Raising Legends in Roger's Shadow

Chapter 359: Pay with Your Life for My Family

In the blink of an eye, the dozen or so ferocious-looking beasts were all knocked to the ground, crying out in pain. They lost their ability to fight almost instantly, reduced to whimpering helplessly where they lay.It could not be helped. The ones who had shown up were all top-tier monsters. These creatures might have stood a chance against lower-ranking officers, but against an admiral, they were completely outclassed.

Gales flicked his wrist and casually retracted his talons, not even sparing the fallen beasts a glance. He stepped forward, ready to continue deeper into the island. There had to be something going on here, and at the very least, he intended to drag the culprits out into the open.

He wanted to see just who had the nerve to go this far.

But just as he took two steps—

"Don't hurt them!"

"Leave this place!"

"Bad people! Get off our island!"

A group of figures suddenly rushed out from the nearby forest and ruins.

They wore rough, simple clothes and held crude weapons like pitchforks, wooden sticks, even stones. They were all elderly people and children. Fear, anger, and determination were written across their faces as they bravely threw themselves in front of Gales, shielding the fallen beasts behind them.

Ritter raised an eyebrow, amused.

Oh? This is more interesting than I thought. What kind of village only has the elderly and children left? Not exactly a hard mystery to solve.

Even the older children stepped forward. Their bodies trembled, yet they still formed a fragile human wall. It was obvious they had no intention of surviving the moment they rushed out.

They stared defiantly at Gales, the navy admiral, and the dangerous-looking group behind him. Ritter gave them a casual, friendly wave, smiling as if greeting neighbors. No one responded.

At the front stood an old man with graying hair, leaning on a cane. He shouted hoarsely,

"You demons! You already took our home! Are you not satisfied until you destroy even the last companions who protect us? Leave this place!"

Gales froze.

Joy Boy's eyes widened.

Ritter's smile deepened, a trace of dark amusement curling at his lips. Yes, this was the kind of twist he liked. Being imitated did not really bother him, but it was like a buzzing insect. It did not hurt you, but it made your skin crawl.

Gales frowned, stopping in his tracks. Behind the villagers, the beasts whimpered softly, yet still positioned themselves protectively around the people.

He was forceful by nature, but he was still an admiral who upheld justice. Did he look like someone who would act without reason? The situation in front of him clearly hid something deeper.

Joy Boy looked between the villagers shielding the beasts and the creatures that had just been knocked unconscious. His face filled with guilt and confusion. He scratched his head.

He could feel their anger. The pain of having their families hurt was unmistakable.

"Ritter… did we get this wrong? They don't seem like bad people. Should we help them?"

Ritter remained leaning lazily where he stood, blood mist drifting slowly around him, showing no intention of stepping in.

He yawned.

"Help? Help who? And how? We don't even know what's going on yet. Let them talk first."

His gaze swept over the villagers before settling on a particularly emotional young boy. There was a faint, sharp scrutiny hidden in his crimson eyes.

It was not that Ritter lacked empathy. His observational ability was sharp. But after decades of life, he had long learned to keep his emotions in check. He understood what they felt, just as clearly as Joy Boy did. He simply chose not to be ruled by it.

At that moment, the boy under his gaze seemed to reach his breaking point. Fear and anger boiled over, and anger gave him courage.

He suddenly raised his arm, pointing straight at Gales, his finger trembling but unwavering.

"It was you! A navy just like you! Wearing the same uniform! You brought those vicious pirates here!"

His accusation stunned nearly everyone present.

"They took all our food and all our money! They beat so many people! They said if we didn't hand everything over, they'd kill us all!"

The boy's eyes were red with fury.

"If Big Bofeng and the others hadn't risked their lives to create illusions, and if our parents hadn't fought to hold them back, making those monsters think the island had already been destroyed and everyone was dead… we never would have escaped!"

He pointed at the empty village and the fallen beasts, tears finally spilling down his face.

"We barely managed to hide… we just wanted to stay quiet and survive… why did you come after us anyway? Why won't you even spare the animals protecting us? What do you want from us? Do you have to drive us all to death before you're satisfied?"

With that, he suddenly shoved a fruit into his mouth.

His body began to change.

Dark patterns spread across his face, and the beasts around him began to transform as well. Their bodies swelled, growing larger, more savage, more dangerous.

"Bofeng!" the village chief shouted, trying to stop him, but it was too late.

The transformation finished.

"Village chief," the boy said, his voice steady now, "I understand why my father chose to live in the forest. I have the power to protect everyone now."

Behind him, the villagers grew agitated, their voices overlapping as they cried out accusations and grief, fueled by anger and a desperate resolve to fight to the end.

"Yes! It was the navy who led them here!"

"Those pirates called that navy officer 'sir'!"

"We saw it with our own eyes!"

"We've already lost everything! You monsters… pay with your lives for my family!"

Gales listened to the flood of accusations. His expression darkened instantly, his fist clenching tight. Behind him, the navy soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, shock and disbelief on their faces.

"Admiral Gales… this…"

"We're the navy. We uphold justice. How could we ever work with pirates?"

Joy Boy stood frozen, his massive rubber form filled with shock and anger.

"The navy… working with pirates to rob civilians? How can that be allowed?!"

For the first time, doubt appeared in his eyes as he looked at Gales.

Ritter watched the scene unfold, the faint smile on his lips growing deeper, sharper.

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