“Hum, I told you to stay put, and yet you still want to send a message right in front of me?”

“It seems that the Navy's 16th Branch has already been infiltrated and is completely corrupt.” Smoker glared at the captured personnel from the 16th Branch. “A mouse left, and a fatter rat came?”

Good grief, they’ve been crying poverty to the Navy Headquarters, and now that they come to see the 16th Branch... it’s practically overflowing with wealth.

What about the reports claiming that the former base commander of the 16th Branch was severely corrupt? That the troops haven’t formed combat effectiveness, that they lack training, that the Navy is short on combat experience, and most critically, that they are lacking weapons and equipment? The Navy has fewer than ten standard-issue sabers and not a single warship? Even so, neither of them could get their hands on a single gun. He truly feels powerless, unable to uphold justice!

Not a single word in those reports was true.

Not even a single warship?

At least five Navy warships were docked at the branch’s pier. This kind of combat power… many bases in the New World can’t even match it, and yet they’re here in this weakest of seas talking about some powerful pirate crew and how they can’t compete?

With this level of strength, they could catch pirates in the Grand Line!

And because of distrust, he had ordered his subordinates to keep an eye on them, commanding all Navy personnel from the 16th Branch to stay where they were, and yet someone still dared to sneak away right under his nose?

If there’s nothing suspicious going on, then that would be strange!

“No, no, it’s not that wealthy~” The captured soldier from the 16th Branch smiled awkwardly at the scowling Colonel Smoker. “I didn’t sneak away; I just saw that it was about to rain and remembered that I hadn’t brought in the clothes from home, so I just wanted to go home and collect them.”

As expected of a Colonel who, like Smoker, was assigned from Navy Headquarters, he had been so careful, yet he still got caught?!

And this Headquarters…

Coming to investigate without giving any prior notice, they could have at least prepared to hide their assets!

If it wasn’t for the fact that he had secretly contacted the Colonel during the chaos, receiving orders to not act rashly and to stay put, everyone would probably have been preparing to clash with this Colonel’s troops by now.

Thinking of this, the soldier glanced at the old man beside him who was happily snacking, and he felt a wave of despair. [The boss is really in for it this time!]

He had originally planned to personally ask the Colonel what to do next, but instead… he got caught, and even his hidden snail was confiscated.

This time, even the Navy hero showed up. It seems that the Navy Headquarters really does suspect the Colonel. Although the boss isn’t a bad person, he has indeed violated the laws and regulations of the Navy Headquarters.

“Collect clothes? You still dare to argue?” Smoker sneered, looking at the soldier in front of him. “Forget it, just tell me, where is Dande Schacher now? I want to ask him personally if, as a Navy Colonel, he is living up to the justice he carries?”

“Colonel Smoker, you misunderstand!” Seeing Smoker’s demeanor, the soldier knew he probably couldn’t escape this time.

Looking at Smoker and then at the Navy hero next to him, he hesitated for a moment before looking Smoker in the eye and saying seriously, “Colonel Schacher is a good man; in our eyes, Colonel Schacher has not violated any so-called justice; he is a hero to everyone!”

However.

“Justice? Hero?” Upon hearing the soldier's words, Smoker snorted disdainfully. But looking at the soldier, who had originally been so scared he was shaking, now daring to look him in the eye, he snorted again, putting away the contempt in his gaze. He took a puff of his cigar and said lightly, “If that’s the case, then tell me! Has your Navy Colonel colluded with pirates?”

Could it be that they really misunderstood?

As soon as the words fell.

“Of course not!” The soldier stood tall and replied without hesitation.

He wasn’t wrong; Colonel Schacher had not colluded with pirates.

As for the Moke Pirates… that was a pirate crew that Colonel Schacher was supporting; how could that be considered collusion?

With a righteous tone, he added, “Even after being reassigned, the Colonel still hasn’t forgotten the justice in his heart…”

But before he could finish.

“Colonel Smoker.” The assistant to Smoker, Sergeant Dasqi, who was dressed in a checked shirt and suit trousers, suddenly gripped the knife at his waist, looking seriously ahead. “There’s a group of pirates approaching.”

As soon as the words fell, Smoker, Vice Admiral Karp, and the soldier all noticed, raising their heads to look ahead.

“The Moke Pirates?”

What a coincidence!

“…”

Hearing Smoker’s meaningful words, the soldier fell silent instantly.

His lips twitched as he looked at the slowly approaching Moke pirate ship, a thought trying to rise in his heart but seeming to get stuck in his throat, unable to come out.

What was that guy Moke doing coming to the Navy's 16th Branch at this time?!

Looking at Smoker, who squinted his eyes and had a serious expression, his face changed, and just as he was about to change the subject and distance himself from the Moke Pirates,

“Hey, isn’t that Udo?”

