Morning light pierced through the heavy clouds, spilling across the marble-paved ground and reflecting waves of golden brilliance.
East Blue—Marine Branch 16 Base.
Colonel Nezumi, a man whose very face resembled a rodent and who was clad in a Marine officer's uniform, was conducting his routine report earnestly into a Den Den Mushi.
"Please rest assured, sir! Under my management, the waters of the Conomi Islands are completely peaceful. Not a single pirate dares commit crimes here!"
"What?"
"Oh, you mean the Straw Hat Pirates who've been making a name for themselves in the East Blue recently?!"
"Please don't worry! Every officer and soldier of Branch 16 will remain on full alert. We will never allow any evildoers to run rampant within our jurisdiction!"
"I swear upon the justice I carry—crime will inevitably be brought to justice!"
Click!
As the receiver was hung up, the once-serious Den Den Mushi immediately closed its eyes and fell into sleep mode.
At the same moment, the proper expression on Colonel Nezumi's face twisted into something incomparably sly.
He curled his lips in disdain and sneered.
"Hmph~ You want me to risk my life going after pirates?"
"Do I have too much Beli lying around, or do I just not value my life anymore?"
"Whatever. Since it's an order from the superior who promoted me… I'll just send a few warships over later and have those fish-men put on a little show. That'll fool them well enough."
Colonel Nezumi swaggered back into his plush leather chair, surveying the lavish office as he comfortably stroked his mustache.
Ever since the Arlong Pirates decided to station themselves in the waters of the Conomi Islands and began cooperating with him, his days could only be described as blissful.
Any pirates who appeared in these waters would be dealt with by Arlong Pirates patrols, and the achievements would then be credited to him.
Every so often, he would also receive generous tributes from the Fish-Men.
"This… this is the life a person's supposed to live!"
Each time such thoughts crossed his mind, Colonel Nezumi couldn't help but let out a sinister, squeaky chuckle.
However, at that very moment—
BOOM!!!!!
Through the glass behind him, a blazing inferno suddenly surged forth, instantly engulfing a Marine warship docked in the harbor.
Ding-ling-ling-ling—!!!
Shrill alarm bells echoed across the entire Branch 16 base.
"W-Wh-Wh—What's going on!?"
The sudden explosion jolted Colonel Nezumi, and he sprang to his feet, rushing to the window.
Two or three minutes later, his office doors were flung open as a Marine soldier burst inside.
It was his personally trained adjutant.
This corrupt subordinate, who had long been in league with him, wore a panicked expression as he stammered out,
"C-Colonel Nezumi—th-this is bad!"
"Pirates are attacking us!!!"
"What?!"
BANG!
Nezumi slammed his desk in fury.
"Are they idiots?! This is a Marine base!"
"Mobilize the troops immediately! I want to see who has the nerve to pull this stunt!"
"W-Wait, Colonel Nezumi…"
A trace of hesitation flashed across the adjutant's face. The next second, he shakily produced a crumpled bounty poster from his pocket.
"According to the soldiers' reports, the attackers are very likely the pirate who's been making waves across the East Blue lately…"
"'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy!!!"
"What did you just say?!"
Tap tap tap tap…
Colonel Nezumi hurried over and snatched the bounty poster from his adjutant's hands.
A bounty of 50 million Beli leapt straight into his eyes.
"Why would he come here?!"
Nezumi let out an incredulous shriek.
Due to years of skimming military pay and having few actual patrol missions, Branch 16 had only about half the personnel of a normal Marine base.
Many of its warships had also lost combat capability after years without maintenance.
With such a ramshackle Marine branch, trying to fight a major pirate crew was nothing but wishful thinking.
He immediately turned to his adjutant in panic.
"Hurry! Contact those Fish-Men and have them send reinforcements!"
Nezumi knew well that the Arlong Pirates were pirates who had once been active in the Grand Line.
And pirates from the Grand Line shared one common trait—they looked down on pirates from the Four Blues.
Regardless of bounty.
Moreover, he had personally witnessed the Arlong Pirates' strength.
The commodore of Marine Branch 77 had once been effortlessly killed by just two Arlong Pirate officers.
As long as the Arlong Pirates came to back them up, the mere Straw Hat crew would be nothing to fear!
However, before Nezumi's words had even finished, the adjutant spoke in a miserable tone,
"It's no use, Colonel Nezumi…"
"I've had people trying to contact the Arlong Pirates ever since earlier, but there's been no response at all!"
"Damn it! Those Fish-Men always drop the ball at critical moments!"
"How many enemies? How many warships?!"
