They entered the room.
As they took in the scene inside, everyone's eyes were filled with shock and fury.
They finally understood why Kong Tai was so enraged.
The sight before them, not to mention Kong Tai, would enrage any normal person who witnessed it!
Inside the room, a naked, bruised girl was bound to a chair, her legs spread apart…
The air was thick with an unsettling scent and the smell of blood.
Before the girl, a fat, ugly middle-aged man in opulent robes and wearing a crown, was also naked from the waist down, his rear end exposed, kneeling on the ground with his head bowed low, his eyes rolling back.
Beside the man lay a golden scepter, its tip stained crimson amidst the gold.
Scattered across the floor were more men, and among them lay several girls who had already breathed their last.
These girls shared a common characteristic: their bodies were covered in wounds, and their eyes were wide open.
The hatred and despair in their eyes had not fully dissipated even in death, nor when Kong Tai and the others entered.
What was even more infuriating was a large rotating wheel mounted on one of the walls.
Bound to it was a woman.
Her head hung low, her long hair obscuring her face, making it impossible to see her features. Darts and throwing knives were embedded all over her body.
Blood trickled down her skin, dripping from the weapons and pooling on the floor.
Beside Kong Tai, Kuina began to tremble uncontrollably.
Her eyes widened as she stared at the scene before her in disbelief.
"Can people truly be this wicked?"
She shook her head, her left hand gripping the scabbard of Wadō Ichimonji, and pulled it upwards.
Her killing intent surged.
These people could no longer be called humans; they were beasts, devils.
"No rush."
Sensing Kuina's murderous intent, Kong Tai placed his hand on hers, looked at her, and then turned his gaze to the crowned man still kneeling on the ground. His expression was cold as he said, "Killing these beasts so easily would be too lenient."
He then looked upwards, towards the girl on the rotating wheel, and called out, "Doctor Indigo."
"Yes!"
"Go and check on these two unfortunate girls."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "See if they can be saved."
At this moment, there were still two girls with a faint pulse in the room: the one on the chair and the one on the rotating wheel.
In truth, he already knew the outcome without Doctor Indigo's examination.
As far as he could sense, these two girls were on their last legs. They hadn't died immediately because their life force hadn't completely flickered out, bolstered by their sheer will to survive.
However…
It wouldn't be long now.
This was why he hadn't rushed in immediately after sensing them.
There was nothing he could do alone, but perhaps if he brought Doctor Indigo, the doctor might be able to save them?
Indigo met Kong Tai's gaze and quickly stepped forward.
He approached the chair and looked at the heavily wounded girl. A flicker of pity crossed Indigo's eyes. He gently took the girl's hand and felt her wrist, trying to sense her condition.
Just then, the girl suddenly opened her eyes. She stared at Indigo, her eyeballs bloodshot, an astonishing hatred burning within them.
"Don't move!"
Indigo looked into the girl's eyes and said gently, "I'm not from the ship; I'm a doctor."
"Doctor?"
"Yes!"
Indigo nodded. The hand holding the girl's wrist paused, then he looked up at Kong Tai and shook his head.
He released the girl and stood up, walking towards the rotating wheel.
Clearly, this girl could not be saved.
Even though he had expected the outcome, Kong Tai's eyes still flashed with a hint of sorrow as he looked at the girl.
He released Kuina, walked to the girl's side, and took off his moon-white robe. He gently draped it over the girl, covering her wounded body.
As soon as it was covered, blood rapidly stained the robe.
The blood-red marks, like plum blossoms on the moon-white robe, were dazzling under the light.
Kong Tai squatted down and stared into the girl's eyes.
"I'm sorry… we couldn't save you."
The girl turned her head to look at Kong Tai, her eyes moving. "You… you… who are you people?"
"Us?"
Kong Tai paused, looked at the girl, and a gentle smile curved his lips. "We are partners of justice."
"Justice?"
The girl stared at Kong Tai, a hint of mockery in her eyes. "What is that? Can it be eaten? Can it make us whole again?"
As she spoke, she exerted force with her arm, grabbing Kong Tai's hand tightly. Her fingernails dug deep into the skin of his hand.
Then, as if in a final burst of strength, her back lifted from the chair, her chest puffed out, and she leaned forward, shouting at Kong Tai, "Don't joke with me. There is no such thing as justice in this world."
Bang—!
With that, she lost all strength, her body slumping back onto the chair.
The hand she had gripped Kong Tai with loosened, slowly sliding down his arm and finally falling to the side of the chair, unable to be lifted again.
Kong Tai stared at the girl, ignoring her actions and words from moments before.
He raised his hand and gently stroked her head.
"This world may be rotten, but it's not devoid of people who genuinely seek the light. I know you are in pain, and after what you've been through, you've come to hate this world. But you see!"
As he spoke, his hand moved down to her chin, lifting it upwards, propping her chin and making her look forward.
"Everyone eventually dies. Don't worry, I'll make him join you soon. When you get there, you'd better make him pay!"
The girl looked at the figure before her, the one who inspired such terror, disgust, and revulsion. Her eyes blazed with immense hatred, then a boundless sense of satisfaction flashed within them.
"Hehehehehe!!"
She let out a laugh as she watched.
"Cough, cough, cough!!"
Blood spurted from her mouth, her laughter ceased, and she breathed her last.
Kong Tai stood up, looked at the girl, at her eyes that refused to close even in death, at the last trace of madness and amusement in them, and sighed inwardly.
At least, she died with a smile on her face.
Even if that smile was filled with madness, it was still a smile, wasn't it?
By the door, A Tao leaned against the frame, puffing on his cigarette.
He withdrew his gaze from the room and turned to look at Shirogane, who stood opposite him, mockingly saying, "This is your justice, Marine. It's truly eye-opening!"
Shirogane was speechless.
Looking at the scene inside the room, his face remained calm, but his heart was filled with a restless agitation.
He averted his gaze, lowered his head, and pulled out a box of cigars from his pocket. He opened it, took out a cigar, and with the blade attached to the cigar box, he cut off the end of the cigar, then placed it in his mouth.
He put the cigar box back into his pocket and fumbled inside. He paused for a moment, then looked up at A Tao. "Could I borrow a light?"
He had left in such a hurry that he had forgotten to bring a lighter.
He rarely smoked, but seeing the scene in the room, he felt that only by smoking could he release the turmoil within him.
A Tao stared at Shirogane for a while, then, with a cigarette in his mouth, reached into his pocket with his right hand, pulled out a lighter, and tossed it to Shirogane.
"Seeing as we're both smokers, I'll lend you one. Here you go!"
Clack—!
Shirogane caught the lighter tossed by A Tao and flicked open the cap with his right thumb.
Ding—!
Then, pressing his thumb against the wheel, he slid it downwards.
Chik—!
A flame erupted.
Shirogane looked at the flame, his eyes flickering, then lowered his head and brought the cigar in his mouth to the flame, puffing a few times.
Hissing—!
Smoke rose amidst flashes of fire.
"Thank you!"
He looked up at A Tao, extinguished the flame on the lighter, closed the cap, and tossed it back to him.
A Tao caught the lighter, casually put it back in his pocket, and paid no further attention to Shirogane.