Haruto took a step forward to follow Dev, but pain shot through his entire body, and his vision blurred. His knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed. Thankfully, Naoko quickly caught him, her petite frame just strong enough to keep him from hitting the ground.
"Brother, you're hurt! Please, you need to rest," Naoko pleaded, tears welling up in her large, worried eyes.
Haruto forced a weak smile, patting her shoulder reassuringly. "I'm fine, Naoko," he said, though his voice was strained. Looking past her, he called out to Dev's retreating figure. "My benefactor! Please tell me your name. I promise I'll repay you one day!"
Dev stopped, turning slightly to glance at Haruto. His expression was a mixture of amusement and irritation. "Repay me?" he said with a scoff. "Kid, you've been reading too many novels. If I wanted repayment, I'd prefer it from a pretty girl—not a rough guy like you."
With that, Dev shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away, leaving Haruto momentarily stunned.
Haruto blinked, his face a mixture of confusion and embarrassment. What does he mean by that? Is he interested in… Naoko? His mind raced, but the pain in his body quickly reminded him of his priorities.
As the villagers hastily packed their belongings, the Marines organized an evacuation plan. With fewer than 400 people left in the village, it took three trips to transport everyone across the river. Many villagers were reluctant to leave, especially those grieving the loss of loved ones. They buried the bodies quickly, their tears soaking into the hastily turned soil.
Dev, however, remained firm. He understood the importance of relocating the villagers. Returning directly to the Marine base wasn't an option—the looming battle with the Kozuki samurai made it too dangerous. Instead, he contacted Rear Admiral Darius to coordinate their next move.
Once the villagers were safely escorted to the rear camp where the wounded were being treated, Dev returned to Darius's base. The atmosphere in the camp was tense. Three Marine captains from Habu, Kibi, and Udon had arrived, and the room was abuzz with strategy discussions.
Just as Dev entered, an urgent message from Vice Admiral Luffy was delivered. The contents were brief but electrifying.
"Counter Attack!."
The tent fell silent. For a moment, no one moved, stunned by the simplicity of the command. Then Dev, always impulsive, shot to his feet and slammed his hand on the table. "This is it!" he exclaimed. "Vice Admiral Luffy must be close to Wano Country—he could arrive at any moment!"
Captain Macron, a grizzled veteran with a scar on the corner of his mouth, frowned in skepticism. "That seems unlikely. My men stationed at the port haven't reported any sightings. If the Vice Admiral had arrived, I'd be the first to know."
Captain Hazel, a sharp-tongued woman with green hair, rolled her eyes. "Really, Macron? Haven't you heard the rumors? The Vice Admiral has a flying battleship. He doesn't need your antiquated marine port."
She gestured upward dramatically. "For all we know, he's hovering above us right now, hidden by the clouds."
Everyone instinctively glanced at the tent ceiling, though it offered no view of the sky. Rear Admiral Darius cleared his throat, bringing the room back to focus. "Regardless of how he'll arrive, the Vice Admiral has given us an order. We attack. Dev, report your findings."
Dev nodded, taking a moment to organize his thoughts before speaking. "Our scouts have completed their reconnaissance. The Yakuza leading the enemy forces is named Gankuro, a notorious underworld boss from the Flower Capital. After pledging allegiance to the so-called Shogun Kozuki Sukiyaki, he was rewarded with a minor official position."
He paused, his expression darkening. "The attack on us was his idea. The man is ambitious, but his forces are growing rapidly."
Captain Cookie, who had been quiet until now, leaned forward. "How many troops are we talking about?"
Dev sighed. "When the scouts first reported, there were 2,200 men gathered in the Flower Capital. By the time I conducted my own reconnaissance, that number had increased to over 2,500. And more are joining by the day—samurai, ronin, mercenaries. By the time we engage, their numbers could reach 3,000 or more."
A heavy silence fell over the room as the weight of the information sank in. Captain Leo, the youngest among them, rubbed his temples in frustration.
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