Cocoyasi Village Harbor.
Nami was saying goodbye to the villagers. Everything had gone smoothly.
Nami had divided up the money they'd collected over the years. The portion kept at Arlong Park was returned to the villagers of nearby islands, and the rest, of course, went to the Moya Adventure Group.
Nojiko's orange grove was left in Genzo's care.
Just then, several standard-issue warships flying seagull flags came into view. The villagers glared at the tardy Marines with resentment.
Moya watched the approaching warships without expression.
Before long, the ships reached the harbor. An officer who looked remarkably like a mouse stepped off the lead ship, grinning viciously.
"I suspect you're colluding with the Arlong Pirates and preying on the people. I'm arresting you in the name of the just Marines!"
At Captain Nezumi's words, the villagers immediately began cursing the corrupt Marines. The Moya Adventure Group's crew were furious too, and veins popped on Moya's forehead.
"Heh-heh! You dare resist? Open fire! Sink them!"
Captain Nezumi gave the order.
"Looks like this is unavoidable. Why go looking for death? 'Just Marines,' huh? You're beyond saving!"
Moya's expression was contemptuous as he slowly clenched his fists.
[Slip-Slip Fruit: Silent Instant Slide]
Moya appeared behind Captain Nezumi in an instant, grabbed his head with one hand, and slammed it hard into the deck.
'Thud!'
'Thud!'
The warship shuddered again and again as a figure punched the unfortunate officer lying on the deck, over and over.
The Marines gaped as the demon beat their superior. They were too stunned to move, and could only watch as Moya beat Captain Nezumi half to death.
"Um, Moya, weren't we supposed to keep a low profile?" Buggy stepped forward to stop him.
"That was when we didn't have the strength. That's why we kept a low profile."
"Now, I shouldn't fear a challenge. I should face adversity head-on. Only by pressing forward without hesitation can my spirit grow stronger—and give my Conqueror's Haki a chance to grow stronger too!"
"But I'm not unreasonable."
Moya turned to a Marine whose rank was second only to Captain Nezumi.
"Give me the Den Den Mushi you use to contact Loguetown. I'll explain the situation to Smoker myself."
Captain Nezumi's deputy trembled as he handed Moya a Den Den Mushi.
"Moshi moshi. Sorry to bother you, but could you connect me to Captain Smoker?"
"Who's calling? What is this about?"
"I've got a Marine captain here who colluded with pirates. I'd like to speak to someone who can handle the matter."
"Understood. Connecting you to Captain Smoker now."
"Hello? Which idiot is this? If you're wasting my time, you'll be spending it in prison!"
"Hello, Captain Smoker. I'm Moya, captain of the Moya Adventure Group. I just defeated Arlong's gang, which had been terrorizing Cocoyasi Village."
"I also caught Captain Nezumi, who colluded with Arlong and oppressed the villagers. What do you just Marines intend to do about it?"
"So you're the one. Fullbody told me about you. Didn't think you had it in you to take down Arlong. I'll investigate Captain Nezumi's case properly. What have you done with him?"
"I beat that scum Nezumi half to death. Will that affect my ability to take Arlong to Loguetown and claim the bounty?"
"You openly attacked a Marine! Aren't you afraid of being wanted?"
"From what I know, Captain Smoker, you're a truly just Marine, nothing like these Marine scum. If you insist on calling someone who's upholding justice an attacker of the Marines, then I've got nothing to say."
"I have no intention of opposing the Marines. But Captain Nezumi colluded with the Arlong Pirates and bullied the villagers. I hope your Marines investigate the matter thoroughly! If you insist on making me a wanted criminal to cover up the scandal, then I won't back down from any challenge!"
"After all, we exposed your Marines for colluding with pirates."
Smoker fell silent at Moya's defiant words.
"I'll investigate in person. And don't let me find you involved in anything illegal, or I won't let you off."
"Can I still claim Arlong's bounty?"
"If I find that you haven't broken any laws, you'll get the bounty. Do you dare come to Loguetown and be investigated?
"I've heard you defeated several pirate crews and recruited quite a few pirates. Are you planning to become a pirate?"
"Captain Smoker, I've done a good thing. I reformed these pirates and helped keep the seas peaceful. Instead of praising me, you're threatening me?"
"Any pirate with a bounty on their head has to stand trial before the Marines. You can't just declare them reformed!"
"Fine. Since that's what you say, Captain Smoker, I'll let this filthy rat go for now. Until we meet again. Goodbye."
Moya hung up on Smoker and returned to his ship, preparing to set sail. He didn't forget to call out to the Marines:
"Get out of here right now, and don't bother this village again! Smoker will come question you in person."
After a brief commotion, the Marine ship's lieutenant commander immediately ordered a retreat. He then picked up the Den Den Mushi again and called Loguetown, rattling off a lengthy report.
Smoker's furious cursing came through from the other end.
After some thought, Smoker still decided to report Moya to Marine Headquarters. He wasn't good at analyzing this sort of thing, so he'd leave it to Headquarters.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"So someone like this has appeared in the East Blue? The Alvida Pirates, Buggy's crew, the former Black Cat Pirates, the Krieg Pirates, and Arlong's Fish-Man Pirates.
"It seems he also brought the El Drago Pirates, with their Sound-Sound Fruit, under his control. That's no small feat."
Sengoku praised him, though this sort of character didn't warrant much attention from Sengoku, given how weak the East Blue generally was.
"According to the intelligence we have, he hasn't raised a pirate flag yet. But judging by the numbers, he's recruited all the pirates he defeated. That's not a good sign."
Marine Chief of Staff Tsuru calmly analyzed the intelligence.
"He could be lying low on purpose so he can enter the Grand Line. He'll probably become a pirate, though at the moment he really is helping ordinary people."
"He's done a lot of things for those useless Marines in the East Blue, but he hasn't turned in any of the wanted pirates for their bounties. That suggests he has ambitions."
"The biggest reason to put out a warrant for him would be his harboring of wanted criminals. Do we need to do that?"
"Forget it. Let's keep observing him. When he reaches Loguetown, investigate him thoroughly before he enters the Grand Line and find out whether he truly intends to become a pirate. Tell Smoker in Loguetown to keep a close eye on him, and make him a priority."
Aboard the Yanhuang, Moya guided the officers in their training. Looking at the sizable fleet, he knew its actual combat strength wasn't very high. He wondered if he should streamline it further and focus on an elite crew.
Moya was a little conflicted. The huge fleet was too cumbersome, and it would be utterly helpless against a true powerhouse. How could he get the most out of it?
After a moment's thought, he realized that, for now, these people had only one purpose: to find Bartolomeo, the owner of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, as quickly as possible once they reached Loguetown.
That would make it easier for Moya to bring Bartolomeo under his command. That was all.
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