Even with only a view of Orochimaru's back, Uchiha Mai could recognize him at a glance.
His presence was simply too distinctive.
Mai had sent them to the North Blue mainly to find the Vinsmoke Family and pick up some advanced technological expertise along the way.
Unfortunately, the Vinsmoke Family had already been driven out of the North Blue by then.
So Orochimaru and Kakuzu had made the trip for nothing.
Just as Uchiha Mai had expected, Kakuzu couldn't resist the sight of bounties and had become a bounty hunter.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, had attracted attention by displaying considerable scientific ability. The World Government still had quite a few CP Agents in the North Blue.
At their last contact, Orochimaru had yet to fully earn the Marines' trust.
The main reason Mai had sent him undercover was to obtain the research findings of Vegapunk, the Marines' leading scientist.
Vegapunk had already fully deciphered the lineage factor of Devil Fruits and could make their powers work on any object, including all kinds of weapons. This research alone could reasonably be said to put the Marines a hundred years ahead of the rest of the world. After consuming a Devil Fruit, a weapon could gain its abilities and act on its owner's commands, almost as though it possessed a soul. That research breakthrough was truly incredible.
Funkfreed, the sword that had eaten the Elephant-Elephant Fruit, was one example.
Anything involving souls like that was completely beyond Uchiha Mai's ability to create. He couldn't even make sense of it on a logical level.
Ideally, they would kidnap Vegapunk and make him submit. If that wasn't possible, they would steal his research findings and then kill him.
With Orochimaru's methods, Mai believed good news would arrive soon.
Orochimaru wasn't as obedient as Monet, but he