Dealing with pirates was the Navy's duty.
This voyage had been to search for traces of the Germa Kingdom, but there was nothing wrong with taking care of a group of pirates they happened to encounter.
Colonel Tomasi walked to the rail and narrowed his eyes at the sea.
The two ships formed a T, with the Buggy Pirates having deliberately changed course to head for their warship.
"Ready the cannons. The moment the enemy ship enters range, open fire and sink them."
"Yes, Colonel Tomasi."
The Marines quickly began turning the cannons, training the guns along one side of the ship on the incoming pirate vessel.
Once the pirate ship entered range, Bellemere gave the order.
"Fire!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
All twelve cannons roared in unison, their thunderous blasts propelling twelve solid cannonballs through the air.
On the pirate ship, Buggy's underlings heard the cannon fire and shouted nervously:
"Captain Buggy, those bastard pirates are bombarding us!"
Before they had finished speaking, the cannonballs arrived.
The naval cannons of this era relied entirely on the gunners' personal experience for manual aiming. Their accuracy was utterly unreliable.
All twelve incoming cannonballs splashed into the sea on either side of the ship, sending up great sprays of water.
"They scared all my fish away."
Dimon had finally started getting bites, but after several cannonballs landed, there was nothing left.
He simply put away his fishing rod, jumped down from the rail, walked over to Buggy, and grabbed him by the collar.
"You. Go deal with them."
"Eh? Wai... wait!!"
Buggy's feet left the deck, his body swaying back and forth with Dimon's arm.
His face gradually turned green as he shouted, "I'm a paramecia user--!!"
His cry faded into the distance.
With a throw, Dimon hurled Buggy toward the warship.
Colonel