The Shadow of Black Hyena

A week has passed since the Iron Hook Pirates incident.

Hachinosu returned to peace. Several merchant ships were docked in the harbor, their owners paying protection money and loading and unloading cargo with a clear conscience. Several more rows of wooden houses appeared on the island, Ginny selected a dozen or so nimble-handed civilians from among those she had rescued to form a "port management office" specifically for registering passing ships, collecting fees, and maintaining order.

"Port Management Office?" Kaido munched on some meat, looking at the newly hung sign. "That name doesn't sound like something a pirate would say."

"Like what?" Ginny, tidying up the documents without looking up.

"Like an office of the World Government."

"That's right. Even pirates have rules."

Kaido pursed his lips but didn't refute.

Lin Yuan stood at the Castle gate, watching the ships coming and going in the harbor. Hachinosu was changing faster than he had expected. With the intelligence support of the Glint-Glint Fruit, the sense of security for merchant ships had greatly improved, and more and more ships were willing to detour to Hachinosu to dock. Ginny's protection fees had increased from tens of millions to two hundred million per month, not even counting the profits from the Seastone and weapons business.

"Lin Yuan." Ginny came out of the Intelligence Room, holding a document in her hand. "There's been progress on Zephyr's side."

Lin Yuan took the document and opened it.

The Black Hyena Pirates. Captain "Black Hyena" Beck, bounty 350 million. Crew of approximately 800, six ships. Area of operation: waters surrounding Marine Headquarters, their main business is kidnapping Marine families for ransom. Recent intelligence indicates that the crew has dispatched a small team to operate near Marineford, where Marine Headquarters is located, targeting several families in the Marine family quarters.

One of the households: Zephyr.

"Who is the specific target?" Lin Yuan asked.

"Zephyr's daughter." Ginny pulled out another slip of paper. "Her name Aqi, she's thirteen years old, and she attends the Marine Headquarters school. She gets out of school at three o'clock every afternoon and walks home. Her route is fixed, and she's only escorted by two Navy soldiers."

"Where's your son?" Lin Yuan asked again.

"My son's name is Ivan, he's ten years old, and he attends a different school. The route is different, and there are only two guards. The Black Hyena's target is most likely the daughter; girls are easier to control."

Lin Yuan remained silent for a moment.

When will we start?

"Not confirmed yet. The Black Hyenas are still scouting. Their usual practice is to monitor the area for about a month, figuring out all the guard shift changes, blind spots in the surveillance along the routes, and the reaction speed of the nearby navy." Ginny paused, "Probably another two to three weeks."

"Can we find their hideout?"

"Found it. It's an unnamed island on the edge of the New World, not marked on any nautical chart. All six ships are anchored there." Ginny tapped on the chart. "About 1,200 kilometers from Hachinosu."

Lin Yuan stared at that spot for a long time.

"Ginny, do three things for me."

"You say."

"First, continue monitoring the Black Hyenas. Report their movements daily. Second, contact Morgans for me; I need to anonymously send an intelligence report to Marine Headquarters. Third, investigate whether the Black Hyenas have anyone backing them."

Ginny's fingers paused for a moment.

"Is someone behind you?"

"A pirate crew on the edge of the New World dared to target the family of Marine Headquarters Instructor, and their choice of target was so precise— Zephyr's daughter, the Marine Academy, a fixed route. It's impossible without an inside man."

Ginny's expression changed.

"You mean there's someone inside the Navy...?"

"I don't know," Lin Yuan said, "That's why we need to investigate."

Ginny closed the file, turned, and walked into the Intelligence Room.

Lin Yuan stood at the Castle gate, looking at the sea.

Zephyr, Marine Headquarters Instructor with Admiral- level combat strength. If his daughter were kidnapped, given Zephyr's personality, he wouldn't compromise, but he would definitely go to rescue her. If the Black Hyena Pirates had set a trap beforehand, Zephyr be in grave danger if he went alone.

