dmims 53: The Sun Over Gaya Island
53: The Sun Over Gaya Island
November 8, 1470 (Haiyuan Calendar), Gaya Island.
The central square of Magic Valley Town was shrouded in a solemn atmosphere, with a meticulously constructed, heavy wooden execution platform standing in the center of the square.
"Bonebreaker" Sekari Basil knelt on the execution platform, his hands bound behind his back with rough sea monster sinew.
His bloodshot eyes stared blankly ahead, devoid of fear, anger, or even focus, as if his soul had long been ripped away, leaving only an empty shell awaiting judgment.
The execution platform was surrounded by a dense crowd, with countless eyes fixed on it.
York and Brooke stood on either side of Basil.
Brooke took a step forward, her heel tapping softly on the wooden platform.
He cleared his throat, then spoke in a trembling yet resonant tone:
"To all the residents of Jaya Island, and members of all the pirate crews."
Brooke's voice echoed across the square: "Today, I am here by order of His Excellency Orichum Oro, Grand Captain of the Golden Fleet."
"A public trial and execution will be held for Sekari Basil, the former captain of the 'Bonebreaker Pirates'!"
He paused, as if giving everyone time to process the information, then pulled a parchment from inside his ceremonial robes and began to read aloud:
"The sinner Sekari Basil and his Bonebreaker Pirates have committed countless crimes in Jaya Island and the surrounding waters over a long period of time, too numerous to mention! The most notable crimes are listed below!"
"Firstly, they plundered merchant ships and massacred civilians!"
"......"
"The 315th, yesterday at the dock, while in a conscious state, personally slaughtered a total of 168 of his crew members. His methods were cruel and inhumane, and his crimes were heinous!"
After reading the last sentence, Brooke slowly put away the parchment, his dark eyes scanning the room once more:
"The evidence for the above crimes is conclusive, and I have confessed to them without reservation!"
"In accordance with the provisional provisions of the Gaya Constitution promulgated by His Excellency the Grand Captain, and the fundamental principles of the Sky Sea Convention, the criminal Sekar Basil is sentenced to death! Execution immediately!"
There were no cheers, no commotion, for no other reason than that the dead skeleton on stage had been reading for a full two hours!
Who wrote this? Doesn't it get tiring to write so much? It's exhausting for everyone.
York stepped forward and exchanged a glance with Brooke, who had stepped back.
He slowly drew the curved sword from his waist; the blade gleamed, reflecting his cold, hard face and the leaden sky.
There were no unnecessary rituals, no executioner's mask.
York walked up behind Basil, the pirate captain who had been so arrogant just a few days ago, now kneeling there with a blank stare, showing no reaction to his impending death.
Start.
The knife fell.
A cold arc of light flashed by.
"Pfft!"
A huge head, covered in a handful of warm blood, rolled onto the wooden plank of the execution platform.
Those empty eyes never regained their sparkle until their death.
The headless corpse swayed and fell forward, blood gushing from its severed neck, quickly spreading across the table and staining a large patch of wood red.
There were no screams, no struggles, only the muffled sound of a sharp blade slicing through bone and flesh, and the faint sound of blood flowing.
ended.
Basil the Bonebreaker, who had ruled the waters around Gaya Island for many years, ended his sinful life in a humiliating and bizarre manner.
Brook stepped forward again, ignoring the blood spreading at his feet and the head rolling away. He faced the pale-faced crowd below, especially the surrendered pirates, and asked loudly:
"Fellow citizens, do you have any further questions regarding the first version of the Skysea Convention and the Gaya Constitution?"
No one in the audience uttered a sound.
The reason for this silence, besides exhaustion, was also bewilderment; the faces of most people in the square were blank and confused.
The Sky Sea Convention? The Gaya Constitution? These literary terms are too unfamiliar and distant to those of them who are struggling to survive in the mud.
They don't understand, nor do they comprehend, how these so-called "conventions" and "constitutions" will change their lives.
They were simply intimidated by this swift and decisive action and instinctively chose to obey.
They simply went to the dock one by one over these days to register their names, genders, ages, and occupations, and then received a small card.
"very good!"
Brooke let out his signature laugh, but at this moment it sounded particularly eerie:
"Yo ho ho ho~ Even if everyone is not yet aware of the kindness shown by our great captain."
"But I believe that in the near future, everyone will be able to experience it firsthand and be grateful for it!"
"From now on, there will only be one sun on Gaya Island!"
Kindness? Gratitude? Many pirates scoffed inwardly, but dared not show it; all they saw was blood and death.
The blood beneath the execution platform had not yet been cleaned up when Oro's figure slowly appeared on the platform.
He didn't even glance at Basil's corpse; his golden eyes swept over the pirates who huddled together like startled quails upon seeing him.
"Now, it's your turn."
These words sent a chill down the spines of all the pirates, but Oro gave them no time to react.
He raised his hand, and in an instant, countless tiny, almost invisible golden threads shot out from his fingertips, gathering in the air to form a shimmering golden mist, which then precisely struck each pirate below the stage!
"Wait! Hold on a minute!"
"What is this thing?!"
"They didn't mention this when they asked us to surrender!"
Exclamations arose as the pirates instinctively tried to dodge, but the golden mist was too fast and could penetrate anywhere.
Like the smallest insects, they easily pierced through their clothes, touched their skin, and then... silently seeped in!
They frantically patted and scratched their arms and chests, but could not feel anything.
"Don't panic."
Oro withdrew his hand and looked around the square: "These gadgets will only record your behavior."
"However, if someone can't change their old pirate habits, breaks the law, and harms the interests of Jaya Island..."
Oro snapped his fingers lightly.
"Smack."
With that soft sound, all the pirates below the stage felt a slight tremor in their bodies, and a sharp pain as if they were about to burst out of their bodies suddenly came over them!
This fleeting warning drained the last trace of color from the pirates' faces.
Looking at the group of pirates who were completely subdued, Oro revealed his final plan:
"From this day forward, all of you will be reorganized and regrouped."
Ouro announced the pirates' new identities:
"Reorganized into the First Security Fleet of Gaya Island under the Golden Fleet."
"Responsible for maintaining basic order in Gaya Island and its surrounding waters, and enforcing the Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Gaya Constitution."
"Remember, all registered citizens of the island who receive their identity cards have the right to make reasonable and legal demands of you, and you must not refuse!"