The Stolen Vault

Captain Nezumi was still in mid-air, attempting to leap into the sea, when a hand detached from Buggy's body snatched him back.

Buggy looked at him with amusement. "Colonel, isn't it a bit rude to leave in such a hurry?"

"A Devil Fruit user..." Captain Nezumi's heart sank. He forced a smile onto his face, his words whistling through his teeth. "C-Captain Buggy... it was my lack of hospitality. I'll go pour you some tea right away."

"No need. You'd better spend your time thinking about how much your life is worth."

"I... my lowly life isn't worth anything. It's a worthless life, not even fit for a dog... please, just spare me."

Nezumi felt unbearable shame and resentment, but since the situation favored the strong, he had to humble himself. He regretted not bringing more warships with him... no, he regretted ever provoking this devil in the first place.

The opponent's strength was clearly far beyond the level of a ten-million Beli bounty!

"No, Colonel, you're being too modest. Your life is still quite valuable."

Buggy smiled. This was his honest opinion; this Captain Nezumi was an indispensable link in his plan to acquire a navigator.

Sweat poured down Nezumi's face. Not knowing how to respond, he feigned ignorance and stared at the deck, too terrified to speak.

The pirates of the Buggy Pirates climbed up the ropes and ladders from the warship, landing on the deck. They looked at the rows of fallen marines, then up at the blood-soaked Captain Buggy, speechless. This was a Marine warship, after all!

In just ten minutes, every soldier on the ship had been taken out. How could he have done this?

"Don't just stand there. Go into the cabins and clear out all the supplies."

Buggy waved his hand, and the pirates excitedly rushed toward the Marine ship. Robbing the Marines... this was something they hadn't even dared to imagine before!

Yet, here was an opportunity within their grasp; it felt like a dream.

Pirates moved back and forth, hauling supplies from the cabin. Every time someone emerged, Captain Nezumi couldn't help but glance over. Seeing that the pirates were only carrying food and water barrels, he breathed a secret sigh of relief.

Suddenly, a pirate poked his head out of the cabin door and shouted, "Hey, get over here! I found a locked vault!"

"Wait! Don't touch that vault!" Captain Nezumi roared with a ferocious expression, rushing over as if he had forgotten he was a prisoner.

He had only taken two steps when he collided with a massive force. His entire body flew backward like a cannonball, slamming into the ship's railing and leaving a deep dent in the metal.

Buggy retracted his foot and walked toward the coughing Captain Nezumi. "Colonel, the Marines and pirates are sworn enemies. You should thank me for not killing you... now, think carefully: what can you use to buy your life?"

Nezumi gritted his teeth, his left hand gripping the concealed pistol in his pocket, but in the end, he let go, powerless.

"Cough, cough..."

He coughed painfully, his right hand touching his chest. He could feel that two or three of his ribs were likely broken.

At this moment, he fully realized that this devil before him would not be intimidated by his rank as a Colonel. He struggled to pull out a key to the vault. "I... I understand. There are three million Beli in cash and two million in jewelry on the ship..."

Nezumi lacked the strength commensurate with his rank. If not for his father, a Vice Admiral, he wouldn't have become a Colonel even after ten more years of effort. Furthermore, after a long period of living in luxury, he had abandoned even the most basic martial arts. As it stood, an ordinary Marine soldier could easily take him down, let alone this terrifying pirate from the East Blue.

Buggy tapped his right foot on Nezumi's hand, flicking the key into the air. He caught it and tossed it to the pirate who had called out.

"Those who know the times are wise. Marines like you are rare these days..."

His words sounded like a sincere compliment, yet carried the sting of ruthless mockery.

Nezumi remained silent, his eyes fixed firmly on the cabin door.

"Captain Buggy..." a pirate ran out in a panic, panting as he spoke. "That... the vault is empty!"

"Empty?!" Nezumi's expression was even more shocked than Buggy's. He blurted out, "Impossible! How could it be empty? The vault door has three security locks, and I checked it myself yesterday! It's impossible for it to be empty! Hey, is the Devil Fruit in the hidden compartment still there?!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake and quickly corrected himself. "Cough... I didn't say anything about a Devil Fruit. I meant... a foul fruit, a foul, moldy fruit..."

"I didn't realize you were carrying a Devil Fruit on you."

Buggy looked at the ashen-faced Nezumi, then turned to the pirate. "Is there nothing at all in the vault?"

"There's nothing in the vault, but there is an open compartment with a note held down by a latch."

The pirate carefully handed over the note.

Buggy took the note and deciphered the crooked handwriting.

"Thanks for the treasure, Colonel!" In the bottom right corner was a graceful, fluid signature: "Cat Burglar."

Cat Burglar? A thief?

Daring to strike against the Marines... what a strange thief.

Connecting the clues, Buggy couldn't help but think of a famous, treasure-loving thief from the original story.

If this navigator had snuck onto the warship while Nezumi was dealing with Arlong and used some unique method to steal the treasure... the explanation seemed quite logical. What was puzzling, however, was that given her personality, she should only steal from pirates. Why would she reach out to the Marines?

Could it be the butterfly effect caused by his own transmigration, subtly influencing the trajectory of events?

"Captain Buggy... we found a survivor." Cabaji, who had been searching the cabin, walked onto the deck dragging a soldier wearing only his boxers. "This guy was hiding under a bed. I don't know what he was doing..."

The man was bruised and battered, his body scorched in places; he had clearly been taught a lesson by Cabaji while resisting.

The soldier looked up, staring in shock at the miserable scene around him. His expression was filled with terror. "Colonel, how did it come to this..."

Nezumi glanced at him and lowered his head, his face unreadable. He had some memory of this young soldier—a scout named Simon, he believed. But... wasn't he supposed to have stayed behind on Ailu Island with the scouting party? How was he here?!

"Does the Colonel remember something?" Seeing the change in Nezumi's expression, Buggy kicked him mercilessly in his chest wound and asked, feigning ignorance, "Where did you put the gold and silver treasure from the ship?"

"Sss—"

Nezumi hissed in pain, sweat dripping down his face as he hurriedly replied, "It was truly stolen! There must have been a thief. I sent men to Ailu Island earlier; that thief disguised herself as a Marine and escaped there! Please, you are a magnanimous man, spare my life!"