Rampage

"Something went wrong with the Marines?"

"How can you tell?"

The atmosphere on the other end of the Den Den Mushi suddenly grew grave.

Inside the captain's cabin, Kael briefly organized his thoughts before saying:

"First, according to the intelligence I gathered, not a single outstanding Marine soldier has emerged from the East Blue in nearly ten years!"

"Although the East Blue has always been called the weakest sea, I refuse to believe a place that produced Pirate King Roger and Vice Admiral Garp could truly be 'weak'!"

"The pirate forces are feeble because, when Pirate King Roger was executed, the Marines went to great lengths to devastate the pirate foundations of the East Blue."

"Ever since then, it has been difficult for pirates who came out of the East Blue to produce any renowned powerhouses."

"But!"

Kael's tone abruptly paused before taking a sharp turn.

His voice also sank, making people instinctively feel that he was about to say something heavy.

"Twenty years ago, the Marines only cracked down on pirate forces. So why is it that even outstanding Marine talent is now so rarely seen!?"

"..."

Silence came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

But if one listened carefully, it was not hard to hear the increasingly heavy breathing beneath that silence.

"Continue..."

The Den Den Mushi, imitating Sengoku's expression, also grew solemn.

Clearly, Kael's words had made him realize the severity of the issue.

This problem was countless times more serious than some mysterious organization selling weapons.

Seeing that Sengoku's emotions had already been stirred, Kael got straight to the point and said in a low voice:

"I suspect someone is deliberately cutting off the paths of those young people who truly want to contribute to the Marines and the people!"

"Ever since I arrived in the East Blue, I've been thinking..."

"Cannonballs sold within the East Blue pirate circles could not possibly be too expensive."

"Nor could the people selling those cannonballs be doing charity work without making a single berry."

"So... just how powerful could such a cannonball possibly be!?"

"The Marine Headquarters' new warships now use the latest military-grade materials from the scientific division. Even the impact of a Sea King cannot damage them in the slightest."

"Logically, even if warships in the East Blue cannot compare with those top-tier vessels, they should not be on the same level as ordinary civilian ships."

"Could it be that the scientists of the Marine research division, who work day and night, are inferior to some unknown nobody from the East Blue!?"

"That is obviously impossible!"

"So I believe the problem lies in the intelligence you gave me..."

Kael paused, then explained:

"Of course, I'm not saying the intelligence you gave me was wrong. But clearly, whoever reported the situation did not conduct a thorough investigation."

"I believe the powerful cannonballs are real, and the damaged warships are real too. But the damaged warships may not be the warships we think they are!"

Sengoku pondered for a moment.

"You mean someone used the money allocated to purchase Marine warships to buy ordinary civilian vessels, then pocketed the difference?"

"That is exactly it, Fleet Admiral."

Kael said solemnly:

"The subsidy for a standard Marine warship is often three to five times that of an ordinary vessel."

"And that difference alone is enough to make people take desperate risks."

"Over the past twenty years, the East Blue Marines did not need to continuously upgrade their weapons or build more warships to curb pirate forces like the other regions did."

"Yet the subsidies they received were not much different from those of other regions."

"Over time, someone would naturally set their sights on all that surplus money."

"Human nature is greedy!"

"The East Blue pirates have been quiet for twenty years, and the Marines have suppressed pirates for twenty years!"

"Without the threat of pirates, those people who hold military force and power instead become the new threat!"

"Considering that collusion between officials and bandits has existed since ancient times."

"Some Marines may even have joined forces with pirates, oppressing the people, deceiving their superiors and subordinates, and becoming local tyrants!"

"At the same time, to prevent their situation from being discovered, they would frame those Marine soldiers who truly possessed talent and a sense of responsibility."

"After all, the casualty rate among East Blue Marines is no lower than elsewhere."

"..."

"..."

After hearing Kael's report, Sengoku suddenly fell silent.

It was not that he had never considered such things. He simply had not expected the situation to become this serious.

That was true in any world.

