West Blue, Where Tigers Crouch and Dragons Hide

The gentle sea breeze blew, azure waters rippled, seagulls wheeled through the sky, and fish frolicked merrily beneath the waves.

"Marine Hero Major Longinus defeated the Black-Clothed Pirate Group. Their captain, Felix, has been captured and awaits the judgment and trial of justice..." A tall man standing on the deck read aloud with dramatic inflection, surrounded by cheers and applause.

"Major Longinus truly deserves to be called a Marine hero. It hasn't even been a week since he personally risked his life to rescue those hostages!"

"Compared to Major Longinus's efficiency, the Marines stationed in our kingdom are complete trash. I seriously wonder whether they spend all their time and energy on women."

"Exactly! I really hope Major Longinus can come take a look at our West Blue."

"That Marine... was his name Longinus? Was he the one who saved me back then?" A small figure standing amid the crowd listened intently as well, her little face tense with concentration.

"Little Eileen, you know that major too?" Seeing how adorable she looked while being so serious, someone beside her teased her with a smile.

"Mm-hm! Uncle Isaac, I want to become someone as amazing as Major Longinus too!" The little girl's sweet voice melted the hearts of quite a few people who liked children.

"Haha! Hopefully, West Blue will have another heroine in the future!"

The people around them laughed along, though none of them believed this little girl could grow into a strong individual like Major Longinus.

The little girl shyly ran to the other side of the deck. Only after making sure no one was watching did she quietly sigh in relief. She did not dare remain the center of attention for too long.

"Even a Great Pirate like Felix was defeated. That Marine is really strong. No wonder he felt just like that ice-using monster back then!" The little girl gazed over the vast sea and murmured to herself. She was none other than Robin, who had escaped from Lodestar Island some time ago, changed her identity, and returned to West Blue.

"They say the most dangerous place is the safest. Besides, I appeared on the Grand Line before, so those people probably won't expect me to return to West Blue so soon!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Just as Robin was considering where she should flee next, enormous waves suddenly erupted across the sea. The ship began to rock violently, while the sailors' hysterical cries rang out aboard the vessel.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

Robin grabbed the railing and looked out over the sea. In the distance, skull flags fluttered in the wind. Three pirate ships sailed in a line, unleashing a fierce bombardment on the passenger ship she was aboard.

"Oh no, pirates!" Robin's heart jolted. Although they were only a small band of pirates and could not compare to the large pirate crews on the Grand Line, the passenger ship she was on looked quite ordinary. It was hard to say whether it could withstand the enemy's attack.

The bombardment quickly ceased, but the gloom in Robin's heart did not fade. She knew very well that this did not mean the enemy had given up attacking. Rather, those pirates already considered the wealth aboard this passenger ship their spoils.

The earlier bombardment had merely been a warning!

Perhaps the bombardment had worked. The potbellied captain did not dare flee and instead patiently waited for the pirate ships to approach.

"You're probably the most useless captain I've ever seen. You don't even have the guts to put up a fight. Still, I have to admit that your cowardice saved all of you, because I am Captain Jack, the man destined to become the next Pirate King! Ahahaha!" The red-haired young man aboard the pirate ship threw back his head and laughed. He was clearly quite pleased with the "might" that had subdued his enemies without a fight.

The pirates on the three ships also burst into laughter. Being able to seize their spoils without shedding blood was naturally the best outcome.

Hearing that grating laughter, the passengers aboard the ship trembled in fear. The reason they had envied the stories mentioned in the newspaper was that the pirate situation in West Blue was simply too rampant.

Even pirate organizations like the Eight Treasures Navy could openly exist as official forces, showing just how chaotic things had become here. If the Buster Call half a year ago had not severely intimidated the pirates of West Blue, the situation would probably be more than ten times worse now.

The red-haired captain across from them had clearly only recently gone to sea. Rookies like him were always bold and reckless, completely unrestrained by something like a Buster Call. That was why the people aboard this ship had encountered pirates without any preparation whatsoever.

Who would have thought that the captain, who looked so easy to bully, would smile and mock him instead? "Idiot, I was only worried that you'd damage my ship. After all, she's been my old companion for years. I can't let her be ruined by the likes of you."

"What?" The Red-Haired Pirate Captain felt his lungs about to explode with rage when he saw that short, fat captain dare speak to him like that. "You damned old bastard, I'll rip off your skull and use it as a wine cup!"

"Hahaha! Captain, it seems we've been back from the Grand Line for far too long. Even rookie pirates like these dare point at your nose and curse you!" The one-armed boatswain laughed so hard he could barely catch his breath.

"Ten-odd years ago, even those Marines wouldn't dare speak to us in that tone." The second mate, arms folded across his chest, spoke in a deep voice.

At this point, even the dullest people realized that something was wrong. The old men aboard this ship all seemed completely fearless, as if they did not take the pirates before them seriously at all.

"Captain Jones is actually a legendary pirate who ventured into the Grand Line!" The passengers thought, half excited and half terrified.

"They say nine out of every ten ships in West Blue have been pirates before. Looks like it's true!" Robin tilted up her little face, beginning to look forward to what would happen next.

"The Grand Line?" The Red-Haired Pirate Captain froze for a moment, then burst into loud laughter. "So you're failures who fled back from the Grand Line? Perfect. Hand over your Grand Line logbook, or don't blame me for killing every last one of you!"

"Looks like we need to teach rookies like you how to respect your elders." Captain Jones pulled a pistol from his waist, clumsily spun it around his finger, and spoke in a low voice.

The battle began quickly—and ended just as quickly!

"Ow! Ow! Mr. Pirate, please be gentle! Spare me, spare me!" Captain Jones lay prostrate on the deck, begging for mercy. He was utterly unlike the Great Pirate he had seemed to be before.

Not only were the passengers dumbfounded, even the pirates stared at what was happening with wide eyes.

"Huh? This is the level of a pirate who came back from the Grand Line?" The Red-Haired Pirate Captain stepped on Jones's head and spoke with utter disdain.

"No, no, no! We never went to the Grand Line, and we're not pirates either." Captain Jones hurriedly explained. "We were just trying to scare you pirate gentlemen off with psychological warfare."

"That's how we used to do things. We just never expected that your breadth of spirit and bearing would be far beyond those previous pirates." Captain Jones subtly flattered him.

The surrounding passengers were completely stunned. Was that even a thing?

Robin covered her face in embarrassment. She had actually been fooled by that man's supposedly superb acting earlier. While feeling ashamed, she could not help but sigh inwardly.

"West Blue truly is a place where tigers crouch and dragons hide!"

Thanks to I'm the Dad You'll Never Have for the 200 reward, and Innocent Little Fatty for the 1000 reward.