With Ain order, eight soldiers immediately stepped forward, escorting four fishman pirates. The four soldiers in charge of the execution raised their guns, aimed at the four restrained fishman pirates, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Just like the execution of the pirates at Sabaody Archipelago, it was the standard procedure: two shots to the chest and one to the head.
As the gunshots echoed with a particularly resounding impact, the four pirates fell to the ground almost simultaneously and were promptly dragged away by the eight Marine soldiers who had escorted them.
Next, another four fishman pirates were brought forward.
The straightforward and brutal execution method made the remaining fishman pirates, who had yet to be executed, lose their composure. They struggled desperately, trying to seize any chance of survival.
However, even if they exerted all their strength, there was no way they could escape from the Marines. Setting aside the strength of the soldiers restraining them, the Marshal himself was present.
Even if some of these soldiers were on their first mission, they would unleash unprecedented power.
After all, they had witnessed their Marshal personally tear off a piece of his clothing to bandage Captain Morgan wound. While the villagers of Cocoyasi might not understand the significance of that act, the Marines certainly did.
It's no exaggeration to say that, in the eyes of the Marine soldiers, having the Marshal personally tend to their wounds was the highest honor they could achieve as Marines.
The villagers of Cocoyasi, of course, didn't pay attention to these details. Their focus was entirely on the execution. As they watched one after another member of the Arlong Pirates being dragged out and executed with two shots to the chest and one to the head, the previously silent crowd began to murmur with sobs of relief and joy.
The execution of Arlong and his crew meant they no longer had to live in fear, no longer had to pay a monthly "protection fee" to Arlong pirates just to survive.
Even Gen, who had been standing tall with his right hand raised in a salute as he watched the members of the Arlong Pirates being executed one by one, couldn't hold back his tears.
If it weren't for the ongoing executions, he would have left immediately to visit the grave of that foolish woman who had been shot by Arlong while protecting her two adopted daughters, to tell her everything he had witnessed.
Soon, only Arlong, Hatchan, Kuroobi, and Chew remained from the Arlong Pirates. Watching their former comrades being executed on the spot one after another, the four had long given up hope of survival.
Their expressions were numb as they stared at Arlong, whose mouth had been smashed to a pulp.
When the Marine soldiers in charge of the executions approached them, Hatchan, Kuroobi, and Chew suddenly snapped out of their stupor and began struggling desperately.
Kuroobi, while struggling, cried out to Arlong for help.
"Arlong, do something! Are you just going to watch us all get killed? When you asked us to leave the Grand Line and come to the East Blue, you promised to lead us in building the Arlong Empire here! I... I don't want to die!"
"Ughhh—"
Arlong, his mouth mangled, glared fiercely. With his immense strength, he struggled to his feet, took a step forward, and knelt at Orion's feet. With all his might, he slurred.
"Fleet Admiral Orion... I... I was wrong!"
"I gave all the orders. Please, spare Hatchan and the others. I'll take full responsibility!"
"Fleet Admiral Orion, I... I was wrong!"
As he spoke, Arlong prepared to kowtow to Orion. Just as he was about to lower his head, Morgan immediately stepped forward and dragged him back.
Even so, Arlong continued to beg frantically, repeatedly banging his head against the ground.
"Wrong?"
Orion calmly adjusted his collar, his expression cold.
"If everyone could just kneel and beg for mercy after committing heinous crimes, what would be the point of the Marines?"
After a brief pause, Orion leaned slightly forward, looking down at Arlong, who was still kowtowing and admitting his wrongs. His voice was devoid of any emotion.
"You don't realize you were wrong, you just know you're about to die!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As soon as Orion finished speaking, three gunshots rang out. Immediately after, Hatchan collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Although the soldiers had shot him twice in the chest and once in the head, one of them, seemingly worried about any mishaps, muttered "Octopuses are resilient" before he and his comrades emptied their magazines into him.
