"Hmph. I told you to stay put, and yet you tried to send a warning right under my nose?"
"It seems the 16th Branch has been completely compromised. It's rotten to the core." Smoker's face was like iron as he glared at the captured Marines before him.
"We got rid of a rat like Nezumi, only for an even fatter one to take his place?"
Unbelievable. This branch had been crying poverty to Headquarters for years, yet the moment they arrived, they saw a base that was practically overflowing with wealth.
The reports had claimed the 16th Branch was in shambles: low morale, no combat effectiveness, zero experience, and—most crucially—a dire lack of equipment.
Supposedly, they had fewer than ten standard-issue sabers and not a single functional warship. They claimed they didn't even have enough rifles for every two men, making it "impossible to uphold justice."
What a load of crap.
No warships? There were at least five top-tier Marine vessels docked at the pier right now. This level of firepower exceeded many bases in the New World, let alone the "Weakest Sea." And yet, they had the gall to claim they were being bullied by "powerful pirates"?
With this strength, they could have been hunting pirates in the Grand Line!
Because he didn't trust them, Smoker had ordered the entire 16th Branch to remain on standby under guard. Yet, someone had still tried to slip away right under his gaze.
If there wasn't a conspiracy here, he'd eat his cigars.
"No, no... we're not that rich..." The captured Marine, a man named Udo, offered a strained smile to the dark-faced Smoker. "I wasn't sneaking off. I just saw the clouds and remembered I left my laundry out. I was just going home to bring it in."
As expected of a Captain from Headquarters, Udo thought bitterly. I was being so careful, and he still caught me!
And as for Headquarters... why didn't they send a notice? If they'd known the Inspectorate was coming, they could have hidden the good stuff! If the Boss hadn't sent a secret message earlier telling them to stay calm and not resist, the 16th Branch boys would probably be having a full-blown civil war with Smoker's unit right now.
Udo glanced at the old man nearby, who was happily munching on rice crackers. The Boss is really in for it this time.
He had intended to personally ask Dande for instructions, but he'd been caught, and even his hidden Den Den Mushi had been confiscated. With a Marine Hero present, it was clear the higher-ups were serious. Even if Dande wasn't a "bad" guy, he had definitely broken every protocol in the book.
"Laundry? You still dare to make excuses?" Smoker sneered. "Forget it. Tell me, where is Dande now? I want to ask him myself: as a Marine Captain, does he feel no shame toward the Justice on his back?"
"Captain Smoker, you've got it all wrong!" Udo realized there was no hiding it anymore. He looked at Smoker, then at the legendary Garp, and finally straightened his back. "Captain Dande is a good man. To us, he hasn't betrayed Justice. He's a hero to everyone here!"
"Justice? A hero?" Smoker huffed in disdain, but he noted how the Marine—who had been trembling moments ago—now looked him dead in the eye.
He retracted some of the contempt from his gaze and took a long drag of his cigar. "Is that so? Then tell me: has your Captain been colluding with pirates or not?"
If he had the genuine loyalty of his men, perhaps there was a misunderstanding?
"Of course not!" Udo declared, chest puffed out. He wasn't lying. Dande hadn't "colluded" with pirates.
The Moke Pirates were basically Dande's pets. How can you collude with your own property?
Udo continued righteously, "Even after being demoted, the Captain never forgot the Jus—"
Before he could finish, a voice interrupted.
"Captain Smoker." Tashigi, Smoker's adjutant, gripped the hilt of her sword, her expression grim. "A pirate ship is approaching."
Everyone—Smoker, Garp, and Udo—looked toward the horizon.
"The Moke Pirates?" Smoker's voice was dangerously low.
What a coincidence.
Udo's jaw dropped. Looking at the approaching ship, a scream of pure frustration was trapped in his throat. What the hell is Moke doing coming to the base right now?!
As Smoker's eyes narrowed, Udo opened his mouth to try to distance the 16th Branch from the pirates, but it was too late.
"Hey! Isn't that Udo?!"
A booming voice echoed from the pirate ship. It was Moke himself.
"And some new faces! Are you guys recruits for the branch? Anyway, Udo, where are you headed in that dinky little boat? To Cocoyasi Town? You've got a lot of people; that'll take forever to row! We're heading there to drop off a shipment anyway—jump on! We can all go together!"
"..." Silence fell over the small boat.
Three pairs of eyes turned to Udo. One was happily eating; one was iron-blue and radiating killing intent; and one—Tashigi's—looked like she'd been personally insulted by a lie.
Udo's body began to shake. Under the weight of their stares, he looked at the waving Moke and managed a strangled, horrific smile. He screamed at the top of his lungs: "I THANK... THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!"
"No problem! We're all brothers!" Moke's hearty laugh boomed back.
Moments later, the four of them were welcomed onto the pirate ship. Under the "hospitable" care of the Moke Pirates, they began a leisurely cruise toward Cocoyasi Town.
"What's the matter?" Moke scratched his head, looking at the group—especially Udo, who looked like he was attending his own funeral. "Brother Udo, you feeling sick?"
"I... I'm fine. I just remembered I left my laundry out."
"Just that? It's just rain, man. If it gets wet, you just dry it again." Moke dismissed the concern and turned to the other three. "Who are these guys? New brothers at the branch? Why the long faces? And this old guy... isn't he a bit old to be a Marine?"
Please... just stop talking.
Udo looked at the oblivious Moke with pure despair. He tried to blink a signal to the big oaf—get a Den Den Mushi and warn the Boss!—but before he could...
Thump, thump.
Tashigi had walked over to one of the cabin doors. She frowned, hearing a strange noise from within. "What's in here?"
"Oh, that?" Moke walked over and swung the door wide open before Udo could stop him. "It's nothing much. Just a bunch of refugees who couldn't find food. I've 'collected' them all."
The door opened to reveal a vast, dimly lit hold. It was packed.
Rows upon rows of people sat huddled together—men, women, children, and the elderly. They were thin and dressed in rags. A mother clutched her child tightly as the sudden light hit them, their eyes filled with terror and desperation.
Udo: ... Smoker: ... Tashigi: ... Garp: ...
Caught red-handed.
In the heavy silence, a Den Den Mushi began to ring. Purupurupuru...
Moke, still unaware of the atmospheric shift, pulled out his phone. "Ah, Boss!"
A moment later, he scratched his head in confusion as the line went dead. "Why did the Boss tell me not to call him Boss? What should I call him? Big Bro? Did something happen?"
He looked at the devastated Udo. "Udo, you know what's up? Also... seriously, what is wrong with you?"
"I'M... FINE!" Udo hissed, feeling three icy stares boring into his back. He gritted his teeth. "And don't call me by my name. We aren't close."
"Front and center!" Tashigi's voice rang out.
Everyone looked toward the bow. Emerging from the mist was a massive, modern pier that looked far too advanced for a rural town. Standing on the dock was a familiar figure.
Black hair, white Marine suit, but instead of the white "Justice" cape, he wore a heavy black fur overcoat.
The Base Commander of the 16th Branch—Captain Dande.
Colluding with pirates. Human trafficking.
He doesn't even have the courage to wear the cape of Justice anymore.
Smoker narrowed his eyes, his cigars glowing hot as he stared at the figure on the shore.
Are you still worthy of the Justice you swore to uphold, Captain Dande?
On the Cocoyasi pier, Dande—who had been about to head back to the base—watched the Moke Pirate ship drift in. He spotted the five figures standing on the deck.
His eye twitched as he fell into a long, profound silence.
People? You actually brought the whole damn Inspectorate to my front door?!
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