It didn't look like they were here to arrest me.
After watching for a long while, Rayleigh finally relaxed a little. The Marines lined up there looked more like they were waiting to welcome some important figure.
That's right, I'm not even wanted... He took a sip from his flask to calm his nerves, then forced himself to look composed. Straightening up, he met the gaze of the Marine colonel who had already turned to look at him and asked, "Sir, what's going on?"
"Don't be afraid. Is this your boat?"
"Yeah. Yes, of course it is."
"Then please move it a little in that direction. A large ship will be coming into port soon."
Valente, the branch colonel stationed in Loguetown, spoke gently, so Rayleigh naturally did as he was told.
In truth, he would have loved to row straight away from there. But first, he hadn't finished restocking his food, and second, he was afraid they'd notice how nervous he was.
So he weighed anchor, pushed off from the shore with a pole, and quickly rowed toward the spot Valente had indicated, putting a little more distance between himself and the shore.
Valente paid him no mind. He was feeling a little tense himself. As a branch colonel in his early thirties and the highest-ranking officer at an important base like Loguetown, he was considered a promising young officer. But he'd never had much chance to meet Steel Bone Kong, the Marine Admiral.
To say nothing of the fact that the Den Den Mushi had mentioned the Director of Underwater Great Prison Impel Down would arrive before Steel Bone Kong. Valente was to lead all the Marines of the Loguetown branch to receive the ship, which would be carrying a large number of pirates.
The order was a