Witnessing this, even Smoker, a Marine himself, couldn't bear to watch and subtly turned his head away. Tashigi, on the other hand, was completely stunned.
She stood frozen, her expression blank as she stared at Orion, who sat calmly in his chair.
Having followed Smoker to the East Blue Loguetown, Tashigi had been stationed at Marine Headquarters since her training days and had even attended the officer training camp there.
Thus, she was quite familiar with Orion, a former Vice Admiral.
In her memory, Orion was a gentle, righteous, and very friendly Vice Admiral at Headquarters, with an excellent reputation. He was deeply respected and liked by many of her fellow officers and seniors.
Most importantly, she herself had once received Orion care. When she completed the officer training camp, Orion came to offer his regards and presented a gift to every officer who had participated in that session.
At that moment, she was so excited that she almost couldn't resist hanging onto Orion, as her greatest passion was collecting famous swords. Her reputation as a sword enthusiast was widely known throughout the headquarters.
Yet, such a gentle, righteous, and considerate person had suddenly become so decisive and ruthless. How could her fragile heart handle it?
Finally, with the last three gunshots, Arlong paid the ultimate price for his heinous crimes. He was dragged away like a dead fish by two soldiers and thrown into a large pit in the yard.
As soon as Arlong body was dragged away, Nojiko, who had been standing beside Gen, could no longer hold back. She rushed out recklessly and shouted at Orion, who was seated calmly on a chair.
"Fleet Admiral, I—"
"Stop!"
Before Nojiko could finish her sentence, Morgan reached out and stopped her.
"Little girl, the Fleet Admiral has no time for you right now!"
"Fleet Admiral, please calm down! Please calm down!"
Unprepared for Nojiko impulsive action, Gen didn't have time to think. He immediately shouted and ran over, anxiously explaining.
"This child is a war orphan. Their mother… their mother was once a marine. Please, be merciful…"
Before Gen could finish, Orion suddenly turned his head, signaling Morgan to step aside. He then gestured to Gen and Nojiko, saying.
"Come here and speak."
"Fleet Admiral."
Under the watchful eyes of the marine soldiers and officers, Gen nervously approached Orion. The aura of Orion and the officers from the headquarters was so overwhelming that he didn't dare to look up. He bowed his head and stammered.
"I'm sorry, it's… it's my fault for not disciplining the child properly. She has offended you."
Orion ignored Gen and quietly activated his Observation Haki, covering the entire Arlong Park. He then looked at Nojiko and spoke in a gentle tone.
"Nojiko, the person you're looking for is on the top floor of the building behind me. I think she needs you right now!"
"Really?"
Hearing that Nami was on the top floor of the building, Nojiko didn't even have time to say thank you before she turned and ran off.
After watching Nojiko run into the building, Orion immediately turned his gaze to the group of headquarters officers standing beside him and said calmly.
"Gion."
"Here!"
As soon as the words fell, Gion immediately took a step forward.
Orion rose from his chair and walked over to Gion, speaking unhurriedly.
"I will soon embark on a week-long tour of the East Blue!"
"Relay my orders to the Marine Headquarters and all its branches."
"Tell them that after my eastern tour concludes, I need a list of all officers and soldiers from the Headquarters and major branches who have fought for justice over the past decade. Whether they are still in service or have left the Marines, as long as they have contributed to justice, they must be compensated and rewarded based on their merits!"
"For those who have sacrificed their lives, whether officers or soldiers, they shall all be posthumously honored as Marine Heroes. Their families will be designated as Hero Families, receiving the protection of the Marines for generations."
"Anyone who harms a Hero Family, no matter who they are, shall be treated as a criminal."
"That is the first order."
"Secondly, immediately issue orders to all major branches in the East Blue, instructing them to release a pirate bounty and conduct a thorough, carpet-style patrol and search across the entire East Blue!"
"During this period, I do not want to hear any progress reports. I only want the pirates dead."
------------------------------
Read 60 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator