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"What do you expect me to think?"
When Proshu understood the deeper meaning of the young Vice Admiral's words, his heart trembled.
He was just a lowly colonel. Even within the Marine system, he was nothing more than small fry, not to mention the world at large. If the higher-ups issued a mission, no matter how unreasonable or cruel, he could only grit his teeth and carry it out.
But at that moment, this young vice admiral, who held high prestige within the Marines and had great power, had just slapped the only eyewitness who had seen Roger and then asked Proshu such a question.
He felt nothing but fear. His whole body had gone stiff.
However, Proshu quickly came back to his senses. He clenched his teeth and forced himself to reply:
"Everyone else on Baterilla Island says they've never seen Roger."
"So maybe this guy was lying and gave false information?"
After saying that, he cautiously glanced at the tall, powerfully built young vice admiral beside him.
Undoubtedly, the man gave him immense pressure, just in terms of height alone.
He stood a good half-head taller than Proshu. His bulging muscles looked as if they might burst through the Marine uniform at any moment, inspiring awe.
Anyone who took one look at him would think only two words:
Mighty!
Hearing this, Kojin merely smiled faintly. Then, he narrowed his eyes and stared at the trembling civilians guarded by Marines on the street ahead. Their faces were pale with fear.
"The World Government isn't that easy to fool."
Those murmured words caused Proshu's expression to change again, and deep terror flashed in his eyes.
'Is this something you can say to a lowly colonel like me?' He roared in his heart.
"Lieutenant Colonel Proshu." Suddenly, an icy voice came over the radio.
"Yes!" Proshu responded immediately.
"Would you mind helping me with something?" Kojin asked calmly.
"I would be honored to!" Proshu froze for a moment, then replied respectfully.
"Relocate everyone on this island," Kojin said.
"Huh?" Proshu was stunned, his eyes filling with confusion.
"I hear your hometown is in South Blue, too?" Kojin asked.
"Yes, Vice Admiral!" Proshu replied, still puzzled.
Kojin didn't say anything more. He simply walked forward along the street.
Along the way, he saw many familiar faces from the island.
The moment they saw him, they recognized him instantly, and their expressions gave them away.
Kojin nodded to the villagers and gave them a reassuring look.
His eyes flickered as he understood everything.
Obviously, the villagers all knew about Roger's situation and were also well aware of Rouge's whereabouts. But despite frequent Marine interrogations, they had never revealed it.
Only one man had reported the information to the Marines.
This revealed both the timid mentality of civilians who didn't want to invite trouble and the kindness in the hearts of these ordinary people.
Everyone knew what kind of future awaited the weak, powerless pregnant woman once Portgas D. Roger's identity was exposed.
"If you were ordered to personally execute these innocent pregnant women..."
Kojin's footsteps slowed slightly. His gaze fell on the terrified women ahead. Most of these women already had swollen bellies; they were the pregnant women currently on the island.
Hearing this, Proshu's whole body trembled. For a long time, he didn't dare reply.
"Are you afraid? Or are you unwilling to do it?" Kojin smiled.
"They're all innocent." Proshu carefully watched Kojin's expression and said timidly,
"Innocent?" Kojin chuckled softly.
"What if Roger's bloodline is mixed in among them?"
Proshu trembled. "Are we… are we really going to kill all the other innocent people just because of one Roger?"
Hearing this, Kojin took another step forward.
After a long while, Proshu finally heard a response.
"That is exactly what they want to do." His voice paused briefly. "But not us."
Proshu let out a breath of relief, but his feelings became complicated again. The entire series of answers he had given was based on his judgment of Kojin's usual reputation.
Equal justice. A kind heart that protects the weak!
It was cruel to begin with to make Vice Admiral Kojin carry out such a mission.
Yet, upon further consideration of the clean, decisive, and thunderous methods Kojin had used upon his arrival on the island, it was evident that he was neither soft-hearted nor a foolish idealist.
"Relocate everyone off this island and find them a safe place to stay," Kojin said calmly.
"Yes!" Proshu replied immediately.
As Proshu watched Kojin's figure gradually disappear from sight, a trace of heartfelt admiration appeared in his eyes.
He knew very well the complicated situation Kojin was about to face. Neither the Marine Headquarters nor the World Government was easy to fool.
The order from above was to deal with all the pregnant women on Baterilla Island, not to investigate the source of the information or its veracity.
Those were two completely different things!
That also meant that Kojin had already disobeyed orders.
The evacuation proceeded rapidly. Proshu was very efficient. He took charge personally and, when sending the pregnant women aboard the ships, explained to them again and again:
"You should all be grateful to Senior Official Kojin!"
"Otherwise..."
At this point, Proshu sighed and turned away.
Later, when the civilians learned that they had passed through the Gates of Hell, they were both terrified and deeply grateful.
The battleship was moored in the harbor.
Standing at the bow, Proshu gazed into the distance at the tall, powerfully built figure standing in the center of the island.
"All the civilians have finished evacuating. What is Senior Official Kojin going to do now?" Proshu muttered in confusion.
He turned and saw that his subordinate officers were already in position on the Kojin battleship to one side.
"Rumble, rumble, rumble!"
Immediately after, another peal of thunder resounded in his ears, and golden lightning tore through the sky.
"Is it going to rain?"
"It was clear skies just a moment ago."
Proshu murmured.
Suddenly, at the center of the island, lightning flared.
A dazzling, blazing, terrifying dragon of lightning, condensed with intense heat, let out a deafening roar as it shot straight into the sky.
In an instant, the dragon collided with the thunderclouds above the island.
"Buzz!"
An invisible ripple spread outward. The dark clouds suddenly swelled and, in the blink of an eye, covered the entire island, reaching nearly ten thousand meters across.
"It's Vice Admiral Kojin!" Proshu cried out in shock, his eyes wide.
Then, when lightning flashed within the thunderclouds, he realized what was happening.
"Quick!"
"Leave here immediately!"
"Move fast!"
Proshu understood. It was only a guess, but he was already eighty percent certain of one thing.
That was...
Vice Admiral Kojin was probably going to destroy the island!
At that very moment, the lightning within the thunderclouds above the island became violently explosive. Countless blue arcs extended their tendrils, spreading in all directions.
"Whooo...!"
A raging wind surged. In an instant, the skies above Baterilla Island turned turbulent.
The thunderclouds enveloping the island began to invisibly contract, gradually forming a sphere. The lightning within became even more terrifying.
"Raigo-Thunder Greeting!"
Amid the howling gale, a voice suddenly rang out.
Proshu's eyes widened. He sucked in a sharp breath, his whole body trembling.
(End of Chapter)