Following Kuzan's call, the nearest Marine branch, Marine G-2, mobilized. Vice Admiral Comil, the base commander, led three thousand men and three warships toward Scythiany.
When they arrived, they found the shoreline swarming with people. Upon closer inspection, these weren't the pirates of the Immortal Pirates they had expected, but desperate civilians.
The destruction of the nation had begun a week prior, but with three hundred thousand people attempting to flee, where could they possibly find enough ships?
Between private vessels and the Sea Train, people had spent a week fighting for every available seat. In the end, less than a third of the population had successfully escaped the island.
Seeing the situation, Vice Admiral Comil waved his hand and ordered a full-scale refugee rescue. They distributed food and water while contacting other branches and Marine bases to send more rescue ships. They also ordered an increase in the frequency of the Sea Train arrivals.
A Commander walked up to Comil, his face pale with apprehension. "Vice Admiral, Alucard the Immortal is on this island. Instead of rescuing refugees, shouldn't we be setting up a defensive formation to prevent—"
"Oh, that won't be necessary."
Suddenly, a familiar voice drifted into the ears of the G-2 Marines. Everyone turned in shock. Comil managed to choke out two words: "Aokiji..."
"No. Just 'Kuzan' now."
Kuzan walked toward Comil and the other Marines, accompanied by his giant pet penguin.
Though a bounty had already been issued for him, he hadn't been away from the Navy for long. He still commanded a powerful sense of awe and intimidation within the ranks; for a moment, not a single soul dared to raise a weapon against him.
"Now, now, don't be so tense."
Kuzan raised his hands in a mock gesture of surrender. "The Immortal Pirates are all deep within the city. There isn't a single soul of theirs on the coast..."
He paused, scratched his cheek, and added three more words: "...except for me."
"Why would a man like you..." Comil started, narrowing his eyes.
Kuzan lowered his head slightly. "This is my Justice, Comil-san."
"I have never believed the Government is the absolute standard for judging right and wrong. The Navy is the same. After leaving and standing on the side of the Navy's greatest enemy, I can actually see things I couldn't see before."
"What?" Comil failed to grasp his meaning for a moment.
Kuzan and his pet penguin turned to leave. Startled, Comil blocked his path. "Wait! Aokiji!"
"Inform Sengoku-san, tell them to go to Sarobian."
Kuzan kept his back to the Marines, his gaze behind his sunglasses intensely serious. "That is the Immortal Pirates' next target. Before they strike, evacuate every single civilian. Don't worry about what the royals think."
With that, Kuzan left without looking back, leaving Comil and his men stunned.
…
When Kuzan re-entered the city, Scythiany was on the brink of total collapse. Smoke billowed across the skyline as Pacifistas and members of the Immortal Pirates moved through the streets.
This country was dead.
"Finished reminiscing with your old comrade, former Admiral Aokiji?"
Dr. Vegapunk walked up to Kuzan, a smirk playing on his lips. "I thought you might take the chance to go back."
"Why assist in something like this, Vegapunk-san?" Kuzan asked calmly.
"Is it for research? Or for fun? Perhaps you've been infected by the Captain."
Dr. Vegapunk took a few steps forward and chuckled. "As long as it topples the Government, what does it matter if a few people have to suffer a little?"
…
It took Vice Admiral Comil's G-2 branch and the other dispatched Marines five full days of non-stop effort to evacuate the remaining two hundred thousand people from Scythiany.
But the true trouble lay ahead.
These people had lost their homes and their nation. Where would they go now? For some of them, it might have felt better to have simply sunk into the sea with the island.
"Alucard-sama, the Ryumyaku extraction is complete. Please, enjoy your feast of souls."
Half a month had passed since they first landed. Dr. Vegapunk had finally located the Ryumyaku of the sixth "King's Land."
Alucard closed an ancient book and said, "You did well, Kuzan."
Kuzan looked left and right, pretending he hadn't heard a thing. As Alucard moved to leave, Kuzan tried to follow, but Aranea blocked him with her rifle. She let out a light laugh. "For a 'suspected mole,' you'll live longer if you don't involve yourself in classified matters, Kuzan-san."
"Arara... calling me a mole is really quite hurtful."
…
Half an hour later, Comil and his men, now a considerable distance from Scythiany with a portion of the refugees, suddenly heard a thunderous roar erupt from the sea behind them.
Marines and civilians alike stood up, staring back at the source of the sound.
Scythiany, once a great nation of three hundred thousand, began to split and crumble under the weight of that roar. Finally, it plunged into the depths of the ocean.
"Our home is gone..."
"What's going to happen to us now?"
"Mama, where are we going to live?"
Seeing the island sink, the refugees on the ships broke into tears.
Unable to bear the sight, Comil turned toward the sea and whispered, "At least lives were saved. That is the greatest wealth of all."
"Perhaps we should thank the pirate Kuzan this time."
The Commander standing beside Comil couldn't help but add, "If not for him, those remaining two hundred thousand people would likely have sunk into the sea along with that island."
"The Government isn't the standard for right and wrong. Neither is the Navy."
"After becoming a pirate, I can see things I couldn't see before."
Comil recalled Kuzan's words and fell silent. After a long while, he murmured, "Perhaps."