The Corrupt Marine, Collusion Between Officials And Gangsters

On the other side, Kuina transformed into a panda, significantly increasing her strength and allowing her to easily dispatch the ordinary pirates.

Arias knelt beside Bell-mère's body, placing a hand on her pulse before sighing helplessly.

"A shot to the head... there's no hope," he murmured.

Nami and Nokigao sobbed uncontrollably, their mother gone and their spiritual support shattered. Even as their voices grew hoarse, they continued to cry, unaware of the world around them.

Arias gently touched their heads and spoke softly, "Your mother is dead, but the enemy is right in front of you. Lift your heads and see who did this."

Tear-streaked and sniffing, the girls looked up to see the man who killed their mother locked in battle with a girl who appeared only a few years older than them, yet had the strength to challenge him.

Beside them, the panda girl effortlessly dealt with the pirate's henchmen as if they were nothing. The girls couldn't help but think that if they had such strength, their mother might still be alive.

Krieg's battle spear struck out viciously, but Hiyori skillfully used Tai Chi to deflect the force, guiding the spear into the ground. As the spear landed, she sprang into the air, the edge of Tianyu Yuzhan gleaming as she aimed directly at Krieg's chest.

Krieg scoffed, "I'm wearing indestructible armor. Do you really think you can pierce my defense?"

He raised his weapon to counterattack, but the black light enveloping Hiyori's blade sliced through Krieg's golden armor as if it were paper. The blade continued, cutting deep into his flesh and bones.

Krieg howled in pain, ready to launch a gas bomb in desperation. Sensing the danger, Hiyori swiftly moved behind him and severed his arm with another strike.

"That's enough," Arias intervened, stopping Hiyori's blade before she could deliver a fatal blow. Instead, he crippled Krieg by destroying his tendons and limbs, leaving him unable to fight.

Dragging Krieg by his leg like a dead dog, Arias brought him before Nami and Nokigao. Hiyori watched in confusion, unsure why Arias hadn't let her kill the pirate.

"This is the man who murdered your mother," Arias said, retrieving Shusui from Zoro and tossing it to the girls. "Vengeance is something you should carry out yourselves."

Nami and Nokigao stared at Krieg, their eyes filled with hatred. The man who had taken their mother's life was now powerless before them. But as they stood on the brink of vengeance, their hands trembled.

Krieg, sensing his impending doom, screamed in desperation, "It wasn't me! It was Marine's Colonel Rat! He ordered me to plunder your village!"

"Please! Spare me! I'll do anything!"

He saw the sword trembling in Nami's hand, inching closer to his throat, and continued to beg for his life.

"I have money! Thirty million beli! It's yours! Just let me live!"

Arias was momentarily taken aback. Colonel Rat? It made sense. As the Marine officer in this area, Colonel Rat not only ignored Arlong's crimes but likely colluded with him to share in the protection money. If Colonel Rat truly intended to protect the village, he could have reported Arlong to higher authorities, or even sent Smoker from East Blue to deal with him. Instead, he chose to profit from the pirates' activities.

The surrounding villagers, who had just witnessed the terror of Krieg's attack and the ease with which these young fighters defeated the pirates, were now stunned by Krieg's revelation.

"No way! Colonel Rat is the Marine who protects us!"

"I can't believe it! Marines are supposed to be just! How could he work with pirates?"

"What's so hard to believe? If he were really protecting us, where is the Marine now?"

Meanwhile, Nami, holding several beads in her hand, seethed with anger. Someone else was behind this? She glared at Krieg, wanting to kill him for her mother's death but too frightened to act.

As the sword edged closer to Krieg's throat, he panicked even more. "Everything I said is true! It's the Marine! It's Colonel Rat! Don't kill me!"

Nokigao suddenly gripped Nami's hand and thrust the sword downward.

Blood splattered everywhere as Krieg's throat was pierced.

Afterward, the two girls collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, before falling onto Bell-mère's body, crying until they fainted.

As the village policeman Kensuke stepped forward to take the two sisters home, Arias stopped him.

"Leave them with me."

"You?" Kensuke was puzzled. Although these strangers had saved them from the pirates, he didn't fully trust them.

"I can help them get their revenge," Arias said, making Kensuke's heart race.

Revenge? He had heard Krieg's accusations. Now that Krieg was dead, was Colonel Rat the next target? But that was the Marine!

"They already know Colonel Rat is in league with the pirates," Arias continued. "Do you think they'll just forget about it?"

"They'll seek revenge, and I can give them the strength to do it."

Kensuke's emotions were in turmoil. He quickly scanned the villagers, relieved to find them all supportive.

One middle-aged man stepped forward and said firmly, "Don't worry, sir. We won't tell anyone. In this village, if anyone dares to betray you, they'll answer to me first!"