Rio was from the New World.
He understood better than any of the young soldiers freshly transferred from headquarters what the name "Phoenix Marco" represented.
So he didn't dare move.
The surrounding Marine soldiers didn't understand.
They only saw a pirate arrogantly landing before them, their eyes burning with desire for military merit.
If Rio gave the order, they would charge forward without hesitation, tearing at this legendary pirate with their flesh and blood.
But he couldn't give the order.
Rio knew clearly that even if everyone here combined their strength, it wouldn't be enough to fill this man's teeth.
As Sphinx's highest-ranking commander, he couldn't let these young lives be wasted for military merit.
More importantly, if fighting broke out, this island that had finally regained its vitality would instantly turn back into hell.
He had only one choice now: temporarily stabilize Marco.
Rio silently took the Den Den Mushi from a soldier beside him, preparing to dial the Fleet Admiral's number.
"Don't you hurt the Lieutenant!"
A childish shout rang out.
Then, several small stones flew from nearby, pattering harmlessly against Marco's body.
Rio turn around to see several grimy children running along the ridge of the field.
The two boys at the front were clutching stones, glaring at Marco with a protective stance.
"Damn pirates! Get out of our home!"
"You're not welcome here!"
Marco didn't dodge, nor did he even furrow his brow.
He glanced down at the stones rolling near his feet, then looked up at the children baring their teeth like little beasts.
On his perpetually sleepy face, a smile slowly emerged.
A genuine, somewhat relieved smile.
This was Pops' hometown.
Everyone living here had, to some extent, received Pops' kindness.
In Pops' heart, though the people of Sphinx weren't family, they held a distinctly different weight from others.
And now, these fellow townspeople of their Pops were throwing stones at him, a pirate.
What did this mean?
It meant the Marines' presence here wasn't merely about maintaining order.
They had won everyone's hearts through their actions.
They had truly protected this land with the justice preached by that young Fleet Admiral.
"Stop!"
Seeing this, Rio felt his heart leap into his throat.
Fearing the children's actions would provoke the other party, he swiftly stepped in front of them, drawing the sword at his waist with a sharp clang.
The blade pointed diagonally toward the ground as Rio speak in a low voice.
"I will inform the Fleet Admiral. But until then, the Whitebeard Pirates are not permitted to land on Sphinx!"
The smile on Marco's face didn't fade.
"That's impossible."
With his hands in his pockets, he took two leisurely steps forward.
"We will all land on the island. As for the people's reaction, you needn't worry. As long as they don't open fire first, we won't set foot in the town. We'll only set up camp in the cherry blossom grove on the outskirts."
"No!" Rio refused without hesitation. "You have a full fifty thousand men! With so many people landing, it will cause uncontrollable panic!"
Marco's eyes narrowed slightly, the lazy aura vanishing instantly, replaced by a suffocating pressure.
"I'm not negotiating with you."
"Just informing you."
He stared into Rio's eyes and said firmly, "Your job is to keep the townspeople in check. Make sure they don't approach the cherry blossom grove and don't disturb us."
With that, Marco turned and walked away decisively, blue flames beginning to ignite on his shoulders.
After a few steps, as if remembering something, he suddenly looked back, his face returning to its lazy demeanor.
"Oh, and remember to tell your Fleet Admiral."
"Tell him Pops is waiting for his esteemed presence on Sphinx."
Before the words faded, he transformed into a streak of blue flame, shooting skyward and vanishing into the horizon.
...
Meanwhile, at Sphinx Harbor.
"Pirates! So... so many pirate ships!"
On the watchtower, a villager on guard duty saw the dense cluster of black dots on the horizon through his telescope, his voice trembling with fear.
The harbor fell into a brief, dead silence.
But the next moment, the expected panic and cries didn't materialize.
A burly man mending fishing nets on the dock threw down his work, grabbed a sharpened wooden pole nearby, stood on a crate, and raised his arm while shouting.
"Don't panic! The Marines are right behind us!"
"The houses we live in, the food we eat—all given to us by the Marines! Now pirates want to take it all away. Will we allow it?!"
"No!"
"Fight them with everything we've got!"
"For our new home!"
The people at the harbor roared in unison.
Men grabbed whatever was at hand—harpoons, oars, iron rods—while women quickly led children and the elderly into sturdy stone houses. Instead of retreating, they spontaneously formed a crude yet resolute defensive line at the port.
On the town's main street, several young men sprinted desperately, shouting at the top of their lungs.
"Pirates are coming! The pirates are attacking!"
At their cries, doors swung open.
But those who emerged were not panicked refugees.
Women quickly organized themselves, guiding the elderly and children to the newly built shelters.
Meanwhile, men emerged from their homes carrying kitchen knives, axes, and even hoes, rushing without a word toward the still-under-construction temporary Marine base.
"Open the gates! Let us in!"
"We want to fight alongside the Marines!"
"We will defend our homes too!"
Hundreds of men armed with an assortment of makeshift weapons crowded around the base entrance, leaving no room to move.
"Quiet, everyone!"
A Marine sergeant stationed at the base rushed out.
Seeing the impassioned crowd, he shouted.
"Don't panic! Your duty now is to go home and protect your wives and children! Fighting pirates is the Marines' responsibility!"
From the crowd, a boy with a youthful face pushed his way forward while holding a pitchfork taller than himself.
"Sergeant! I've grown up! I want to fight with you too!"
The young sergeant looked at him, fell silent for a moment, then stepped forward and firmly patted the boy's shoulder.
With a smile, he said, "Don't rush. Join us when you're older!"
With that, he turned abruptly to face his equally young comrades inside the base, drew the long sword at his waist, and pointed its blade toward the harbor.
"Brothers!"
"The time to make our mark has come!"
"All personnel—"
"Follow me!"
---------
Read 50 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator