“It’s over, it’s over, it’s really over!” Nami exclaimed in panic, grabbing Shache’s right hand and leaning against him, her face filled with terror as she watched the ship drawing closer. She babbled, “Have we been discovered? Has Moke already been captured by the Navy? What do we do now? Let’s run away! We need to get out of here quickly!”

“Don’t worry~ If it comes to it, we’ll just pretend we don’t know Moke.”

“Don’t tell me not to worry! Is it still possible to pretend we don’t know him now?” Despite Shache’s attempt to comfort her, Nami still couldn’t calm down. After a snappy retort, she turned her head to look around, seemingly searching for something. “Where’s Robin? Where’s Robin? Call Robin! We need to go into the ocean!”

“Go into the ocean? Isn’t it nice to stay here? Just try to calm down~” Shache pulled his right hand out from her warm embrace and, with a sigh, lightly tapped Nami on the head. He said, annoyed, “Robin has other things to take care of; she went off to do that!”

Even though people tend to be face-blind at sea, as long as Robin didn’t reveal her true identity, Smoker and the others probably wouldn’t suspect that the notorious Devil Child wanted by the World Government was hiding here. However, after considering that Karp had also come along, he decided it was safer to have Robin hide for now.

And besides...

It had been years since Admiral Aokiji Kuzan had made an appearance. Who knows what that guy is up to? Shache certainly believed he wouldn’t be unaware of Robin being here!

“That hurt~” Nami glared at Shache, still fuming from the sudden tap on her head. However, after this little incident, she felt slightly calmer but still nervously asked, “Do you really have a plan?”

“Of course~”

“What plan?”

“Well, that is...” Shache raised his head, looking meaningfully at the pirate ship that had just docked. “We’ll just go along with them~”

...

As the ship drew closer, Smoker, Daz Bonez, and the now calm yet deep-eyed Karp stepped down.

Colluding with pirates, defrauding military funds, capturing slaves!

These charges were enough to arrest that corrupt Navy colonel.

However, before they could apprehend Shache, Udo, who had been waiting on the ship for a long time, rushed toward Colonel Shache as soon as he disembarked, anxiously saying, “Colonel Shache...”

But he didn’t finish his sentence.

“It’s okay, I already know,” Shache said, patting his subordinate Udo on the shoulder. “Since you’re here, help organize some newcomers in Cocoa Village!”

He had already briefed Noki and the others, so although everyone felt a bit tense seeing the Navy Inspection Team suddenly appear, they didn’t rush forward to stop them.

Next, Shache looked up at the three in front of him, smiling as he spread his arms wide and warmly said, “Welcome, Inspection Team!”

However...

“...”

In response to his enthusiasm, Karp looked cheerful, Daz Bonez was fuming, but Smoker coldly stared at him.

Colonel Dande Shache.

There seemed to be a hint of disappointment in Smoker’s eyes.

A genius from the Navy Headquarters.

Yet now he had fallen so low.

Could he be worthy of Zefa’s teachings?

After all, Zefa had specifically pleaded for him back in the day; otherwise, this guy would have been sent to a military tribunal long ago!

With an icy tone, Smoker said, “Dande Shache...”

Yet before he could finish...

“Come on, everyone, please step down in an orderly fashion!” Moke, the captain of the Moke Pirate Crew, suddenly shouted in a loud voice, “Don’t be afraid! I’ve already told you, I’m not a human trafficker. As long as you come here, you will have plenty to eat, and you’ll definitely thank me later!”

As Moke’s words fell, the refugees who had been thought to be captured as slaves slowly came down from the ship under the puzzled gazes of Smoker and Daz Bonez.

The fear and despair in their eyes had not yet vanished, but they still followed the pirates of the Moke crew toward the dock.

Then...

Just when Smoker and Daz Bonez thought the group of captured refugees was about to be handed over here, suddenly, a group of people from the village walked toward the dock.

They wore brown security hats and matching uniforms, with the leader sporting a windmill on his hat.

Was that the island’s security team?

What were they doing out here?

Had the 16th Division of the Navy infiltrated this place?

While the two were puzzled, they saw rows of security teams marching orderly toward the terrified refugees, quickly splitting into three lines and surrounding them.

What were these guys trying to do?

Daz Bonez and Smoker’s expressions changed; they thought the island’s security team was about to take action against the refugees and didn’t pay any attention to Colonel Shache, who was about to be arrested.

Just as Daz Bonez was about to act with her long knife in hand, Smoker directly slapped her hand, pushing her weapon back. “Don’t act rashly. It doesn’t seem to be what we thought.”

