Chương 17: An unexpected encounter with Rear Admiral Momousagi of the Marine Headquarters!

When they arrived at the 16th Marine Division, the Marines of the 16th Division were surprised to see Yang Cheng and Bellemere leading a group of fishman pirates who were tied up.

"We are villagers from Cocoyasi in the East Blue. These pirates were captured by us because they ran rampant on our island."

However, since many of them appear to be bounty hunters, we're here to collect the bounty. We hope you can contact the branch manager.

As a former Marine, Bellemere has some understanding of the process of exchanging bounties for pirates.

When the naval soldiers of the 16th Branch saw that the pirates on Yang Cheng's ship were actually the "Arlong Pirates," a notorious group of pirates who had recently fled to the East Blue, their expressions changed instantly, and they ran straight to their superior's office.

Meanwhile, in the office of the 16th Naval Branch, a captain with a lewd appearance and clothes resembling those of a rat was speaking to another naval officer with a fawning expression.

This navy officer had long black hair tied up in a bun, and beneath his righteous navy cloak was a hot body that would make most men drool.

She wore a peach-pink open-chest blazer with black shorts, and her ample thighs were adorned with spider tattoos. Not only was she beautiful, but she also carried a famous sword with an extremely long blade at her waist.

Colonel Rat is the highest-ranking officer of the Sixteenth Branch. In the Four Seas region, being able to reach the level of a naval colonel is practically equivalent to being a local tyrant.

However, at this moment, when facing the female naval commander, his tone was both cautious and obsequious.

It is clear that the naval commander he is entertaining at this moment is either stronger than him, or has a higher status, or is simply more impressive than him in every way.

"Colonel, Colonel Rat, there are two men outside who want to see you. They say they're from Cocoa West Village in the East Sea..."

Before the naval soldier who came in to report could finish speaking, he was rudely interrupted by an angry rat: "Can't you see I'm entertaining important guests?"

"I don't know any of these people from Cocoyasi Village at all. Get them out of here!"

"But..." The naval soldier was about to say something, but was interrupted impatiently by Colonel Rat.

"There are no buts. We are responsible for a lot of islands in the sea. If the people on every island had to see me, wouldn't this colonel be exhausted every day?"

Upon hearing Colonel Rat's angry remarks, the reporting naval soldier could only lower his head and prepare to leave.

However, just as he turned around, the "distinguished guest" opposite Colonel Rat suddenly spoke up: "Wait a minute, did they say what they came here for?"

Upon hearing the female naval officer's question, the naval soldiers also looked at Captain Rat beside them.

As for the rather clueless naval soldier in front of him, Captain Rat was now contemplating killing him on the spot.

"Didn't you hear Rear Admiral Gion's question? This is Rear Admiral Momousagi from the Navy Headquarters."

"The reason I've come to our 16th branch is to investigate the matter of the great pirate Shiki in the East Blue."

About a decade ago, Shiki the Golden Lion, a great pirate from the same era as the Pirate King Roger, cut off his own legs to get rid of the Seastone shackles on his feet, becoming the first prisoner in history to escape Impel Down.

The Golden Lion, who escaped, has been missing for many years. However, Momousagi, who has been disguising herself and frequenting high-class places for many years, has recently gathered some information that the Golden Lion seems to have escaped to the East Blue.

That's why she made a special trip to the East China Sea and visited the naval branch there to inquire about the situation.

"Colonel Rat, I think your attitude towards handling things might need some correction."

"We are the Navy, bearing the name of justice. Since islanders from the sea have come to us, it's very likely they've been robbed by pirates and are unable to resolve the problem themselves, so they've sought help from the Navy."

Despite his displeasure at Peach Rabbit's accusations, Colonel Mouse dared not show it on his face and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Should we try our best to help islands that are being attacked by pirates?

You're kidding me. Colonel Rat's justice is all about self-interest. If you don't have enough benefits, you can't expect him to take action. That's just ridiculous.

If there were enough benefits, Colonel Rat wouldn't even mind cooperating with pirates; as for the Navy's ridiculous sense of justice, to hell with it.

If it weren't for the fact that the other party was a rear admiral from the Navy Headquarters and had a good reputation, would Captain Rat be bowing and scraping to give him face right now?

"Rear Admiral Gion, Colonel Rat, those two Cocoyasi Village folks outside aren't here to ask for our navy's help, but to collect their bounty?"

Upon hearing the naval soldier's answer, Gion and Captain Nezumi were both taken aback for a moment. Then Gion asked again, "A bounty hunter?"

"No, according to them, they are just people from Cocoyasi Village, and the pirates they brought are the entire 'Arlong Pirates'!"

It even includes Arlong, a fish-man with a bounty of 2000 million Berries, who was once a member of the "Sun Pirates"...

Upon hearing the report from the naval soldier, Colonel Rat's expression immediately changed.

Didn't that fishman Arlong greet him just a few days ago and give him a lot of benefits? How come he was defeated today and even used to exchange for bounty?

If that guy is dead, that's fine. But what if he survives and turns around and bites back?

In the past, he, as a naval captain, would naturally have the final say here.

But of all things considered, a big shot from headquarters showed up today...

"A pirate with a bounty of 2000 million, in the East Blue, that should be considered a big shot, right?"

I'm rather curious, what kind of ordinary islanders could defeat this "Arlong Pirates"?

Upon hearing what Peach Rabbit said, Colonel Mouse felt like cursing on the spot.

However, since things had come to this, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go with Momousagi to see who was the guy who had defeated the "Arlong Pirates" and was stopping him from getting rich.

When they came outside and Yang Cheng saw Colonel Rat and another tall figure beside him, Yang Cheng was stunned.

As a time traveler, Yang Cheng naturally recognized Momousagi, but he never expected that such an important figure would appear in a place like this!

"You're the ones who defeated the Arlong Pirates? I think you're all liars! You even managed to fool our Marine Branch 16!"

Although I don't know where you got this advantage from, if you leave the entire "Arlong Pirates" behind and leave on your own, I can let bygones be bygones.

At first, Colonel Rat also thought that the person who dealt with the "Arlong Pirates" was some famous bounty hunter from the East Blue.

But when he finally saw clearly that Yang Cheng and Bellemere were just a child and a woman, he instantly calmed down.

Just as he said, he simply did not believe that a woman and a child could defeat the "Arlong Pirates" who had returned from the Grand Line.

As long as Yang Cheng and his group are not the ones who defeated the "Arlong Pirates", then Colonel Rat has a lot more room to maneuver now. He might even be able to take Arlong's bounty this time!