Chapter 42: Treasure

"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, that Belit guy still refuses to speak."

Three days had passed since the dramatic events unfolded in Nacia Village, etching memories of chaos and bravery in the minds of its inhabitants. In the aftermath of the pirate incursion, Sakazuki and his crew lingered, their presence a beacon of hope amid the wreckage. Together, they labored tirelessly, aiding the villagers in reclaiming their home from the clutches of fear.

The sun rose on the fourth day, casting its warm embrace upon the village streets, now cleared of the debris of battle. Sakazuki stood amidst the rejuvenated surroundings, his gaze fixed on the horizon, where clouds danced in the azure sky. His countenance betrayed none of the tumultuous thoughts that churned within him.

As the morning unfolded, the villagers emerged from their homes, their faces etched with gratitude and resilience. They had weathered the storm, their spirits unbroken by the trials they had faced. Sakazuki surveyed the scene with a mixture of admiration and solemnity, his heart heavy with the burden of leadership.

In the wake of the chaos, a sense of purpose had taken root among the villagers. With Sakazuki's guidance, they set about rebuilding their lives, one brick at a time. The task was daunting, but their determination was unwavering, fueled by the promise of a brighter future.

Sakazuki, too, had a mission of his own—to ensure the safety and well-being of a young girl who had been orphaned by the violence that had gripped the village. With her parents gone, she was left adrift in a sea of uncertainty, her future hanging in the balance. Sakazuki had taken it upon himself to be her guardian, a solemn vow to protect her from harm.

The villagers, grateful for Sakazuki's intervention, offered their support in any way they could. They rallied around him, eager to repay the debt of gratitude they owed him. Together, they formed a bond forged in adversity, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

As the day wore on, Sakazuki's thoughts turned to the pirate leader, Belit, who had thus far remained obstinately silent. Despite days of interrogation, he had refused to divulge the location of his hidden treasures, much to Sakazuki's frustration.

Belit's stoicism puzzled Sakazuki. What drove a man to endure such torment rather than betray his secrets? It was a question that gnawed at him, a puzzle he was determined to solve.

With a heavy heart, Sakazuki entered Belit's chamber, his footsteps echoing in the dimly lit space. Belit, battered and bruised, regarded him with a mixture of defiance and resignation. His spirit remained unbroken though, his resolve unshaken by the trials he had endured.

Sakazuki approached Belit, his expression unreadable. "Why do you still resist?" he asked, his voice a low rumble that reverberated through the room.

Belit met Sakazuki's gaze with steely resolve. "I will not betray my comrades' efforts!" he replied, his voice steady despite the pain that wracked his body.

Sakazuki sighed, a heavy weight settling upon his shoulders. He had hoped that Belit would see reason, that he would understand the futility of his defiance. But it seemed that the pirate leader was made of sterner stuff, his loyalty to his crew unwavering.

For hours, Sakazuki probed Belit's defenses, seeking cracks in his spirit, but the pirate leader remained steadfast. His refusal to yield only fueled Sakazuki's determination, his frustration giving way to grim resolve.

As night fell and the chamber grew dark, Sakazuki sat alone with his thoughts, grappling with the enormity of the task before him. Belit's silence was a barrier he could not breach, a wall that stood between him and the truth.

But Sakazuki was not one to be deterred by adversity. With each passing moment, his resolve only hardened, his determination to uncover Belit's secrets unshakeable.

In the days that followed, Sakazuki redoubled his efforts, employing every tactic at his disposal to break Belit's resolve. Yet still, the pirate leader remained silent, his lips sealed tight against the torrent of questions that assailed him.

But Sakazuki was not one to give up easily. With each passing day, his determination only grew, his commitment to justice unwavering. He would not rest until he had uncovered the truth, no matter the cost.

As the days turned into weeks, Sakazuki's patience was put to the test. But still, he persisted, his unwavering resolve a testament to his dedication to the cause. And though the road ahead was long and fraught with peril, Sakazuki knew that he would not falter, not so long as there was still hope to be found in the darkness.

"Did you know that punishment is also a highly skilled job? Judging by your expression, it seems you don't truly appreciate the art of punishment and interrogation in our Marine ranks. Let's take a different approach."

Sakazuki gripped the pliers tightly in his hand, his gaze fixed upon Belit with a somber intensity. Turning to the Marine soldiers gathered around, he commanded, "Hold him down, and don't let him move."

Placing the pliers before Belit, Sakazuki's voice cut through the tense air, "I understand that for individuals like yourself, mere physical pain may not yield results. But have you ever heard the phrase 'ten fingers connected to the heart'?"

Before Belit could react, Sakazuki swiftly applied pressure to Belit's fingernails with the pliers, eliciting a sharp cry of pain as the nails were forcibly removed, leaving his fingers bloody.

"Unpleasant, isn't it?'Ten Fingers Connected to the Heart' refers to this sensation. How many times can you endure it? Will your heart breakdown first or your fingers? Let's see, shall we?"

With methodical precision, Sakazuki repeated the process on Belit's remaining fingers, each pull met with increasing anguish from the pirate leader. Despite the pain, Belit remained resolute, his gaze defiant even in the face of agony.

The room echoed with Belit's screams as fear coursed through his veins, each cry adding to the mounting tension. Yet Sakazuki remained unmoved, his expression unchanged as he continued his relentless pursuit of information.

As the torture continued, Belit's resolve wavered, his once-confident facade crumbling under the weight of Sakazuki's relentless assault. Though his body screamed for mercy, his lips remained sealed, a testament to his unwavering loyalty to his crew.

But Sakazuki was not one to be deterred by mere obstinacy. With a steely determination, he pressed on, exploring every avenue in his quest for the truth. And as the hours stretched into days, his patience was rewarded.

With each passing moment, the fear in Belit's eyes grew, his spirit on the brink of collapse. Yet still, he refused to yield, his defiance a testament to the strength of his adventures, convictions and experience.

But Sakazuki was not one to rely solely on physical pain. With a calculated precision, he shifted tactics, employing psychological torment to break Belit's resolve. And as the pressure mounted, cracks began to appear in the pirate leader's spirit.

With a mixture of relief and trepidation, Belit finally relented, his voice hoarse with pain as he revealed the location of his hidden treasures. And as the truth emerged, Sakazuki's gaze hardened, his mind already calculating his next move.

For in the world of the Marines, victory was not measured in battles won or enemies vanquished, but in the unwavering pursuit of justice and the relentless pursuit of truth. And as long as there were those who dared to defy the law, Sakazuki would be there to mete out justice with an iron fist.

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Crew members! If you liked my work support it with power stones to get a boost in Power rankings.

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