A Rat Is Still a Rat, Even Dressed in a Cat's Clothes

"Phew—"

"So you smoke cigars too, kid."

"Everyone needs a hobby."

"Hahaha, true. I like rice crackers, for example. Crunch."

At that moment, Wang Chuan was aboard Garp's flagship with Garp and Colonel Bogard.

Yes, Colonel Bogard. It was ridiculous that a guy like him was still a colonel.

He could probably only be a colonel under Garp. Anywhere else, he'd be made a rear admiral immediately, without even going through the rank of commodore or anything like that. Anything less would be an insult. After some time away, he'd probably become a vice admiral like Garp.

Within the range of Wang Chuan's Observation Haki, the man's life force was as strong as Garp's, like a monster's.

He and Wang Chuan were much alike. Both relied on Haki and swordsmanship, with no Devil Fruit.

But unless they fought to the death, it would probably be impossible to tell which of them was stronger.

By the rules of the pirate world, a clash between strong fighters couldn't be decided to the death in less than eight or ten days, and once a fight dragged on that long, there were far too many variables.

Besides, after five enhancements from his other selves, his Observation Haki and stamina had both increased enormously.

Under the rules of the pirate world, stamina encompassed more than physical strength. It also encompassed mental and supernatural power, a fusion of essence, energy, and spirit that embodied one's current life force.

It sounded mysterious, but you could just think of it as a mana bar. The only difference was that the longer the mana bar, the longer the health bar.

"Vice Admiral, how do you plan to handle this sweep?"

"How? We'll just take care of it somehow. You can handle it as you see fit when the time comes."

"I heard there's a crew called the Arlong Pirates in the East Blue. They're connected to Jinbe of the Shichibukai?"

Garp paused in the middle of eating a rice cracker.

"You want to take him down? Crunch."

"Is Jinbe the reason he was able to get out?"

"Yes."

"Then we can't touch him."

"Not exactly. It's just that there won't be any serious punishment even if you do, and you won't get any credit either. That's the helpless reality. We have to compromise."

"So that's why you won't take a promotion to Admiral?" Hearing Garp actually start spouting the official line, Wang Chuan couldn't help rolling his eyes at him.

"Hahaha, you saw right through me."

"Which veteran Marine doesn't know?"

"Then are you a veteran Marine too?"

"Yeah. I joined the Marines at fourteen. It's been almost ten years."

"Time flies. Still thinking about cutting Kaido down?"

"Phew—"

"I dream about it."

Bogard listened to the young colonel's conversation with Garp from the side.

Cut down Kaido? What an ambition.

The young people in the Marines were getting more and more impressive.

"That sword of yours is Shusui, right? Crunch. Where'd you get it?"

"You actually recognized it?"

"Right, you met that fool Kozuki Oden."

"Don't change the subject. Tell me, where did you get it? That sword disappeared a long time ago, and there hasn't been any news of it."

"Kaido has plenty of enemies. Someone believed I could cut him down and invested in me ahead of time."

"Looks like you're about to make a name for yourself on the seas too."

"It was bound to happen sooner or later."

"Kid, you're suddenly starting to get on my nerves. Come on, have a spar with me."

Wang Chuan didn't refuse Garp's extra training for a moment. The simplest way to grow stronger was to fight a few rounds with someone stronger and more experienced than himself.

If he didn't die, he'd naturally be stronger afterward.

So during his time aboard the ship, he fought not only Garp but Bogard as well. His bouts with Bogard actually helped him improve faster than his fights with Garp.

Before long, they reached the vicinity of the East Blue's 16th Branch base, and Wang Chuan prepared to take action in the area, cleaning up some fat rats and lizards.

"Vice Admiral, I'm planning to stop at the 16th Branch up ahead."

"Arlong?"

"A guy like that hasn't caused any major incidents, but I don't believe he's been behaving himself."

"Fine. I won't go ashore. Handle it yourself."

"All right, but you need to give me sufficient authority, including the authority to purge the Marines' own ranks."

"Crunch. You have information?"

"Over the past few years, my family's business has spread far and wide with the Marines' help."

"Bogard, give him a letter of authorization."

"Yes, Vice Admiral."

After the authorization was drawn up, Wang Chuan left.

Bogard said, "Vice Admiral, could something go wrong if we just give him that authorization?"