As he spoke, Smoker’s deep eyes stared ahead.

Sure enough, the security team did not take action against the refugees; in fact, it was completely different from what they had imagined.

“That’s enough!” After counting a certain number, one of the apparent leaders shouted loudly, “We’re going to eat first! Come on, follow us!”

Then...

“We’re going to take a shower first!”

“Anyone feeling unwell? If you’re feeling unwell, come to my line!”

Under the arrangement of the security team, all the refugees dispersed in confusion yet in an orderly manner.

“???”

Eating?

Taking a shower?

Daz Bonez looked puzzled. “What’s going on here?”

Holding the knife handle, she didn’t know what to do for a moment, but then she seemed to realize something, turning her head to look back and exclaiming nervously, “Where’s Colonel Shache? Did he escape? Have we been tricked?”

“Don’t panic, that guy can’t get away.” Smoker frowned, scanning the surroundings.

He found that Shache was indeed no longer there.

But he wasn’t worried; the 16th Division had already been secured. Could a mere Navy colonel escape from him and the Navy hero?

On the contrary...

“Where’s Vice Admiral Karp?”

Where had Vice Admiral Karp gone?

Just as the words left his mouth...

“I’m right here!”

A familiar voice came from not far behind.

Daz Bonez and Smoker quickly turned around, and sure enough, they saw Vice Admiral Karp standing not far away.

However, Vice Admiral Karp, who was supposed to be beside him, had somehow ended up next to a vendor, standing beside a frowning Moke, the captain of the Moke Pirate Crew, who was happily eating a baked bun. “Not bad, this is really tasty!”

“...”

What is this guy doing?

With a dark expression, Smoker stepped forward and looked at Vice Admiral Karp, who was munching away. “What are you doing? Don’t you know we have more important tasks right now, Vice Admiral Karp?”

“Don’t worry, Smoker kid.” Karp waved his hand nonchalantly and said cheerfully, “This bun is actually quite good. Want a piece? Someone’s treating us~.”

“This guy really knows how to eat; this is a specialty bun from the Goa Kingdom, based on a royal secret recipe that I spent a lot to acquire,” said the grinning vendor who was kneading the bun. “You should know, even the Navy hero says these buns are great~.”

As soon as he finished speaking...

“...”

Smoker and Daz Bonez exchanged glances, utterly speechless.

Does the Goa Kingdom even sell buns?

Don’t joke around!

Moreover, the person in front of them was the Navy hero himself, who was actually using Vice Admiral Karp’s name to sell buns. Didn’t he see that Vice Admiral Karp was already upset?

Forget it, this was all trivial!

“Vice Admiral Karp...”

However, before Smoker could say anything, Karp frowned, looking seriously at the vendor and said in a stern tone, “How could those garbage from the Goa Kingdom have such a delicious bun recipe!”

“...”

This is what you’re arguing about!

Smoker’s mouth twitched as he watched Vice Admiral Karp, who was about to debate with the vendor, and hurriedly said with a dark face, “Vice Admiral Karp, don’t forget our mission!”

Even Daz Bonez helplessly added, “Vice Admiral Karp...”

But...

“I know, I know.” Karp waved his hand dismissively and directly shoved a bun into Daz Bonez’s hand, cheerfully saying, “I’m not lying to you; it’s really good. Don’t worry; someone is treating us. That kid Shache said that our expenses in Cocoa Village will be covered by him from now on.”

Looking at Smoker, who still seemed to want to say something, Karp’s cheerful eyes flashed slightly as he munched on the bun and glanced around.

“Smoker kid, don’t be nervous; just take a look around.”

As he spoke, hearing Vice Admiral Karp’s words, Smoker calmed down but still curled his lips in disdain.

Look around?

What’s so interesting in a small village?

After all, he had come from the Navy Headquarters; what hadn’t he seen in the Grand Line?

However...

After just a quick glance, his previously indifferent expression turned grave, as if he had seen something shocking.

The village before him...

Was filled with cleanliness, vitality, and the smiles on people’s faces.

This scene was common in wealthy capitals and the Sabaody Archipelago, but here it left him and Daz Bonez, who was munching on a bun, stunned.

“This place...”

Before he could finish his sentence...

“It seems we have arrived at an interesting place.” Karp took another large bite of his bun and then looked cheerfully at the sour-faced Moke beside him. “Hey, Moke kid, you’d better show us around properly; otherwise, I might just have to arrest you~.”