Before long, everyone followed Nezumi back into Arlong Park.
On the way, Captain Nezumi had already sensed something was wrong. The tall buildings that had once stood in Arlong Park were nowhere to be seen, and the closer they got to the park, the stronger the smell of blood became. Captain Nezumi grew more and more uneasy.
When Captain Nezumi entered the park and saw the courtyard full of Fish-Man corpses, he knew these people had not lied. But then he thought of the Arlong Pirates' treasure, and greed stirred in his heart.
Nezumi looked at Luffy and the others and said, "You killed Arlong and his gang? Then where did you put their treasure? That's all evidence of pirate crimes and needs to be handed over to the Marines. Hand over their treasure. Otherwise, you won't want to know the consequences."
"Oh? Just how serious would those consequences be? We'd really like to find out." Zoro and Sanji spoke at the same time.
"Oh? So you intend to oppose the Marines? In that case, don't blame me for being ruthless," Captain Nezumi said viciously.
Then he waved a hand at the Marines behind him. "This village was invaded by two pirate crews. They slaughtered every villager, then wiped each other out. Raise your guns and fire. Kill-"
Before Captain Nezumi could finish, his adjutant covered his mouth and whispered in his ear, "Captain, we can't afford to mess with these people! One of them is a pirate with a bounty of 500 million Beli."
Nezumi froze. Looking in the direction his subordinate pointed, he saw the person on the bounty poster Marine Headquarters had issued last night. He shuddered in fright, immediately changed his expression, and walked over.
"Oh my! So it's the great Liu Qing, your captain, and your crewmates! Ahaha! It's all my fault for failing to recognize someone so important. You were the one who dealt with these Fish-Man Pirates, weren't you, sir? I'll have Arlong and the others' bounties brought over right away. And since Cocoyasi is under your protection, I'll leave at once. I absolutely won't come back again."
Zoro looked scornful. "You're a disgrace to the Marines. What can you do besides bully ordinary people?"
Liu Qing also smiled, looked at Nezumi, then pointed at Luffy and asked, "Nezumi, right? Do you know who he is?"
Nezumi froze, thinking, Could this one be some big shot too? Why don't I recognize him? Then he shook his head. "No."
"Since you're going to meet your end today, I'll tell you so you can at least understand why you're dying." Liu Qing put an arm around Luffy's shoulders. "This guy's background is downright terrifying. His name is Monkey D. Luffy-his grandfather is Monkey D. Garp, a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral and the Marine Hero-his father is Monkey D. Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army-his guide is Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors-his older brother joined the Whitebeard Pirates, another of the Four Emperors' crews-you've stacked every death buff possible today. Who could save you now?"
A vicious gleam flashed in Nezumi's eyes. "Attack! They aren't planning to let us go, so kill them first! Wipe out the village to keep this quiet! Fire!"
"Pew, pew, pew, pew!" Bullets flew toward Luffy and the others.
Luffy stood in front of everyone, killing intent flashing in his eyes. "You don't deserve to be Marines! You do whatever you please and treat human lives like dirt! I'm going to beat you to death!"
"Gum-Gum Whip!" Luffy swept his leg across, and a swath of Marines fell.
Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji then joined the fray. As the fighting continued, the scene became exceptionally violent and bloody. (I won't describe it in detail here. One million words omitted.)
Half an hour later, there were dozens more Marine corpses in Arlong Park. Liu Qing found them in the way, so he controlled the thorns and dragged them all into the tree roots beneath the sea as fertilizer.
Before long, everyone returned to Nojiko's home. The whole village began preparing food, planning to hold a banquet all night.
Elsewhere.
The Marines who had accompanied Captain Nezumi yesterday and stood guard outside hurriedly sailed away from Cocoyasi Village when they saw that something was wrong. They returned to the Marines' 16th Branch, and as soon as they reached the base, they reported directly to Marine Headquarters that Captain Nezumi had been killed by the Straw Hat Pirates.
They also sent photographs of every member of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Meanwhile, in the intelligence department at Marine Headquarters, Sengoku had given orders a few days earlier that any further intelligence on Liu Qing was to be reported to him. So, immediately after receiving the intelligence from the East Blue's 16th Branch, an intelligence officer jogged toward the Fleet Admiral's Office.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Come in."
"Reporting to Fleet Admiral Sengoku! There's more news about the person you've been watching." The intelligence officer handed Sengoku the report sent by the 16th Branch.
"Understood. You can go." Sengoku took the intelligence report.
