All of Them Had Arrived

In the dim forest, Marines clad in "camouflage" gear raced through the undergrowth, chasing pirates fleeing in panic.

"Are these guys ghosts?!"

Despair filled the pirate's heart.

Driven by an endless craving for treasure, he had finally made it to On the Island, only to be greeted by a group of elusive grim reapers.

In an instant, more than half his companions had been killed or wounded.

He had no idea what was happening. He only knew he had to run for his life, but the rustling behind him told him that death was closing in.

"Damn it, I'll fight you!"

The pirate stopped, spinning around as he watched his surroundings. Even the hand gripping his blade was trembling.

"Rustle, rustle~~"

The bushes to his left shook.

The pirate whirled around in terror, but found nothing. Before he could relax, there was a muffled pfft, and a blade tip pierced through his chest.

"Cough!"

When?

The pirate coughed up blood and used the last of his strength to turn around. A savage covered head to toe in leaves and turf stood behind him, slowly pulling the long blade from his body.

His vision faded into darkness.

"Done. That's it!"

Linus grinned and dragged the pirate's corpse into the bushes. Another savage appeared beside him and helped conceal the body.

"Linus, the tactics Second Lieutenant Luo Ya taught us are really useful."

"You're right."

Linus agreed from the bottom of his heart.

The Marines operated in pairs. While hunting pirates, one was responsible for drawing the pirate's attention while the other took the opportunity to lurk nearby and strike from hiding.

Using the natural terrain and the disguise provided by their "camouflage" gear, as long as they kept their movements quiet, their chances of success were extremely high.

Even if the pirate spotted them and escaped disaster, the two immediately switched roles, with the one drawing attention becoming the ambusher.

It worked almost every time.

Compared to Marines, they now looked more like professional jungle killers.

It was far easier than fighting head-on.

"Let's head back."

The two returned the way they had come and soon reached the camp. The pirate force had already been wiped out, and even the captain with a bounty exceeding eight million Beli had been killed.

"Reporting in! Mission accomplished!"

"Return to formation!"

Before long, the Marines responsible for pursuit returned one after another. They sat together for a brief rest, waiting for the next wave of pirates to arrive.

Including Luo Ya, more than forty Marines were all dressed like "savages." Even their faces were smeared with green tree sap, making them look like a special operations unit.

Three days had passed since their first hunt.

Over those three days, they had eliminated thirteen pirate crews of various sizes, while suffering only three casualties themselves.

Luo Ya gazed at his subordinates.

Compared to three days ago, every Marine now carried a far more formidable presence.

The constant killing and victories had steadily boosted their confidence and morale, while the harsh environment had tempered their will.

With his subordinates in such high spirits, they might not be unable to fight even the strongest Buggy Pirates!

"Second Lieutenant Luo Ya."

Fullbody emerged from the bushes and jogged over to Luo Ya's side. Lowering his voice, he said, "The sentries sent word. Several pirate crews have been spotted, and the Buggy Pirates are among them."

"Mm."

Luo Ya's eyes sharpened.

They had finally come.

Information took time to spread. The first pirate crews to arrive had mostly been operating near Orange Town.

As time passed, more and more pirates would come, especially the powerful pirates who dominated their own territories.

The Buggy Pirates, the strongest among them, were his most important target in this campaign. No matter what, he had to capture them.

"Jango, is the treasure ready?"

"It's already been arranged!"

Although Kuro's Treasure was fake, the treasure itself still needed to exist. It was an important bait to lure the pirates into slaughtering one another.

They had happened to wipe out several pirate crews and amassed a bit of loot.

The Patrol Team had limited manpower. Dealing with a single pirate crew was no problem, but when facing multiple crews, it was best to be patient.

The last to make an appearance would be the winner.

Western Moon Island.

A pirate ship styled like a circus slowly docked at shore. The pirates immediately slid down from the ship along ropes, every one of them remarkably agile.

Passionate about acrobatics, they possessed flexible bodies and excellent balance. In battle, this often allowed them to perform acrobatic moves their enemies never expected, gaining the upper hand.

"Gahahaha!"

Captain Buggy was brimming with energy. At the thought of soon obtaining Kuro's Treasure, the blood throughout his body surged with excitement.

"Boys, find the treasure!"

"Oohhh!"

The pirates excitedly rushed onto the island.

No pirate could possibly be uninterested in treasure. Whoever found it first would surely be rewarded by Captain Buggy.

Half an hour later.

The pirates found a clue.

"Boss Buggy, look!"

"What is it?"

Buggy leaned over and saw a signpost. Its arrow pointed toward the center of the island, and there was a Cat Claw print on it.

"It's the Black Cat Pirates' symbol!"

The pirates' eyes lit up with delight.

Following the signpost would surely lead them to the Black Cat Pirates' hideout. It might even be where the treasure was hidden.

The treasure was right ahead!

Eastern side of the island.

Three figures explored the jungle.

Suddenly, two of them stopped beside a large tree.

There was a Cat Claw print and an arrow on the trunk.

"Brother Zoro, we found a clue to the treasure!"

Johnny and Yosaku were overjoyed. The island's terrain was complicated, and pirates were afraid of forgetting where they had buried their treasure, so leaving clues was perfectly normal.

The two turned around, ready to share the good news with Zoro, only to find nothing behind them. Zoro, who should have been following them, had vanished without a trace.

"Huh? Brother Zoro?"

The two blinked blankly. Once they realized what had happened, they instantly clutched their cheeks and screamed.

"Brother Zoro got lost!!!"

They were doomed.

Even as close companions, there was no way they could guess where Brother Zoro had gone. That guy could get lost while walking in a straight line!

Damn it, they had been too careless.

They should have tied Brother Zoro up with a rope.

The two stood there in a daze for a long while before sitting down with bleak expressions.

"Johnny, this is bad."

"It really is terrible, Yosaku."

"Let's eat first. We'll need a full stomach to have the strength to look for Brother Zoro."

"You're right."

Wisps of smoke rose through the jungle.

Time passed quickly, and more and more pirates arrived at Moon Island.

Southern part of the island, beneath a cliff.

The orange-haired girl tied her small boat to a reef, then laboriously climbed the cliff face. Her light body allowed her to reach the top with ease.

"Slap! Slap!"

The girl raised her hands and patted her cheeks.

"Come on, Nami!"

"As long as I get those hundred million Beli, I can buy back the village!"

"You can do this."

After hearing about Kuro's Treasure, she had rushed here without hesitation, despite knowing it was incredibly dangerous and that the information was likely false.

A hundred million Beli—this number held special meaning for her.

It represented hope!