Of course, what surprised him even more was...

Kael, who had only just arrived in the East Blue, had managed to infer so much from such limited intelligence.

Originally, Sengoku had only valued Kael's background and confirmed that he was someone who could be used without concern...

He had not expected Kael to bring him such a huge surprise.

Sengoku took the initiative to ask, "What do you think should be done next?"

Kael drew out his words, pretending to think.

"At present, I don't have an exact target."

"After all, this is still only speculation on my part."

"However, I intend to use the name of the Dusk Pirates to test several Marine bases in the East Blue."

"I caused such a huge commotion in Loguetown that my name should have spread across the entire East Blue by now."

"No one will doubt that I'm a pirate."

"From how those Marine bases treat pirates, we can tell who is sincerely doing their job and who is merely fishing in troubled waters."

"I can't think of a more suitable method than this!"

At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku sat in his office and nodded approvingly.

"Mhm, this method is indeed quite good."

Then he slammed a fist against the desk and spoke to the Den Den Mushi:

"Good, then it's decided!"

"Agent Kael, your previous mission is temporarily canceled. From now on, you will investigate corruption and embezzlement among the East Blue Marines!"

"If you need anything, feel free to bring it up. Marine Headquarters will always be your strongest backing!"

"With those words from you, I'm relieved."

Kael grinned. After hesitating for a moment, he feigned uncertainty and said:

"However, since we're talking about support, I do have a few small requests."

"Speak freely!"

Sengoku, seated in the Fleet Admiral's chair, waved a hand.

Since he had decided Kael was a talent worth cultivating, he naturally would not be stingy.

Kael soon made his request:

"I need your special authorization!"

"Since I must disguise myself as a pirate, the Dusk Pirates will inevitably recruit people who wish to become pirates, or who are already pirates..."

"To facilitate the execution of future missions, I hope to receive a certain degree of pardon authority, and even the qualification to recruit Marine soldiers..."

"So these people can work with me in intelligence operations without any worries."

Kael's thinking was simple.

He had an admiral for a second uncle, so he naturally did not need to worry too much.

But his future crewmates could not spend their entire lives burdened with the identity of pirates.

At the very least, they needed to be officially placed on the roster!

"..."

Upon hearing Kael's request, Sengoku pondered briefly before nodding in agreement.

"Yes, that is indeed a very practical issue. I approve your request."

"If their contributions to the Marines are significant enough, I may even grant them a certain rank!"

"Afterward, I will discuss with Vice Admiral Tsuru exactly how your merits should be calculated."

"In that case, that would be wonderful."

Kael replied with a smile.

He was not surprised by Sengoku's answer.

Anyone who had watched the anime knew that, in the world of One Piece, the boundary between Marines and pirates was actually quite flexible.

With the proper methods, pirates could become Marines too.

Pressing his advantage, Kael began making his second request.

"There is one more thing, Fleet Admiral."

"A pirate crew needs funds to operate, but we are not real pirates. We cannot possibly rob ordinary civilians."

"So I hope you will approve this: if we discover that certain Marine bases display the issues I mentioned earlier..."

"Allow me to rob those Marine bases to replenish the pirate crew's financial reserves!"

"That way, we can both replenish the crew's funds and expand the crew's reputation, allowing the Dusk Pirates to gain greater prestige in the underworld!"

With a system that devoured money, Kael's desire for wealth was immense.

Directly asking the Marines for money always came with certain restrictions, so he intended to turn passivity into initiative.

Since it was all embezzled money anyway, he believed Sengoku would not refuse.

Sure enough, after hesitating for only a moment, Sengoku immediately agreed to Kael's second request.

This authority was no small matter.

After all, no one could guarantee that they would remain spotless forever.

Fortunately, Kael had an admiral for a second uncle to vouch for him.

"Thank you for your trust, Fleet Admiral."

"I have one final request..."

Kael finally turned his gaze toward Tashigi, who was completely stunned across from him, and smiled faintly.

