Dante's expression reddened as he followed the Neo Marines pointing fingers.
He intended to see just who had the nerve to operate a slaving vessel in these waters, but when he focused on the distant silhouette, he could only shake his head.
'No wonder Viola kept her mouth shut,' he thought. 'That's not a slave ship. It's one of my worker transports.'
It made sense. With Mock off conquering the Grand Line, where would his territory even source a slave ship? True, Mock's vessels often looked like they belonged to slavers, and his crews certainly acted the part, but they were running a legitimate business.
As for actual pirates? While they existed, the current state of the East Blue left them terrified. Most sailed with their tails between their legs, none would dare cause this kind of trouble in the open.
Dante let out a helpless laugh and turned to Zephyr to explain the misunderstanding.
"That ship," Dante began, gesturing toward the horizon, "might look rough, but it was seized from pirates a while back. It's been retrofitted as a transport vessel."
Zephyr crossed his arms, skeptical. "A transport vessel?"
"It's specifically for moving civilians and refugees," Dante explained. "People who can't survive in the World Government territories or the local kingdoms. We move them to places where there's work."
"Moving desperate people to work in foreign lands?" Zephyr's eyes narrowed. "That sounds exactly like a slave ship."
"Relax, Zephyr-sensei. As a righteous Marine, would I do such a thing? I pay wages."
"If this was the old days, I might have believed you were a righteous Marine," Zephyr grumbled. "But now? You're just messing with me."
"Sensei, we haven't seen each other in years, but don't you trust my character?"
"You are absolutely messing with me."
"Even if you don't trust me, surely you trust Admiral Kuzan or your old friend Vice Admiral Garp? Do I look like that kind of person?"
"You're definitely playing around."
Dante rubbed his temples. "Can we drop this?"
"You also threatened Ain into becoming a pirate."
"..."
The conversation was going nowhere.
Worse, Zephyr's accusations were having an effect. The Neo Marines, who had previously only been suspicious, were now looking at Dante with undisguised disgust, as if he were the scum of the sea.
Dante waved a hand, giving up. "Just see for yourself."
Meanwhile, the transport ship had noticed them.
At first, the crew ignored the vessel, assuming it was just another patrol. The captains of these transports were mostly former members of the 16th Branch, seeing the large '16' painted on the hull usually meant safety. They assumed the Branch was out on a mission, perhaps hunting pirates nearby.
But then they noticed the massive warship accompanying it, a vessel from Marine HQ.
That changed everything. If HQ was involved, this was a secret mission or a major operation. They couldn't afford to get in the way.
The captain of the transport ship waved his hand urgently. "Run! Get us out of here!"
On the 16th Branch deck, Zephyr and his Neo Marines watched in silence as the so-called 'innocent transport' abruptly turned tail and fled at top speed.
It looked exactly like a criminal trying to escape the police.
Zephyr stood in silence for a long moment before turning to Dante, his expression flat. "Why don't you tell your teacher the truth? Is that really not a slave ship?"
"No!" Dante snapped, his patience fraying. "And don't ask me why they're running. I have no idea!"
He spun around to the helm. "Nami! Run them down."
Nami glanced at the fleeing ship and nodded, a confident smirk touching her lips. "No problem. Give me a minute."
--**--**
On the transport ship, the crew was watching the pursuit with growing unease.
"Captain, that ship... it's chasing us."
"Chasing us? They've got guts," the captain sneered, looking back. "But my skills were taught by Petty Officer Nami herself. You know her? The best navigator in the East Blue. I don't know who's steering that warship, but I was the top graduate of the helmsman class!"
He threw his coat aside, cracked his neck, and rubbed his hands together before gripping the wheel. His eyes narrowed in focus.
"Tell everyone to sit tight. I'm about to show you some real sailing."
The crew scrambled to relay the order. "Everyone down! Sit tight! The ship is accelerating, hold onto the handrails! If you feel sick, shout out!"
"Don't worry," another crewman yelled over the wind. "Trust the captain! He's a top graduate. nothing will go wrong!"
The civilians on deck, who had been on the verge of panic, calmed down slightly. If the captain was confident, surely they were safe. This was a sea where pirates rarely dared to attack, after all.
But then the whispers started.
"What's happening?"
"A ship is chasing us... I think it's a warship."
"Marines? Why would Marines chase us? Doesn't the Boss have a deal with them?"
"I don't know... but it might be a HQ ship."
The mention of 'HQ' sucked the air out of the deck.
Most of these passengers were fleeing World Government-affiliated kingdoms. They had heard rumors that their kings were petitioning Marine HQ to arrest their 'Boss' and drag all the runaways back in chains. They had risked everything to leave, emboldened by the success stories of neighbors who had returned from overseas with new clothes, full bellies, and dignity.
Leaving without a king's permission was a crime. If these were HQ Marines, they weren't here to help, they were here to take them back.
Fear rippled through the crowd. Parents clutched their children, knuckles turned white on the railings.
In the wheelhouse, the mood shifted.
"Captain, they're gaining on us!"
"I see them!"
"What do we do?"
The captain, previously so confident, watched the 16th Branch warship cut through the waves behind them.
He saw the way the pursuing ship moved, a smooth, aggressive drift that utilized the wind in a way that shouldn't have been possible for a vessel that size. It was a signature move. A terrifyingly familiar one.
The captain's mouth twitched. A specific face popped into his mind.
He closed his eyes, defeated. "Stop the ship. Come with me to greet them."
--**--**
As the transport ship slowed to a halt, Dante's warship pulled alongside, grappling hooks securing the two vessels. Dante crossed over, followed closely by Zephyr.
"Captain! Nami-sensei!" the transport captain shouted, bowing his head deeply. "I didn't realize it was you!"
"Marine HQ caught us!" a civilian wailed in the background.
Zephyr looked at the captain, who was bowing in inexplicable apology, and then at the deck filled with terrified civilians huddled together in fear.
He stood silent for a long time.
Finally, he turned his head to Dante, his voice filled with heavy suspicion.
"Dante... look me in the eye. This really isn't a slave ship?"
===============
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