Very soon.
The next day arrived.
The waters where the Moke Pirates' ship was anchored gradually filled with more and more pirate ships.
"Boulder Pirates, no good~ Their captain's bounty is only 500,000 Beli. As for the other crew members, none of them have bounties. Even their pirate ship is the same—cheap junk, and it was bought secondhand. If we resell it, it should fetch around 1 million Beli."
"Sea Fish Pirates are a little better, 1 million Beli, but their ship is even worse. It's a rotten fishing boat that can only be sold for scrap, probably worth around 300,000 Beli."
"Why aren't there any major pirates? How many pirates would we need to gather just to make one small target?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Not a single person in this pirate crew has a bounty. They came just to join in the fun, didn't they? Chase them away later. Keeping them here would just waste food."
"..."
Xia Che looked speechlessly at Nami beside him, who was constantly jotting things down in a little notebook, and glanced at its pages.
Good grief. She had recorded the bounties and ship prices of practically every pirate crew that had arrived. As for those without bounties... after noting down their ships, she would put on a look of complete disdain.
However.
"How do you remember so many bounties?"
"Hehehe, don't underestimate me." Hearing Xia Che's question, Nami proudly raised her head. "If you want to find a suitably fat fish on the sea, sharp eyes are essential. I've trained them over all these years. It's just a pity..."
As she spoke, she let out another regretful sigh and pouted.
"Before, I could only sneak aboard to steal their treasure or trick them out of their ships. If I could bundle up both the people and their ships like you do, I'd have already scraped together one small target."
"Don't tell me you memorized the wanted posters of every pirate in the East Blue?"
"More or less. I used to collect wanted posters for East Blue pirates, but after becoming a Marine sergeant, it became much more convenient. Every morning, someone delivers the new wanted posters." Nami nodded and sighed emotionally. Then, as if she had spotted something, she hurriedly lowered her head again. "Stop bothering me. A big fish is here—the Alvida Pirates. Captain Alvida, bounty of 5 million Beli. Oh, this ship was replaced not long ago, right? Not bad. If we sell it, it'll fetch at least 6 million Beli!"
As she spoke, she kicked one of the Moke Pirates' underlings beside her.
"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and welcome them! That's 5 million Beli! They're qualified to board the Moke Pirates' ship. Go bring their captain over."
As soon as she finished speaking.
"Yes!" The Moke Pirates underling jolted. Listening to Big Sis Nami toss around figures in the millions had gotten him excited enough that he had nearly forgotten his job for the day... welcoming guests.
He hurriedly wiped away his drool, straightened his clothes, held his head high, and walked toward the side of the ship.
He was just about to toss over the rope ladder specially replaced for today when he saw Alvida's figure and his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Even so, he gritted his teeth and tossed over the rope, pulled the ship closer, and called over two people from the neighboring side to help.
"Hello, Alvida. Only those recognized by our captain may board and discuss the great matter of wiping out Marine Branch 16. You may come aboard alone or bring two underlings with you."
"Bring underlings? No need. I, Alvida, am enough on my own." Alvida waved dismissively, then turned to scold her underlings. "All of you wait here obediently. If anyone tries to run, don't blame me for getting rough."
"Yes, beautiful Miss Alvida."
Only after receiving her underlings' response did Alvida turn around and leap onto the Moke Pirates' ship.
At once.
The Moke Pirates' ship seemed to tilt slightly to one side, and the Moke Pirates underling's heart clenched.
Fortunately, in the end...
Alvida successfully boarded the ship.
After breathing a sigh of relief, the Moke Pirates underling hurriedly made a gesture inviting her inside and shouted, "A great pirate with a bounty of 5 million Beli, Lady Alvida, has arrived!"
"One honored guest. Please come inside!"
"There are peanuts, melon seeds, drinks, beer, Canned Oranges, and Orange Marmalade inside! Please enjoy yourself, Lady Alvida."
This whole routine instantly made Alvida, who carried a spiked club on her shoulder, burst into hearty laughter. She seemed extremely pleased that the East Blue Overlord's pirate crew had shown her such respect. Nodding, she patted the Moke Pirates underling on the shoulder. "Not bad. As expected of the East Blue Overlord's underling. Your manners are truly satisfying. But I prefer it when you call me Miss Alvida."
"It is my honor." The Moke Pirates underling, whose shoulder hurt from the pat, forced a smile and still politely gestured inside. "Beautiful Miss Alvida, please come in!"
Only after the laughing Miss Alvida had entered did he suck in a breath and rub his shoulder.
But he quickly regained his composure and put on the elegant smile of a receptionist.
Don't get angry, don't get angry. That was 5 million Beli!
