After crossing back over Reverse Mountain, they had plundered nearly every ship they encountered.
Starting with just a small sailboat, they had gradually upgraded to their current large vessel.
But Coleridge Roy's ambitions ran deeper.
He knew the affluent East Blue held abundant treasures, and the island he was most familiar with was Kailinia.
He'd plundered thirty million Berries there once before, back when his strength was a fraction of what it was now.
At that time, he had been chased off by a Marine Captain, fleeing in disarray.
Now, Coleridge Roy couldn't care less about Marine Captains.
The only reason he hadn't slaughtered them all was that his goal was a swift robbery.
Afterward, he planned to gather his crew, build a larger ship, and charge back into the Grand Line.
He had no interest in playing pirate games in the East Blue.
.....
The Marine warship sailed at full speed through the night.
As dawn broke, they spotted a ship ahead flying no Jolly Roger.
They knew instantly it was their target.
Through the telescope, they could clearly see grinning pirates scrambling off the ship and dashing onto the beach.
"Reporting, Commander Momonga! A pirate ship has been sighted ahead!"
Momonga, clad in his "Justice" cape, stepped onto the deck and observed the pirate vessel nearing the shore.
Calmly, he issued his orders.
"Order the warship to advance at full speed and ram the pirate ship. I want these pirates to have no escape route."
"All soldiers, prepare your weapons! We will disembark and engage in close combat!"
"Yes, sir!"
The marines gripped their weapons tightly, itching for action.
They were the foundation of the Marines, the most crucial force upholding justice.
Compared to the complex ideologies of the higher-ups, their convictions were simpler: kill pirates.
Most of them were survivors of pirate atrocities, earning meager wages for the most dangerous work.
Yet they had no regrets.
This was their justice.
...
Meanwhile, the few pirates left on watch duty spotted the approaching warship.
They sounded the alarm, and sharp whistles brought the pirates charging toward the nearby village to a halt.
The one-eyed pirate from the previous night approached, machete in hand.
"Boss, those Marines are on us again. Should we turn back and finish them?" He made a throat-slitting gesture, the scar on his face twisting.
A flicker of rage flashed in Coleridge Roy's eyes. "Those damned Marines. We let them live last time, and now they think we're afraid."
"Men, follow me! We'll wipe them out and seize their warship!"
"Once we've dealt with the Marines, we'll plunder this island and set sail for the Grand Line on their ship!"
The captain's words stirred excitement among the crew.
Whether they were veterans from the Grand Line or new recruits, they had all witnessed Coleridge Roy's power.
They believed no one in the East Blue could defeat him.
...
On the warship, Momonga was unaware of the pirates' morale boost.
He simply stared coldly at the island. In his mind, these pirates were already dead.
The warship didn't slow, accelerating as it charged headlong toward the docked pirate ship.
Coleridge Roy instantly understood the plan, and his composure shattered.
"Damn the Marines! They're cutting off our escape route!" he roared. "Today, I will slaughter every last one of them, and everyone on this island!"
A deafening roar echoed across the sea.
The pirate ship, struck with unstoppable momentum, was cleanly severed in half.
The few pirates left aboard were flung into the ocean by the violent impact.
The marine soldiers had been prepared.
Gripping the railings, they calmly withstood the recoil.
"It's done," Momonga said, his voice cold. "The pirates' escape route is gone. Now, we send them to their doom."
He stood firm on the deck, drew his military sword, and shouted.
"For justice!"
The soldiers swiftly formed ranks, unsheathing their gleaming swords as they roared in unison.
"For justice!"
The warship quickly approached the shore.
Momonga's cold eyes fixed on the pirates, burning with intense hatred.
Had it not been for Raleigh ordering the accelerated pursuit, these pirates might already be slaughtering civilians.
"Attack!"
Unable to wait for the ship to fully dock, Momonga led the charge, leaping from the deck and swimming vigorously toward the beach.
The brave soldiers followed his example, rapidly closing the distance to the island.
Coleridge Roy sensed something was wrong—these marines seemed far more elite than any he had encountered before.
While others weren't cowards, they had never shown such decisive, brutal resolve.
A growing unease settled in his heart.
"Hey, you lot!" he shouted. "Go to the town and grab some civilians, now!"
"The Marines won't dare act if we have hostages. This tactic never fails."
Aboard the warship, Raleigh stood on the deck, his Justice Cloak draped over his shoulders, observing the pirates' movements.
"No prisoners will be taken in this operation."
Though his voice wasn't loud, it reached every soldier's ears, whether they were already charging across the beach or waiting on the ship.
Their eyes shone with determination.
This was the standard operating procedure of Branch 133.
Though Raleigh seldom intervened, he had established strict rules.
One was the no-prisoner policy.
Once the pirates' retreat was sealed, all hands would engage.
Momonga, who believed deeply in Raleigh's strength, had an agreement with him: Raleigh would never intervene in a battle unless Momonga's own life was in danger.
Raleigh understood well that growth happens fastest between life and death.
Coincidentally, his own desire to slack off on the battlefield aligned perfectly with Momonga's request.
As long as the pirates weren't overwhelmingly powerful, he let Momonga took the lead.
Raleigh's only job was to maintain order on the warship and, secretly, step in just in time to save any soldier who was about to be killed.
Because his interventions were so covert, most soldiers just thought Raleigh was a privileged young master and didn't take his strength seriously.
He watched the pirates on the beach baring their fangs.
"Ready!" he commanded the artillerymen.
"Fire at will!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!