After his subordinate left, Sengoku picked up the report and began reading. "Hmm? Based on the intelligence sent back from the Baratie in the East Blue, Garp's grandson wouldn't kill Marines for no reason. It looks like the 16th Branch has some serious problems. Garp went back to the East Blue, didn't he? I'll have him look into it in a moment."
With that thought, Sengoku continued reading. "Cocoyasi Village was suddenly surrounded by a forest of thorns, and cannonballs couldn't even break through their outer layer? That must be Liu Qing's work. But why?"
When Sengoku finished reading, he finally understood. A young girl from Cocoyasi Village had joined the Straw Hat Pirates. With that, he had a rough idea. His guess was, The Marines of the East Blue's 16th Branch have been oppressing the people in their jurisdiction, perhaps doing even worse. The young girl who joined the Straw Hat Pirates might have some talent Liu Qing values. To let her set sail without worrying, he used his ability to create a patch of thorns to protect Cocoyasi Village. But I'll still have to send someone to confirm why they killed the Marines.
Sengoku picked up his Den Den Mushi, preparing to call Garp's.
Garp had arrived at Foosha Village the day after Luffy set sail. After learning from the village chief that Luffy had left a day earlier, he did not stay, instead boarding his warship and slowly heading toward the Grand Line.
As coincidence would have it, the islands Garp stopped at were exactly the same ones Luffy and the others had visited.
Along the way, Garp heard people praising Luffy and the others. These days, whether there was a reason or not, Garp would say, "That's my grandson for you! Even as a pirate, he's still doing righteous things!"
In Shells Town, he put Captain Morgan, whose legs had both been broken, into a cell aboard the Dog-Head Warship, planning to take him to a military court for sentencing. He also took Koby and Helmeppo aboard, intending to bring them back to Marine Headquarters.
In Orange Town, he learned that Luffy and the others had defeated the Buggy Pirates and saved the villagers there.
Garp was now on the island of Syrup Village, escorting the members of the Black Cat Pirates, whom Liu Qing had bound with Wood Release, aboard the Dog-Head Warship.
Looking at Jango, the Nyaban Brothers, and the Eunuch King Klahadore of the Black Cat Pirates, Garp also began considering recruiting them into the Marines. At first, the Black Cat Pirates refused, but they could not withstand daily lessons from Garp's Fist of Love. In the end, they reluctantly agreed.
Just then, Kuro, who had had his balls and dick cut off, walked up to Garp with a Den Den Mushi, swaying seductively. Holding his hand in an orchid-finger gesture, he said in a coy voice, "Oh my, Vice Admiral Garp! Fleet Admiral Sengoku is calling."
With the expression of an old man on the subway looking at his phone, Garp took the Den Den Mushi in disgust. "You can go. Next time, have someone else do this."
The moment he answered, Sengoku's roar came through the Den Den Mushi. "Garp! Just look at what your grandson has done! He nearly wiped out the Marines of the 16th Branch in Cocoyasi Village! How did you raise that boy..."
Garp picked his nose and laughed heartily. "Really? That's my grandson for you! Knowing Luffy, the problem must be with the 16th Branch."
"We still don't know the reason. Hurry to the Marines' 16th Branch and find out what happened, then visit Cocoyasi Village. A girl from that village joined your grandson's pirate crew. Now Liu Qing has surrounded the entire island with his ability. I don't know what's going on, so ask around and find out whether it's to protect Cocoyasi Village or for something else," Sengoku said helplessly.
Then he added, "Also, whatever the reason, your grandson still killed Marines. I'm issuing a bounty for him, and I'm letting you know first. You'd better hurry. Don't spend half a year in the East Blue without coming back. Remember, you're a Marine Vice Admiral. Stop running off to the East Blue at every opportunity and staying for half a year."
Garp curled his lip. "I know, I know. Hanging up."
With that, Garp decisively hung up the Den Den Mushi.
Then he gave an order. "Navigator, change course. We'll go to Cocoyasi Village first and ask what happened. Hmm... take it slow. No rush."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Garp!" The navigator saluted, then ambled off to direct their course.
Meanwhile, in the Fleet Admiral's Office, Sengoku called outside, "Someone, come in."
A Marine soldier entered and saluted. "Your orders, Fleet Admiral?"
"Go to the intelligence department and have them issue bounties for the Straw Hat Pirates." As he spoke, Sengoku took out a document and handed it to the soldier.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!" The soldier took the document and ran toward the intelligence department.
Before you continue