Next...
There were still many distinguished guests to receive. Don't disgrace yourself.
Seeing the next pirate ship slowly approaching beneath a skull-and-cat-head pirate flag, his eyes lit up again. He hastily tidied his appearance and stepped forward.
"Five million, five million. Next is the Black Cat Pirates." Nami's eyes lit up as well as she watched the slowly approaching pirate ship. "The Black Cat Pirates' captain is a pirate worth 9 million Beli, nearly twice as much as that one just now."
Then she sighed regretfully. "Their former captain, Captain Kuro, was a great pirate worth 16 million Beli. He was almost on par with Arlong. But I heard the Marines killed him some time ago. What a pity. That was 16 million Beli!"
Then, looking at the Black Cat pirate ship that had already docked, she became excited again.
"But it doesn't matter. The Black Cat Pirates' ship is an excellent pirate ship, a famous vessel known as the Black Cat, worth at least 30 million Beli. We've struck it rich!"
"..."
Listening to Nami, Xia Che's eyelid twitched.
He had nearly forgotten about that guy.
He knew that Captain Kuro had not actually died. He had faked his death and hidden in Syrup Village, planning to seize someone else's family fortune.
However.
Xia Che turned to look at the Black Cat pirate ship that had docked. When he saw the man on deck wearing a suit, glasses, and slicked-back hair, his eyes narrowed instantly.
He hadn't expected that guy to come too.
Silent Step, an assassination technique that allowed one to move at high speed with catlike steps.
Learning the Six Powers required a certain level of talent. It was not so easy, and even within Marine Headquarters, not every Marine officer had mastered them.
Therefore, although he had made the Six Powers the training manual for Marine Branch 16, Xia Che understood... there would probably be very few in Marine Branch 16 capable of learning them. Even those who did might only master one or two techniques.
So perhaps Silent Step was also an option?
Maybe if they couldn't learn Soru, they could still learn Silent Step?!
In some ways, Silent Step and Soru were somewhat similar. Both were techniques for high-speed movement.
With that thought, Xia Che looked at the figure who had already boarded the ship and stroked his chin. "It's decided, then."
At this moment.
The Black Cat Pirates' current captain, Jango, and former captain, Kuro, had both boarded the ship. However, it seemed that the Black Cat Pirates were deliberately concealing Kuro's identity and had not announced it directly.
Still, under the welcome of the Moke Pirates, the two headed inside.
Next...
"Nelly Pirates, not bad. They're worth 6 million Beli too."
"Sharp Sword Pirates, 13 million Beli. Not bad either."
"Yag Pirates, 600,000 Beli. Pah!"
"..."
As more and more pirate ships approached, Nami's little notebook became densely packed with notes.
Bringing Nami along this time had truly been the right choice.
Before they had even cast the net, Nami had already roughly calculated the profits.
A bumper harvest!
As Nami nodded in satisfaction while recording bounties.
At that moment.
The bright, open sea suddenly darkened, as though some enormous creature were slowly approaching.
All the pirates turned to look in that direction.
"What is that?"
"Could it be a Sea King?"
"Impossible. There aren't any Sea Kings in these waters. Could one have wandered in by accident?"
As everyone looked over with curiosity and fear, even Nami raised her head and looked in that direction in confusion.
Suddenly.
It was as though everyone saw something sailing toward them.
And there were a great many of them.
"That's... that's... pirate ships?! So many pirate ships~"
Someone finally saw clearly and let out a loud cry.
At once.
At this moment.
Everyone saw them.
They were... densely packed pirate ships.
"That's the fleet of the East Blue Commodore—the Krieg Pirates! There are actually so many pirate ships? That's insanely powerful!"
Someone else cried out in shock.
Everyone raised their heads and looked toward the massive Black Panther Giant Sailing Ship at the front.
In an instant, everyone stared in disbelief. There was shock, excitement, longing, and fear. All attention seemed drawn to the slowly approaching fleet.
Xia Che and Nami also looked up.
But unlike everyone else...
Xia Che and Nami narrowed their eyes, and the corners of their mouths curved upward slightly.
Their eyes seemed to shine with the gleam of Beli, reflecting the image of Beli as they stared intently at the slowly approaching Krieg Pirates fleet.
At that moment, their expressions and smiles seemed exactly the same.
"Sergeant Nami~"
As Xia Che's meaningful words fell.
"Understood!" Although Xia Che had not given any order, Sergeant Nami seemed to understand already. She stood at attention, saluted, and said with a serious expression, "Colonel Xia Che!"
Fifty pirate ships, along with that massive three-deck sailing ship...
How much would all that be worth?!
Before you continue