Chapter 9: The Black Cat Pirates
In the horrified eyes of all the Marines, the "invincible" Captain Morgan was defeated just like that. Some watching residents of Shells Town even began to cheer. Only Morgan's son, Helmeppo, felt immense fear as his support seemed to have collapsed.
"I will personally report the conspiracy between Morgan and Kuro to Marineford once I capture Kuro," Kael announced. "Lieutenant Commander Ripper, I now order you to immediately restore order at the 153rd Marine Branch. News of the Yotsuba Kingdom's merger into the Goa Empire will soon reach here."
Under Kael's authoritative gaze, Lieutenant Commander Ripper tensed up and saluted. He was secretly happy to see the brutal Captain Morgan arrested. Kael, too lazy to bother with Morgan's son, had the three battleships set sail again, heading directly to Syrup Village, where Kuro was located. The six battleships he left behind in the Yotsuba Kingdom would finish transmitting information to all the islands, including Shells Town. Meanwhile, some conservative nobles of the Goa Kingdom had already set sail to take over the Yotsuba Kingdom.
Eric, the bounty hunter and mercenary, was very familiar with the pirates of the East Blue. He found it satisfying to legally attack a Marine Captain under Kael's command. Van Auger, however, saw Kael not as a king but as a great pirate seizing territory, and he sensed that the Goa Empire was just the beginning of Kael's ambition.
Kael, holding a dumbbell, continued his cultivation. He planned to use his mercenaries to deal with these tasks quickly so his money wouldn't be wasted. He knew that by the time Marineford and the World Government reacted, the Goa Empire would have already expanded, and the World Government wouldn't object as long as the celestial tribute was paid in full.
Syrup Village in the Gecko Kingdom was not far from Orange Town in the neighboring Organ Kingdom. After dealing with the Gecko Kingdom, Kael planned to visit the Organ Kingdom, wondering if Buggy the Clown was in the area.
Eric, seeing Kael's diligence, became more wary. He decided that after completing his mercenary job, he would leave the Goa Empire and continue his life of freedom. Van Auger, however, was more pragmatic; he pondered that if Kael didn't let them leave, he would have to join his command and become a high-ranking official, rebuilding his family in the process.
A day later, Kael's three battleships arrived in the waters of Syrup Village. The main force of the Goa Empire had already fully entered the Yotsuba Kingdom and was now heading to rendezvous with Kael.
"Your Majesty Kael, there's a pirate ship over there! It seems to be the Black Cat Pirates," Van Auger reported after spotting a ship with the Black Cat flag.
"Take them down!" Kael ordered, without stopping his cultivation.
The Royal Guard immediately maneuvered the three battleships to surround the Black Cat Pirates. Eric, eager to earn an additional bounty, was ready to capture the wanted criminals. On the Black Cat Pirates' ship, First Mate Jango and the Meowban Brothers, Siam and Buch, seeing the battleships surrounding them, tried to flee.
However, the Goa Empire's battleships were too fast. The Black Cat Pirates were quickly caught. Eric and Van Auger immediately launched their attack.
"Fire the cannons!" Jango screamed in terror, as his pirates fired guns and cannons in return.
"Don't damage my ship..." Kael whispered softly.
The pirates of the Black Cat Pirates watched in horror as their cannon fire vanished in mid-air. They were instantly dumbfounded. Eric and Van Auger were shocked to see Kael's Devil Fruit ability. He could even 'banish' high-speed gunfire. Eric, who had previously felt he was on equal footing with Kael, realized his strongest technique—the wind blade—was worthless against Kael's ability. This added a hint of discouragement to his expression.
Kael knew that Eric and Van Auger were now under his control, and they would have to work for him whether they liked it or not. He even considered using slave collars if they tried to leave. Under the combined attacks of Eric and Van Auger, Jango and the others were quickly subdued.