Chapter 219 Mermaid Girl
Center of the Deck.
Captain Clinton and his Pirate Crew looked at the Swordsman who surrounded them. Like suffering from a sudden acute appendicitis, their faces were bloodless, and cold sweat poured down.
Speak, you bastards!!!
Answer? Curses?
Anything is fine.
Just say something already!
Even launching an Attack would be better!
What is the meaning of this stalemate?!
Drip, drip—
The immense pressure caused Sweat Drop to continuously appear on their Heads, running down Captain Clinton's Face, sliding to his Chin, and then falling onto the Deck soaked with Moisture, splashing into Water Splash.
On the other hand, the other Pirates on the Deck were no better off. They gripped their Weapons tightly with both Hands, as if only this could bring them a trace of Safety.
The Deck suddenly became very quiet.
An uneasy Emotion permeated the Air.
Although only a few seconds had passed, in Captain Clinton and his Pirate Crew's perception, it felt like a very long Time had passed.
A strong Will to Live kept urging Captain Clinton to do something quickly.
"Move,"
"Attack!"
Then, just as he finally mustered Courage to make a desperate fight, he saw the incomparably powerful Swordsman opposite him charge directly towards him.
Almost instantly, he arrived beside Captain Clinton, and then his Right Hand quickly pressed towards the Sword at his Waist.
Accompanied by a silver flash, Captain Clinton's Body stiffened, and then his Pupil shrank sharply.
Pfft—!
Without any warning, a fine Blood Line appeared on Captain Clinton's Neck, and then a large amount of Fresh Blood spurted out with a hissing Sound.
"Eh?"
Captain Clinton lowered his Head, staring blankly at the Fresh Blood spurting from his Neck.
Filled with deep incomprehension, Captain Clinton's Head fell directly to the Deck, Instantly losing all signs of life.
"C-Captain Clinton...!"
"How could this be? Captain Clinton was clearly a Great Pirate with a Bounty of 50 million Beli, yet he was defeated in a Face-to-face encounter..."
"We're finished. If Hillary, the 'Bloody Duchess', finds out, we're dead."
The surrounding Pirates, like lost souls, watched Captain Clinton collapse.
"It seems we're dead for sure now."
Even their Captain, with a Bounty of 50 million Beli, was killed in one move. Aren't they doomed?
"Leave no one alive."
The leader coldly pronounced the Death Penalty for these Pirates, then turned around, no longer paying attention to their life or death.
Behind him, his Subordinate who received the Order launched a one-sided Slaughter against the remaining Pirates.
In an instant, miserable and Despairing screams echoed on the Deck.
Soon, the group who had completed the Slaughter began to move the Supplies from the Pirate Ship. These Supplies, after some Time, could be handed over to the Foreign Trade Department and exchanged for a large number of useful Things again.
Several minutes later.
All the Supplies on the Pirate Ship were moved to the Deck.
After a simple calculation, including Gold and Silver Jewelry and Goods, they were worth at least tens of millions of Beli. Even Captain Clinton's Head was not spared, as they had special Channels to exchange it for Money.
Soon, the Giant Goldfish pulled the Ship and left, leaving only a Pirate Ship drifting alone on the Sea Surface.
"Captain, Ashina Isshin and the others are back. This time they annihilated a Pirate Crew and found something interesting at the bottom of the Ship Cabin of the Pirate Ship."
Simon said, looking at Nicholas.
"Interesting Things?"
Nicholas was a little curious about what could be considered interesting Things by Simon.
"Yes, in the Ship Cabin of this Pirate Ship, two Mermaids were found."
Simon nodded with a smile.
"Oh? Two Mermaids? Not two Fish-man?"
Nicholas was a little surprised.
"They are Mermaids, not Fish-man."
In the Slave Market, Mermaids have always been priceless. Moreover, in Dragon Palace City, Mermaids have always been Key Protected Object. He didn't expect such a weak Pirate Crew to actually capture two Mermaids? And safely escape Fish-Man Island.
"Want to take a look?"
Simon asked.
"Yes."
