Several days later.
The alarm suddenly blared across the 16th Branch base.
"Base Commander! A large pirate ship is approaching!"
That single report nearly scared Captain Nezumi out of his wits.
A large pirate ship? That meant hundreds of pirates at minimum. But that wasn't even the worst of it—what truly terrified him was that any captain capable of commanding such numbers must also be frighteningly strong.
Still, pirate assaults on Marine bases were rare.
Had the East Blue pirates completely lost their minds?
"Sound the alarm—wait!"
Nezumi had just opened his mouth to issue the order when he froze.
Vice Admiral Garp's warship was still moored at the docks.
He didn't know where Garp himself had gone, but the marines stationed on that ship were all elite veterans who had fought at Garp's side in the New World.
Not to mention, Garp's trusted adjutant, Captain Bogard, was still present.
The thought calmed Nezumi instantly. He gathered men and rushed toward the docks. If there wasn't any real danger, then he needed to at least put on a show of urgency. He couldn't afford to show up late after the fighting was already done.
Meanwhile, the alarm echoed across the base and into the nearby town, leaving the civilians bewildered.
What on earth was happening?
"Prepare for battle!"
On the dock, Bogard's voice rang out as he barked orders. The sailors aboard Garp's battleship scrambled into position, their cannons already trained in the direction spotted by the lookout.
Even Bogard was puzzled.
Garp's warship was a standard-issue Marine battleship, far larger than any pirate vessel. And yet, here came a pirate ship barreling toward them?
When had East Blue pirates grown so bold?
Bogard stood at the prow, hand resting on his sword hilt, watching the vessel race closer. His sharp eyes quickly caught the lone figure standing on the pirate ship's bow.
As the ship neared, Bogard raised his hand to issue the order to fire—then froze, frowning.
Wait. That person looked familiar.
The face stirred a memory. He had seen this boy once before, in Shimotsuki Village. The realization struck him a beat later, and he withheld the command.
"Hold! That's him!"
Don had changed greatly in just a year. He was taller now, his body more muscular and mature. The boyishness in his face had faded, though his features were still recognizable.
Bogard hadn't forgotten his mission here. He remembered now why they had come—and who this young man was.
But wasn't Don supposed to be a bounty hunter?
Why was he standing on the prow of a pirate ship?
By now, Nezumi had arrived at the docks. He saw Garp's soldiers standing ready but not firing. Confused, he dared not ask questions. He simply stood and watched.
Dockworkers and townsfolk alike peered on as the pirate ship thundered into the harbor—only to abruptly slow and glide neatly into port.
From the bow, Don spotted the dog-headed warship. Though momentarily puzzled, he wasted no time and ordered the captured pirates to reduce speed and dock.
The vessel came to a steady stop, not far from Garp's warship.
From his vantage point, Bogard could clearly see the truth. The pirate ship was crammed with men, most of them injured. Severed heads had been stacked in a grisly pile no one dared approach.
So… this boy had gone out hunting pirates—then used their own ship to bring them back?
But just how many crews had he crushed to fill an entire ship like this?
As Bogard puzzled over it, Don leapt lightly from the pirate ship, landing in front of Nezumi.
"Hey—thought I'd deliver some merit for you."
He jerked a thumb at the captured pirates behind him.
Nezumi blinked, dumbfounded.
"Ah?"
Don's words jammed his brain.
Who drags in an entire pirate ship along with its crew just to turn them in?
Then again… it was Don. That explained everything.
Nezumi suddenly remembered their first meeting, when Don had wiped out a whole pirate crew and hauled them in just as neatly.
But this time…
He swallowed hard, staring at the dark mass of pirate faces peering nervously over the railing.
"You're not taking them?"
Don frowned at his silence.
"We'll take them!"
The reply came from behind. Bogard strode down from the battleship, flanked by squads of marines.
"They'll assist you in securing the prisoners."
"Yes, sir!"
Though technically the same rank, a Marine Headquarters Captain outranked a Branch Captain by several grades. Nezumi could only obey.
Marine soldiers boarded the pirate ship, dragging prisoners down in chains. But there weren't enough men to haul them all at once.
The first batch—dozens of pirates—was marched toward the base for confinement.
"You're Don, aren't you?"
Bogard turned to the young man at his side.
"Yeah." Don nodded, eyes still on the pirates being herded away.
"I'm Captain Bogard, Vice Admiral Garp's adjutant. I saw you once in Shimotsuki Village."
"Oh."
Don gave a brief nod and turned back, unconcerned.
Bogard's lips twitched at the curt response.
"Vice Admiral Garp came all the way from Headquarters this time—because of you."
"Because of me?" Don raised a brow. "But I'm not interested in joining the Marines."
"Why not? You capture pirates. Isn't that justice? And what could be more just than serving as a Marine?"
"Justice?"
Don paused, meeting Bogard's eyes.
For a moment he considered tearing into the hypocrisy of so-called Marine "justice," but he let it go. There was no point trying to explain to someone who wouldn't understand.
"I catch pirates for money."
Bogard blinked.
"The Marines don't pay poorly," he countered quickly.
"Oh? Then how much is your salary?"
Don chuckled.
"Four hundred thousand belli a month," Bogard admitted without hesitation.
"Four hundred thousand? As a Headquarters Captain? Then even at flag officer rank, what—maybe double that? A little more for an admiral, plus some benefits?"
Don's tone was light, almost mocking.
Bogard gave a small nod.
"And do you know how much this shipload of small fry is worth?"
"Small fry?"
Bogard didn't recognize the slang, but he grasped the meaning.
"No idea."
"Eighty to a hundred million belli."
Don's answer left Bogard silent.
That was nearly two years of his salary. And these pirates were so weak he wouldn't even need to draw his sword to defeat them.
"How long did it take you to catch them?" Bogard asked, his throat dry.
"Half a month. You could round it to a full month if you like."
Don waved it off casually.
A month?
Bogard felt his resolve waver.
For the first time in years, he was tempted.
End of chapter...
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