Below were not only the soldiers in gear but also a gaunt-faced man with a goatee, wearing luxurious clothes and a cloak resembling a red carpet, with a crown on his head.
This must be the King!
"Murdoch!!"
Before Sage could act, a group burst from the ground hole, Lily leading the pirates, and following them, a little pink-haired figure jumped up, swinging a long hammer furiously.
Murdoch was startled, instinctively retreating, shouting, "Protect me!"
Even a tiny king can have capable guards around.
Two Personal Guards reacted quickly, pulling Murdoch aside and bracing for the incoming hammer.
Bang! Bang!
Two thuds echoed, carrying a surge of kinetic energy, launching the two guards into the ground like they were whack-a-moles, leaving only their heads above the surface.
Renedia landed on the ground, baring her teeth and cursing at Murdoch, "You old asshole, old fart, old hemorrhoid monster, you motherless bastard! Don't think you can run, I'm going to smash you!"
"I'm not old!!"
Frantically, Murdoch retreated into his soldiers, his eyes rolling white, roaring back with sharp words.
"Heh heh..."
After a brief roar, he calmed down, glanced at Sage floating in the air, pushing circles of air under his feet, and said with a smile, "So you're Norton Sage? Not bad... but with so few people, can you defeat my two thousand soldiers?"
He spread his hands, laughing heartily: "This is the Kingdom's army! Let me make you a proposal, pledge allegiance to me. You, as a Black Sail Pirate noticed by the Navy, have no protection on the sea, but I'm different! Swear loyalty and submit to me, and I can offer you shelter!"
"Being a pirate is about getting rich, isn't it? With this invincible ship, my two thousand soldiers, and you, the treasures of the East Sea are ours! Aren't you pirates all about grabbing money, not for the so-called One Piece, which is just an excuse to set sail? Such a thing doesn't exist!"
Murdoch pointed at Renedia, "Kill her, and everything I've promised can be fulfilled!"
"You..."
Renedia tightly gripped her hammer, instinctively looking up at Sage.
Murdoch was right; they're a bunch of pirates, with no ties, and they were just enemies moments ago. If this terrifying guy agrees...
Sage slowly raised his hand, extending his index finger, aiming at Renedia, causing her to break out in a sweat. But the next moment, the finger didn't stop at her but swept past, pointing at Murdoch instead.
Though unknown what would happen, Murdoch instinctively sensed danger, retreating with soldiers forming a human shield.
"Forget it..."
Sage thought for a moment and put down his finger.
"That's more like it!"
Murdoch quietly sighed in relief and grinned, "Then Letitia will..."
Bam!
A figure fell from the sky like a cannonball, scattering soldiers ahead like leaves, smashing them into the palace walls and painting them with blood.
In a blink, Murdoch found the human shield of soldiers vanished, replaced by a menacing giant figure.
"When I said forget it, I meant I didn't want to use the Finger Gun on you."
Sage drew his Flintlock Gun from his waist, pressing it against Murdoch's head, finger on the trigger, "For executions, a gun feels more fitting..."
Murdoch didn't dare move a muscle, cold sweat pouring down his face, as he trembled and shouted: "I am the King! The king of a World Government allied nation! And you are just a mere pirate; killing me would antagonize the World Government, that's a grave sin!"
Pirates wouldn't deliberately target the World Government, nor the Navy, unless absolutely necessary.
No one jumps into meaningless battles without reason; even madmen have their motives.
Pirates aren't mad; why oppose the World Government...
Killing an allied nation king is to challenge the World Government!
"Didn't you say earlier that I destroyed a nation... can you guess how I did it?"
Sage looked at Murdoch, slowly revealing a wicked smile: "I don't know if the One Piece exists, but the treasures of the East Sea are mine. No 'ours' is involved. I give to others; no one gives to me. You sunk my treasure, made me carry a big burden, and now you expect some words to subdue me..."
Bam!
The trigger was pulled.
Murdoch's body jerked back, lifting an inch off the ground, then fell heavily amidst the crowd.
His eyes were wide open, a look of terror etched on his face, with a bullet hole marking his forehead.
"Such a bargain I never dared to dream of, who do you think you are?"
Sage holstered his Flintlock Gun, scoffing coldly.
"Lord Murdoch!"
"Your Majesty!"
Cries and commotion arose among the soldiers.
Their king was killed by a pirate!
"Destroy them! Avenge the King!"
After the uproar, soldiers brandished their weapons at Sage, stabbing at him from close range.
"Tch!"
Without even looking, Sage kicked out, unleashing a massive light-blue slash.
"Rankyaku: Great Helm Break!"
The Rankyaku's slash smoothly bisected the nearest soldiers, shooting towards the door, creating sprays of blood, and only at the entrance did its power wane, blasting the remaining soldiers out.
Before him, the path was clear.
Soldiers remained around but quickly fled outside the castle, yet outside, there were more soldiers.
Two thousand was a human sea.
No matter how full the palace stood, there were barely a hundred; this one kick severed twenty, flung thirty out, and the rest all fled.
"Cannons! Use artillery! Don't engage directly!"
The soldiers outside reacted swiftly, rolling out cannons from every direction, while behind them, groups of soldiers with rifles quickly formed ranks, approaching the castle.
"Sage... what should we do?"
Lily held her slender sword, anxiously observing the approaching soldiers outside.
The numbers were overwhelming...
They had only about thirty people.
Even standing still for an easy kill would tire one out.
"Use the ship!"
Renedia suddenly proposed, "There's a place outside the castle to raise ships; we can head there. The landscape slopes down, and we can glide down on the ship. The ship I built can withstand cannon fire!"
"No... there's no need. If we use the ship, even if it withstands the shells, it would suffer damage, and that's my new ship. Besides... my treasure was lost, so I also want to plunder the castle's treasure; a king's treasure must be more than a mayor's."
Sage squinted, his form suddenly shrinking, reverting to his original size.
He turned to Gin and said, "Gin, lead the others to raid."
Gin was momentarily stunned before responding, but Renedia called out, "Treasures can be gained anytime, right? If surrounded by so many here, we'll be..."
"Lily..."
Interrupting her words, Sage addressed Lily, "Stay away from me; I can't control myself yet."
With this, he proceeded out of the castle on his own.
Outside, a large number of soldiers kept approaching, cannons aligned, targeting the inside of the castle.
Around the castle's slope-like terrain, the heads of over two thousand people jostled, facing the lone figure at the castle entrance.
Sage gazed at the approaching soldiers, a serene look on his face, his pupils flickering with a crimson glow.
His body returned to its usual form, undoubtedly not his limit, but even with 80% of the Dragon Transformation Breathing Technique's enhancement, he confidently faced these two thousand, and even if being hit by a stray bullet or shell, he would only sustain minor injuries.
If it came to battle, a single night would suffice.
However, there's a better way to resolve this.
Especially when dealing with cannon fodder...
"Fire..."
Bzzz!
Even before the word 'fire' could be shouted, Sage's pupils contracted sharply as he glared at them.
Just one look, and sent a tremor through the soldiers, flipping their eyes white, and causing their bodies to collapse weakly.
Boom!
Many cannonballs fired prematurely, exploding on the castle and grounds, igniting flames.
Above the fire, beneath the starry sky, only one stood steadfast outside the castle.
Supreme King!