"Hawke!!!"
"You forgot, didn't you?! Back then, you were just a Third-Class Seaman! It was me!"
"It was me who recognized your talent and promoted you… it was me!"
Nezumi shouted incoherently, saliva flying everywhere as he desperately tried to invoke a nonexistent "favor."
Arlong was dead. The Arlong Pirates were finished.
Now, he was completely alone.
If Hawke didn't care about their "past relationship"...
He was doomed!
"Heh—"
Hawke let out a soft chuckle, laced with open mockery.
Nezumi, you promoted me?
The Navy's promotion system…
I studied it inside and out long ago.
The battle merits I've accumulated over the past six months are more than enough to qualify me for Branch Captain — I could even compete for Branch Commodore if I wanted.
But thanks to you, you greedy Nezumi, I'm still stuck as just a Branch Commander.
And all those military funds you embezzled…
All the bounty money you pocketed…
Every single Belly is soaked with my blood and sweat — and that of my brothers!
Now you want to beg for mercy?
Too late!
"…"
Hawke slowly drew out a cigarette and placed it between his lips.
Seeing this, Nezumi's eyes lit up as if he had found his lifeline. He stumbled forward, nearly tripping over himself, and crawled desperately toward Hawke.
His trembling hands fished out a gold-plated lighter from his pocket. He held it up, groveling, trying to light Hawke's cigarette.
"…"
Hawke didn't refuse.
He lowered his gaze slightly, staring at Nezumi's face — distorted by fear and shameless flattery.
The lighter's flame flickered once before finally lighting the cigarette.
Hawke took a slow drag. "Nezumi, your sincerity… isn't enough."
"!"
Nezumi's entire body trembled violently. His survival instincts erupted like wildfire — there was still hope!
Abandoning all dignity, he dropped to his knees and slammed his forehead against the deck.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
"Hawke, I was wrong!"
"I was really wrong!"
His forehead struck the hard deck again and again, producing dull thuds. Before long, blood started seeping out.
"Ha—"
Hawke watched the pathetic display, a cold curve curling at the corner of his lips.
How disgusting you are, Nezumi.
If you'd known it would come to this, why start down this path in the first place?
You weren't wrong because you regret it.
You were wrong because now… you know you're going to die.
"Nezumi…"
Hawke slowly exhaled a ring of smoke. The drifting haze blurred his expression.
"Who told you I'm… a merciful man?"
"!!!"
Nezumi's head shot up. His bloodied, dirt-smeared face twisted into an expression of crazed joy.
"Hawke! You… you'll spare me?! Really?!"
"That's… that's great!"
"I… won't lay a hand on you."
"But…"
Hawke raised the hand holding the cigarette and casually waved it toward Nezumi.
Step—
It was as if his silent command had been received.
The Marines, who had been standing quietly on the sidelines with cold, murderous expressions, suddenly stepped forward in unison.
Their synchronized footsteps thundered against the deck, heavy and oppressive, each one striking like a drumbeat against Nezumi's chest.
They surrounded him.
"Nezumi, remember the wages you withheld from us?"
"Remember the meals from the mess hall — where we could see fly legs in the rice?"
"Remember the rusty junk you gave us to train with on the practice field?"
"You… you guys…"
Nezumi stared at the encircling soldiers, terror draining every trace of color from his face. He turned his desperate gaze toward Hawke. "Hawke!"
"You… you said you wouldn't hurt me! You promised!"
"Mmm—"
Leaning back comfortably in his chair, Hawke looked at Nezumi, now surrounded and helpless like a lamb waiting for slaughter.
Flicking his cigarette ash lazily, Hawke spread his hands and feigned innocence.
"I didn't lay a hand on you."
"See? My hands have been right here the whole time."
He even deliberately wiggled the hand holding the cigarette to show Nezumi.
At that, the Marines' lips curled into knowing, icy smiles.
True enough — Commander Hawke wasn't going to touch him.
But they had made no such promise.
"You… you can't do this!"
Nezumi's composure crumbled completely. He stumbled backward, only to bump into the unyielding chest of a Marine behind him.
"The Navy… the Navy has rules!"
"This is mutiny! Treason!"
"Hawke! Stop them! I'm a Captain!!!"
"…"
But Hawke simply sat there, watching calmly, his gaze unshaken.
Thud—
No one knew who threw the first punch.
A clenched fist whistled through the air, slamming squarely into Nezumi's face.
