Long Time No See, Major Nezumi

But it was hard to say for sure.

Dunn had just let this thought arise before shaking his head.

He knew the overall layout of this world; the Red Line and the Grand Line formed intersecting belts that divided the world into four seas.

Yet, in truth, compared to the four seas of East, West, North, and South, the scope of the Grand Line was not actually that large.

Of course, that was only in comparison to the four seas.

The Marine had limited control over the four seas; after all, the Marine's focus was placed on the Grand Line.

With so many sea areas across the four seas, relying solely on these Marine Branches made it impossible to thoroughly clear out the pirates. As the saying went, it was simply too vast.

Or rather, the islands that Monkey D. Luffy passed through during his adventure in the East Blue were merely the tip of the iceberg.

Dunn tried his best to pull himself out of the story.

This was a real world.

It was a world where people killing people was a common occurrence.

"My Lord!"

Just as Dunn was working through his thoughts, the female captain brought the crew and the awakened pirate over.

"Bastards! You bastards actually dare to capture me? Admiral Krieg will not let you off!"

The pirate being dragged over roared, but when he saw Dunn, a flicker of fear flashed in his eyes.

Dunn's strike earlier had made him realize that the gap between him and Dunn was immense.

Now, he hoped to use Krieg's name to intimidate these people.

"Krieg?"

Dunn was taken aback, looking with surprise at the pirate who was still preparing to clamor.

"Scared, aren't you? Since you're scared, why don't you hurry up and release me? Otherwise, when Admiral Krieg arrives, everyone will die, including you!"

Hearing Dunn's words, the pirate assumed Krieg's name had frightened him and continued his threats.

Dunn's expression remained unchanged, but in his mind, the image of a massive ship being cleaved in two by Hawkeye's sword surfaced.

A pirate fleet of five thousand men had encountered the ocean wanderer Hawkeye just as they entered the Grand Line, only for a bored Hawkeye to chase them all the way back to the East Blue.

Of course, that was also where the strength of a Great Swordsman was first displayed in the story.

Or rather, Hawkeye was the first top-tier powerhouse to appear in the story.

Therefore, Dunn still had a very deep impression of those scenes.

However, was Krieg already building a pirate fleet in the East Blue now?

Dunn pondered, and the bound pirate, seeing no reaction from him, struggled violently.

"Hurry up and let me go! Are you not afraid of Admiral Krieg?"

"Do you know where Krieg is?"

Dunn's train of thought was interrupted by the pirate, and he looked up at him calmly.

"As a great pirate, Admiral Krieg is naturally sailing the Dreadnaught Sabre to conquer those islands."

Dunn's inquiry made the pirate answer subconsciously.

"So, you don't know Krieg's current location?"

Dunn nodded upon hearing this, then waved his hand.

"Uh, Lord Dunn?"

Dunn's action left the female captain somewhat confused.

"Take him away and interrogate him. If there's no bounty, dispose of him yourselves."

"And if there is a bounty?"

The female captain was stunned.

"If there's a bounty, keep him. We'll exchange it for the reward when we reach our destination."

Dunn said as if it were a matter of course.

Dunn wasn't about to rely on his strength to take things for free; these pirates would be his ATMs from now on.

"Understood!"

"You bastard, you actually dare to use me to exchange for..."

The pirate was furious upon hearing this, but before he could finish his sentence, the female captain punched him in the nose, turning his subsequent words into cries of pain.

After that, Dunn never saw that pirate again.

In the time that followed, they encountered over a dozen more waves of pirates. From the mouths of those captured, Dunn finally understood the situation regarding Krieg.

Krieg was indeed active, and the pirates gathered here had indeed been summoned by Krieg in preparation for being recruited.

It was just that these were all the rejects left over after the selection.

Or rather, they simply lacked the ability to join Krieg's pirate crew, which is why so many of them had gathered here.

As for Krieg, no one knew his whereabouts.

That made sense; if the story followed its original course, Krieg would remain active in the East Blue until Monkey D. Luffy set sail, only entering the Grand Line then, before being chased back in defeat.

After passing through this region teeming with pirates, they encountered a few more pirate groups along the way and even captured two pirates with bounties on their heads.

Two months later.