A loud shout suddenly came from the Moke pirate ship.

That was the voice of the captain of the Moke Pirates.

“And a few new faces, are they new brothers from the branch? Ah well, Udo, where are you guys headed? Why are you on such a small broken boat? Are you also going to Cocoa West Town?” Moke’s hearty and loud voice came, “With so many of you, how long will it take to row that little boat? Just in time, we’re also going to deliver goods; come aboard, let’s all go together!”

As soon as he finished speaking.

“……” X3

The three of them turned to look at the soldier called Udo behind them.

One was still happily munching on snacks; one had a grim face, staring at him with a meaningful look; and one adjusted his glasses, looking at Udo as if he had been deceived, puffed up with anger.

And Udo…

His body trembled a bit, his hands shook, and even his legs wobbled. Under the gaze of the three, he turned his head to look at Moke, a stiff, ugly smile pulling across his face. He loudly shouted at Moke, who was waving to him, “I th-thank… thank you!!!”

Immediately…

“No need to thank, we’re all brothers!”

Receiving Udo’s thanks, Moke responded cheerfully.

In no time at all, the four of them boarded the pirate ship under Moke's warm hospitality, and then, warmly welcomed by the Moke Pirates, the four of them slowly sailed towards Cocoa West Town.

However.

“What’s wrong?” Looking at the group, Moke scratched his head in confusion, especially looking at Udo, who had a face that looked like he was about to cry. “Udo brother, are you feeling unwell?”

“I… I’m fine, just suddenly remembered that I hadn’t collected the clothes at home.”

“Is that all? It’s just rain; if you get wet, just dry them later.” Upon hearing Udo’s words, Moke didn’t dwell on it any longer. He turned to the other three who followed and curiously asked, “Who are these three? Are they new brothers from the branch? Why do they all have such cold faces? And why is this old man still serving in the Navy?”

“……”

Please, don’t say that.

Udo looked at Moke, who knew nothing, with a face full of despair, blinked his eyes, and was just about to give this big oaf a hint to hurry up and contact the Colonel secretly to inform him of the situation when suddenly.

“Knock knock~”

The annoyed Sergeant Dasqi walked over to the nearby cabin door, knocked, and frowned, asking, “What’s in there?”

There were strange sounds coming from inside.

As soon as the words fell.

“?!”

Just as Udo was about to give a hint, he seemed to have thought of something, his face changing again, and hurriedly spoke, “No, there’s nothing in there…”

Before he could finish.

“There really isn’t anything.” Moke, still cheerful, walked over to the cabin door as well, opened the door directly, and said, “It’s just some starving refugees I’ve caught.”

With the door opened.

Instantly.

What came into view for the three was a spacious yet dimly lit warehouse, and inside the warehouse… was packed with countless figures.

Crowded together.

All of them had terrified and desperate expressions as they huddled inside, dressed in rags, emaciated, including men and women, old and young, and it seemed there were even mothers holding their children tightly. As the door suddenly opened, everyone looked up in panic at them.

Udo:…

Smoker:…

Dasqi:…

Karp:…

Conclusive evidence?

Just as the three wore dark expressions.

“Burururu~”

A ringing from the snail phone sounded.

Moke, still unaware of the gravity of the situation, pulled out the snail phone and said, “Ah, it’s the boss!”

But in just a moment, he scratched his head in confusion, looking at the hung-up snail, “Why did the boss suddenly tell me not to call him ‘boss’? What should I call him instead? Big brother? Did something happen?”

He looked at Udo, who had a face full of despair, with confusion, “Udo, do you know what’s going on? And… what’s wrong with you?”

“Damn it, I… I’m fine!” Udo was about to say something when he felt three cold gazes behind him, so he held it back, gritted his teeth, and said, “And don’t call me by name; we’re not familiar.”

“???”

Before the perplexed Moke could say anything further.

At this time.

“Is that the front?”

Dasqi’s voice suddenly rang out, and everyone raised their heads to look towards the bow of the ship, where a huge pier that did not match the town came into view.

On the dock stood a familiar figure.

Black hair, white Navy uniform, not draped in the justice cloak awarded by the Navy Headquarters, but wearing a black fur coat…

The commander of the Navy’s 16th Branch—Colonel Dande Schacher.

Colluding with pirates, capturing refugees.

Even afraid to wear the cloak of justice?

Smoker narrowed his eyes, staring straight at the figure on the shore, coldly removing the cigar from his mouth.

Do you still live up to the justice you carry?

Colonel Schacher!

…

Meanwhile.

At the Cocoa West Town dock, Colonel Schacher, who was preparing to return to the branch, also noticed the slowly approaching Moke pirate ship.

Upon seeing the five figures on the ship, he fell silent, his lips twitching.

People?

What kind of people did you bring along?