"Is all of this true?"
Dunn pointed at the account on the wanted poster and asked Old Komodo.
"Of course it is. These are all things the survivors told us. There were over a hundred people in that village, and only a few survived."
Hearing Dunn's doubts, Old Komodo raised his voice a little, as if to prove his account was true.
"Then why is the bounty so low for a pirate who killed hundreds?"
"Don't ask me. The Marines issued the wanted poster."
Old Komodo shook his head.
Pirates killing people, setting fires, and robbing merchant ships was all in a day's work. Sometimes a pirate attack left no survivors aboard a merchant ship. It was all too common.
"I can explain!"
Colonel Mouse walked into the tavern, followed by a group of Marines.
The tavern fell silent at once, everyone turning to look at the Marines as they entered.
"Because he's weak."
"So bounties are based on strength?"
Dunn wasn't surprised by Colonel Mouse's arrival. He'd already sensed him coming with Observation Haki.
"That's part of the reason!"
With that, Colonel Mouse took a money bag from one of the Marines behind him.
"Four million Beli. This is your bounty."
Dunn glanced at the money bag and nodded. "If I catch other pirates, can I bring them here to collect their bounties too?"
At that, Colonel Mouse glanced at the stack of wanted posters in front of Dunn, then nodded.
"Of course. If you catch those pirates, you can collect their bounties. But I have something else to discuss with you."
Colonel Mouse told the Marines behind him to wait outside, then sat down by the counter and ordered a beer.
"The Marines would like to invite you to join us. If you agree, you can head straight to Marine Headquarters."
Colonel Mouse said.
The whole tavern stared at him in astonishment.
Marine Headquarters?
To these people, it was a legendary place. They'd heard it was in the Grand Line, where all the Marine bigwigs were stationed—even Vice Admiral Garp.
"I refuse!"
Dunn shook his head.
"Why? If you want to hunt pirates, wouldn't joining the Marines be better? You wouldn't have to look for them yourself, and we could even assign you a warship."
Colonel Mouse sounded reluctant when he heard Dunn refuse.
"Garp invited me last time, too, and I turned him down. As for why..."
Dunn thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"I hate Celestial Dragons."
The tavern fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared at Dunn in terror.
He had some nerve, bringing up the Celestial Dragons like that.
Colonel Mouse's eyes widened, and his thoughts raced as he watched Dunn.
His gaze fell on the sword in front of Dunn. Then he remembered that Dunn might be a Devil Fruit user.
He probably couldn't win in a fight.
So what should he do?
Pretend he hadn't heard.
"Ha ha... ha ha!" Colonel Mouse laughed awkwardly a few times. "So Vice Admiral Garp already invited you. In that case, just pretend I never said anything."
With that, Colonel Mouse stood up and left without lingering.
Dunn watched Colonel Mouse leave, then looked away.
But the tavern remained quiet. Everyone stared at Dunn in shock.
He'd openly said he hated the Celestial Dragons in front of a Marine. If the Celestial Dragons found out...
At the thought, everyone in the tavern hurried to their feet and left.
Old Komodo looked at Dunn with a pained expression.
If word got out, every last person here would be in trouble.
Dunn understood what saying that could lead to, of course. But he hated them, and that was that.
If he ever ran into a Celestial Dragon, he might really take a swing at one.
After all, he had one strong impression of this world: the Celestial Dragons were all scum who deserved to die.
"Let's go!"
Dunn put the money for his drinks and the wanted posters on the counter, picked up the two bags, and left.
Colonel Mouse returned to the Marine Base.
He immediately reported his encounter with Dunn, but left out the part where Dunn had said he hated the Celestial Dragons.
After all, Dunn was right there. If Colonel Mouse reported it, Headquarters would surely order him to arrest Dunn. Then he'd have to face the Pirate Hunter who might be a Devil Fruit user.
Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Office.
The office door was kicked open from the outside, and Garp strode in with his usual swagger.
