A misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!

Grand Line, Grieg Island.

The island had a town and a Marine Base.

Inside the Marine Base, a soldier rushed to the Base Chief's office.

He shoved the door open and shouted:

"Sir, the Dragon King Pirates are here!"

The Base Chief initially looked annoyed.

But his expression changed when he heard the soldier's report.

"What? Are you sure you saw them right?"

The soldier hurriedly said:

"I'm sure! Only the Dragon King Pirates have a flag with a crooked-mouthed skull, right?"

Hearing that, the Base Chief let out a breath.

In that case, it really was that crew.

He cursed under his breath and said, "Didn't that bastard just come here? Is he trying to expose us by coming so often?!"

After cursing, he set down his teacup and stood up.

Meanwhile, aboard the pirate ship, Randall stretched and said:

"Do you know what that island ahead is called? Hurry up and send your boss a message. Tell him to come!"

The pirate deeply resented Randall's order.

But that happened to be exactly what he wanted to do anyway.

He quickly slunk off somewhere to make a call.

Randall stood at the bow, squinting at the outline of the Marine Base in the distance.

He muttered to himself:

"Something's wrong. At this distance, they should have spotted us already.

Why aren't the Marines reacting?"

A short while later, the ship was about to enter the harbor.

Yet throughout the approach, not only did the Marines fail to intercept the pirates, someone even came specifically to guide the pirate ship into port.

That gave Randall an unpleasant suspicion.

Before long, the pirate ship docked, and Randall went to the side and leaped down.

Just then, a Marine wearing a coat emblazoned with "Justice" approached, with several soldiers following behind.

Without waiting for Randall to speak, the man immediately launched into a tirade:

"Why are you here again? Didn't you just resupply?

If you come this often and get discovered, we'll all be in trouble!"

Randall fell silent.

After speaking, the man also realized something seemed wrong.

He didn't recognize this man...

Since when had pirates looked so clean-cut? Even he, a man himself, found Randall strikingly handsome.

And the pirate ship was far too quiet this time.

He frowned, realizing there was more to this than met the eye.

Just then, Randall spoke:

"Are you the Base Chief of this base? What exactly did you mean just now?

Is there something you're afraid people will discover?

And as a Marine, how can you be so calm when you see pirates?"

A bad feeling immediately welled up in the Base Chief's heart.

He asked coldly:

"Who are you?"

"Grab him! He just killed our men!"

The sole surviving pirate leaned over the ship's railing and shouted.

The Base Chief inwardly rolled his eyes. You expect me to grab him just because you say so?

What does him killing your men have to do with us Marines?

But the next second, he heard Randall say softly:

"Me? I'm from headquarters."

The Base Chief's expression changed drastically.

"Quick! Grab him! Don't hold back! Hurry!"

At his shout, a large group of Marines suddenly rushed out and surrounded Randall.

Randall's expression immediately turned cold.

"You were happy to talk when you thought I was a pirate, but the moment you heard I was from headquarters, you certainly acted fast!"

The soldiers who rushed out hadn't known what was happening.

But now that they heard Randall say he was from headquarters, they immediately hesitated.

"Get moving! So what if he's from headquarters!

Look at him! He's barely out of diapers. How strong could he be?

Hurry up and arrest him!

Move!"

The Base Chief ignored Randall completely.

Seeing the soldiers hesitate, he shouted at them.

With their superior's orders, the soldiers immediately sprang into action.

Randall snorted coldly, and his presence erupted, mingled with killing intent.

In just these past few days, Randall had killed hundreds of people.

His killing intent had taken on a true blood-red hue, undergoing a fundamental change.

Somewhere beyond their senses, everyone seemed to hear thunder rolling through the void.

They felt a sudden buzzing in their heads.

Then the scene before their eyes changed.

Blood red. Everything was blood red.

At the horizon, a sea of blood surged in waves, threatening to engulf the land.

And standing amid that endless sea of blood, like its king, was Randall.

The scene seemed to last a long time, yet also only an instant.

When the base's soldiers came to their senses, the scene before them had returned to normal.

They were still surrounding Randall, one man against them all.

But whenever they looked at Randall, that terrifying vision kept surfacing in their minds.

They stopped in their tracks.

They could only point their guns uselessly at Randall, their index fingers trembling too badly to even find the triggers.

The Base Chief, too, felt as though he had just awakened.

Cold sweat trickled down his cheeks.

He immediately realized that this visitor was a formidable opponent.

Even as a rear admiral, he wasn't confident he could defeat someone capable of unleashing such killing intent and presence.

The Base Chief's expression shifted several times before he finally forced a smile.

"A misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!

Young man, this is all a misunderstanding!

What are you all standing around for?! Hurry up and clear a path for our young friend!"

The soldiers had barely been holding on.

At their commander's order, they all scattered far away in less than a second.

The Base Chief steeled himself and walked toward Randall.

"Heh, it's all a misunderstanding, young man!

Earlier, when I saw you coming off a pirate ship, I thought you were impersonating someone from headquarters!

But that little demonstration convinced me on the spot. Only someone from headquarters could have that kind of strength!

It's all a misunderstanding!

To apologize, we simply must treat you properly!"

The Base Chief spoke to Randall with an ingratiating smile.

Then he turned and bellowed:

"Someone! Hurry up and prepare a banquet to welcome our young friend!"

Then he turned back to Randall, smiling so hard his face nearly cramped.

"Heh, young man, what do you think?"

Randall stared at the Base Chief, wondering whether the man took him for an idiot.

Does he think I can't see something this obvious...?

Still, he had to wait for the captain of the Dragon King Pirates anyway.

He could use that time to see what this man was up to.

So, just as the Base Chief was sweating buckets under his stare, he spoke:

"So it was a misunderstanding. Then please clear it up over the meal!"

The Base Chief immediately let out a breath of relief, his whole body relaxing considerably.

"Of course, of course! I'll explain everything clearly!

The banquet will take some time to prepare. Would you like to rest for a while first?"

Randall glanced at him, making him break out in a cold sweat.

"No, I'll take a look around the island."

The Base Chief's expression shifted again.

"Well, the island..."

"What, I can't?"

"Yes! Of course you can!" the Base Chief said through gritted teeth. "Cross, come show the officer from headquarters around town!"