Rat Captain

At dusk, Arlong Park lay in ruins.

The blood-red sunset dyed this land, which had just endured a catastrophe, a tragic, vivid orange-red.

The once-unrivaled Arlong Park was now nothing but ruined walls.

Collapsed towers, shattered pools, and Fish-man Pirates scattered everywhere silently told of the end of Arlong's evil rule.

Ronan, Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Sanji, and Usopp stood atop the ruins with huge bundles slung over their backs.

The bundles were packed with treasure looted from Arlong's vault—the ill-gotten wealth Arlong had extorted from countless villagers over the past eight years.

"Whew... This is really heavy."

Usopp wiped the sweat from his forehead. Though he complained aloud, the smile on his face was even brighter than the sunset.

Just as everyone prepared to leave with their captives, a white Warship slowly approached over the horizon.

"Woo—"

The deep blast of its horn shattered the stillness of dusk.

Usopp narrowed his eyes at the fluttering Seagull Flag and said in surprise, "The Navy? What a coincidence. We just took care of the Arlong Pirates, and they showed up? It's like they came here to clean up the mess."

"It's no coincidence."

Nami's voice suddenly turned cold.

She stared fixedly at the approaching Warship, the disgust in her eyes so intense it seemed ready to drip out. "That's the Warship of Rat Captain from Navy 16th Branch."

"They were the ones who took Arlong's bribes, turned a blind eye to the suffering here, and even helped him keep the news from getting out."

"Because they were in cahoots, the Arlong Pirates were able to rule this place without restraint and oppress everyone for eight whole years!"

At those words, the relaxed atmosphere instantly froze.

Zoro placed a hand on the hilt of Wado Ichimonji, his gaze icy. "I see... So they're scum wearing the cloak of Justice."

Ronan set down the bundle on his shoulder, holding the Zhangba Iron Spear in one hand as he calmly looked at Luffy.

"Hey, Luffy. Keeping trash like this around will only cause trouble. Want to... wipe them out?"

Ronan's tone was calm, as if he were casually discussing what to eat that night, but the killing intent within it made the surrounding air seem to drop several degrees.

As a transmigrator, he knew full well how rotten the Navy was on the inside. He felt no psychological burden whatsoever toward scum who were even worse than pirates.

Before Luffy could speak, Sanji took a deep drag from his cigarette and frowned.

"Ronan, calm down. These guys deserve to die, but they're still official Navy personnel."

"Openly wiping out a Navy branch captain would be a different matter entirely. The consequences would be serious, wouldn't they?"

Sanji blew out a ring of smoke and analyzed, "Navy Headquarters won't let us off. If we kill him, we'll probably face a Never-Ending Conflict with them. At the very least... they'll put a high bounty on us."

"A bounty?!"

The moment he heard those words, Luffy's serious expression collapsed, replaced by uncontrollable delight.

His eyes lit up, and his mouth stretched all the way to his ears.

"That sounds great! I've always wanted a Bounty Poster!"

"Great my ass!"

Usopp nearly jumped out of his skin. He hurriedly grabbed Luffy's shoulders and shook him wildly.

"Hey, Luffy! Don't do anything rash! Getting a Navy bounty isn't a joke! We'll become targets for the whole world!"

As they argued, the Warship had already docked.

The gangplank lowered, and a squad of fully armed Navy soldiers ran down in formation. Immediately afterward, an exceedingly sleazy-looking man stepped ashore.

He wore a hat decorated with mouse ears, with several ridiculous whiskers on his face.

His tiny mung-bean eyes darted around restlessly. No matter how one looked at him, he resembled not a soldier, but a rat that had sneaked in to drink oil.

He was Rat Captain, commander of the 16th Branch.

Rat Captain swaggered ashore, but when he saw the scene before him clearly, his arrogant expression froze.

"This... this is..."

Everywhere he looked was ruins.

Arlong Park, which even he had been somewhat wary of, had now become a pile of rubble.

And those vicious Fish-Men were either dead or tied up like dumplings.

"Arlong... lost?"

Rat Captain was greatly alarmed.

He knew Arlong's strength. He was a Fish-Man with terrifying brute force.

Anyone capable of completely destroying the Arlong Pirates, who had dominated the East Blue for eight years, could not possibly be harmless, no matter how unremarkable these Young Men appeared!

Fear flashed through his heart, but it was immediately replaced by an emotion called greed.

His gaze landed on the huge bundles behind Ronan and the others, then shifted to the unconscious Arlong.

"The treasure Arlong has accumulated over the years... and the head of a wanted criminal like Arlong..."

Rat Captain swallowed, calculation gleaming in his small eyes.

"If I can get my hands on all of this, I can make a fortune and claim credit from Headquarters! Promotion and riches are mine today!"

At that thought, greed defeated reason.

Rat Captain straightened his collar, struck an imposing official pose, and led the soldiers toward Luffy with long strides. In an arrogant tone, he said, "Hey, who are you people?"

"I'm Rat Captain of Navy 16th Branch, and I was just preparing to subdue the Arlong Pirates."

He pointed at Arlong, then at the treasure, putting on a righteous expression.

"But since you unknown Pirate Hunters happened to get lucky and pick up the leftovers after defeating the Arlong Pirates, then... leave the remaining cleanup to the Navy."

"Hand over the criminals and stolen goods, and you can get lost. Out of the kindness of my heart, I won't hold you accountable for engaging in unauthorized armed combat."

After saying that, he smugly stroked his mouse whiskers, as though he had granted Luffy an enormous favor.

The air fell deathly silent.

Nami lowered her head, her entire body trembling.

Not from fear, but from rage.

"You said... hand them over to you?"

Luffy slowly raised his head. Beneath the brim of his hat, there was no trace of laughter in his eyes—only burning fury.

Before Rat could react, Luffy moved.

Gomu Gomu—Pistol!!!

Bang!!!

There was no pointless talk and not the slightest hesitation.

Luffy's fist shot out like a cannonball, smashing squarely into Rat Captain's sleazy face!

Accompanied by a tooth-aching muffled sound, Rat Captain's features instantly twisted out of shape.

He flew backward like a rag doll and slammed viciously into the pile of ruins, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"It was... you..."

Luffy drew back his fist and walked toward the fallen Rat one step at a time, his voice terrifyingly low.

"It was you... working with the Arlong Pirates to bully Nami!!!"