"What could go wrong? The kid knows where to draw the line. Don't worry."

Though Bogard knew Garp wouldn't be careless about something like this, hearing him say it himself still put him more at ease.

As for Garp, he did find Wang Chuan reliable.

He was aggressive in dealing with pirates, but he wasn't heavy-handed with civilians or pirates who posed little threat, such as adventurers or merchant ships that only flew a pirate flag to make it easier to put to sea.

In Garp's view, he was still a moderate, just one who hated pirates who did evil more. Considering what he'd been through, the fact that he didn't target all pirates showed considerable restraint and clearheadedness.

As for Arlong, arresting him was no great matter. They could lock him up in an ordinary prison and notify Jinbe. That would already be the Marines giving Jinbe plenty of face.

Meanwhile, Wang Chuan returned to his own flagship, found Sakaino and Torres, and set course for the Marines' 16th Branch base in the East Blue.

The 16th Branch base.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak. That Arlong has been reasonably well behaved. He hasn't caused any major trouble."

"Captain, a group of Marines claiming to be from headquarters are asking to see you."

"Headquarters?"

Clang.

"I'll be right out."

Captain Nezumi hurriedly stuffed the Beli into his safe, straightened his clothes, and rushed out.

"Where are those Marines from headquarters? Take me to them, quickly."

The Marine who had come to report led him to the meeting room.

Clack, clack, clack—

Sitting in the meeting room and smoking a cigar, Wang Chuan heard a rush of hurried footsteps.

"What an honor, to meet such important people from headquarters."

The door had barely opened a crack when a fawning, humble voice rang out.

Once he entered, Captain Nezumi saw that all three—the one sitting and the two standing—wore coats, proving they were all field officers. Field officers from headquarters!

There was a fundamental difference between them and a branch captain like him.

"May I ask your esteemed names?"

Torres and Sakaino said nothing. They could tell that their young master didn't like the Marine before them.

Phew—

"I hear a group of Fish-Men formed a pirate crew and have been operating around here. Is that right?"

Hearing the visitor ask about the Arlong Pirates, and thinking of what he had done, Nezumi broke out in a cold sweat.

But then he remembered that he'd covered his tracks. There wouldn't be a problem.

"Yes, sir. There's a crew here called the Arlong Pirates, made up of Fish-Men."

"You know where their hideout is, right?"

"I—I do."

"You'll lead us there in a bit. We're going to find them."

At once, cold sweat poured down Captain Nezumi's face.

"Sir, those pirates are fairly well behaved. There's no need to waste time wiping them out, is there?"

Wang Chuan didn't answer. He simply stood up and walked out.

Sakaino, meanwhile, fixed his eyes on Captain Nezumi. "The colonel doesn't need to explain his actions to you. This is Vice Admiral Garp's letter of authorization. As of now, the entire Marine 16th Branch base in the East Blue has been requisitioned."

"You have no right to refuse, nor may you disobey. Now, get ready. Immediately."

"Yes, sir."

Captain Nezumi trembled as he saluted and accepted the order, bitterness in his heart.

A vice admiral—and Vice Admiral Garp at that.

Someone he could only gaze up at, utterly beyond his reach.

Even an Admiral would give some face to a letter of authorization from someone like that.

All he could do now was pray that this colonel from headquarters hadn't come to deal with the Arlong Pirates, or that Arlong would kill the whole group.

Otherwise, there was no way to keep what he'd done hidden.

As for whether Garp would come if Arlong killed Wang Chuan and his party, that was already entirely outside his thoughts.

Several hours later, Wang Chuan spotted Arlong Park in the distance.

"Sir, that up ahead is the Arlong Pirates' stronghold, Arlong Park."

"The Arlong Pirates really are well behaved. There's no need to attack them."

Captain Nezumi was still trying, hoping the people from headquarters would turn back.

"Sakaino."

"Here."

"You arrange the attack."

"Also, lock this man up. Send him to headquarters for trial along with the others afterward."

"Yes, sir."

Before long, the approaching warship was spotted by the Arlong Pirates' patrol boat.

But judging by how leisurely they came over, they clearly didn't think the warship's appearance or the number of warships was any different from usual.

Or perhaps they had noticed and didn't intend to be on guard.

