Chapter 19: Kelo: You keep performing. I

Akin responded with a blank expression.

Though he disapproved of Krik’s methods, he would never defy him.

After all, Krik had saved his life—just that one fact was enough to make him willing to give his own.

His personal feelings mattered little in comparison.

Krik glanced at Akin, guessing most of his thoughts, yet paid them no mind:

“For this plan, I paid a heavy price—bribing Colonel Bater of the 18th Branch to secure you a Marine identity.”

“It’s a perfect disguise—even real Marines would struggle to see through it.”

“Don’t disappoint me.”

Akin nodded, saying nothing.

Night fell.

Waves rose slowly over the bay; everyone had long since left, leaving only Akin seated on the deck, staring blankly at the distant sea.

…

…

…

Several days later.

A warship slowly entered Crow Harbor.

Its hull was damaged, making its class unidentifiable; the Marine flag on its sails was tattered, and its outer armor bore clear shelling marks.

Clearly, this warship had just endured a brutal battle.

Under the guidance of harbor workers, the ship slowly docked at the pier’s edge.

The gangway was lowered.

Gao Wen stepped down from the warship, clad in a Marine lieutenant commander’s uniform, standing tall and proud, his features strikingly handsome—anyone who saw him would instantly praise:

What a heroic and noble young general.

The harbor guards, originally wary, immediately lowered their guard at Gao Wen’s demeanor.

After all, these days pirates all looked like twisted, deformed monsters—someone as refined as Gao Wen might as well have the word “honest” tattooed on his face.

“Marine officer, I’m Jia Sha, in charge here. How may I assist you?”

As a pleasant voice spoke, a woman named Jia Sha emerged from the crowd, flanked by guards.

She was barely in her twenties, dressed in elegant, refined attire, with a light, tasteful makeup on her face.

Her features weren’t conventionally beautiful, but among the ragged, half-naked commoners, she looked like a lotus rising from water.

Gao Wen, recalling the memory, placed his hand over his chest and bowed to Jia Sha in a knight’s salute, his tone gentle:

“Madam.”

“We just fought a bloody battle at sea against Baji Kelo. We now need food and medicine—otherwise, my warship won’t reach the nearest Marine base.”

“I beg your assistance.”

Jia Sha blushed slightly as she watched Gao Wen’s salute.

As a noblewoman from the East Blue, she knew this was the most orthodox knightly gesture—one requiring a royal oath to even learn.

Knightly origin, Marine identity—Gao Wen’s upright persona was instantly cemented.

“No problem—you may freely—!”

Before Jia Sha finished speaking, another whistle echoed from afar.

Everyone looked up.

Another warship was slowly entering the harbor.

Official numbering, intact flag, soldiers standing on deck—everyone present was stunned.

“Two warships arriving in one day?”

“This has never happened before. Don’t Marines always communicate ahead of time?”

“Could it be… one of them is fake?”

“It’s not impossible. Newspapers have reported pirates disguising as Marines to infiltrate ports and launch surprise attacks—several towns in the East Blue were destroyed that way!”

“Then who’s real and who’s fake?”

As they spoke, those around quietly stepped away from Gao Wen.

…

“What do we do?”

Kelo, hearing the murmurs, tightened inside and whispered to Gao Wen.

Before Gao Wen could answer, he reached into his cloak, drew his clawed dagger, and prepared to strike.

They weren’t Marines—just impostors in Marine uniforms. Facing real Marines, a few words would expose them.

At that point, even if he didn’t want to fight, he’d have no choice.

And if they fought here, it wouldn’t just mean failure this time—this supply point would be unusable forever.

Every supply point was vital to a pirate crew—life or death.

“Don’t act rashly.”

Gao Wen lowered his voice, his eyes fixed on the figure on the approaching ship’s deck.

Striped headband, heavy eye bags, unnaturally gaunt frame…

He felt he’d seen this man before, but couldn’t place him.

Just as Gao Wen was at a loss, another familiar figure stepped out from the ship’s cabin.

The newcomer was bulky, with heavy shields mounted on his joints and a massive, inverted-turtle-shell shield on his chest.

“Iron Wall—Paru? Then he must be…”

Gao Wen looked up at the gaunt figure, slowly connecting him to a memory from his past. A faint smile curled his lips:

“So everyone’s an impostor?”

…

On the warship’s deck.

Akin stared at the other warship docked in the harbor, equally bewildered—he never expected to encounter Marines under these circumstances.

But.

Judging by the damage on their ship, they’d clearly just survived a major battle—no threat.

After ordering his men to lower the gangway, Akin descended the ship with Paru and the others disguised as Marines.

“I’m Lieutenant Commander Yin of the East Blue’s 18th Branch. This is my subordinate, Lu Ba.”

“We just fought a battle against Baji Kelo at sea. We now need food and medicine—otherwise, my warship won’t reach the nearest Marine base.”

“I beg your assistance.”

The harbor fell silent.

Jia Sha glanced between the gaunt, ghostly Akin and the upright Gao Wen, subtly stepping closer to Gao Wen.

The guards raised their weapons, black muzzles aimed squarely at Akin and his men.

Right now, Gao Wen looked far more like the one who’d endured a brutal battle—those dense shelling marks on his ship were undeniable.

So Akin, arriving with the same excuse, looked deeply suspicious…

Kelo, standing beside Gao Wen, glanced between Gao Wen and Akin’s sickly, exhausted face, his eyelids twitching.

Wait, so I’m the one who always gets beaten?

Why me?!

In this moment,

Kelo had a strange feeling—staying with Gao Wen, even without fighting, might shorten his life by years.

“What do you mean?”

Akin frowned slightly, outwardly calm, but internally on high alert.

Have we been exposed? Who leaked the information?

These Marines?

Akin’s gaze swept toward the crowd—Gao Wen, upright and serene, nearly blinded him. He couldn’t help silently praising:

What a heroic and noble young general.

(End of Chapter)