Marine Base No. 16.

Dunn stepped off the merchant ship, sword in hand, gazing at the pier, which looked no different than it had over a year ago, and the distant Marine Base No. 16.

"The contract is finished!"

Dunn said.

"Yes, Lord Dunn. Thank you for your protection during this time!"

The female captain replied respectfully, handing over a money bag before waving her hand.

Two listless pirates, bound by ropes, were dragged off the ship.

Dunn turned to look, reached out to take the ropes, and began walking toward the Marine base.

People on the pier cast curious glances his way, but no one dared to approach or ask questions.

Even the patrolling Marines kept their distance.

This was because the direction Dunn was heading was toward the No. 16 branch base.

Dragging the two pirates behind him, Dunn arrived at the gates of the Marine base under the inquisitive stares of the townspeople.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

Seeing Dunn approach, the Marines at the gate immediately went on alert.

"A Pirate Hunter, here to collect a bounty."

As Dunn spoke, he gave the ropes a tug, tossing the two pirates at the other end forward.

The Marines at the gate were startled by Dunn's sudden movement, nearly pulling the triggers on their muskets.

A Pirate Hunter?

The Marines had heard Dunn clearly. After looking at him and then at the two dejected men, one Marine immediately trotted off to report, while Dunn was invited inside.

In the base commander's office.

Colonel Nezumi was examining himself in a floor-length mirror with a look of delight, adjusting his collar from time to time.

After the previous base commander had returned to Marine Headquarters to report, he had been promoted directly to a Major at Marine Headquarters, and Nezumi had been promoted in his place to become the commander of a branch base.

A promotion was, naturally, a cause for joy.

Of course, it was also possible that the intelligence he had provided a year ago had contributed to his success.

After all, he still remembered that a Vice Admiral from Headquarters had even contacted him to inquire about the situation at the time.

That was the true upper echelon of the Navy.

"Sir!"

A loud shout from a Marine outside made Colonel Nezumi jump, and he turned to look at the open office door with annoyance.

"What is it?"

Colonel Nezumi feigned authority, though his rat-like whiskers made his demeanor appear rather sleazy.

"Sir, a Pirate Hunter has brought two pirates here to collect a bounty!"

A Pirate Hunter?

The term made Colonel Nezumi shudder.

Although many bounty posters had been issued, there were actually very few people who truly captured pirates with bounties and came to the Navy to claim the reward.

Of course, that also had to do with the general environment of the East Blue.

The last time a Pirate Hunter had come to claim a reward, it was that youth suspected of being a devil fruit user—what was his name again? It seemed to be Dunn.

Colonel Nezumi stroked his whiskers, recalling the situation from a year ago.

And his own promotion seemed to be linked to that person as well.

But as for now, if that person had been discovered, he might have already entered Headquarters.

Perhaps the next time they met, that person would be his superior.

After all, a Major at Headquarters was comparable to a branch base commander.

Thinking of this, a sense of envy stirred in Nezumi's heart.

However, that feeling vanished quickly.

Although promotion at Headquarters was fast, being a branch base commander meant he was the master of an entire base.

Each had its own advantages.

"Sir?"

Seeing Major Nezumi smiling but remaining silent, the reporting Marine cautiously called out.

"Ahem!"

Startled, Major Nezumi gave a light cough.

"Since a Pirate Hunter has captured some pirates, as the base commander, it is only natural that I meet him and offer some encouragement."

Major Nezumi spoke with a solemn expression, though inwardly he was already calculating how to pocket a portion of the bounty.

It is hard to learn to be good, but sliding into bad habits is easy.

Having suffered for half his life, was he not entitled to embezzle a little money to enjoy his life?

He dared not touch the Marine Corps' official funding, but he certainly had the guts to skim off the bounties of bounty hunters.

Not only did he have the guts, but his appetite was quite large.

Major Nezumi led a squad of Marine soldiers to the location where Dunn was staying.

"Ahem, I am the commander of this Marine Branch, Major Nezumi. So, you are the one who captured the pirates?"

Nezumi saw Dunn sitting there and spoke after a light cough, but then, he felt that Dunn looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

"Long time no see, Major Nezumi. To think you've actually been promoted in just a year!"