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The early morning light pierced through thick clouds and reflected golden waves across the marble floor.
East Blue, Marine Base 16.
Captain Nezumi, whose appearance resembled a mouse and who wore a Marine officer's uniform, was giving a serious report over the Den Den Mushi.
"Please rest assured, sir! The waters around the Conomi Islands are peaceful under my management. No pirates dare to cause trouble here!"
"What?"
"Oh, you're asking about the Straw Hat Pirates who recently appeared in East Blue?!"
"Please be assured that all officers at Branch 16 are on standby. We won't let any criminals run wild in our jurisdiction!"
"I swear by the Justice I uphold, these evildoers will face punishment!"
Click!
As the call ended, the previously serious Den Den Mushi suddenly closed its eyes and fell asleep.
Captain Nezumi's once upright face instantly transformed into something extremely cunning.
He grinned with disdain: "Haha~ They expect me to risk my life to capture pirates?"
"Am I not spending enough Belly, or am I no longer interested in living?"
"That's ridiculous! After all, it was the Commander who promoted me. When needed, I'll send a few warships to put on a show with those Fishmen to fool headquarters."
Captain Nezumi sat arrogantly in his commander's chair, admiring his splendid office while happily stroking his whiskers.
Ever since the Arlong Pirates decided to establish themselves in the Conomi Islands' waters and started cooperating with him, his life had become extremely comfortable!
All pirates appearing in these waters were eliminated by patrolling members of the Arlong Pirates, with the credit going to Nezumi.
Every so often, he received large amounts of tribute from the Fishmen.
"This is how people should live!"
Whenever this thought crossed his mind, Captain Nezumi couldn't help but let out a sinister laugh.
But at this moment...
BOOM! ! ! !
Through the glass window behind Captain Nezumi, a blazing fire suddenly erupted, instantly engulfing a Marine warship docked in the port.
RING RING RING!
The emergency alarm bell suddenly rang throughout Base 16.
"What's happening?! What's going on?!"
The sudden explosion startled Captain Nezumi, who quickly stood up and looked out the window.
Two or three minutes later, his office door was pushed open by a Marine soldier.
It was none other than the lieutenant he had personally trained.
Right now, the Marine lieutenant who collaborated with him had panic written all over his face as he stuttered:
"B-b-big trouble, Captain Nezumi!"
"Pirates are attacking!!!"
"What?!"
BANG! Nezumi angrily slammed his fist on the desk.
"Are they idiots?! This is a Marine base!"
"Mobilize my soldiers immediately. I want to see who's so brave!"
"Wait... wait a moment, Captain Nezumi..."
Confusion flashed across the lieutenant's face. The next moment, he tremblingly pulled out a wrinkled wanted poster from inside his uniform and said: "According to our soldiers' reports, the person attacking us is probably that infamous pirate who's been making waves in East Blue recently..."
"[Straw Hat] Monkey D. Luffy!!!"
"What did you say?!"
Step, step, step...
Captain Nezumi rushed forward and immediately snatched the wanted poster from the lieutenant's hand.
A bounty of 50,000,000 Belly suddenly came into view.
"Why is he here?!"
Nezumi screamed in disbelief.
Due to his long-term embezzlement of military funds and the lack of sea patrols, the number of Marines at Branch 16 was only about half that of other normal branches.
Many warships had lost their combat capabilities because they hadn't been maintained for years.
With such a run-down Marine base, it was obviously wishful thinking to fight against a crew of notorious pirates.
He immediately said to the lieutenant in panic: "Quick! Contact those Fishmen and ask them to send reinforcements!"
Nezumi knew that the Arlong Pirates were criminals from the Grand Line.
Pirates from the Grand Line had a common trait - they looked down on pirates from the Four Blues.
Regardless of bounty size.
And he had been fortunate enough to witness the Arlong Pirates' strength firsthand.
Commodore Pudding Pudding of Branch 77 had been easily killed by two of Arlong's officers.
As long as the Arlong Pirates came to help, the Straw Hats would be nothing to worry about!
However, as soon as Nezumi finished speaking, the lieutenant immediately replied:
"No can do, Captain Nezumi."
"I've been trying to contact the Arlong Pirates from the beginning, but no one is responding!"
"Damn it! These Fishmen always disappear at critical moments!"
"How many people are on the enemy side? How many ships?!"
The deafening sound of gunfire echoed one after another, each shot almost certainly hitting a battleship.
Under the heavy bombardment, Nezumi subconsciously believed that the Straw Hats, who had earned a 50,000,000 Belly bounty, must have a large fleet similar to the Krieg Pirates.
