Chapter 21

|Panpan - Village Elder of Bronco Village|

We gather together near the port as we can see a marine ship docked on our island. I can feel the hope coming out of the people around me. A pirate just robbed this village, and we did not have anything. Money, food, and even all the plants on our farm get looted by the pirates.

The last batch of food has already been consumed, and the next merchant will arrive in a few more weeks. We did not know how to get food.

Bronco village is located in an area where the sea is dangerous. Too many big fish swimming around the area will attack any fishing ships in sight. We cannot go back to another island to trade something, and we cannot go fishing.

There are two things we can do. One of them is to hunt in the forest filled with wild animals that can kill us. The other thing we can do is to wait for a marine patrol dock on our island. It looks like we are fortunate that we get the second option.

The symbol underneath the Marine name on the sail makes matters even more positive. It was the symbol of the Healer of the Sea and his crew.

I quickly run toward the ship, and when I see the captain of the ship, the White Warrior getting out of the ship, I bow my head and say.

"Please, help us, sir!"

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"We are lucky that we have an excess amount of smoked meat and salted meat from Long-Lizard Island."

"You are right, sir. It looks like our daily night hunt has a positive effect."

I nod my head and see people eagerly eating all the food cooked by our chef. By the look of it, they did not eat for two days and only ate when it was absolutely necessary. Even though it was only a simple porridge with smoked meat on top, they ate it as if it was the greatest thing in the world.

"Mister…"

I snap from my thoughts and look down at a little girl walking toward me. She has light pink hair and purple eyes. She is wearing a rag that is too big for her.

I kneel down next to her and pat her head before saying.

"What is it, dear?"

"C-Can I have some more?"

I smile at her and carry her in my arms. I walk toward the chef, who is busy cooking, and ask for more porridge for the little girl. I take her to where Gion sits and put her down.

"There you go. You can eat as much as you want."

"Really? You will not hit me for eating too much?"

"What?! Why would I do that?! Does someone hit you when you are eating some food?"

I can see the ground and say.

"En. Daddy always hits me when I eat too much. He said that a waste like me did not have that much food."

"... Where is your father?"

"He is gone. When the bad people come, daddy tries to join them but he gets shot."

Good. At least that bastard is dead.

"I see. Where are you staying?"

"In my uncle's old house! There is some food inside but they are yucky and some of them smell bad."

Ah, she has been eating spoiled food, huh.

"You can't eat that food. It is already spoiled."

"B-But I don't have anything else to eat."

"Don't worry. I will make sure you get the food you need."

"Really?"

"Yup. Do you want another serving?"

"C-Can I?"

"Of course!"

I get up from the ground and take her to the chef, who had just finished another food batch.

"Ah, what is your name?"

"My name is Bonney! Jewelry Bonney!"

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|Panpan - Village Elder of Bronco Village|

I look at the massive fish in awe. Never in my life have I seen a marine become a fisherman. However, instead of using a fishing rod to catch some fish, they use a human as bait.

The captain throws his crew to the sea and waits for them to bait a fish to swim to the surface before punching them by flying into the air. It was bizarre.

"Yay! Another fish!"

I look to the edge of the dock and see a little girl cheering at the captain taking out another fish from the sea. She is Jewelry Bonney, a child who loves to eat, but her father also beats her for it. We made sure he did not hit her in public and sometimes when they were at home, but by the look of it, he did not stop.

Lucky for her, he is now dead when he tries to join the pirate crew. He thought that he could join a pirate just because he had a massive body. In the end, he got shot by the pirate, and his daughter did not even cry for him.

"Yuuji! You are so cool! You went boom and pow! So cool!"

"Hahahahaha! Thank you, Bonney."

I smile a little when I see the little girl squeal in delight as Captain Yuuji puts her on her shoulder. It is a rather bizarre sight. A marine captain has a little girl sitting on his shoulder with a white owl on his head who is also wearing a small white tophat and is walking next to him is a beautiful girl holding a long sword.

It was like seeing a weird family.

*TING* *TING* *TING*

All of us look at the tower where the bell is ringing. That only one thing means when that bell rings, pirates are coming.

"Panpan! Take the villager to the tower! I need them to barricade the tower with any item you can find."

I nod my head when the captain looks at me.

"Gion, order the men to prepare to fight. Make sure to place our men around the tower. Take the sandbag from our ship. I will leave the fortification to you."

"Yes, sir!"

Yuuji nods put Bonney down to the ground, then says.

"Bonney, I need you to follow Panpan, okay?"

"Will you be okay?"

"Of course, I'm the captain, after all."

Bonney nodded her head and walked to me. We walk toward the tower, where I can see many people gathered together.

"Will he be alright?"

I look at the child, who has a worried expression, and nod my head.

"Of course. They are a marine after all. They will win against the bad guy."