"Hey, Nezumi, it's not the day for our deal."

The six-armed Hachi shouted at the warship. Hearing him, Captain Nezumi went deathly pale.

"Arlong Pirates officer, Hachi. An octopus Fish-Man with a bounty of eight million Beli."

"Torres, take the lead. These people aren't worth the colonel's effort."

"Sure. I'll go stretch my legs."

With that, Torres launched himself into the air with Geppo while coating himself in Armament Haki.

"H-he's flying!"

"A Devil Fruit user?"

"Hey, who are you? I don't remember anyone like you among Nezumi's Marines."

Hachi still hadn't realized that the newcomers weren't Captain Nezumi's Marines at all.

"Cut the nonsense. Surrender and let me catch you, and you'll suffer less."

With that, Torres began sweeping through them.

To these pirates still in the East Blue, the Six Powers were already the stuff of legend, let alone Armament Haki and Observation Haki.

Before long, Sakaino reported that the patrol had been dealt with.

"Then let's keep going. Arrange the operation as you see fit."

"Yes, Colonel."

Sakaino's conduct had always put Wang Chuan at ease. He even got details like addressing him as colonel rather than young master in front of outsiders just right.

With Sakaino directing and Torres clearing the way, they made their way to Arlong Park.

As expected, someone blocked their path.

"Water Gun."

"Arlong Pirates officer—Chew. A kissing gourami Fish-Man. Fish-Men of this type can attack by spraying water from their mouths. His bounty is 5.5 million Beli."

"Wasn't it fifty million?"

"This is the East Blue. Where would we find someone of that caliber?"

"Hey, don't ignore me!"

"Still, be careful. Don't let it go wrong."

"Don't worry."

With that, Sakaino headed toward Chew.

"Looks like you're the one leading this bunch."

"Arlong Pirates officer, Kuroobi. Skilled in Fish-Man Karate, with a bounty of nine million Beli."

"You've gathered pretty thorough information."

Though Kuroobi spoke casually, he was on guard. The leader across from him hadn't said a word the whole time; only the man beside him, who seemed to be an adviser, had spoken.

"There's no point talking. I'll take you down first, then go find Arlong."

"Soru."

"So fast."

Bang—

"He's strong, too, this guy."

"Fish-Man Karate."

Sakaino really wasn't that strong, but it depended on who he was compared with.

Torres was a pure combat specialist. He might have been a major, but he could hold his own against pirates with bounties exceeding one hundred million Beli.

Sakaino, on the other hand, was at the level of a regular Marine Headquarters major. He usually only went up against pirates with bounties of ten or twenty million.

Sakaino alone, with a group of well-trained marines, was enough to deal with the Arlong Pirates.

Thud—

Chew, an officer of the Arlong Pirates, was thrown to the ground.

"This guy's no fun at all."

Thud—

Kuroobi was down for the count too.

"So you played around for a while."

"I thought there must have been something special about them, since the colonel had taken notice of them."

"Let's continue."

"Yes, Colonel." ×2

They then began dealing with the other members of the Arlong Pirates nearby.

"So you're the ones causing trouble here, you despicable humans."

"Leader of the Arlong Pirates, former member of the Sun Pirates, bounty of twenty million Beli."

"Colonel, leave this one to me. I didn't get enough just now."

"Let me take this one. I could use a little exercise."

"Bastards, what do you people take me for?!"

"What do we take you for? Nothing but a coward scared out of his wits, who only dares throw his weight around in front of civilians."

"You bastard!!!"

With an enraged roar, Arlong charged at Wang Chuan, but it couldn't change the outcome.

"Iai One-Sword Slash."

With two clicks, Wang Chuan drew and sheathed his sword.

Arlong, meanwhile, collapsed to the ground. He hadn't been able to see his opponent draw at all.

"How can someone like you be in the East Blue?"

"I came here especially to see you, to see what someone scared out of his wits looks like, and to remind myself never to let fear rob me of the courage to draw my sword."

Whether Arlong heard Wang Chuan out or not, there was no telling. In any case, because Wang Chuan had held back, he had merely passed out.

"Sakaino, I'll leave things here to you."

"Yes, Colonel."

Sakaino then began making arrangements to clear out the Arlong Pirates, while announcing to the people nearby that the Arlong Pirates had been defeated.