"Can't you knock, you bastard?"
Sengoku had been looking for a reason to chew Garp out, and his face darkened at the sight.
"I just ran out of senbei."
Garp paid no attention to Sengoku's anger. He walked to the desk as if he owned the place, opened a drawer, and found the senbei Sengoku had hidden away.
He grabbed two bags, returned to his seat, tore one open, and crunched away.
Sengoku's eyelid twitched. The veins in his forehead bulged, and he looked ready to explode.
"You bastard! Didn't you say you couldn't find that kid in the East Blue?"
Sengoku glared at Garp. After taking several deep breaths, he spoke in a tone that made it clear he was calling Garp to account.
"What kid in the East Blue?"
Garp froze, senbei in hand, and mumbled through a mouthful. Crumbs sprayed out as he spoke.
"That Pirate Hunter. The kid who might be a Devil Fruit user."
Sengoku snorted.
This matter normally wouldn't have reached him. It wasn't a major concern among the Marines' many complicated affairs.
But since Garp was involved, the report had been sent to him.
The report said that Garp had found Dunn and been rejected, but Garp had claimed he never found him.
One of them was lying. It wasn't hard to guess who.
"Ahahaha! You mean that kid, Sengoku?"
Garp laughed as if it didn't matter.
"Didn't you say you couldn't find him?"
Sengoku glared at Garp and asked, his expression dark.
"It's all the same. The kid turned me down anyway."
Garp waved a hand.
"He could be invited again, you idiot."
Sengoku was at a loss.
"I could tell the kid wasn't interested in the Marines."
Garp had also thought of the young man who'd said something about the Celestial Dragons. He waved a hand, unconcerned.
"Then how strong is he?"
Sengoku took several deep breaths to rein in his temper before asking.
"I couldn't tell, but he's probably pretty strong."
Garp thought it over, then shook his head.
They hadn't fought, but Dunn had arrived just as Garp did. He must have sensed Garp coming in advance—perhaps with Observation Haki.
In the East Blue, anyone who could use Haki was no weakling, let alone a kid that young.
"Fine. Go to the East Blue again. That kid is at Branch 16 now. Bring him back."
Sengoku gave the order.
"He doesn't want to join the Marines."
"But we can't let a Devil Fruit user roam the seas unchecked. Especially one so young. If he becomes a pirate someday, he'll be another headache."
"There are plenty of Devil Fruit users out there."
Garp held his ground and met Sengoku's eyes.
"The Marines' ideals will change him."
Sengoku's voice softened a little.
Garp paused, looking exasperated.
That kid hated the Celestial Dragons. He was a lot like Garp in that regard.
Join the Marines?
There was no way the kid would agree.
They'd only met once, but Garp could tell.
"Got it!"
Garp thought it over, then stood up.
"If you can't find him, don't bother coming back."
Sengoku said it without thinking when he saw Garp get up.
"Really?"
Garp stopped in his tracks and spun around, his face lighting up.
Sengoku slapped a hand to his forehead.
"No! Get back there and bring him here."
Garp waved a hand and left, looking thoroughly disappointed.
Sengoku could only shake his head in exasperation.
That guy!
"Charge, lads!"
A pirate ship shot down Reverse Mountain at breakneck speed.
Fishman Arlong stood at the bow, looking utterly brazen.
His ship was packed with Fishmen, all of them brimming with excitement.
Arlong had painted them a grand vision: conquer the East Blue, then return to the Grand Line. The Fishmen were thrilled.
Reverse Mountain was the only way for ordinary people to reach the Grand Line. Pirates either crossed the terrifying Calm Belt or took the route through Reverse Mountain.
There weren't many ways to return from the Grand Line to the Four Blues, either.
But the only option pirates could use was to wait for the rare reversal of the ocean currents. When it happened, the currents would change direction.
Only then could they sail back to the Four Blues from the Grand Line.
Before you continue