What was going on?
Nami was completely dumbfounded, utterly unable to make sense of the situation.
She had assumed one of her old clients had come back for revenge—yet instead, she'd received a flattering invitation?!
How did he know she understood navigation?!
Who on earth had leaked her information?
Could it be Carina!?
Thoughts swirled endlessly through Nami's mind, leaving her utterly baffled.
Still, considering she'd essentially been caught red-handed, she ultimately decided to compromise and go along with them for now.
Once she had the chance, she would steal their treasure and make a clean getaway.
Just like she'd done countless times before!
A sharp glint flashed through Nami's eyes as she made her decision.
But just as she was about to agree—and maybe cozy up a little to Red and his group—
Suddenly, frantic footsteps echoed from above their heads.
Immediately after came an enraged roar:
"Search! Search everywhere! Someone actually dared to cause trouble on my turf! Whoever it is, I won't let them off!!!"
"Oh no!" Nami froze, instantly realizing that the noise they'd made had alerted the Marines upstairs.
She quickly scanned everyone present and shouted,
"The Marines are coming!"
"You don't want to get boxed in here by the Marines, right?! Let's escape through the window—now!"
Experienced as she was, Nami somehow produced a length of rope from nowhere and dashed straight toward the window.
However, hearing her words, Luffy and Zoro both turned their heads at the same time, staring at her in confusion.
"Run? Why would we run?"
Luffy excitedly clenched his fists, producing crisp cracking sounds, then grinned at Nami.
"We came here to rob the Marines in the first place!"
Zoro was equally fired up.
While searching Helmeppo's room earlier, he'd scarfed down a few pastries and recovered a good bit of his stamina.
Having gone so long without drawing his swords, he was itching to cut something—anything!
He even deliberately opened the door and shouted into the hallway:
"Marines!!! We're right here!!!"
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Zoro's outrageous action scared Nami half to death. She rushed over to Red, grabbed both of his hands, and tugged desperately.
"Hey! Those two are idiots—don't tell me you're an idiot too!?"
"Tell them to run! If not, we're all finished!"
Running alone made her too obvious a target. Nami was counting on escaping with Red to split the Marines' attention.
Yet just as she was about to drag Red toward the window, a steady, powerful force pulled her back instead.
"Relax, Nami. We're very strong."
Red smiled confidently and gave her a reassuring look.
At the same time, he deliberately held onto her, preventing her from slipping away.
Nami jumped in alarm. "What are you doing?! If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!"
No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free from Red's iron-like grip.
After Zoro's shout, the Marines quickly zeroed in on their position.
Before long, forces approached from both sides of the corridor.
Jet-black gun barrels aimed into the room, boxing Red and the others inside.
At that moment, the Marine ranks parted, forming a passageway.
A Marine captain with one arm severed and replaced by a massive axe stepped forward slowly.
Axe-Hand Morgan emerged from the crowd.
His towering frame forced him to lower his head just to enter the room.
"I'm done for… I'm done for…"
Seeing this, the light drained from Nami's bright eyes.
Now there was no escaping, no matter what she did.
Morgan surveyed the room, then glanced at the hole in the ceiling. His indifferent gaze suddenly erupted with fury.
"Brats! Who gave you the nerve to make trouble on my turf?!"
"Dad!!!"
The previously cowering Helmeppo instantly found courage, scrambling toward Morgan while crying out,
"Kill them! Dad! Kill them now!"
But what met him was a vicious flying kick!
Bang!
Morgan swung his leg, kicking Helmeppo squarely and sending him flying.
"Urgh—!"
Helmeppo screamed as he looked up, only to meet Morgan's cold, unfamiliar eyes.
"Useless trash! You dared bring criminals into the base without authorization!"
"Remember this—"
"The one in control here is your father… me!!!"
"You… are nothing!!!"
After disciplining his expendable son, Morgan shifted his gaze back to Red and the others.
"Speak. How do you want to die?!"
"Die?" Luffy grinned broadly. "I'm not dying before I become the Pirate King!"
As he spoke, he stretched out his fist, ready to attack.
But at that very moment—
"Wait, Luffy! Zoro!"
Red suddenly released Nami and stepped forward, addressing the two of them.
"Leave this guy to me today."
"I just want to test out a new move."
"Huh?" Luffy let out a strange noise.
This was the first time he'd heard Red volunteer for a fight.
After thinking it over, he nodded. "Alright, then I'll leave it to you, Red."
In Luffy's eyes, Red was weak enough that even the five-meter-tall black bear behind the mountain could beat him—but he almost never got hurt.
That alone was reassuring enough.
Zoro, who'd been itching for action, also put aside his urge to draw his swords.
"Alright then. Let me see just what my vice-captain is capable of."
"That might disappoint you," Red replied with a smile, "since fighting isn't exactly my specialty."
As he spoke, Red walked toward Morgan.
"Kid, are you the first one lining up to die?" Morgan snarled, brandishing his axe-arm toward him.
Red ignored him completely and simply raised a hand.
"Ancient Power."
In an instant, a primal energy—like something drawn from ancient times—rose around Red, rapidly materializing into rough, stone-like rocks.
The moment they formed, the rocks shot forward, hurtling straight toward Morgan.
"What is this?! Magic?!"
The same question flashed through everyone's mind.
Most of all, Morgan's.
The rocks gave him no time to think.
BOOM!!!
Like cannonballs, they slammed into his body and exploded violently.
More followed in rapid succession.
Under the overwhelming force, Morgan was blasted backward, smashing through the base's solid wall and plummeting from above.
Instant defeat!
Gulp—!
A collective choking gulp echoed through the Marines.
Every one of them stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they'd just seen.
Defeated in a single hit?!
Their Marine captain?!
This had to be a joke!
For a moment, all the Marines fell into stunned silence.
Then—
Clatter.
A rifle hit the floor.
One by one, the other Marines followed suit, tossing down their weapons and erupting into cheers.
"That's great!!!"
"We're free! Morgan's been defeated!"
"Finally, no more living under his thumb!!!"
"Long live freedom!!!"
The cheers rang out endlessly, leaving Zoro and the others completely dumbstruck.
Even Luffy, dense as he was, couldn't quite grasp what was happening.
"What's up with them?"
"Heh. Guess they've been oppressed by Morgan for too long," Red replied casually.
"Looks like there's no fight left," Zoro said with a scowl. "How boring. I was hoping for a real battle."
"Oh~? You really want a real battle?"
Red suddenly shot him a mischievous grin, making Zoro freeze for a moment before forcing out,
"O—Of course I do…"
"Excellent!"
Red clapped his hands eagerly, smiling.
"Then once this is over, you can borrow the Marines' training grounds and have a proper all-out fight with Luffy!"
Zoro had practically walked right into it.
Just as he'd been looking for a chance to show off a Trainer's true strength.
Hopefully, after getting completely wrecked by Luffy, you'll still be as tough as you are now, young Zoro~
(End of Chapter)