Chapter 41.
[Residential Area]
Sophia — POV
Damn it… what have I gotten myself into?
Betraying the World Government.
Allying with pirates.
Not like I had a choice — they tried to erase me first.
Still… when I look at them, they don't even feel like real pirates. They bicker, they laugh, they fight like maniacs — but underneath it all, they move like a family. That's what scares me the most.
My chest tightened, eyes stinging as unwanted moisture gathered.
What am I even thinking?
Ahhh—
The scream stayed locked inside my head. Outwardly, all I did was rake my fingers through my hair in frustration.
Focus.
As long as I can see my brother again… that's all that matters.
The image of him flashed through my mind — taller now, stronger, probably smiling that stupid smile of his.
My cheeks warmed before I could stop myself.
Idiot.
The smell of smoke snapped me back to reality.
Cruel… that was the word for it.
I'd heard stories from other co-navigators — residential purges, "necessary sacrifices."
But seeing it with my own eyes was different.
Charred walls. Cracked stone. Civilians crying out names that would never answer
Thank God I wasn't sent into direct combat.
I turned my head — and froze.
A burning house.
The sight clawed at something buried deep inside me.
Pain exploded behind my eyes.
My head rang like metal struck by a hammer — again and again — until my vision blurred.
My grip loosened, legs wobbling as I instinctively clutched the saddle of the lizard beneath me to stay upright.
…
…
…
Then — just like that — it vanished.
No lingering ache.
No echo.
As if it had never existed.
…
…
I shook my head hard, forcing the moment away, and leapt down toward the debris.
The flames crackled, embers lifting into the air like dying stars.
That captain of ours…
A smirk tugged at my lips.
Pirate or not… he's got a stupidly kind heart.
I moved fast — pulling civilians free, guiding them through smoke-filled paths, moving from building to building. Their gratitude followed me in broken voices and trembling bows, fading behind my steps.
Then—
BOOOOM!
The explosion ripped through the air to my far right.
Screams followed immediately.
I launched myself off the rooftop without hesitation, boots skidding as I landed and sprinted toward the sound.
Black suits.
Of course.
World Government agents flooded the narrow alley, barking orders as they hurried to plant another explosive.
Yeah… definitely them.
White was for the elites.
Black was for expendable dogs.
I dropped straight into the alley.
Thud.
Concrete cracked beneath my landing.
—Silence—
Then—
Clank. Clank. Clank.
Rifles swung toward my face, muzzles trembling.
Their eyes widened.
"You government dogs," the words slipped out before I could stop them.
Pa—Pa—Pa—Pa!
Gunfire erupted, dust and debris swallowing my figure as bullets tore into the alley walls.
The echoes lingered.
Then—
Clank… Clank… Clank…
Metal hit the ground.
The dust thinned.
"You really think that would hurt me," a calm voice cut through the haze,
"after all the hellish training you put me through?"
I stepped forward.
My arm gleamed black — not Haki.
Tenkai.
A Marine technique burned into muscle and bone.
The agents froze.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
My boots struck the concrete steadily as I advanced.
Fear crawled into their expressions — the kind you only see when someone recognizes a monster they helped create.
They screamed and charged anyway.
Desperation makes cowards brave.
"AHHH—!"
The alley filled with pain.
Cries snapped off mid-scream. Bodies slammed into walls. Bones met stone with sickening force.
Minutes later, I walked out alone.
Unharmed.
Dusting soot from my clothes, the contrast almost felt obscene — my porcelain skin, calm face, and composed posture standing in stark opposition to the nightmare I'd left behind.
The witch they saw…
didn't exist anymore.
I scanned the streets.
Most civilians were already gone.
Brocky had done his job.
I exhaled slowly.
Good.