112. Area 1

"1, 2, 3...huh? Why is there still a mermaid?"

Majors, who was tallying the people on the slave ship, was a bit taken aback. It wasn't that he had never seen a mermaid, but in the current tense relationship between the World Government and Fish-Man Island, he felt uncertain about how to handle the mermaid.

"Vice Admiral Atlas, a mermaid has been discovered on the slave ship. What should we do with her?"

If you're uncertain, consult your leader first.

Majors adhered to this fine tradition and directly posed the question to Atlas.

"Mermaid?"

Atlas looked at Trica, who stood out among the crowd.

She had a pitiful appearance, with smooth and delicate skin, long blue hair cascading down her shoulders. Her upper body resembled that of a human woman, covered only by two pieces of cloth that barely concealed her full, flat breasts. Below her abdomen, a fish tail adorned with black and white scales extended, creating a captivating contrast between the upper and lower parts.

It's a stone snapper mermaid!

I heard that after a mermaid reaches the age of thirty, her tail will transform into legs...

Atlas rubbed his chin, but wild thoughts crossed his mind.

Trica, who stood not far away, seemed to sense Atlas's scrutinizing gaze, and her eyes involuntarily betrayed a sense of fear. Initially, influenced by Princess Otohime's teachings, she believed that humans should be kind and benevolent.

However, the experiences following her escape shattered that belief. Humans, in their eyes, never viewed mermaids or fishmen as equals. To humans, they were merely commodities, equivalent to fish.

The sunshine was undoubtedly warm, yet Trica's heart remained untouched by its warmth.

"Vice Admiral? Vice Admiral? What are you thinking about?"

Seeing that Atlas didn't provide an answer, Majors couldn't help but offer a reminder.

"Ah? Huh? What else can I do? I want to go back to Fish-Men Island and send her back."

"Then the World Government..."

Majors was a bit hesitant, but he had no choice but to bring up the incident of Fisher Tiger attacking Marie Joie. It could be said that this move was akin to rubbing the World Government's face in the dirt.

"Huh? The World Government is none of my business. Regardless, I have nothing to do with it. If there's a headache, it's Sengoku's problem."

Atlas was now almost overtly shifting the responsibility to Sengoku, in line with the arrangement Sengoku had assured him before their departure.

...

"There are too many people, and it's hard to see—! Watch out for pirates—!"

Sabaody is far from quiet at night, at least not for the so-called slave owners.

Areas 1 to 29 are teeming with Marine patrols. Nearly every house undergoes a search by the Marines. The explanation provided by the Marines is to prevent the most vicious pirates from blending in with ordinary people, which could pose a significant threat to everyone's life and property.

What? If you don't comply, then I'm sorry. The Marines have reason to suspect that you are connected to pirates and human traffickers. If you resist arrest, you will be shot on the spot.

Naturally, most ordinary people applauded the series of actions taken by the Marines.

Area one.

The largest population auction in Sabaody is situated here, and Celestial Dragons even visit from time to time.

It can be said that this human auction house conceals the dirtiest and deepest sins in Sabaody!

However, this place is now surrounded by groups of neatly arranged Marines, led by Colonel Majors and... Kyros.

As a confidant personally recruited by Atlas, Kyros was naturally the primary combatant in this operation, earning him a share of the credit. Oh, by the way, he is now a sergeant.

Atlas brought around 1,500 Marines from his headquarters. The Marine station in Sabaody had approximately 1,000 Marines, and the No. 1 Auction House had about 800 Marines assigned to it. Atlas aimed to eradicate human trafficking from Sabaody once and for all!

"Hey! What do you Marines think you're doing? Our auction house is backed by Celestial Dragons!"

The internal staff of the auction house naturally heard the commotion outside. Although they were very scared, the association with Celestial Dragons still provided them with some courage to yell at the Marines.

"I don't want to do anything, but Vice Admiral Atlas has ordered that human auctions will not be allowed in Sabaody from now on!"

"Give you one minute. Everyone come out now, immediately, immediately, otherwise..."

For some reason, Majors suddenly recalled Atlas's stern expression, hesitated, and then continued: "Kill without mercy!"

"You! Aren't you afraid of offending the Celestial Dragons?"

The staff felt that the Marine in front of them seemed to be serious, so they suddenly panicked and scolded in a stern voice.

"Do it!"

Majors didn't bother talking anymore and directly ordered the Marines to break into the auction house.

'As for the minute? There is no such thing...Can't I just say it casually?'

Snap! Snap!

Following Majors' order, Kyros wielded a large sword, leading the Marines who appeared serious but excited.

Justice...

Now it is not just superficial, but actually practiced on this island!

And the Marines, regardless of their rank, strength, or commitment to justice... have never been forgotten!

"Justice! Justice!"

In the excitement, it was unclear who started taking the lead. Suddenly, all the Marines shouted with enthusiasm, and the entire Area 1 echoed with cries of justice!

...

Soon, under the strong attack from the Marines, the No. 1 auction house was completely destroyed, and a large number of slaves were rescued. Many of them were 'goods' that had been accumulated in the past few days and failed to be auctioned. Their daily sustenance was essentially just enough to ensure survival, leaving them pallid and emaciated.

Moreover, their entire body was covered in bruises, and even worse, their hand tendons and hamstrings were severed, rendering them nearly crippled.

Among this group of people, you could witness all kinds of miserable scenes.

"Hateful!"

The Marines present were all angered when they saw this situation. Not only did a sense of justice persist in their hearts, but their human conscience also made them intolerant of such atrocities.

"Vice Admiral Atlas is indeed a formidable man, worthy of being followed..."

The same thought suddenly occurred to the Marines.

Having power in your hands but also possessing a conscience may be the greatest fortune in this world.

...

"Ah choo!"

Atlas, seated in his office, couldn't help but rub his nose and muttered doubtfully in his heart.

'What happened?'

'Who is talking about me?'

Could it be that old man Sengoku is scolding him?

----------

I got some free time so i uploaded today's chapter, though I will upload the bonus chapters when I am free. For now there are three bonus chapters, one for reaching the power stone goal, one for the views goal and one for a new pat*eon.

A huge thank you to Devor for joining my Patr*on.

Read 35 chapters in advance in Patr*on: patr*on.com/Cosmic_Kaminari