Nicholas nodded. He was also a little curious about how these two Mermaids were captured. He knew that ordinary Mermaids would never leave Fish-Man Island easily, and the chance of being captured outside Fish-Man Island was almost non-existent.
Subsequently, under Simon's lead, a giant Fish Tank was carried in from outside.
Inside were two Young Mermaid Girl huddled together in the Corner of the Fish Tank, looking listless.
On their Necks, they each wore a Slave Collar with a distinctive Logo.
Nicholas looked at the two Mermaid Girl huddled together in the Prison Cell, their Eyes already devoid of Radiance.
Obviously, they also knew what a miserable Life awaited them in the Hands of Humans.
Nicholas's Gaze couldn't help but linger on the Face of one of the Mermaid Girl.
She looked a little familiar, but he couldn't quite recall. It felt as if he had only seen her once before without any interaction.
As if hearing a slight Sound, or perhaps sensing Nicholas's Gaze, one of the Mermaid Girl who looked older slowly turned her Head. Her Pupils, which should have been like Gems but were now dull and lifeless, looked towards Nicholas outside.
Just one Gaze.
Bright Light burst forth from the Mermaid Girl's Eyes, and those Gem-like Pupils returned.
"It's you..."
The Mermaid Girl's Voice was filled with indescribable Emotion of excitement, and even her Tail was constantly swaying in the Water due to her agitation.
Watching the Mermaid Girl's Reaction, Nicholas frowned slightly and asked calmly, "Do you know me?"
Nicholas's Words made the excited expression on the Mermaid Girl's Face freeze.
But she quickly Reacted, realizing that she had indeed only seen the other party once and had not even spoken to him.
"Dragon Palace City, at King Neptune's Banquet, I served you..."
She reminded him softly, clearly in a good Mood after her Narrow Escape.
"Oh, I remember now."
The Mermaid Girl's reminder instantly made Nicholas recall her origin.
So it was the Mermaid who served him when he was a guest at Dragon Palace City. That made sense.
"What happened? How were you captured? Could it be that Dragon Palace City was breached?"
"Dragon Palace City was not breached. After Roger became the Pirate King, Pirates from the Grand Line came in an endless stream and Attacks Fish-Man Island. My Younger Sister and I just wanted to go out to buy some Jewelry..." The Mermaid Girl gently took the Hand of another Mermaid who was a little scared, and said facing Nicholas. It seemed that because she recalled the Scene at that Time, Fear that could not be dispelled still lingered on her delicate Facial Features.
"No need to say more, I understand."
Nicholas interrupted the Mermaid Girl's narration.
He probably guessed what had happened.
As Roger became the Pirate King, coupled with the rendering of various Public Opinion, and the World Government's intentional or unintentional fueling of the flames, everyone believed that Roger had obtained enormous Wealth. Countless People went to Sea one after another, wanting to find Roger and seize his Treasure.
And Fish-Man Island, as a Channel to enter the New World, naturally bore the brunt. A large number of Pirates poured in, and Fish-Man Island's Power was simply unable to stop them. Moreover, these Pirates were mostly for Wealth.
So, taking advantage of the Chaos that Fish-Man Island had fallen into, Pirates naturally set their sights on the most valuable Young Mermaid Girl on Fish-Man Island. Even if they couldn't find Roger at that Time, they could still make a fortune by relying on young and beautiful Mermaids.
Just thinking about it deeply, Nicholas could imagine how chaotic Fish-Man Island must have been during this Time after Roger became the Pirate King.
Nicholas stepped forward, and the Mermaid Girl also swayed her Tail, which floated to the Sea Surface, looking at Nicholas from the Edge of the Fish Tank.
Nicholas was silent for a moment, then reached out his Hand, and then removed the Slave Collar with internal Explosives from the Mermaid Girl's Neck with his bare hands.
"Now, you are Freedom."
"Lord Nicholas..."
Watching Nicholas help her remove the Collar that imprisoned her Freedom, Tears of Emotion immediately welled up in the Mermaid Girl's Eyes. Suppressing her Sobbing Sound, she pleaded,
"Lord Nicholas, I know this is very presumptuous, but... but could you please help Fish-Man Island... many of our Sisters are..."
"..."
(End of Chapter)