But when the lieutenant heard this question, he hesitated for a moment before replying: "According to our soldiers' latest report, the enemy seems to have only one small caravel, and there are only 5 pirates aboard!"
"What?! Just 5 people?!"
Nezumi looked startled, but soon his cunning eyes began darting back and forth.
To earn a 50,000,000 Belly bounty, the opponent must be no ordinary person. But only a small ship and 5 people daring to attack a Marine base...
'Another fool carried away by his own bounty?!'
A gleam flashed in Nezumi's eyes as he made an instant decision...
Even if it cost the lives of his soldiers, they must capture the Straw Hats!
A pirate worth 50,000,000 Belly - wasn't this his chance for promotion to Commodore?!
...
...
Meanwhile.
In the sea, far from the Marine base.
The Going Merry, adorned with a green grass ring around its railing, rode a huge wave toward the entrance of the Marine base.
At this time, the cabin door swung open.
Usopp emerged, removing his goggles as he stepped onto the grassy deck.
"Luffy, the fortifications ahead and the battleships blocking our path have been cleared!"
"The rest is up to you!"
Clap!
Luffy suddenly slapped his fist together, a bright smile on his face.
"Well done, Usopp!"
Red on the side also gave Usopp a thumbs up!
To hit targets accurately on rolling waves without wasting a single shot...
Usopp's sniping ability would definitely rank highly even in the New World!
Luffy suddenly raised his fists and looked at the distant Marine base, his muscles suddenly bulging.
This was the result of the Bulk Up TM that Red had used in him! Under the effect of these moves, Luffy's body directly reached its optimal state! Zoro and Sanji, who stood on the bow of the ship on either side of Luffy, also Bulk Up and gazed at the distant Marine base with great intensity! "Yoshii~! Brothers, get ready!!!"
"Oh~!" Zoro and Sanji responded in unison.
The next moment, Luffy suddenly stretched out an arm and wrapped it tightly around both of them.
Even though it wasn't his first time riding the "Luffy Coaster," Zoro's expression suddenly tensed.
For the first time, Sanji showed a slightly curious expression.
Immediately after...
Luffy's other hand grabbed the remains of the blasted-open door of the Marine base.
Whoosh!!!
"Marine base, here we come!!!"
With Luffy laughing, the three of them instantly left the Merry and headed straight toward the main building of the Marine base.
...
At the same time, inside the base building.
Captain Nezumi, dreaming of promotion and salary increase, was personally directing his troops.
But at this moment, the faces of the Marines in front of him suddenly filled with terror.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Nezumi looked back in confusion.
Immediately he saw a large figure appear outside the window, flying toward him at extremely high speed.
BOOM!!!
The thick wall suddenly shattered, and debris hit Captain Nezumi's face, immediately knocking him away.
A cloud of smoke and dust rose inside the base.
After a moment, a few coughs came from within the smoke, followed by the angry voice of a man.
"Cough cough..."
"Hey! Zoro! You knew this would happen, didn't you?! Why didn't you warn me?!"
Sanji got up from the ground with his back straightened, spitting out the bent and dusty cigarette butt, and then shouted at Zoro who remained standing upright.
"Hmph~"
Zoro suddenly glanced at him disdainfully: "You should use honorific titles when addressing your seniors, you know, Number 4?!"
"Bastard! Who told you that arriving earlier gives you higher status!"
Clang!!!
A leather boot burning with flames suddenly clashed against three swords glowing with cold light.
After several days of getting along, Zoro and Sanji, who constantly butted heads, finally had their first real fight.
But immediately the two exerted force against each other and suddenly separated.
"It seems that Red was right!"
"Our personalities really are incompatible!"
Strike~
Sanji lit another cigarette, then raised his head and looked at the Marines in front of him. Zoro silently adjusted the bandana on his head, raised the corner of his mouth, and smiled without saying a word.
Sanji suddenly said: "In that case, let's play a game!"
"What game?" Zoro asked with interest.
Sanji took a puff of his cigarette, his eyes suddenly igniting with fighting spirit:
"How about we compete to see who can take down more Marines?"
"Whoever loses has to show respect to the winner for a month!!!"
"That's exactly what I wanted!!!"
Zoro smiled broadly.
The next moment, the two suddenly transformed into blurring silhouettes and plunged into the crowd of Marines ahead.
In an instant, like two ferocious beasts rushing into a herd, the Marine squad immediately collapsed with soldiers falling on their backs and screaming in terror.