Marine G-8 Base

"The closest place from here is Nabarro Fortress, the Marine G-8 Base. Vice Admiral Jonathan is stationed there."

Hina took out a sea chart and studied it carefully before suggesting that Cifer go to G-8 to collect the Bounty.

"Nabarro Fortress is also along the route to Jaya. More importantly, Vice Admiral Jonathan is one of the people who knows you'll become a Shichibukai. If you go there, you might even get to look around the Marine base."

"Then let's go there!"

Cifer did not particularly care which branch they visited, but having the chance to look around was not bad either.

After getting Cifer's agreement, Hina took out a Den Den Mushi and contacted Vice Admiral Jonathan. It would not be good if things became awkward because they had not informed him beforehand.

Nabarro Fortress, base commander's office.

"What is it? You seem troubled."

A beautiful woman kneaded Vice Admiral Jonathan's shoulders. She was Jessica, the G-8 Base's Head Chef and Jonathan's wife.

"Hina and that prospective Shichibukai are bringing a Bounty Criminal to our branch to collect the reward."

"Isn't that a good thing? We haven't seen little Hina in quite some time..." Jessica suddenly realized something. "You mean that super troublesome criminal is coming too?"

"Yes. According to Marineford's opinion, as well as Hina's and Admiral Kuzan's descriptions, it is only a matter of time before he becomes a Shichibukai. Naturally, I cannot slight him."

"I heard he is the sort who likes killing pirates for their Bounties. Other than the Celestial Dragons incident, he has not done anything bad, so there should be no need to worry!"

Jessica squeezed Jonathan's shoulders firmly, telling him not to overthink things.

"That is exactly why I am worried. That man has been slaughtering pirates across the Grand Line lately. His way of doing things is very similar to an old friend of mine!"

Vice Admiral Jonathan clasped his hands on the desk and rested his chin on them, without the slightest hint of ease on his face.

"That old friend of mine recently returned from the New World. Before heading back to Marineford, he will pass through our base sometime in the next couple of days."

"You mean that..."

Jonathan nodded, and an eerie silence descended over the office.

After two and a half days, Cifer and the others finally arrived at Nabarro Fortress.

The base gates had already been opened in anticipation of their arrival. Jonathan and Jessica stood waiting with around a dozen higher-ranking Marines.

Cifer carried the nearly dead pirate as he slowly stepped off the ship. Hina, draped in a Justice Cape with a cigarette between her lips, followed him down with a valiant bearing, her temperament exactly as it had been when Cifer first met her.

"So this is Nabarro Fortress? It's my first time here!" Wright looked around with heartfelt wonder.

Only the pirate in Cifer's grasp seemed as though he had arrived in heaven. Over the past two and a half days, no one aboard the ship had paid him any attention. Forget treating his severe wounds; they had not even given him food.

More importantly, he did not dare say anything. He had witnessed Cifer destroy his pirate ship with a single strike. Remembering that his Wanted Poster said "dead or alive," he had resolutely made himself invisible aboard the ship.

After finally enduring both agony and hunger, he had made it here. A wonderful new life in prison awaited him!

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Ulquiorra! Welcome to the G-8 Branch."

Jonathan looked at Cifer, who stood far taller than him, and fearlessly stepped forward, extending his right hand.

Jessica could not help clenching her hands, while the surrounding Marines were so nervous that they did not dare move. Two days earlier, they had learned what kind of person would be arriving today.

"I have long admired your name, Vice Admiral Jonathan." Cifer accepted his goodwill amicably. "Also, just call me Cifer."

"Oh! Cifer has heard of me?"

Hearing Cifer say he had long admired his name, Jonathan began recalling whether he had ever done anything remarkable enough for even such an important figure to know him.

"Hina mentioned you on the ship two days ago."

The scene suddenly fell silent. It was as though crows were flying overhead, but the atmosphere was no longer as tense as before.

"Do not take it to heart. That is just how he is. He bears no ill will toward the Marines, so there is no need to be so restrained."

Hina could see that everyone present harbored either suspicion or fear toward Cifer.

"This guy is worth 60 million and still has one breath left." Cifer tossed the pirate in his hand to a Marine standing nearby. "Just put the Belly on my ship."

"Yes!"

Two Marines carried away the tearful pirate.

"Aren't you going to show me around, Vice Admiral Jonathan?"

"With great pleasure."

Wright and the many Marines followed behind the two men, accompanying Cifer as he toured the massive fortress, though a small number of Marines remained behind on guard.

"Jessica, do not worry. He is actually quite friendly."

Once Cifer had gone far away, Hina seemed like a different person as she rushed forward and put an arm around Jessica's shoulders.

"You little brat, it seems only certain parts of you have grown over the years~" Jessica lightly flicked a finger, making Hina's cheeks instantly flush red.

"Little Hina, we all know that you were abducted by that man to serve as his navigator." The atmosphere suddenly became grave as Jessica looked seriously at Hina.

"It is only a matter of time before he becomes a Shichibukai. You can explain staying on his ship for now as a way to facilitate contact with Marineford, but once he takes the position, you must leave immediately!"

As a woman, Jessica could tell that Hina and Cifer were like companions on the same ship. That was why she had to remind Hina that they were Marines!

"What are you talking about, Jessica? Hina does not want to stay on that annoying man's ship. I cannot wait for him to become a Shichibukai so I can return to Marineford!"

Hina seemed somewhat unnatural. In her eyes, Cifer was a good person, and they were good friends, but their respective positions were destined to force them apart.

"It is naturally a good thing that Colonel Hina thinks that way!"

Without either of them noticing, a Marine warship had actually sailed in as well!

A three-meter-tall man in a red suit, with a Justice Cape draped over his shoulders, stood behind them.

Elsewhere, walking beside Jonathan and watching the soldiers patrol and train throughout the base, Cifer found it somewhat novel, though nothing particularly impressive.

"What do you think of my base, Cifer? As a fortress, it can be called impregnable!"

As Jonathan introduced the state of his base to Cifer, he did not forget to praise himself a little.

Impregnable?

Cifer suddenly remembered that things advertised as impregnable never seemed to end well...

"It may indeed be impregnable against those rookie brats." Cifer roughly sensed the entire fortress and found that there was not a single person who could be considered strong.

Jonathan's strength was not even much different from Hina's. It seemed he was merely a civil officer.

"Strength is what matters most!"

"Meticulous arrangements, powerful firepower, advanced technology, and specialized capture nets for ability users may seem capable of handling all kinds of situations, but your base does not have even one person who can truly fight head-on."

"Breaking the surface with a single point: all it takes is one strong martial artist charging into the crowd, and everything in this fortress will become useless, unless..."

"Unless you are already prepared to sacrifice everything for justice!"

A rough voice interrupted Cifer.