[Three days ago, the royal merchant ship of the World Government-affiliated Kingdom of Nysmal received a threatening letter while returning from the Sabaody Archipelago. The letter stated that they had already been targeted by pirates.]
[So they chose to dock near Marine G-51 Branch in Master Port of the kingdom and requested a Marine warship escort.]
[Not long after arriving at G-51 Branch, they successfully captured a pirate attempting to infiltrate the branch at the port and initially confirmed that he was the pirate who had sent the threatening letter.]
"Interesting."
Luo Yi took a sip of Ice Cola as he lounged on a deck chair on the warship's deck, reading the detailed mission briefing in his hands.
"Sir? What's interesting?"
Hans, who was at the helm, asked curiously upon hearing him.
The other Marines from the Detention Unit also gathered around curiously.
"The criminal we're escorting this time is interesting—another glass."
Luo Yi handed the empty glass to Fal and spoke softly.
"He has no bounty or name, which means he should be completely unknown."
He pointed at the briefing in his hand.
"But someone like that actually dared to raid the royal merchant ship of a World Government-affiliated country, and even sent a warning letter beforehand."
As he spoke, Luo Yi rubbed his chin with interest.
"Now that you mention it, that is pretty unusual, sir."
Fal nodded as he handed over another Ice Cola. "But he was caught so easily. Maybe he's a rookie pirate who just put to sea and dares to do anything?"
"Maybe."
Luo Yi nodded, but then sat up from the deck chair and removed his sunglasses. "Oh, we're here."
Far away on the horizon, an island of considerable size was gradually coming into view.
The first thing that caught their eyes was the enormous white building standing near the island's coastline.
The massive Navy emblem gleamed in the sunlight, while the black lettering "G-51" and the seagull-and-scales flag were clearly visible in a prominent spot on the towering building.
That was Marine G-51 Branch of the Grand Line, their destination.
As the warship drew closer,
the outline of the city on the island gradually became clear as well, apart from the branch itself.
It was a bustling port.
The enormous harbor was packed with all kinds of ships, while merchant ships and small boats of various sizes came and went.
"How lively."
Hans, at the helm, sounded rather amazed.
"Of course. This is Master Port—the important port of the Kingdom of Nysmal."
Fal said it as though it were obvious.
Just as mentioned earlier, the Kingdom of Nysmal was one of the more than 170 countries affiliated with the World Government and enjoyed the direct protection of the World Government and the Marines.
Just like Master Port, where a Marine branch had been established directly in the city.
That was why most pirates would not consider attacking it.
Merchant ships from most countries were also willing to dock here.
Even if they had to pay steep docking fees, it was still better than being robbed by pirates.
"It is prosperous, but..."
Luo Yi nodded, his gaze sweeping toward the other side of the port.
There was a town there.
Compared with the noisy and lively port, however, the town seemed much more deserted. Its buildings were not tall, and at a glance, they could even be called run-down.
It was not difficult to guess that this was probably where the island's native inhabitants lived.
Just like most countries in this world, the prosperity of the port and the wealth of the country had little real connection to the lives of its people.
"Let's go. Take us to the branch's port."
Luo Yi had no intention of looking any longer and ordered the warship toward the Marine branch's exclusive harbor.
But the moment they arrived at the Marine branch's harbor, Luo Yi froze slightly.
That was because, among the berths of Marine G-51 Branch, a merchant ship was clearly docked alongside the branch's warships.
It was far larger and more magnificent than the ordinary merchant ships in Master Port. Its golden hull and enormous figurehead both proclaimed its distinguished status.
The crown flag hanging from its mast revealed its identity.
"This must be the royal merchant ship that received the threatening letter?"
Luo Yi smiled. "It actually docked directly in the branch's harbor. Looks like that colonel and the Kingdom of Nysmal get along pretty well."
As he spoke, the warship pulled into the branch's harbor.
"Is that the headquarters' Detention Unit?"
The Marine soldier in charge of managing the harbor asked.
After confirming Luo Yi's identity, he gave a military salute. "The prisoner handover is ready. Colonel Aster is waiting for you in his office!"
"Understood."
Luo Yi nodded, but then glanced around. "What about everyone else here?"
He had already noticed a small problem.
The number of guards in the harbor was obviously wrong.
Most of the Marine watch posts at the berths were unmanned, with only a few scattered Marines present.
"They're all inside the branch preparing tonight's banquet!"
The Marine soldier from the branch explained.
"A banquet?"
