A News Coo flew out of the Navy outpost on Baterilla Island.
Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel had received a personal reply from Sengoku himself.
Leon was allowed to move freely around the island, while his movements were to be closely monitored from the shadows.
Sengoku's meaning was clear: Leon wouldn't have shown up on Baterilla Island for no reason. There was a very good chance he had a lead related to the Pirate Prince's Offspring.
After receiving his orders, Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel braced himself for Leon's mockery. Summoning his courage, he went to find Leon, who was strolling around the outpost.
"Chief Petty Officer Leon..."
"Hey! Lieutenant Colonel!"
Leon's attitude was unexpectedly friendly.
"How many people have you killed today?"
"..."
You son of a—Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel glared at Leon through gritted teeth.
What was wrong with using some unconventional methods to root out evil?
Besides, they had only just started investigating. The process might have been rather rough, but they hadn't come anywhere close to causing any deaths...
"Chief Petty Officer Leon! Headquarters has replied. You're allowed to move freely around the island."
"I'll assign a squad of Navy soldiers to accompany you and help you search for the Pirate Prince's Offspring."
Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel got it all out in one breath. Before Leon could respond, he turned to leave.
"Thanks, Lieutenant Colonel!"
Leon replied politely, and a squad of Navy soldiers soon lined up neatly in front of him.
"Not bad!"
"Looking sharp!"
"You can tell they're a bunch of heavy hitters!"
The Navy soldiers exchanged glances. They'd been ordered to assist Leon while keeping a record of every suspicious person he came into contact with.
They had a feeling this Navy Chief Petty Officer was hinting at something...
"Let's go."
Without lingering, Leon turned and walked out of the Navy outpost.
The Navy soldiers followed close behind. They were terrible at surveillance, though; they didn't even try to hide it, and practically looked like they wanted to nail their eyes to Leon.
Leon wandered aimlessly around Baterilla Island, and the day quickly passed.
As the sun began to set, Leon clapped his hands, called out to the bedraggled Navy soldiers behind him, and headed straight back to the Navy outpost.
"What?"
"He spent the whole day wandering around the island and didn't meet with anyone?"
"That's right."
The Navy soldiers reported to Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel with strange expressions.
Seeing the thoughtful look on the lieutenant colonel's face, one of the soldiers added, "Chief Petty Officer Leon didn't look like he was searching for suspicious people at all..."
"He looked more like he'd come to the island as a tourist."
"Today, he went all the way around the edge of the island. He climbed over mountains and crossed rivers."
"When he was in the mood, he even went for a couple of swims..."
"But he did interact with people on the island. He visited seven or eight shops selling local goods alone."
"The shopkeepers were all old women or men. There was nothing suspicious about them."
"All right, I understand."
Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel nodded to show that he understood.
"Maybe it's just too soon. He could be acting this way on purpose to let our guard down..."
"We need to step up the surveillance!"
Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel had only just made his decision when the Den Den Mushi in his arms suddenly rang.
"Bulu, bulu, bulu!!!"
"What could Admiral Sengoku want this late at night..."
Maybe it was his imagination, but Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel could have sworn he sensed a distinct fury coming from the Den Den Mushi...
"Hello, Admiral Sengoku..."
"What on earth are you doing!!!"
The Den Den Mushi leaped right out of Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel's hands.
"Who told you to start a massacre on Baterilla Island!!!"
Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel stared in shock.
"Admiral Sengoku! I haven't..."
"You haven't!!? So you were about to do it!!?"
"Didn't I tell you this mission was top secret!!!"
"And now you've made such a huge commotion!!!"
"People are saying the Navy is rounding up pregnant women on an island in the South Blue to conduct human experiments!!!"
"The entire Navy's reputation is going to be ruined!"
"Admiral Sengoku... I..."
"That's enough."
True to form, Sengoku quickly calmed down and gave his instructions through the Den Den Mushi.
"At this point, we can only reveal the truth to the world. Keep searching the island with your men. Don't let a single suspicious person slip through!"
"Be mindful of your attitude. Understood?"
"Yes, Admiral Sengoku! I'll see the mission through!"
Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel stood ramrod straight. The sweat running down his back had nearly soaked his Coat of Justice.
Leon, who had heard every word, lay on his bed, his expression unreadable.
Morgans really was a fine partner to work with. The News Agency he controlled was practically the only way news traveled across the seas.
How had the World Government failed to get its hands on such an important industry...
The pressure of public opinion must be rough, Sengoku...
The next morning, Leon had just stepped outside with the Navy soldiers when reporters, who had been waiting for him, swarmed around him.
"Is it true that the Navy is selecting beautiful young women on the island to serve the Navy's officers?"
"Does the Navy specifically target married women to satisfy the special tastes of powerful figures?"
"A great pirate said that the Navy is just a pack of criminals hiding behind a façade of justice. What do you think of that?"
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