Chapter 5: A Tree Rotten from the Roots, a Place Where Justice Cannot Dwell
[Three days ago, the royal merchant vessel of the World Government member nation, the 'Nice-Mayer Kingdom,' received a threat letter while returning from the Sabaody Archipelago. The letter's contents indicated they were being targeted by pirates.]
[They chose to dock near the kingdom's G-51 Marine Branch in Master Port and requested a Marine escort.]
[Shortly after arriving at the G-51 Branch, they successfully captured a pirate who attempted to infiltrate the base. It was preliminarily confirmed that this was the same pirate who sent the threat letter.]
"A little interesting."
Lying on a deck chair on his warship, Roy took a sip of ice-cold cola as he read the detailed mission report.
"Captain? What's interesting?"
Hans, who was at the helm, asked with curiosity.
It wasn't just him; the other Detention Unit Marines also gathered around.
"The criminal we're transporting this time is... interesting. Hit me again."
Roy handed his empty glass to Fal while speaking softly.
"No bounty and no name. That means this guy is a total nobody."
He tapped the report.
"But a nobody like this dares to rob a royal merchant ship from a World Government member nation? And he even dares to send an advance warning letter?"
Roy rubbed his chin, his interest piqued.
"Now that you mention it, Captain, that is pretty rare," Fal said, nodding as he handed over a fresh, cold cola. "But he was caught so easily... I'm guessing he's just a rookie pirate who just set sail, the kind who'll dare to do anything?"
"Maybe..."
Roy nodded, then sat up from his deck chair, taking off his sunglasses. "Oh, we're here."
On the distant horizon, a large island was gradually coming into view.
The first thing that caught their eye was the massive, white structure standing near the island's coastline.
The giant Marine insignia glittered in the sun. On a prominent spot on the tall building, the black letters 'G-51' and the seagull-and-scales flag were clearly visible.
This was the Grand Line's G-51 Marine Branch, their destination.
As the warship drew closer, the outline of the island's city also became clearer.
It was a bustling harbor.
The massive bay was filled with all kinds of ships. Merchant vessels of all sizes and small boats moved in and out of the port.
"This place is really lively," Hans remarked from the helm, sounding impressed.
"Well, it's Master Port. This is one of the most important ports in the Nice-Mayer Kingdom," Fal said, as if it were obvious.
As the report stated, the Nice-Mayer Kingdom was one of the 170+ member nations of the World Government, placing it under the direct protection of the World Government and the Marines.
And just like this port, a Marine branch had been built right here.
Because of this, most pirates wouldn't even consider attacking the place. Most merchant ships were more than willing to dock here.
Even if it meant paying the high docking fees, it was better than being plundered by pirates.
"It's definitely prosperous, but..."
Roy nodded, his gaze sweeping to the other side of the port.
There was a town there.
But compared to the loud and bustling harbor, this town seemed much colder and more desolate. The buildings were small, and at a glance, they looked almost dilapidated.
It wasn't hard to guess that this was where the island's original inhabitants lived.
It was just like most countries in this world—the prosperity of the port and the wealth of the kingdom had nothing to do with the lives of its people.
"Let's go. Head for the branch's port," Roy ordered, not wasting another look. The warship moved toward the exclusive Marine port.
But as they arrived at the Marine port, Roy paused for a moment.
He saw that within the G-51 Branch's docks, aside from the branch's own warships, there was a large merchant vessel.
It was far larger and more opulent than the other ships in Master Port. Its golden hull and massive figurehead practically screamed "royalty."
The flag of a crown hanging from its mast confirmed its identity.
"That must be the royal merchant ship that got the threat letter," Roy mused with a small smile. "Docking right in the branch's port... Looks like the Captain of this branch gets along very well with the Nice-Mayer Kingdom."
As he spoke, the warship docked.
"Headquarters' Detention Unit?"
A Marine from the branch, who was managing the port, called out.
After confirming Roy's identity, he gave a crisp salute. "The prisoner transfer is all ready. Captain Astor is waiting for you in his office!"
"Got it."
Roy nodded, but his eyes scanned the surroundings. "Where is everyone else?"
He had already noticed a small problem.
The number of guards at this port was clearly wrong.
