"He's dead... Morgan is really dead..."
"Three years... finally..."
Recovering from the unbelievable scene before them, the eyes of the Marine soldiers gradually filled with emotion.
Then, a burst of cheers erupted, accompanied by hot tears.
"Woooah—!"
"Great! We are finally liberated!"
Not far away, watching this group of Marines who had suddenly mutinied and were now celebrating instead of grieving after killing their own leader, Luffy and Zoro looked completely bewildered.
A question mark appeared over Luffy's head. He scratched his backside, pointed at the Marines in front of him, and turned to ask Zoro:
"Why are they so happy? Are they going to have a banquet?"
"Huh? Even if they have a banquet, it has nothing to do with us. It's not like they'd invite pirates like us to join."
Zoro glanced at him and spoke dismissively.
Hearing this, Luffy drooped his head in disappointment.
"You're right. Sigh~"
"What's with that look of regret! Do you want to join that badly?!"
Zoro rolled his eyes and couldn't help but snap at him.
In response, Luffy just grinned heartlessly, showing off a row of white teeth as he laughed.
"Hee hee hee! But speaking of which, that guy is really something."
"You mean him..."
Zoro tucked his three swords back into his waist. He knew who Luffy was referring to and looked toward the rubble pile in the distance.
The man who had incited the soldiers to rebel against the Marines stood at the highest point. Just by looking, Zoro could feel the powerful aura emanating from him.
"Just like a wild beast... that guy... is strong...!"
Zoro's gaze was solemn, but the corners of his mouth curled up with interest. The desire to challenge the strong made him itch for a fight.
But now was not the time.
After being tied up there for so long, he hadn't had a proper meal in days.
However.
While he thought that way, others did not.
"Quick! Catch those two guys!"
A loud shout suddenly came from the distance.
Luffy and Zoro followed the sound and saw the black-haired man standing atop the ruins, pointing at them with righteous indignation.
"To think you dared to invade a Marine base! And you even brutally murdered our Captain Morgan! This is a heinous and unforgivable crime!"
Ellen spoke with a pained heart, his tone carrying a hint of grief and fury as he raised his blade and shouted:
"Get them! We must kill them with our own hands to avenge Captain Morgan!"
Hearing this, the Marines who were immersed in the joy of Morgan's death all turned their heads. The moment they saw the straw hat boy and Roronoa, they understood instantly.
Mutinying and killing a superior is undoubtedly a serious crime, but if a pirate did it, it would be a different story.
"Lieutenant Ellen is right!"
"We absolutely cannot let them go!"
"Despicable pirates! Truly atrocious!"
"Kill them!!"
Under Ellen's instructions, the Marines immediately picked up their weapons and charged forward aggressively.
"Eh!!"
Seeing this, Luffy was flustered and a bit angry, shouting:
"Hey! Wait a minute! We didn't kill him, right?!"
"Do you really need to explain it to them? It's obvious they're framing us. Hurry up and leave, idiot!"
Zoro cursed with a look of frustration. He grabbed Luffy's back collar and hurriedly began to run.
"Ah, so that's how it is."
After realizing the situation, Luffy grabbed Zoro instead, tucked him under his waist, and stretched an arm out to snag the outer wall of the base.
"Gum-Gum..."
Seeing this posture, Zoro's face changed, and he had a bad feeling in his heart.
Luffy smiled and pressed down the straw hat on his head, jumping high while holding Zoro.
"Hee hee hee, let's go!"
"Hey! Wait, wait, wait, what are you trying to do—"
Swoosh—!!
"Aaaaaaah!!!"
Accompanied by a wail, the two of them shot off like a rocket, turning into a streaking meteor across the sky.
"I'll cut you down sooner or later, you bastard!"
(A shout from the horizon~)
...
At noon, the blazing sun hung high in the sky. The base was still littered with the mess left after the battle.
By the sandy execution ground.
"I didn't expect that the one to stand up and lead everyone in resistance would be you, who is usually so silent. On behalf of all the officers in the base, I express my endless gratitude to you."
The burly Lieutenant Commander Ripper, leading a square formation of soldiers, bowed deeply to Ellen.
A few seconds later, Ripper stood up with the group and added:
"Thanks to you, we finally got rid of Morgan's rule. Don't worry, the brothers won't treat you poorly."
"The position of Base Commander is now vacant. Once this incident is reported, we will jointly recommend you to be the new Base Commander."
"Although rank might be an issue, if we resubmit the merits that Morgan suppressed in the past, you should be able to be promoted to..."
Ripper went on about his plans to get Ellen promoted, but Ellen raised a hand to interrupt him.
"Wait a moment. Surely you haven't been back to the office to see the resignation letter I wrote?"
"Resignation letter?"
Ripper was stunned, and several rows of Marines behind him showed expressions of disbelief.
Ellen smiled faintly. "Yeah, I've already decided. I won't be a Marine anymore."
"This...!"
Hearing this, Ripper was at a loss.
Individual Marines behind him also hurriedly spoke up.
"But... we still want to follow you, Lieutenant."
"Yeah, Lieutenant Ellen, if you aren't a Marine..."
One soldier gnashed his teeth and said directly:
"I'm fine with anything, Lieutenant Ellen! As long as I can follow you, whether it's as a mercenary, a bounty hunter, or a bodyguard, I'm okay with it!"
As soon as he spoke, others followed suit.
"That's right!"
"Me too! I have no living relatives anyway."
"And me! As long as I can follow Lord Ellen, I don't care if I have to go through fire or water!"
Many of them had been moved by Ellen's passionate speech during today's events.
Compared to the previous Morgan, Ellen's words and actions were like a ray of righteous light shining on the land.
To be able to follow such a brave and righteous person, they were willing to give up their Marine status.
"I'm very happy to hear you say that. Since that's the case, I won't hide it from you anymore."
Ellen smiled gratifiedly, held up a forefinger, and said bluntly:
"I'm going to be a pirate."
...
The air suddenly became dead silent for a moment.
"Eh—!!"
The eyeballs of Ripper and the rows of Marines practically popped out, their jaws hitting the ground in collective shock.
"A pirate?!!"
"That's right."
Under everyone's shocked gazes, Ellen nodded with a smile and began his "persuasion" method.
"The sea is so vast, don't you want to go see it? Setting foot in unknown waters, landing on mysterious islands, searching for ancient treasures..."
Ellen began to describe a dreamlike journey of adventure to the Marines. Finally:
"Of course, I also know that not everyone can leave without any attachments, so I won't force anyone."
Ellen paused, slowly regained a serious expression, and said solemnly:
"Come! My ship will only accept warriors who dare to challenge the limits of life. Now! Those who want to go to sea with me, take a step forward!"
The next second, under Ellen's shocked gaze.
Thud—Thud!
All the Marines took a step backward!
Ellen's eyes bulged out, his jaw hit the ground, and he roared with sharp teeth showing:
"Not even a single person? That's just too much!!"
"Ahem... it wouldn't be good if there was no one to handle the affairs in the base."
Ripper muttered while guiltily looking away.
As soon as he finished, the Marines behind him chimed in one after another.
"As Lieutenant Commander Ripper's adjutant, it seems I can only stay behind."
"Um... I think I should stay behind to protect the civilians in this sea territory."
"Ahem, my family is still in town..."
"Didn't you just say your whole family was dead?!"
Ellen rolled his eyes and roared at that Marine with bared teeth.
...