"Didn't I kidnap a Marine in Loguetown earlier? I'm currently being pursued by Colonel Smoker from Loguetown because of it."

"Actually, that was also part of my plan."

Of course, it had not been part of his plan.

If possible, Kael truly would have preferred to quietly abduct Tashigi.

But since things had already come to this, he could only go along with the situation.

"It's like this..."

"The Dusk Pirates are, after all, a pirate group. We can only test and punish them, but the subsequent investigation and cleanup work will still require manpower."

"So I deliberately provoked Colonel Smoker, giving him a reason to set out to sea and pursue me."

"That way, if I uncover anything, I can have Colonel Smoker step in directly and, in the name of Marine Headquarters, search for and arrest those corrupt officials who take bribes!"

"Although Colonel Smoker is quite strong and devoted to justice, his personality is far too arrogant."

"This is the perfect opportunity to let him see just what kind of lives the East Blue Marines under his watch are living..."

"I believe this journey will leave an unforgettable impression on him."

"Smoker? I didn't expect you to think things through so thoroughly."

Sengoku said in a deep voice:

"When he was transferred down to the East Blue, it was precisely because we hoped he would correct some of his flaws."

"He truly does need to go out and see the world."

"To consider things so comprehensively, you really are well suited for this work, Kael."

"Thank you for the praise."

Kael chuckled, then casually brought up:

"Oh, right, Fleet Admiral."

"Speaking of Loguetown, the kidnapped Marine is beside me right now, but she already knows my identity..."

"So I was thinking, why not have her join the Dusk Pirates and work with me in intelligence operations? What do you think?"

The long-awaited reveal of Kael's true objective finally came at this moment.

This was the method Kael had planned to make Tashigi join the pirate crew with no possibility of refusal!

The Fleet Admiral himself would personally order her to become a pirate.

"She already knows your identity?"

Sengoku sounded puzzled. He could not quite understand why Kael, who had seemed so shrewd, would make such a basic mistake.

But since things had already reached this point, there was little he could say.

Allowing someone who knew Kael's true identity to remain at large was undoubtedly dangerous.

Even if that person was a Marine!

Sengoku ordered, "Have that soldier answer the call..."

"Alright."

Kael revealed a wicked grin and directly handed over the receiver in his hand.

"Tashigi, the Fleet Admiral has something to say to you."

"Hello."

An abrupt greeting from Fleet Admiral Sengoku came through the receiver.

Tashigi's pupils suddenly contracted as she stood there in a daze.

Still confused, she had never expected the Fleet Admiral to suddenly speak to her.

She hurriedly stood up in a panic and saluted the Den Den Mushi.

"Y-Yes! Hello, Fleet Admiral!"

"Hmm?"

Hearing a girl's voice from the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku was briefly stunned.

But as he immediately thought of something, a gleam of gossip flashed through his eyes.

That brat Kael, could he be...

This old man's gossiping heart is suddenly pounding~!

Sengoku cleared his throat and spoke into the receiver.

"You heard the conversation between Kael and me just now, didn't you?"

"I... I did..."

Tashigi answered timidly.

"Mm."

Sengoku nodded and asked,

"Since that's the case, would you be willing to join the Navy's intelligence agency and help Kael complete his mission?"

"I..."

The bewildered Tashigi had yet to understand what was going on, and her tone was hesitant.

Just then, Kael suddenly coughed lightly, leaned down close to her ear, and whispered,

"Intelligence work places great importance on secrecy. Now that you know my identity, if you refuse..."

"It'll be very difficult for us to handle the follow-up work..."

After shooting her a threatening look, Kael slowly straightened up again, wearing a kindly smile.

Yet in Tashigi's eyes, that smile looked exactly like a devil's grin!

Although Kael had not said anything else, Tashigi could not help imagining herself being tightly bound with ropes and brutally ravaged by Kael after refusing.

In an instant, cold sweat broke out across Tashigi's forehead.

She choked back a sob and said in a trembling, tearful voice,

"I... I'm willing!"