"Captain, th-there's an enormous warship headed for Cocoyasi Village."
In the room, Captain Nezumi looked at his subordinate and snapped, "Don't you know to knock before coming in to report?"
"S-sorry, Captain, but that warship is just too huge. Judging by its class, it l-looks like an admiral-class warship!"
Hearing his subordinate stumble over every word, Captain Nezumi said, "It's just an admiral-class warship. Is that really worth making such a fuss over..."
At that point, Captain Nezumi realized what he had heard. He sprang from his seat and confirmed with his subordinate, "Y-you're sure it's an admiral-class warship?"
"I-I don't know for sure, but it's far too big. I've never seen a warship that large before!"
"I understand. Y-you may leave!"
Captain Nezumi, who had just mocked someone else for not being able to speak properly, was stammering a little himself now.
The room fell silent again. A towering fish-man with a long, sharp, saw-toothed nose stepped out from behind him.
"Nezumi, why would an admiral-class warship suddenly come here? Don't tell me you tipped them off?"
"Arlong, you're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? How would I know why those admirals would leave Marineford and come to the East Blue? And why would I tip them off? What would I gain from that?"
Captain Nezumi replied irritably to Arlong beside him.
"Whatever brought him here, I gave you the money, and you accepted it. We're in the same boat now. If I'm exposed, you won't die well either!"
With that, Arlong jumped out through the room's window.
Relying on his powerful fish-man physique, he disappeared into the forest after a few leaps.
To be safe, he planned to have the other fish-men withdraw from Arlong Park first.
After all, he was no frog in a well. He knew just how terrifying an admiral could be.
Back at Holy Land Mariejois, Kizaru, who had quelled the rebellion, had already risen to the rank of admiral.
That terrifying strength was something he would never dare to imagine.
After seeing Arlong leave, Captain Nezumi immediately headed to the harbor to personally welcome Roya.
The reception was extraordinarily grand.
It even made people think that Captain Nezumi had an excellent relationship with this man.
This was Captain Nezumi's scheme: make the villagers frighten themselves into cooperating with his act.
They would not dare expose his crimes to Roya!
The warship slowly docked at the harbor, and Roya and Kalifa disembarked.
[ Ding, check-in successful. Obtained: Noah's Ark! Noah's Ark is the Ark of Promise. According to what Neptune said in the original work, Noah was part of an agreement between humanity and the mermaid princess of that era during the Void Century. However, it was never fulfilled, which is why it sank into the deep sea. ] [ This is the New Noah's Ark. Accepting Noah's Ark is equivalent to accepting the agreement with the mermaid princess. Under certain conditions, the system will issue special missions. ] [ Special missions are extremely difficult, but they also come with lavish rewards. Please confirm whether the host accepts the New Noah's Ark! ]
"Accept."
Roya agreed without the slightest hesitation.
If he did not even have this much courage, how would he face the powerful enemies ahead?
[ Ding, reception successful. Noah's Ark has been stored in the System Space. The host may release it at any time. ]
By the time Roya arrived before Captain Nezumi, the system's electronic voice had slowly faded away.
Captain Nezumi gave Roya a military salute and said, "Welcome, Admiral White Dove, to Cocoyasi for an inspection!"
"I'm not here to inspect anything. I only came to replenish supplies."
Captain Nezumi reacted quickly and immediately said to the soldiers beside him, "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and move the supplies! Do you expect Admiral White Dove to carry them himself?"
After speaking, Captain Nezumi turned to Roya again. "Admiral White Dove, would you like to sit in my office? They probably won't finish anytime soon."
Kalifa said to Roya beside her, "Roya, since we're already in Cocoyasi, let's take a look around. I've never visited an island in the East Blue before."
"Mm, as you wish."
Seeing this, Captain Nezumi bowed and said, "Admiral White Dove, I know Cocoyasi Village well. Let me show you around!"
Roya nodded and said no more.
Still, he was somewhat surprised. Was Captain Nezumi really bold enough to openly take him around like this without feeling afraid?
Or had Captain Nezumi already hidden everything else so thoroughly that he was not worried about Roya's arrival at all?
Thinking this, Roya mused, Interesting~
A gentle breeze swept across the island.
Captain Nezumi walked at the front, introducing Cocoyasi Village to Roya and Kalifa.
From his account, Cocoyasi Village sounded like a paradise removed from the world.
Under his protection and management, it had never been troubled by any Pirates.
It was a place as idyllic as paradise.
But when they reached the market in Cocoyasi Village,
Kalifa noticed that not a single villager wore a smile.
Instead, upon seeing them, everyone went out of their way to avoid them.
She could even see deep hatred on every face.
As Kalifa listened to Captain Nezumi continue boasting about his achievements, she interrupted, "Is it really as you say? Why haven't I seen even the slightest hint of a smile on these villagers' faces?"
Hearing Kalifa's words, Captain Nezumi cursed inwardly, Damn woman, why do you have to make so much trouble!
Of course, Captain Nezumi only dared think it.
He smiled warmly at Kalifa. "That's simply how they are. If you don't believe me, you can ask them directly. Surely they wouldn't lie to you?"
As Captain Nezumi said this, when Roya and Kalifa were not paying attention, he shot the people around them a fierce glare!
The surrounding villagers were so frightened that they immediately lowered their gazes.
To them, Captain Nezumi and the fish-man Arlong were both insurmountable mountains.
Besides, judging by Roya's expressionless face, he was probably the same kind of person as Captain Nezumi!
How could they dare expose Captain Nezumi in front of him?
It could only be said that Captain Nezumi's authority had long been deeply entrenched!
But living in the East Blue as they did, they had no idea what the rank represented by Roya's uniform truly meant.
Kalifa walked over to an elderly woman selling vegetables and asked, "Grandma, do you think public security has been good lately? Or is there anything in your daily life that makes you uncomfortable?"
The elderly woman secretly glanced at Captain Nezumi, then hurriedly shook her head. "Very good, very good. I live very well here. Especially since Captain Nezumi came to Cocoyasi Village, he has always been considerate of us..."