anything.
What a fool...
Lauren Frost had never thought that his longtime colleague could be so mentally retarded.
Boom!
Atlas narrowed his eyes slightly, glancing at Alex who was provoking him below. Without any ado, a burst of flames instantly engulfed Alex, who had been arrogant just a moment ago.
Under the terrifying explosive force, Alex's body was effortlessly torn apart like cloth. The gushing blood and red and white matter were instantly evaporated by the intense flames mid-air, leaving only a subtle barbecue aroma in the air.
"Gulp~"
Lauren Frost forcibly swallowed a mouthful of saliva. The scent of burning filled the air, assaulting his nostrils intensely. Every hair on his body stood on end, resembling a frightened cat. He had never felt death so close to him before.
"Eliminate this guy and everyone with him. He's truly more worthless than a pirate."
Atlas glanced at the trembling Lauren Frost below with disdain, curled his lips, and said,
"Yes!"
After the order was issued, a group of Marines, akin to tigers and wolves, surged forward directly toward the accomplices and thugs on the slave-catching ship.
Atlas wasn't worried in the least. The Marines who followed him had undergone rigorous training and emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Their combat prowess was undoubtedly commendable.
Furthermore, the enemies were merely thugs trained by some auction houses. This was essentially an unequal battle.
The battle unfolded like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, concluding as abruptly as it began.
"I...are we saved?"
"It looks like... I heard the word 'Marine'."
"Don't be naive, Marines are in cahoots with those guys. How could they come to rescue us?"
The pseudo-slaves in the cabin were in disbelief. Their untamed desire for freedom burned intensely, strong enough to engulf anything in its path!
Soon, the 'pseudo-slaves' who had been chattering suddenly fell silent.
Because... a group of neatly lined-up Marines suddenly appeared in front of them!
Moreover, they raised their palms and rubbed their eyes, as if the scene before them gave them the illusion of dwelling in a dream world.
"Don't stand there gawking, come out quickly! We Marines need to register you."
The Marine leader noticed that no one was emerging from the opened cage, prompting him to remind them.
"Ah? Yes, yes!"
'Wow!'
As if awakening from a dream, everyone who had been standing there rushed forward, and the scene once again became noisy.
"Quiet! Come forward one by one, don't worry, we will send you home."
The Marine leader displayed no surprise and calmly directed everyone to exit the cage and leave the cabin in an orderly manner.
----------
Well, I have bad news for you guys, the update frequency will decrease from now as I have to study for my exams. It will again be normal from March.
Read 35 chapters in advance in Patr*on: patr*on.com/Cosmic_Kaminari