A st roared in the distance.


    Hm? Gunpowder?


    Waah! Whats going on, master!?


    The noise, not too dissimr from distant thunder, made me frown. It was the noise of an explosion caused by gunpowder, something I had heard many times at Fort Bryden.


    Taken by surprise, Sue was clinging to me. I patted her head to calm her down, while looking in the direction of the explosion.


    The noise came from the ports direction.


    A column of ck smoke was rising towards the clear blue sky. The sea winds carried the pungent smell of gunpowder to our nostrils.


    This is the smell of troublewe cant even have time for some sightseeing?


    Trouble again, Lord Dyngir?


    As if to reply to my grumbling, a young girl in a maid outfit emerged from behind a tree.


    Sakuya had apparently been following us: her re was now directed at Sue, who was still sticking to me.


    Sakuya? Since when were you here?


    Since the middle of your date. Is there a problem?


    I thought I gave you work to do. The investigation of the Lion Kingdom.


    The Fangs of Steel I called from the Maxwell province are taking care of it. In any case


    Sakuya peered at the column of ck smoke.


    We could hear screams from the direction of the explosion, and they were getting progressively louder. We were rather far from the main street, but themotion could be heard all the way here.


    The moment Lord Dyngir arrives, trouble starts brewing


    Enough twisting the knife in the wound, all right? Im starting to wonder if its really my fault here. Anyway, Ive decided: as soon as this matter is dealt with, Im going to the sanctuary to order a purification.


    I really started thinking someone put a curse on me.


    The moment after I stated my decision, another st was heard from the port.


    One st.


    Two sts.


    Three sts.


    Three sts, in rapid session. I shook my head and sighed.


    Well thenhow should we move here


    First of all, I believe that you should distance yourself from that mosquiahem, from Miss Sue.


    Waaaah!?


    Sakuya grabbed Sues arms and pulled her away from me, despite thetters shrieks.


    Meanwhile, near the Brutos coastline


    Another explosion shook the air, blowing away nearby buildings and the ships anchored into port.


    Fragments of wood, stone and bricks scattered everywhere. A pir toppled, threatening to crush the people underneath.


    Aaaaahh!! Someone help!!


    Ghgahhelp..


    My ship!! NOOO!!


    What the hell is going on here!?


    Randy, captain of the Brutos security corps, cursed loudly, his face contorted in a grimace.


    He forcefully moved the copsed wood and rescued the people trapped under it.


    His subordinates were also helping the wounded and leading the citizens to safety.


    Captain!! Look at this!!


    This isan iron ball?


    A ck sphere made of iron had crashed through the side of a storehouse. It was warm to the touch, as if it had been roasted over fire.


    Its origin was still unknown, but there was no doubt that the iron sphere was the cause of the destruction in the port.


    There!! Those ships did it!!


    A young security guard pointed towards the sea, towards a group of about 10 pirate ships moored in the bay, and the pirs of ck smoke rising from them.


    The iron spheres were shot by those ships! That g is


    The Lion King Crew!!


    Randy clenched his teeth.


    On the ships mast flew a bright red lion, the national emblem of the infamous pirate country Lion Kingdom, as well as the g of its own band of pirates, the Lion King crew.


    Damn pirates! Why would they attack this town!?


    Randy knew that in recent years, the Lion King crew was expanding its influence and had razed several countries. He would have never expected, however, for them to attack the Kingdom of Sapphire, the greatest trading country of the Southern Archipgo, without even a deration of war.


    GWAAAAHHH!!


    Another column of ck smoke rose from the pirate fleet, as another side of the port was bombarded. One of Randys subordinates, caught in the explosion, was blown to pieces and sank into the sea, creating a puddle of red blood on the surface.


    DAMN YOUUUU!! PIRATES!!! COME DOWN AND FACE ME IN COMBAT!!!


    Randy roared towards the sea, tossing his trustednce to the ground.


    He was the most skillednce user of the security corps, but could do little against an enemy out of his weapons reach.


    The town where he was born and raised was being destroyed before his eyes.


    The people he swore to protect were screaming in pain.


    Despite all this, the young captain was powerless. His heart, tortured by anger and grief.


    Captain!! Watch out!!


    A shadow towered over the screaming Randy, as another pir copsed. Before he could react, the pir mmed the ground, hiding everything in a cloud of dust.