Upon arriving in this world, the first favor I received was from Zephyr. The instructor saw through his "shaved head" but didn't expose him; he discovered that he had released the five slaves but didn't report it either. Even after Lin Yuan's defection, Zephyr didn't send anyone to pursue him.

This favor must be repaid.

Three days later, Morgans' reply arrived.

"The intelligence has been sent. It was anonymously delivered to the Marine Headquarters' intelligence section through Du Feld's channels. Nobody knows who sent it." Morgans' voice was low on the other end of the Den Den Mushi. "But I advise you, don't do this kind of thing. The Navy isn't clean. If they find out you sent it, you'll be in trouble."

"We'll talk about it once we find out." Lin Yuan hung up the phone.

Ginny walked out of the Intelligence Room.

"Lin Yuan, there's new information about the Black Hyenas. Their scouts followed Zephyr's daughter all day, took photos, and even spoke with the security guard at the school gate to find out about the change in school dismissal times."

"How long until we take action?"

"About two more weeks. What are they waiting for?"

"Keep an eye on it."

Ginny nodded and turned to leave.

"Ginny," Lin Yuan called out to her.

"Um?"

"What about that matter you were investigating? Is there someone behind the Black Hyenas?"

Ginny was silent for a moment.

"We found something. Not complete, but there's a clue. A large sum of money recently appeared in the Black Hyena Pirates' account. The source is unknown, and the transfer path is very complicated, involving several intermediate accounts. But the final destination—" She looked at Lin Yuan, "Pointing to Mary Geoise."

Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes.

Mary Geoise?

"Celestial Dragons. Or people from the World Government," Ginny said. "I can't find out exactly who. The anti-observation equipment is too strong; my Glint-Glint Fruit can't penetrate it."

Lin Yuan remained silent for a long time.

"Understood. Keep an eye on it."

Ginny is gone.

Lin Yuan stood at the Castle gate, hands in his pockets, gazing at the distant sea.

Mary Geoise. Celestial Dragons. World Government.

Why target Zephyr's family? Zephyr is Marine Admiral -level fighter, a backbone of the Navy. Targeting his family is either an attempt to force him to leave the Navy or to force him to do something.

Neither of these is a good thing.

But Lin Yuan couldn't worry about that right now. All he could do was get the intelligence to the Navy before those people made their move. How the Navy handled it and how Zephyr dealt with it were their business.

He was simply repaying a debt of gratitude.

Five more days passed.

Ginny suddenly knocked on Lin Yuan's door in the early hours of the morning.

"Lin Yuan, the Black Hyena has made a move."

Lin Yuan sat up in bed.

"When?"

"Today, their six ships have already set sail and are expected to arrive in the waters surrounding the Marine Headquarters tomorrow afternoon. The reconnaissance personnel on shore have begun to evacuate."

"Where is Zephyr's daughter?"

"Still at school. Zephyr himself is at headquarters. The Navy—the intelligence has arrived, but I don't know if they've taken it seriously." Ginny's voice was a little tense. "I checked the deployment at Marine Headquarters; there's no change. The security in the family quarters hasn't been strengthened, Zephyr's daughter still only has two guards."

Lin Yuan remained silent for a moment.

"Notify Kaido, Bullet, Kuma, and King to prepare to depart."

"You're going to Marine Headquarters?"

"We won't go to headquarters. We'll go halfway there." Lin Yuan put on his coat. "If the Navy doesn't rescue us, we'll go."

Ginny paused for a moment, then nodded, turned, and ran away.

In the darkest hour before dawn, a door opened above the Hachinosu.

Kaido, Bullet, Kuma, and King emerged from the door, stepping onto the Micro Door and hovering in mid-air. Lin Yuan stood at the very front, his hands in his pockets.

"Ginny, keep a close eye on things. Report back immediately."

"Clear."

Lin Yuan raised his hand and opened an even larger door in front of everyone. Behind the door was the sea area surrounding the Marine Headquarters —the route the Black Hyena Pirates always took.

"Walk."

(End of Chapter 56)