UNLOCK: I CAN SEE MY STATS

chapter 44 : the arrival...P4

Two days later - The Deep Sea, Port of the Kingdom of Shaba

A colossal warship, bearing the insignia of General Golden Ramz, had just docked.

Clang!!

Clang!!

The metallic clatter of chains echoed through the air. Marcus's feet and his left hand were shackled to his waist in a humiliating manner.

"Tch! , Slow down, damn it! It's hard to walk like this!" Marcus growled angrily at the marine soldier forcing him off the ship.

He stepped down slowly and glanced around. The port was packed with massive naval battleships .

Despite the military presence, the island’s scenery was stunning,especially the enormous statue that stood proudly in the center.

"Amazing... What is this place?" Marcus muttered in awe, directing the question to the faceless soldier beside him.

"This is the Kingdom of Shaba," the marine replied. "Even a criminal like you can appreciate a place like this."

Marcus ignored the sarcasm, closed his eyes, and focused. In an instant, his senses stretched across the entire island.

Whatever beauty he saw moments ago vanished from his mind.

"This place is a living hell..." he whispered darkly, overwhelmed by the tidal wave of emotions he felt, fear, rage, despair, helplessness, sorrow...

The emotions struck so hard that he began to tear up unconsciously, unable to resist their weight.

"Hmph, are you crying, boy? It's too late for tears now..." came a mocking voice. General Ramz had just arrived and couldn’t resist a sneer at Marcus's tears.

"Damn it! What the hell is with these humiliating restraints?!" Marcus snapped, changing the subject as he tried to wipe his tears, though his shackled hand was bound tightly to the chain at his waist.

Just as Ramz was about to speak, he froze mid-sentence. His eyes shifted toward the group approaching them, five figures dressed in white.

"Hmph... the Special Forces..." Ramz muttered, his gaze narrowing, his expression turning stern.

One of them spoke. "General Golden Ramz..." His eyes locked onto Marcus's grim face. "We request the immediate transfer of the criminal Marcus. From this point forward, we’ll be in charge of his escort."

"To where?" Ramz asked with a sly smile, probing even though he had a guess.

"That’s not your concern, General," the agent replied coldly.

"Government Research Facility, Glove-1..." Marcus said suddenly, causing everyone to stare at him in stunned silence.

Even Marcus looked shocked. He had no idea how those words had left his mouth he hadn’t meant to say them.

"Hmm... you know far too much," muttered one of the agents. Then, at a silent signal from his superior, he grabbed Marcus by his chains and began pulling him away.

"Farewell, boy," Ramz murmured under his breath as he watched Marcus being dragged off. "I'm sorry you were forced down the wrong path..." He sighed again and turned to board his ship.

Marcus smirked bitterly as he picked up on the tangled emotions emanating from Ramz.

"Heh... it’s not like this is the end," he thought darkly, surveying his surroundings carefully.

His eyes widened.

A familiar figure was watching him from the crowd. The man raised a finger to his lips in a silent plea: Don't speak.

"Damn it! What the hell, wait, is he trying to rescue me?!"

Marcus's thoughts raced as he observed the figure, he hadn’t changed much since the last time Marcus saw him.

BOOM!!

An explosion erupted in the northern part of the port. Gray smoke billowed into the sky.

"Crap... that’s where Clear was stationed..."

Marcus heard a voice in his head again, one of the agents’ thoughts, even though the man hadn’t spoken a word aloud.

"Again?! What’s happening to me? These voices started four days ago… Somehow, I can hear other people’s thoughts!"

Marcus grimaced, shaking his head to clear his thoughts, this wasn’t the time.

"I’ll go with Viegg and Voon to check it out. You two, continue the escort," ordered the squad leader, who left immediately with two agents, leaving Marcus under the guard of only two others who hastened their pace.

"Was that really him who did all this? No... he's not smart enough to plan something like this. It must’ve been Dyess..." Marcus thought, watching the situation unfold.

It was likely Dyess who orchestrated the diversion to thin out the special forces. Arin was too impulsive for something this coordinated.

Suddenly, a chill ran down Marcus's spine, his sixth sense kicked in. He tilted his head just in time to dodge flying bullets.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!!

Bang!!

"What the hell is going on?!" he muttered, eyes widening as a chaotic crowd surged toward them, men and women armed with all kinds of weapons. More emerged from alleyways and side streets.

"It's really him!"

"The rebel....!"

"That informant wasn’t lying..."

"Hurry! Get him before others arrive!"

"Move it, bastard!"

"He’s just a skinny kid! I'm Bearhead, I deserve the highest bounty!"

"Five hundred million , mine!"

"Kill the ones in white!"

In an instant, chaos erupted. Pirates, bounty hunters, and even slave traders swarmed the area, all after Marcus, either to hand him over for the bounty, kill him for fame, or capture him for sale due to his growing notoriety.

Marcus dodged a wave of gunfire, narrowly avoiding a pirate’s sword slash aimed at his neck. He saw the special forces trapped in the midst of the mob.

"Tch! Looks like I’ll have to change the plan..." he muttered bitterly, then locked eyes with Arin, who was approaching with a dark expression. Marcus couldn't blame him, on the contrary, he felt deeply grateful.

"Nothing in this world ever goes the way I want..." Marcus murmured, his voice hollow. Then, suddenly, all the sound around him vanished.

"You, Bearer of the Shard... I’ve finally found you..."