Amid the sound of shattering glass, Sanosuke dropped from above with one foot planted firmly on someone’s body.
Norton, Nami, and Furning immediately rushed over.
Only when they got closer did they recognize the man beneath him.
He was one of the Redbeard Pirates.
“What happened?”
Norton frowned.
The pirate was already dead.
Sanosuke’s kunai had slit his throat cleanly, and blood continued pouring onto the ground.
Furning’s face instantly turned pale.
Nami hurriedly covered her eyes.
“My lord.”
Sanosuke lowered his head.
“He disobeyed your orders.”
The commotion quickly spread through the castle.
Guards rushed toward the scene, followed closely by the butler.
“Miss Furning!”
The butler hurried over.
“Please come over here!”
“Stay away from those dangerous people!”
“What happened?”
Although frightened, Furning forced herself to remain calm.
The butler quickly explained,
“Those guests…”
“No.”
“Some of the pirates got drunk.”
“They harassed one of the castle maids.”
“The pirates started fighting among themselves.”
He glanced fearfully at Sanosuke.
“That ninja killed several of them!”
Norton’s expression gradually turned cold.
He looked at Sanosuke.
“Where are the others?”
“They’re still in the banquet hall.”
“The guards have already subdued them.”
Sanosuke replied.
“How many did you kill?”
Norton continued.
“Did you deal with everyone who caused trouble?”
“Seven.”
“I killed them all.”
Sanosuke calmly wiped the blood from his kunai.
Norton turned toward the butler.
“Bring the rest of them here.”
The butler instinctively wanted to refuse.
Who do you think you are, ordering me around?
But the moment he met Norton’s eyes…
Every word died in his throat.
Those eyes allowed no defiance.
They instinctively made others feel insignificant.
The butler swallowed hard.
“Bring them.”
“Let this gentleman decide their punishment.”
Several minutes later…
The remaining pirates were escorted over by the guards.
The moment they saw Sanosuke, several of them erupted in fury.
“Sanosuke!”
“You traitor!”
“We fought together for years!”
“And this is how you repay us?!”
Sanosuke remained expressionless.
He had never felt any attachment to the Redbeard Pirates.
Even before meeting Norton…
Most of the crew had disliked him.
Only Redbeard had treated him somewhat decently.
Not out of kindness.
Simply because he wanted Sanosuke’s strength.
Decent…
Wasn’t the same as good.
So when those pirates violated Norton’s rules…
Sanosuke had shown no mercy.
Norton pointed toward the loudest men.
“Take those ones.”
“Hand them over to the nearest Marine base.”
Then in their hearts…
Their loyalty remained elsewhere.
Keeping people like that around would only create future problems.
Norton slowly walked past the remaining pirates.
His gaze swept across each face one by one.
Anyone showing resentment.
Hatred.
Barely concealed anger.
He singled them all out.
“Send them to the Marines too.”
Norton understood these men perfectly.
They obeyed only because they feared his strength.
The moment they found an opportunity…
They would either flee…
Or cause more trouble.
He didn’t mind subordinates harboring rebellious thoughts.
He was confident he could control anyone.
As long as they didn’t cross the line.
But once they did…
Punishment was inevitable.
Even if Sanosuke hadn’t acted…
Norton would have killed those troublemakers himself.
The guards followed his orders and escorted the selected pirates away.
The remaining pirates collectively breathed sighs of relief.
To them…
Whether their captain was Redbeard or Norton made little difference.
They had become pirates simply to survive.
Cowards.
Or pragmatists.
Either way…
All they wanted was to stay alive.
Watching the departing prisoners, killing intent briefly flashed through Sanosuke’s eyes.
Norton ignored it.
He turned to the butler.
“Lock the rest up for now.”
“Y-Yes!”
The butler answered instinctively.
“And…”
Norton paused.
“Please apologize to the maid who was harassed.”
“I’m sorry she had to experience that because of my men.”
His apology was completely sincere.
The butler blinked before bowing slightly.
“I will, sir.”
Nami looked at Norton in surprise.
She hadn’t expected someone as proud and domineering as him…
To apologize so earnestly.
Without realizing it…
Her opinion of him improved once again.
“If there’s nothing else…”
Furning forced a smile.
“Everyone, thank you for your hard work.”
The butler nodded.
After cleaning up the blood and removing the bodies…
He led the guards and remaining pirates away.
Soon…
Only Norton, Nami, Furning, and Sanosuke remained.
“Would you still like me to show you around the castle?”
Furning’s face was still pale.
As the beloved daughter of a Duke…
She had never witnessed such a bloody scene before.
The fact that she hadn’t vomited already showed remarkable courage.
Norton shook his head.
“No.”
“We’ll stay here.”
Nami nodded in agreement.
After everything that had happened…
She wasn’t in the mood for sightseeing anymore.
“I’m going to the bathroom.”
Sanosuke suddenly said.
Furning stood.
“Would you like someone to show you the way?”
“No.”
“I’ve already been there.”
Norton watched him leave.
His eyes grew thoughtful.
Once outside Norton’s sight…
Sanosuke never headed for the bathroom.
It had only been an excuse.
Instead…
He silently followed the guards escorting the captured pirates toward the Marine base.
When they entered a deserted street…
He made his move.
Before the guards even realized what had happened…
Sanosuke knocked every one of them unconscious.
“Y-You!”
“Sanosuke!”
“What are you doing?!”
One pirate recognized him.
Sanosuke had no intention of hiding his identity.
As long as the guards remained unconscious…
That was enough.
Because…
Every remaining pirate here…
Was going to die.
Since pledging himself to Norton…
He considered it his duty to eliminate every possible threat to his lord.
Leave weeds alive…
And they’ll grow again.
These pirates weren’t strong enough to threaten Norton.
But Sanosuke had no intention of sparing them.
A ninja existed…
To eliminate everything dangerous to his master.
His teacher’s voice echoed through his mind.
“A ninja is his lord’s blade.”
“A tool that lives within darkness…”
“And clears away every obstacle before its master.”
“So this…”
Sanosuke murmured.
“…is the way of the ninja.”
His kunai flashed through the narrow street.
One pirate after another collapsed.
Fresh blood dyed the stone road crimson.
Only after every pirate lay dead…
Did Sanosuke vanish without a trace.
Several minutes later…
The unconscious guards slowly regained consciousness.
They stared at the corpses surrounding them.
Frozen in horror.
By the time Sanosuke returned to the Duke’s castle…
Norton, Nami, and Furning were discussing the White Pearl.
Whenever the topic turned to ships…
Furning became endlessly enthusiastic.
Most of the time, she did all the talking while Norton and Nami simply listened.
Seeing Sanosuke return, Nami asked curiously,
“What took you so long?”
“…Constipation.”
Sanosuke answered without hesitation.
Norton glanced at him.
He said nothing.
Yet…
Sanosuke felt as though Norton’s gaze had seen through everything.
He quickly lowered his head to avoid making eye contact.
Just then…
The Duke hurried toward them.
His expression was grim.
“Dad?”
Furning stood up.
“Where’s the royal envoy?”
“They’ve already returned to the palace.”
The Duke looked at Norton.
“Mr.
Norton…”
“I’m afraid we’ll have to leave immediately.”
“His Majesty has ordered me…”
“…to deliver the White Pearl to the royal palace at once.”