"Yes. Since that pirate was captured, Manager Mantar of the Nysmal Kingdom Merchant Ship organized this banquet and invited the brothers from the branch to attend. I heard Manager Mantar even prepared gifts for every Marine as a token of thanks."
The branch Marine sounded rather excited as he spoke.
No one would be unhappy about extra income.
"Now that's generous."
Luo Yi grinned. "You'll be going later too, right? What about the harbor's defenses?"
"Sir, you don't need to worry."
The Marine soldier sounded confident. "This is a port belonging to a World Government-affiliated country. Normally, no pirate would come attack it."
"Besides, aren't they here?"
As he spoke, he pointed into the distance.
Luo Yi turned his head and saw several guards dressed in ornate court clothing moving near the berth where the royal merchant ship was docked.
"Who are they?"
Luo Yi did not need to ask. Hans had already done so curiously.
"Oh, they're the Kingdom of Nysmal's Royal Guard."
After hearing the branch Marine's answer, Hans continued asking, "They aren't attending tonight's banquet?"
"Of course not. They have to guard the cargo aboard the ship."
After briefly understanding the situation, Luo Yi said nothing more.
He merely turned to Hans. "Hans, go back aboard and organize the temporary prison with Fal. I'll go hand over the prisoner to Colonel Aster."
"Yes, sir!"
After Hans accepted the order and returned to the warship, Luo Yi politely declined the Marine's offer to lead the way and headed toward the G-51 Branch building on his own.
As he walked, however, he could not help glancing at the royal merchant ship. Its size was simply too conspicuous.
After drawing closer and examining it carefully, Luo Yi noticed even more strange details.
For example, many sharp iron spikes were clearly visible along the ship's sides.
The hull itself was also far too sealed off. Only the openings where the cannons were mounted offered a view inside, and through them, he could vaguely make out what seemed to be a structure resembling cages.
"This ship..."
Luo Yi furrowed his brows and muttered inwardly.
But at that very moment—
"Keli! Keli!"
He heard a commotion.
When he turned around, he clearly saw someone struggling to squeeze out through one of the royal merchant ship's cannon ports.
It was an old man.
His body was hunched, his skin and clothes covered in bloodstains. His eyes were almost sunken into their sockets, and his gray hair was clumped into tangled strands.
A hemp rope hung around his neck, and shackles bound his feet.
"Keli... Keli..."
He waved his hands and muttered incoherently, seemingly clutching something.
Luo Yi's excellent eyesight allowed him to vaguely see what was in the old man's hand. It seemed to be a piece of cloth.
At that moment, the merchant ship's guards also noticed him.
"That old lunatic again. Hurry and get him back inside!"
"How did he get over there? Where are the people guarding the cargo hold?!"
Soon, through the narrow gap of the cannon port, Luo Yi saw what appeared to be a hand reaching out from behind the old man. It roughly grabbed his hair and dragged him back inside.
"..."
Luo Yi watched the scene without speaking.
But—
[Rabbit-Rabbit Fruit Model: Snow Rabbit LV1—Loaded. Grants some of the Snow Hare's traits and enhances the body in all aspects. Additionally strengthens hearing and speed.]
After the enhancement, Luo Yi's improved hearing allowed him to hear the sounds of beating and abuse coming from inside the ship, accompanied by the old man's muttering.
"Keli... Keli..."
"Your daughter's already been bought! You old bastard. You're unsellable cargo, yet you still cause trouble for me. If the manager hadn't said your fresh organs were worth something and that we needed to find another sales channel, I would've killed you already."
Luo Yi understood everything.
"The spikes along the ship and the structure that looks like cages. So that's what this is."
"A Slave Ship."
He muttered under his breath, making the obvious deduction.
The slave trade.
One of this world's festering sores.
Although the World Government publicly prohibited the buying and selling of human slaves,
in reality, because the Celestial Dragons existed,
the slave trade itself was actually a gray area. The World Government not only refused to truly intervene, but even covered it up.
Just like now.
The World Government-affiliated Kingdom of Nysmal was clearly engaged in the slave trade.
Their method of transporting slaves could not even be called discreet. At the very least, Luo Yi could be certain that the higher-ups of G-51 Branch knew about it.
Yet even so, they were still escorting a Slave Ship on its return voyage.
"Justice..."
Luo Yi clicked his tongue.
This was also why he sneered at the so-called justice of the Marines.
When a tree had rotted from the roots, there was nowhere for justice to take shelter.
Before you continue