When they arrived at the 16th Marine Branch, the marines stationed there wore looks of astonishment upon seeing Yang Cheng and Bellemere disembarking with a group of hogtied Fish-Man pirates.
"We are villagers from Cocoyasi in the East Blue. Because these pirates ran amok on our island, we captured all of them.
Since quite a few of them seem to be wanted pirates, we are here to collect the bounties, and we hope you will contact the branch commander."
As a former marine, Bellemere still had a certain understanding of the procedures for turning in wanted pirates to collect bounties.
When the marine soldiers of the 16th branch saw that the pirates on Yang Cheng's ship were actually the Arlong Pirates, a major pirate crew that had recently stirred up the East Blue, their expressions instantly shifted, and they rushed off toward the commander's office.
Meanwhile, inside the office of the 16th Marine Branch, Captain Nezumi-whose face wore a slimy expression and whose attire resembled that of a rat-was speaking with obsequious flattery to another marine present.
That marine had long black hair pulled up into a bun. Beneath her righteous marine cloak was a figure hot enough to make most men drool.
She wore an open-chested rose-pink suit jacket paired with black ultra-short shorts, and a spider tattoo adorned her voluptuous thigh. Not only was she strikingly beautiful, but she also carried a famously long-bladed sword at her waist.
Captain Nezumi was the highest-ranking officer of the 16th Branch. In the regions of the Four Seas, being able to reach the level of Marine Captain meant he practically reigned like a local emperor.
Yet at this moment, when facing the female marine general before him, his tone was both cautious and flattering.
It was evident that the marine general he was entertaining either possessed greater strength than him, held a higher status and position, or simply outclassed him in every way.
"Captain, Captain Nezumi, there are two people outside who say they want to see you. They claim they are from Cocoyasi Village in the East Blue..."
Before the marine soldier who entered to report could finish, he was rudely cut off by an angry Nezumi: "Can't you see I'm entertaining an important guest?
What people from Cocoyasi Village? I don't know them at all, hurry up and send them away!"
"But..." The marine soldier wanted to say something more, but Captain Nezumi impatiently cut him off again.
"There are no buts. We are responsible for countless islands in our sea area; if everyone from every island wanted to see me, wouldn't this captain be worked to death all day long?"
Hearing Captain Nezumi's angry outburst, the reporting marine soldier could only lower his head and prepare to leave.
Yet just as he turned around, the "distinguished guest" sitting across from Captain Nezumi suddenly spoke up: "Wait a moment. Did they say what they came here for?"
Hearing the female marine general's inquiry, the marine soldier looked over at Captain Nezumi.
As for this utterly tactless marine soldier standing before him, Captain Nezumi felt the urge to eliminate him on the spot.
"Did you not hear Rear Admiral Gion's question? This is Rear Admiral Momousagi of Marine Headquarters.
Her personal visit to our 16th Branch this time is to investigate the matter concerning the great pirate Golden Lion in the East Blue."
Roughly a decade or so ago, the great pirate Golden Lion Shiki-a contemporary of Pirate King Roger-severed his own legs in order to break free from the Seastone shackles on his ankles, becoming the first prisoner in history to escape from Impel Down.
The escaped Golden Lion's whereabouts had been unknown for many years, but Momousagi, who frequently disguised herself and mingled in various high-society venues, had recently gathered intelligence suggesting that the Golden Lion seemed to have fled to the East Blue.
That was why she had made a special trip to the East Blue, wandering among the marine branches there to gather information.
"Captain Nezumi, I believe your attitude toward handling matters might need a proper correction.
We bear the name of justice as marines. Since islanders from our waters have come here on their own initiative, it is very likely that they encountered pirate pillaging and were unable to resolve the crisis themselves, which is why they have sought help from us marines."
Faced with Momousagi's reprimand, Captain Nezumi felt displeased inside, yet he dared not show the slightest trace of it on his face, nodding repeatedly in agreement.
Islands attacked by pirates required every possible effort to help?
Joking aside, his definition of justice as Captain Nezumi was profit. Without sufficient profit, wanting him to make a move was simply a joke.
If there were enough profit, Captain Nezumi wouldn't even mind collaborating with pirates. As for that laughable justice of the marines, it could go to hell.
If not for the fact that the other party was a rear admiral from Marine Headquarters with a formidable reputation outside, would he, Captain Nezumi, be bowing and scraping right now just to give her face?
"Rear Admiral Gion, Captain Nezumi, aren't those two people from Cocoyasi Village outside here to ask for our help as marines, but rather to collect bounties?"
Hearing the marine soldier's reply, Gion and Captain Nezumi were momentarily stunned, after which Gion spoke up again: "Bounty hunters?"
"No, according to them, they are just residents of Cocoyasi Village, and the pirates they brought with them are the entire Arlong Pirates!
It even includes the fish-man Arlong, who carries a bounty of 20 million Beli and formerly served as one of the executives of the Sun Pirates..."
Hearing the marine soldier's report, Captain Nezumi's expression changed abruptly.
Didn't that fellow Arlong check in with him just a few days ago and give him plenty of perks? How the hell did he get beaten today and even brought in to cash in for a bounty?
If that guy were dead, fine, but if he wasn't dead, what would happen if he turned around and bit him back later?
In the past, matters here were naturally decided by him, the marine captain.
Yet today, of all days, a big shot from headquarters had arrived...
"A pirate with a 20-million bounty must surely be considered a big figure out here in the East Blue, right?
I am rather curious as to what kind of ordinary islanders could possibly defeat this Arlong Pirates."
Hearing Momousagi's words, Captain Nezumi currently felt like cursing his mother on the spot.
However, matters had reached this point, and he could only bite the bullet and accompany Momousagi to see just who these people were that had defeated the Arlong Pirates and blocked his moneymaking scheme.
When they arrived outside, and Yang Cheng caught sight of Captain Nezumi and the tall figure beside him, Yang Cheng froze on the spot.
As a transmigrator, Yang Cheng naturally recognized Momousagi, but he had never imagined why a big shot like her would appear in a place like this!
"You're the ones who defeated the Arlong Pirates? I think you're frauds! You even dared to try your scams here at our 16th Marine Branch!
Though I don't know where you scavenged this stroke of luck, leave all the members of the Arlong Pirates behind right now and clear out on your own, and I might just overlook your actions."
At first, Captain Nezumi had also assumed that whoever dealt with the Arlong Pirates must be some renowned bounty hunters from the East Blue.
Yet now that he saw clearly that Yang Cheng and Bellemere were merely a child and a woman, his heart instantly settled.
Just as he had said, he simply did not believe that a woman and a child could defeat the Arlong Pirates who had returned from the Grand Line.
And as long as Yang Cheng and the others weren't the actual parties responsible for defeating the Arlong Pirates, the scope for him, Captain Nezumi, to manipulate things now became much wider. He might even be able to pocket the bounties of Arlong and his crew all at once this time!
Before you continue