Most of the sentry posts by the docks were empty, with only a few men scattered about.
"Oh, they're all inside the branch, getting ready for the banquet tonight!" the branch Marine replied.
"A banquet?"
"Yes, sir! To celebrate catching that pirate, Steward Mantal from the Nice-Mayer ship organized a banquet and invited all the men from the branch. I heard he even prepared a gift for every Marine as thanks!"
The branch Marine looked excited as he said this.
No one would be unhappy about a little extra income.
"That's pretty generous," Roy grinned. "You'll be going later too, right? What about the port security?"
"You don't need to worry, sir," the branch Marine said confidently. "This is a World Government member nation's port. Normally, no pirate would ever dare to attack here."
"Besides... don't we still have them?"
He pointed off to the side.
Roy turned and saw them. Near the dock where the royal merchant ship was moored, several guards in ornate, court-style uniforms were patrolling.
"Who are they?" Hans, ever the curious one, asked before Roy could.
"Oh, they're the royal guards from the Nice-Mayer Kingdom."
"They're not going to the banquet tonight?" Hans pressed.
"Of course not. They have to guard the cargo on the ship."
After getting the lay of the land, Roy said no more.
He just turned to Hans. "Hans, you and Fal go back to the ship and get the temporary brig ready. I'll go meet with Captain Astor and handle the transfer."
"Yes, sir!"
After Hans returned to the ship, Roy waved off the branch Marine's offer to guide him and headed for the G-51 building himself.
As he walked, his gaze couldn't help but be drawn to the royal merchant ship—it was just impossible to miss.
As he got closer, Roy noticed several strange details.
For instance, the ship's hull was lined with sharp, iron spikes.
The entire body of the ship also seemed overly sealed and enclosed. The only openings were the cannon ports, and peering inside, he could vaguely make out what looked like... cages.
"This ship..."
Roy's brow furrowed, and he muttered to himself.
It was at that exact moment...
"Koli! Koli!"
He heard a hoarse, frantic cry.
When he turned his head, he clearly saw a person struggling to squeeze out of one of the ship's cannon ports.
It was an old man.
His body was hunched, his skin and clothes were covered in bloodstains. His eyes were sunk deep in their sockets, and his matted, gray hair was stuck to his head.
He had a coarse rope around his neck and shackles on his feet.
"Koli... Koli..." he rasped, waving his hand, clutching something.
Roy's excellent eyesight allowed him to just make out what was in the man's hand—it looked like a scrap of cloth.
Just then, the ship's guards spotted him.
"It's this old madman again! Get him back inside!"
"How did he get there? Where's the man in charge of the cargo hold?!"
Through the narrow cannon port, Roy saw a hand reach out from the darkness, grab the old man by his hair, and violently yank him back inside.
"..."
Roy watched this, saying nothing.
But...
[Rabbit-Rabbit Fruit, Model: Snow Hare LV1 - Equipped - Grants partial characteristics of a snow hare, enhancing all physical aspects, with an extra boost to hearing.]
His enhanced hearing allowed Roy to pick up the sounds of a brutal beating from within the ship's hold, mixed with the old man's mad whispers and the guards' curses.
"Koli... Koli..."
"Your daughter has already been bought, you old bastard! A piece of unsellable cargo, still making trouble for me! If the Steward hadn't said your fresh organs were still worth something, and that we should find a separate buyer, I would have killed you long ago!"
And just like that, Roy understood everything.
"The spikes on the hull, and the cage-like structures... I see."
"It's a slave ship."
He whispered the logical, sickening conclusion.
The slave trade.
One of this world's open sores.
Although the World Government officially forbade the trade of human slaves, the reality—because of the Celestial Dragons—was that the slave trade existed in a gray area. The World Government didn't just turn a blind eye; they actively provided cover for it.
Just like now.
The World Government member nation, the 'Nice-Mayer Kingdom,' was clearly in the slave-trading business.
Their methods weren't even subtle. Roy was certain that the high-ranking officers at the G-51 Branch knew exactly what this was.
And even so, they were still providing an escort for a returning slave ship.
"Justice, huh..."
Roy clicked his tongue.
This was exactly why he sneered at the Marines' so-called Justice.
A tree that is rotten from the roots... is no place for justice to dwell.