"Aileen... is dead!"
Federman's voice trembled, each word forced out as though a blade was lodged in his throat.
"Yes," the man confirmed coldly, his tone casual yet mocking. "She's dead."
"You killed her!" Federman roared, his bloodshot eyes filled with unrestrained rage.
"Me? Kill her?" the man replied, feigning innocence. "How could I? I loved her just as much as you did—perhaps even more."
"Shut up!" Federman spat, his voice hoarse and trembling. "You have no right to say her name! You betrayed her, you destroyed her, you... you ruined her!"
Though his hatred burned brightly, Federman's powerless state only deepened his anguish.
The man chuckled dismissively. "You're wrong, Federman. I cared for her far more than you ever could. But let's not dwell on the past. I didn't come here to argue. I came to fulfill her last wish."
The man's gaze shifted toward Feline, his intentions becoming alarmingly clear.
"What are you planning to do?" Federman demanded, his tone filled with dread.
"Aileen wanted one thing before she died," the man said smoothly. "She couldn't bear to leave without knowing her daughter would have a future. She entrusted me to take care of her."
Before anyone could react, the man struck Feline at the base of her neck. Her body went limp, slumping into his arms.
"Feline-chan! No! Let her go!" Federman screamed, thrashing against the ground, powerless to intervene.
The man glanced back briefly. "What kind of future can she have with a weak father like you? Don't worry—I'll make her great. I'll raise her to become the queen of this world."
With that, he turned and walked away, carrying Feline over his shoulder.
"Stop! Bring her back!" Federman howled, his voice breaking under the weight of his despair.
The man was nearly to the shore when he was intercepted by Bensam, who stepped into his path.
"Put her down now!" Bensam shouted, standing firmly in the man's way.
The man tilted his head slightly, his tone laced with impatience. "I suggest you step aside. You don't want to regret this."
"I don't take orders from kidnappers!" Bensam snapped. "Prepare to face the power of my Spiral Fist!"
With a sharp spin, Bensam launched a powerful kick toward the man's side.
The blow connected—but the man didn't budge.
"What kind of martial art is this? It's softer than an old sea king's belly," the man taunted.
Effortlessly, he grabbed Bensam's leg mid-spin and flung him aside like a ragdoll.
But Bensam wasn't finished. "I'm not done yet!" he yelled, rushing forward again. This time, he aimed a spinning kick directly at the man's head.
It landed—but the sensation was like kicking a solid wall of steel.
"Are you even human?" Bensam gasped, recoiling in shock. "You're as hard as iron!"
The man sighed, his patience wearing thin. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But I'm done wasting time on you."
In a flash, he caught Bensam by the head and slammed him into the ground with tremendous force. The earth cracked beneath the impact, leaving Bensam unconscious.
Without another word, the man resumed his journey to the coast, Feline still slung over his shoulder.
Federman watched helplessly, the scene unfolding before him tearing at his soul. "This... this can't be happening! Feline-chan!"
As the man disappeared over the horizon, Federman collapsed to the ground, shaking with grief.
---
Later that evening, Bensam and Federman limped back home, battered and bruised.
Kaizen stood at the entrance, his expression shifting to shock at the sight of their injuries.
"What happened to you two?" Kaizen asked, his tone a mixture of concern and confusion.
"Some lunatic showed up," Bensam grumbled. "He beat us both and kidnapped Feline-chan."
"No," Federman said quietly, his face devoid of emotion. "That wasn't a lunatic. That was the most dangerous man alive."
"The most dangerous man alive?" Bensam echoed, confused.
Kaizen's eyes narrowed. "Who are you talking about?"
"His name... is Rocks D. Xebec," Federman said darkly.
Kaizen froze, the name striking him like a thunderbolt. "Rocks... D. Xebec?"
"You know him, Kaizen-dono?" Bensam asked.
Kaizen nodded, his fists clenched tightly. "Rocks D. Xebec is supposed to be dead. He died ten years ago during the Battle of God Valley."
Federman lowered his gaze, his voice heavy with regret. "I know. I'm the one who saved him."
Kaizen's eyes widened in shock.
---
Federman recounted the events of ten years ago.
One stormy night, a man with severe injuries washed ashore on the island. His body bore wounds so grievous that any normal person would have died a hundred times over. Yet somehow, his sheer will to survive brought him to Federman's doorstep.
Federman, known for his compassion, couldn't turn him away despite the man's fearsome presence. Against his better judgment, he saved him.
But this act of mercy became his greatest regret. The man turned out to be Rocks D. Xebec, the world's most infamous pirate. Once recovered, Rocks not only revealed his sinister nature but also seduced Federman's wife, Aileen, and took her away.
---
Kaizen's expression was grim. "If Rocks is alive, it could change everything. The Marines and the World Government erased all traces of him after God Valley. If he's planning a return, the world could face a storm like no other."
"I have to stop him," Kaizen said, his voice steady with resolve.
Federman clenched his fists, tears streaming down his face. "Do whatever it takes, Kaizen-dono. Don't let him destroy anyone else's life."
Kaizen nodded firmly. The era of Rocks D. Xebec wasn't over—and this time, Kaizen vowed to end it for good.
---
TO BE CONTINUED...