That first strike was like a lit fuse on a powder keg.
The Marines unleashed.
Dozens of furious fists crashed down on Nezumi.
Countless pairs of boots stomped hard into his ribs, legs, and chest.
"AHHHH—!"
"Stop! Stop!!!"
"I was wrong! Please, forgive me!"
"No— no, you can't!!!"
Nezumi screamed, rolled, and thrashed on the floor, desperately trying to shield himself from the relentless blows.
Blood streamed down his face, mingling with sweat and grime, leaving him unrecognizable.
"Hawke… you… you're cruel…"
Drowning in pain and despair, Nezumi's last threads of reason finally snapped.
Mad hatred flashed in his bloodshot eyes.
Hawke, since you don't see me as a human and want to drive me to my death…
Then let's perish together!
No one's getting out of this unscathed!
With the last of his strength, Nezumi shoved his hand into the torn, blood-stained Marine uniform on his chest.
He fumbled around and pressed a small, special Den Den Mushi.
"Blu~"
"Blu~"
The special transmission sound of the Den Den Mushi echoed.
This was an emergency line that only the highest-ranking officer of each Marine branch base was authorized to possess—capable of directly connecting to Marine Headquarters at Marineford!
Nezumi had always been too afraid to use it before.
He feared that his embezzlement, bribery, and collusion with pirates would be exposed, resulting in immediate dismissal and prosecution from Headquarters.
If that happened, everything he owned would vanish into thin air!
But now, he couldn't afford to care anymore!
"Chii—chii—"
A twisted, sinister grin spread across Nezumi's blood-covered face as he glared at Hawke.
"Hawke… just you wait…"
"Wait for the summons from Headquarters!"
"Defying your superior! Allowing subordinates to assault their commanding officer!"
"Even if I did embezzle! Even if I'm guilty!"
"There are Marine regulations for that! Higher departments to handle it! It's not your place!"
"You can report me! You can defy me!"
"But you can't lay your hands on me! That's breaking the rules!"
"The rules of the Marines!"
Nezumi's voice was hoarse and sharp, laced with vicious delight.
He could already picture Hawke being interrogated by Headquarters, stripped of his position, and maybe even dragged before a military tribunal!
"Fuu—"
Hawke calmly exhaled a puff of smoke, his expression entirely unshaken.
A little stunt like this? How could it possibly escape his Intermediate Observation Haki?
You think this is a counterattack?
No… this is exactly what I need.
The East Blue had been mostly cleaned up already, and staying here any longer made earning Justice Points too inefficient.
It was time to leave.
And this Den Den Mushi… was the perfect opportunity to do so.
According to Marine regulations, killing a superior officer was indeed a violation.
But Nezumi's corruption and collusion were also undeniable facts.
Worst-case scenario, he'd be dismissed and reassigned to another Marine branch in a different sea, starting from scratch.
With his current power—already at the level of an elite Headquarters Rear Admiral—climbing back to the rank of Commander wouldn't take long.
In a better outcome, if the situation caught the attention of some "righteous" big shot at Headquarters…
He might not only keep his position but even use this incident to enter Headquarters' radar.
Either way, it was better than staying stuck in the East Blue.
So… time to squeeze the last bit of value out of this parasite.
"..."
Hawke stood up and slowly strolled toward Nezumi.
Then, he lifted his right leg, clad in Marine boots.
"I didn't lay a hand on you~"
As the words left his lips, his foot came crashing down.
"Thud—!"
The sound of a heavy kick reverberated.
Nezumi's body was sent flying like a ragged sack, violently slamming against the distant wall.
A dull thump echoed as his body slid down limply, unmoving.
A human-shaped bloodstain marked the wall.
[Ding! Eliminated corrupt Marine Branch Captain — Nezumi.]
[Gained 1,000 Justice Points.]
[Current remaining Justice Points: 2024 + 1000 = 3024.]
Hawke lowered his foot in a smooth, casual motion, as if he had merely kicked aside an annoying stone.
Just then—
"Step—"
"Step—"
Steady, forceful footsteps approached from beyond the shattered gate.
Through the lingering smoke, a silver-haired man appeared at the entrance, two cigars clamped between his teeth, a white coat of "Justice" draped over his shoulders.
Marine Headquarters Captain, "White Hunter" Smoker. Behind him trailed Tashigi and the Marines of Loguetown.
"A Marine Branch Commander… slaughtered his own direct superior?"