Sparks

"Come on, let's go take a look!"

The young man in the black suit shot the man in the white suit a warning glare, then led his men rushing out of the restaurant.

Watching the gang members pour out like a black tide, John asked Reed:

"Sir, are we really just going to stand by and do nothing?"

"They're gangsters, not pirates. They're the local town office's problem, so don't meddle." Reed did not even look up.

Upon hearing that, John reached over and pulled Reed's tray toward himself. Meeting Reed's puzzled gaze, he said:

"The Navy truly cannot interfere in the affairs of member nations, but our 153rd Branch is different from most branches. Our base was established within a member nation."

"Simply put, Shells Town was assigned to the Navy. In exchange, the World Government may have reduced Leon Kingdom's Heavenly Tribute."

"Since the World Government secured this authority for us, we should properly maintain order in this town."

Before coming here, John had done his homework.

Member nations paid the Heavenly Tribute every year in exchange for the World Government's promise of protection.

If the Navy could freely interfere in their internal affairs, it would severely undermine other nations' willingness to join or remain in the system, shaking the very foundation of the World Government's rule.

Furthermore, the World Government relied on more than 170 member nations to maintain economic and political stability. Frequent Navy intervention could intensify conflicts.

Of course, the most important reason was that the Navy needed to concentrate its main forces on protecting the "Holy Land," Mary Geoise, and suppressing higher-priority threats such as major pirate crews. It lacked both the ability and desire to deeply manage the daily affairs of every member nation.

Just as in the fate of the future, Navy Captain Smoker knew full well that Straw Hat Luffy's group and Crocodile were causing trouble in the Alabasta Kingdom, yet he still had to weigh the matter carefully and withstand pressure from his superiors before daring to get involved.

Yet even after getting involved, he had been restrained at every turn, not daring to act openly on a large scale.

In the end, if Crocodile had not been proven to have usurped a member nation, and if King Cobra had not pursued the Navy's responsibility—

Merely entering a member nation to enforce the law would have been enough to send Smoker before a court-martial!

But there were exceptions to everything.

Just as in that future fate, the son of the 153rd Branch's base commander, "Axe Emperor" Morgan, could run rampant through Shells Town as he pleased.

Not only could he bully the local people, but he could even capture the passing traveler Zoro and have him executed.

He was practically a petty emperor who held local law enforcement in his hands!

At its core, it was because the 153rd Branch base had been built in this town, making it entirely different from branches that established their bases on isolated islands.

"You're right. Our Navy's 153rd Branch does indeed have law enforcement authority in Shells Town."

Reed was somewhat surprised. He had not expected John to know so much.

Then his tone shifted.

"However, Base Commander Colonel Burns has ordered that no sailor from the 153rd Branch may interfere in local conflicts without his permission."

After saying that, Reed spoke in the manner of an experienced senior, trying to enlighten him.

"Seaman Third Class John, I know justice burns in your heart, but we are soldiers."

"A soldier's duty is to obey orders. We cannot act as willfully as pirates."

At those words, John clenched his fists "reluctantly."

After a long silence, he abruptly rose to his feet.

"But I am a Navy man of justice. I cannot stand by unmoved while ordinary people are bullied."

"I will uphold my justice to the very end. Even if this reaches the Five Elders, I will never back down!"

As soon as the words fell, John's body became an afterimage as he charged out of the restaurant.

Reed only felt a fierce gust blast into his face, making it impossible for him to open his eyes.

When he opened them again, John had already vanished from the restaurant.

"Ah! You damned bastard, all you ever do is cause trouble!"

"How could small fries like us possibly meet the Five Elders, the 'Highest Authority in the World'?!"

"Burns alone would be enough to crush you!"

Furious, Reed slammed his fist heavily onto the table. He had no mind to notice the speed John had displayed, and then got up and chased after him.

He did not know why he had chased after John instead of immediately distancing himself from him. In any case, his body had moved before his brain did.

Perhaps it was because... that guy was his cash cow.

Five minutes earlier

A young man in a dark green cloak walked down the street with his head lowered. Looking at the pirate skull flag design in his hand, he was filled with longing for the future.

His name was Felo Vincent, the son of the president of the Felose Chamber of Commerce.

"Since they don't welcome us, then we'll leave this place. We'll return to our hometown as pirates and bring down those rotten nobles!"

In Vincent's heart, pirates were righteous forces resisting noble oppression.

The skull flag primarily symbolized death, fear, and never yielding!

However, when Vincent lifted his head with a heart full of hope and looked toward the restaurant run by his father ahead, he saw that it had been surrounded by a group of gang members.

Vincent abruptly clenched the skull flag design in his hand and quickened his pace as he charged forward.

"These bastards are here to cause trouble again!"

"Stop that brat!"

Seeing someone rapidly charging toward them, the gang members immediately lined up shoulder to shoulder to form a human wall, intending to force him back.

But Vincent leaped into the air as he reached them, then viciously smashed his fist—the one clutching the skull flag design—into one gang member's face.

The conflict was about to erupt!

At that very moment, Dragon, who had been driven out of the restaurant, stepped outside and immediately saw a group of gang members beating up ordinary civilians.

Without the slightest hesitation, he rolled up his sleeves and charged in, carrying all the emotions he had accumulated during this time.

Having been trained from childhood by his Navy vice admiral father, Dragon knocked down two gang members with nothing but his bare fists, swinging left and right.

"Urgh! This brat has help..."

As the fallen men cried out their warning, more than twenty gang members who had been attacking Vincent immediately split in half and turned toward Dragon.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Triggers were pulled, and flintlock muskets spat flames as lead bullets flew straight toward Dragon.

Dragon moved as lightly as a monkey, dodging every bullet with several leaps and flips. Then he bent forward and sprinted, rapidly closing in on the gang members.

He first sent one man flying with a fast kick, then used the man's body as leverage to twist his waist in midair and unleash a spinning kick that struck the jaw of the attacker sneaking up from his right.

Within only a few breaths, seven or eight men had been knocked down by Dragon's superb martial arts.

Vincent on the other side was no less impressive. Though he was not as agile as Dragon, he made up for it with sheer strength.

All he had to do was lower his center of gravity and throw a rapid series of jabs, and he could knock a gang member down in a single blow, leaving him unable to rise again.

As the gang members rapidly dwindled and their view opened up, Dragon and Vincent crossed paths in a blur and met each other's eyes.

Both bared gleaming white teeth in broad grins, smiling foolishly at each other.

There could be no greater sense of mutual admiration.