Shocking! The Navy Actually Did This...

A News Coo flew out from the naval base on Baterilla Island.

The Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel had already received a personal reply from Sengoku himself.

Leon was permitted to move freely on the island, with strict surveillance on his movements kept in the shadows.

Sengoku's intent was clear: Leon wouldn't appear on Baterilla Island for no reason. He most likely held clues related to the Pirate Prince's Offspring.

Having received his orders, the Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel steeled himself for Leon's mockery, mustered his courage, and found Leon loitering around the base.

"Chief Petty Officer Leon..."

"Yo! Lieutenant Colonel!"

Leon's attitude was unexpectedly amiable.

"How many people have you killed today?"

"..."

You son of a bitch, the Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel gritted his teeth as he glared at Leon.

What was wrong with using some unconventional methods to eradicate evil?

Besides, they'd only just started their sweep. The process was rough, sure, but it was far from causing any deaths...

"Chief Petty Officer Leon! Headquarters has responded. You're allowed to move freely on the island."

"I'll assign a squad of naval soldiers to accompany you, Chief Petty Officer Leon, to assist in locating the Pirate Prince's Offspring."

The Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel spat it all out in one breath, then turned to leave before Leon could reply.

"Thanks, Lieutenant Colonel!"

Leon replied politely, and soon a squad of naval soldiers lined up neatly before him.

"Not bad!"

"Full of spirit!"

"Looks like you're all pros at throwing a heavy punch!"

The naval soldiers exchanged glances. Their orders were to accompany Leon while recording every suspicious person he came into contact with.

They couldn't shake the feeling that this naval Chief Petty Officer was implying something...

"Let's go."

Without lingering, Leon turned and walked out of the naval base.

The naval soldiers followed closely behind him, though their surveillance skills were sorely lacking—they made no effort to hide it, their eyes practically glued to Leon.

Leon wandered aimlessly around Baterilla Island, and a day passed quickly.

As the sun was about to set, Leon clapped his hands, called out to the bedraggled naval soldiers behind him, and headed straight back to the base.

"What?"

"He spent the whole day wandering the island without contacting anyone?"

"Yes."

The naval soldiers reported to the Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel with strange expressions.

Seeing the lieutenant colonel lost in thought, one soldier added, "Chief Petty Officer Leon didn't seem like he was searching for suspicious people at all..."

"More like he was here on a sightseeing trip."

"Today, he walked the entire perimeter of the island. Climbed every mountain, crossed every river."

"When the mood struck, he even took a couple of swims in the sea..."

"But he did interact with the islanders. He visited seven or eight souvenir shops alone."

"The shopkeepers were all old women or men—nothing suspicious about them."

"Alright, I understand."

The Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel nodded, signaling he'd heard enough.

"Maybe it's still too early. He's acting like this on purpose to throw us off..."

"Step up the surveillance!"

No sooner had the Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel made his decision than the Den Den Mushi in his pocket suddenly rang.

"Bru bru bru bru!!!"

"What could Fleet Admiral Sengoku want this late..."

Whether it was his imagination or not, the Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel felt a surge of palpable anger radiating from the Den Den Mushi...

"Hello, Fleet Admiral Sengu—"

"What the hell are you doing!!!"

The Den Den Mushi jumped straight out of the Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel's hand.

"Who told you to carry out a massacre on Baterilla Island!!!"

The Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel was stunned.

"General Sengoku! I haven't yet—"

"Haven't yet!!? Then you were about to do it!!?"

"Didn't I tell you this mission was top secret!!?"

"And now you've stirred up this huge commotion!!!"

"Everyone's saying the Navy is rounding up pregnant women on an island in the South Blue for human experimentation!!!"

"The entire Navy's reputation is ruined!"

"General Sengoku... I..."

"Enough."

Sengoku, being Sengoku, quickly calmed his emotions and gave orders through the Den Den Mushi.

"At this point, we have no choice but to reveal the truth to the world. Continue searching the island with your men—don't let a single suspicious person slip by!"

"And mind your attitude, understood?"

"Yes, General Sengoku! I guarantee the mission will be completed!"

The Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel straightened his back, sweat nearly soaking the Coat of Justice on his body.

Leon, taking it all in from his bed, showed neither joy nor anger in his eyes.

That bird Morgans really was a good partner to work with—the News Agency he controlled was practically the only way news spread across the sea.

With such an important industry, the World Government hadn't kept it in their own hands...

Sengoku, that public pressure must be hard to bear, huh...

By the next morning, the moment Leon stepped out with the Navy soldiers, he was swarmed by reporters who had been waiting outside.

"Is it true that the Navy is selecting beautiful young women on the island to supply to its officers?"

"Is the Navy specifically targeting married women to satisfy some higher-up's peculiar tastes?"

"A major pirate said the Navy is just a bunch of criminals in the guise of justice—what's your take on that?"