Cocoyasi Village.
That morning.
Natsuya stretched and woke up.
Come to think of it, ever since he had transmigrated into this world, he had never been this relaxed.
Especially after joining the CP Department, he had spent every day with his nerves stretched taut.
Now, it seemed that his decision to come here and rest had been the right one. After several days of rest, Natsuya felt as though he had fully recharged.
"Lord Natsuya, you're up! Come have breakfast!"
Just then, Nami's call reached Natsuya's ears.
Natsuya smiled, washed up, and walked out of his room.
In the living room, Nami and Nojiko had already prepared breakfast.
It was worth mentioning that he had been staying at Nami's place these past few days.
After her report had gone nowhere that day, Nami had truly given up on reporting him.
Besides, she seemed to have also abandoned the idea of having Natsuya deal with the Arlong Pirates.
After hiding away the treasure she had stolen from the murderous pirates, she had spent these past few days gathering intelligence aside from entertaining Natsuya.
It looked like she was searching for her next target.
Naturally, Natsuya pretended not to notice and enjoyed this rare leisure.
As for Nojiko, the house had not been this lively in a long time, and she was genuinely happy.
Thus, the three of them ate breakfast harmoniously, and the atmosphere was exceptionally pleasant.
But soon, that atmosphere was shattered by a burst of hurried footsteps.
Bang!
Genzo burst through the door, drenched in sweat.
"Run! The Marines are here!"
"A lot of them came! The entire branch is probably here!"
What!?
Nojiko's expression changed immediately upon hearing that.
Then, Nojiko and Genzo both turned to look at Nami.
But Nami's face had also gone pale.
What was going on!?
She clearly had not reported Natsuya!
Why had the Marines come out in full force!?
"Lord Natsuya, stay here. I'll go take a look!"
There was no time to think further. Nami called out to Natsuya and hurried outside.
After hesitating for a moment, Genzo and Nojiko followed her out.
Natsuya, however, remained calm. After leisurely finishing his breakfast, he straightened his suit before finally strolling outside.
When Natsuya stepped out, he discovered that the street outside was already packed with over a hundred Marines.
Leading them was a mouse-faced Marine—Colonel Mouse.
The moment Colonel Mouse saw Natsuya, his expression changed.
"Natsuya!?"
The Marines instantly treated him as a formidable enemy, raising their guns and aiming them at Natsuya.
Seeing this formation, Genzo and Nojiko hurriedly joined the villagers who had gathered after noticing the commotion and shielded Nami.
Nami's face was pale. The moment she saw so many Marines, she had frozen.
When she saw Natsuya emerge, she suddenly looked toward him, her large eyes glistening with tears and filled with intense grievance.
It wasn't her. It really wasn't her!
Although Natsuya had not opened Nami's Gate of Heart, he could still guess what the little girl was thinking from her tear-filled eyes.
"Don't worry. I never suspected you."
Natsuya gave Nami a gentle smile before walking toward Colonel Mouse and the others.
Nami froze. She felt a warm current surge through her heart, but when she looked at Natsuya again, her eyes were filled with intense worry.
Although Natsuya was extraordinarily strong, this kind of formation seemed dangerous even for him.
There were over a hundred Marines, after all, all aiming guns at him!
If every one of them fired a shot, it would form a hail of bullets capable of harvesting lives!
Meanwhile.
Arlong and the others, who were lying in wait nearby, thought the same.
Seeing Natsuya surrounded by Colonel Mouse and his men, with countless gun barrels aimed at him, smiles appeared on their faces.
"Looks like this Natsuya isn't all that impressive!"
"Yeah, he actually ran out here like an idiot!"
"Now that the Marines have surrounded him, he can't escape even if he grows wings, right!?"
Even Arlong might suffer if he were trapped in such a formation!
This Natsuya should be no different.
Realizing this, Arlong and the others secretly breathed sighs of relief.
It seemed that Natsuya was easier to deal with than they had imagined.
As for Colonel Mouse, when he saw that the Marines had truly surrounded Natsuya, he was ecstatic.
But when he saw Natsuya take another step forward, he could not help becoming nervous.
"Natsuya, you're under arrest!"
"Don't take another step! Stay where you are and surrender quietly!"
"Otherwise, I'll order them to fire!!"
Colonel Mouse barked at Natsuya.
Yet the suited youth continued drawing closer, step by step.
Colonel Mouse's face darkened. "Fire!!"
The Marines' taut nerves relaxed for a moment, but their fingers tightened around their triggers.
Bang!!!
That gunshot seemed like a signal, and a dense barrage of gunfire immediately followed.
Bang bang bang!!!!
Just as Nami had feared, over a hundred Marines firing at once instantly created a terrifying hail of bullets that blanketed Natsuya!
"Don't!"
Nami cried out in alarm.
Nojiko, Genzo, and the others all turned pale.
But soon, their expressions turned doubtful and astonished.
Amid the hail of bullets, the suited youth casually tilted his body several times and evaded every single bullet!
"What!?"
Colonel Mouse froze.
The Marines were stunned as well.
Arlong and his men frowned.
Natsuya had avoided every single bullet!?
What was going on!?
"Fire! Keep firing! Shoot him dead!!"
Coming back to his senses, Colonel Mouse hurriedly shouted.
He shouted so loudly that his voice became distorted and cracked.
Clearly, Natsuya's display had placed enormous pressure on him!
His earlier ease had vanished without a trace.
The Marines naturally did not hesitate. Gritting their teeth, they launched a second round of fire.
This time, they did not even pause, firing one volley after another!
Thus, an even denser hail of bullets once again swept toward Natsuya!
Bang bang bang!!!!
Seeing this, Nami and the others grew even more worried.
Yet this time, something even more outrageous happened!
The air in front of Natsuya suddenly underwent a strange change, as though an Air Door had opened out of thin air.
Every bullet that came flying in disappeared into the door.
Meanwhile, Natsuya strolled forward as if taking a leisurely walk, calmly passing through the hail of bullets under the Air Door's protection until he arrived before Colonel Mouse.
"You!"
Seeing the suited youth approach, Colonel Mouse's expression changed drastically.
But before he could say anything else, a fair hand shot out like lightning and seized his throat!
Nami and the others were left dumbfounded by the sight.
Arlong and his men were also stunned.
Not even a hail of bullets could stop Natsuya's advance!
The youth had taken Colonel Mouse hostage just like that, right in front of all those Marines meant to protect him!
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