The thunderous roar of cannons rang out repeatedly, and nearly every shot struck a warship dead-on.
Under such overwhelming firepower, Nezumi instinctively assumed that a crew with a 50-million-Beli captain must be a massive fleet like the Don Krieg Pirates.
Yet after hesitating for a moment, the adjutant replied,
"According to the latest reports… the enemy seems to have only one light sailing ship. And there are only five pirates aboard!"
"What?! Five people?!"
Nezumi froze—then his crafty eyes began to spin rapidly.
Anyone worth a 50-million-Beli bounty was no ordinary pirate.
But to cause trouble at a Marine base with only one light ship and five people…
"Another idiot blinded by bounty money?!"
A sharp gleam flashed through Nezumi's eyes as he made a decision.
Even if he had to pile up his soldiers' lives, he had to take down the Straw Hats!
A 50-million-Beli pirate—that was his ticket to becoming a commodore!
…
…
At the same time.
In waters far from the Marine base.
The Going Merry—adorned with a wreath of green grass—rode towering waves, surging toward the entrance of the naval base.
The cabin door swung open.
Usopp stepped out, removing his goggles as his boots landed on the deck carpeted in greenery.
"Luffy! The enemy cannons and the warships blocking the way have all been taken care of!"
"The rest is up to you!"
Smack!
Luffy clapped his fist into his palm, a radiant smile breaking across his face.
"Nice work, Usopp!"
Red, standing nearby, gave Usopp a thumbs-up as well.
To accurately hit targets atop rolling waves without wasting a single shot—
Usopp's sniping skills were truly top-tier, even by New World standards!
Luffy raised his fist toward the distant Marine base, his muscles instantly swelling.
It was Bulk Up, the move Red had just set up for him!
Under its effect, Luffy's body was pushed straight into peak condition!
Standing on either side of Luffy at the bow, Zoro and Sanji also activated Bulk Up, their auras flaring as they stared ahead at the Marine base.
"Alright~! Brothers, let's go!!!"
"Oh~!" Zoro and Sanji answered in unison.
The next moment, Luffy stretched out an arm and tightly wrapped the two of them together.
Even though it wasn't Zoro's first ride on Luffy's personal "roller coaster," his expression tensed immediately.
Sanji, experiencing it for the first time, instead showed a hint of curiosity.
Then—
Luffy's other hand shot out, grabbing onto the shattered remains of the Marine base gate.
Whoosh!!!
"Marine base—we're here!!!"
With a burst of laughter, the three figures shot off the Going Merry and smashed straight toward the base building.
…
…
Inside the base building.
Imagining his promotion and pay raise, Colonel Nezumi was personally lining up the troops.
Suddenly, the faces of the Marines in front of him turned pale with fear.
"Hm? What is it?"
Nezumi turned around in confusion.
At once, he saw a massive face appear outside the window, flying straight at him at terrifying speed.
BOOM!!!
The reinforced wall exploded apart, bricks slamming directly into Nezumi's face and sending him flying.
Thick dust filled the interior of the base.
A moment later, several coughs rang out from within the dust, followed by an angry male voice.
"Cough cough…"
"Hey! Zoro! You knew this would happen from the start, didn't you?! Why didn't you tell me?!"
Sanji sprawled out as he climbed to his feet, spitting out a bent, dust-covered cigarette butt as he yelled at Zoro, who remained standing upright.
"Hmph."
Zoro shot him a disdainful glance.
"When you address your seniors, use proper titles—got it, Number Six?"
"Bastard! Who decided that showing up earlier makes you higher-ranked?!"
Clang!!!
A flaming boot collided head-on with three coldly gleaming blades.
After days of traveling together, the ill-matched personalities of Zoro and Sanji finally erupted into their first direct clash.
But in the next instant, the two pushed off each other and sprang apart.
"Looks like Red really called it!"
"Our personalities really are incompatible by nature!"
Flick—
Sanji lit another cigarette and lifted his gaze toward the Marines ahead.
Zoro silently tied the bandana around his head, a grin curling at the corner of his mouth.
Sanji suddenly spoke,
"Since that's the case, how about we play a game?"
"What game?" Zoro asked with interest.
Sanji took a drag from his cigarette, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes.
"Let's see who takes down more Marines."
"The loser has to treat the winner with absolute respect for a full month!!!"
"Sounds perfect!!!"
Zoro laughed, leveling his blades.
In the next heartbeat, the two of them blurred into motion, charging straight into the Marine ranks.
In an instant, it was like two ferocious beasts crashing into a flock of sheep—the Marine formation collapsed as screams filled the air.
(End of Chapter)