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On the other side of Baterilla Island, the vegetable market had nearly emptied out.
After waiting for almost two hours, disappointment was evident on both Jason and Lordling's faces. Despite their patience, the woman from the picture had not appeared.
By now, aside from a few bored vendors, there were hardly any customers left in the market.
"Looks like she's not coming. We should move to the next location," Jason muttered, shaking his head and preparing to leave.
Just then, Lordling's eyes suddenly lit up. The small cat leaped off Jason's shoulder and, after a few quick bounds, disappeared around a street corner, following a woman who was walking unsteadily. The entire scene unfolded so quickly that by the time Jason registered what had happened, both Lordling and the woman were already gone.
"Lordling!"
Jason stood frozen for a moment, staring at the empty street before him. He quickly scanned every corner of the vegetable market, but the cat was nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, having left Jason behind, Lordling was now sprinting ahead on all fours. Just a short distance away, a slightly plump woman was slowly making her way down the street, carrying a basket.
Compared to Lordling's agile movements, the woman seemed sluggish, walking carefully as if burdened by her condition. In no time, Lordling had caught up and was trailing just a short distance behind her.
Suddenly, the woman halted, as if sensing she was being followed. She hesitated, turning around cautiously to see who—or what—was behind her.
Lordling didn't flee but instead sat quietly, lifting its head to meet her gaze.
After a few seconds, the woman fully turned around. However, her face was unfamiliar, and Lordling's hopeful anticipation quickly gave way to disappointment.
This woman was pregnant, but she was not the one Rojen was searching for.
"Meow."
With a soft, disheartened cry, Lordling prepared to turn away.
But just then, the woman spoke with mild surprise.
"Oh, it's just a cat! If I remember correctly, my neighbor Rouge has always been alone."
"She's also pregnant... Maybe having a cat around would make things a little easier for her."
At the mention of the name, Lordling, who had been about to leave, suddenly froze.
"Rouge? Rouge? That name sounds awfully similar... Could there be a connection?"
"And she's also pregnant!"
Lordling's sharp instincts told it to investigate further.
So, when the woman bent down and reached for it, Lordling didn't resist. Instead, it let out a soft meow and curled comfortably into her arms.
—
Somewhere in the residential district of Baterilla Island, Rojen turned a corner and stepped into the area.
Unlike the bustling downtown streets, the residential district was much quieter. The few pedestrians who walked the roads moved with purpose, hurrying home without lingering.
As he walked along the dimly lit streets, Rojen's keen eyes scanned the surrounding houses.
Through the glass windows and by sharpening his senses, he could determine the number of people inside each home and what they were doing.
With his Ren and Du Meridians fully connected, the strength of Dragon-Elephant Prajña Merit, the insights of the Changing Muscles Classic and Washing Marrow Classic, and his genius-level martial prowess, his physical and sensory capabilities had long surpassed ordinary limits.
The silence of the streets only amplified his ability to assess his surroundings.
Gradually, as Rojen continued walking, he closed his eyes.
The subtle sounds of household life filtered into his ears— heated arguments, playful laughter, soft murmurs of conversation, the steady breathing of those already asleep.
By isolating the sounds, he could analyze the number of individuals within each home and their activities. Only when he confirmed the presence of a single occupant would he open his eyes for a final visual check.
This process was becoming second nature to Rojen.
Before long, he had searched an entire street.
"Nothing."
His expression darkened slightly, but he wasn't discouraged.
Baterilla Island wasn't massive, but it wasn't small either. There were at least eight residential districts like this one.
Without hesitation, he turned and made his way to the next street.
Time passed slowly. Before he knew it, an entire day had slipped away, and night had fallen.
Finding a small tavern, Rojen sat in a secluded corner, resting for a moment.
A whole day had gone by, yet there was no progress.
Jason hadn't sent word, either.
"I can't afford to rush. The Marines have a much wider search radius than me. They're likely clearing the surrounding sea first."
"But I only need to focus on this island— I should be faster than them."
With a calm expression, he downed the drink before him.
The Marines who had been tailing him had already been taken care of, one by one.
As long as he remained cautious, avoiding further exposure, he could move freely without drawing their attention— at least for now.
More importantly, he hadn't noticed anyone relaying intelligence to the outside world.
Casually securing a room at an inn, Rojen decided to get some rest.
Elsewhere on the island, beneath a large tree, Jason sat hunched over, scarfing down his meal with a gloomy expression.
"An entire day wasted, and still no news. On top of that, I lost Lordling! If the captain finds out, I'm dead meat."
He exhaled heavily, rubbing his temples.
"I can't just sit around. As soon as I finish eating, I'll keep looking."
Taking a few more bites, he tilted back a jug of alcohol and chugged it in one go.
Then, he stood up and disappeared into the night.
Meanwhile, at the Marines' base—
"You're telling me an entire team of our intelligence agents was wiped out in broad daylight?"
A young man, bearing the rank of Lieutenant Commander, frowned as he scrutinized the soldier before him.
"Yes, sir. Thirteen agents confirmed dead. The wounds were precise, likely inflicted by a blade."
The soldier's voice was low and steady.
The Lieutenant Commander let out a slow breath, rubbing his temples. A headache was already forming.
"Tighten security. The seas have been restless lately. Our recent crackdown on pirates has led to retaliation."
"Several Marine detachments stationed on nearby islands have already been ambushed."
His expression darkened.
"Our men's lives take priority. Keep searching, but tell them—staying alive comes first."
"Yes, sir!"
The soldier saluted sharply.
"Dismissed."
With a wave of his hand, the Lieutenant Commander sent him off.
As the soldier exited, the officer leaned back, scowling at the written report on his desk.
"What a mess... When did broad daylight become a battlefield?"
"Is it the pirates? Those bastards are getting bolder."
His eyes flickered with suspicion.
Admiral Kizaru was busy inspecting operations on other islands, leaving a Vice Admiral in charge here.
But would that be enough to intimidate these reckless fools?
After a moment of contemplation, he reached for a Den Den Mushi.
"All units, tighten security at every port and coastal exit. I don't care what it takes— during this operation, I don't want so much as a mosquito slipping past our watch."
"Yes, sir!"
Little did they know, Baterilla Island had just become an impenetrable fortress.
(End of Chapter.)