"And this, too-the deed transfer certificate stamped by the World Government!"
"Every last piece of paperwork is here!"
"Our company obeys the law and never evades taxes. Your job as Marines is to help us deal with troublemakers, not cause trouble for us!"
"Is this how you uphold justice?!"
Snake slammed the desk, berating the branch commodore so fiercely that he could not even raise his head.
As head of the legal department at the Groudon Company's Sabaody Archipelago Branch, he owed his chance to put his talents as a small-time lawyer to full use to the company. He had to defend its interests!
The commodore was tall and burly, but his voice was as meek as a woman's. Completely cowed, he said quietly, "We found evidence that your company bribed government officials-"
"Bribery? What bribery?!"
Snake's brows shot up!
"Did I give them money?"
"N-no."
The commodore shrank back.
Snake sneered.
"If there was no money, how can you call it bribery?"
"Those government officials were running around taking care of everything. Seeing how hard they worked, I naturally wanted to repay them. All I gave them was some egg yolk pastries!"
"That's called courtesy, understand?!"
"Don't you give gifts on holidays?!"
"Besides, even if it really were bribery, it would be up to Enies Lobby to investigate. What does it have to do with you Marines?!"
"You're Marines who uphold justice. Your duty is to catch pirates and protect law-abiding citizens like us, not persecute us!"
Tears welled in the commodore's eyes.
Egg yolk pastries, his foot. He had never seen pastries with gleaming gold fillings before!
"I-I'm sorry."
"Good. What matters is recognizing your mistakes and correcting them."
Snake's expression softened considerably.
"Withdraw all the Marines around our construction site at once. Stop acting so suspicious all