At the fortress dock—
The Dream and the Wild Boar Pirates' ship were both docked there. Vice Admiral Boshichi had even gathered a group of people to welcome the Dream Exploration Crew.
"Captain Ryuen, welcome to Marine G9 Branch! We've prepared a grand banquet just for you today..." Boshichi greeted them with a big smile.
"Well, we really appreciate how much you value us, Vice Admiral Boshichi. But let's take care of business first. The Wild Boar Pirates' bounties—plus their ship, if possible—can you exchange them for an equivalent amount of Berries for us?" Ryuen asked with a smile.
A sharp glint flashed in Boshichi's eyes for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
"No problem, that's just a small matter. Adjutant Kaid, I'm putting you in charge of this. Make sure our guests from the Dream Exploration Crew are completely satisfied, understood?" Boshichi said seriously, turning to his adjutant.
"I understand, Vice Admiral Boshichi!" Adjutant Kaid responded immediately.
Seeing this, Ryuen gestured to Nami. Nami nodded, then opened a spatial gate and threw out all the bounty-listed members of the Wild Boar Pirates.
They were all tied up, and their mouths were gagged.
They were still alive, and the moment they saw Vice Admiral Boshichi, they started struggling frantically.
They were hoping he would save them.
Boshichi was momentarily surprised to see that the Wild Boar Pirates were still breathing.
Adjutant Kaid quickly ordered the Marines to take them away.
"The notorious Wild Boar Pirates, indeed. Take them all to the fortress prison!" Boshichi commanded in a deep voice.
He even put on an expression of righteous fury.
But to the members of the Dream Exploration Crew, it looked completely fake.
Dozens of Marines immediately stepped forward.
Just as they were about to take the pirates away, the prisoners suddenly started convulsing violently. Their eyes showed extreme pain, as if they were suffering from something unbearable.
"W-What's going on...?"
"What happened to them...?"
The Marines were stunned by the scene before them.
Within seconds, the entire Wild Boar Pirates crew dropped dead, their bodies twitching before falling completely still. Their deaths were gruesome.
"Captain Ryuen, what just happened?" Vice Admiral Boshichi asked in a serious tone.
He had assumed Ryuen was being courteous by not killing the pirates outright. He was even thinking about building a good relationship with the Dream Exploration Crew.
After all, these people could be quite useful...
"I'm not sure either. Maybe they thought of something exciting... Well, if they're dead, they're dead. It doesn't really matter since their deaths won't affect the bounty exchange. Don't you agree, Vice Admiral Boshichi?" Ryuen said calmly.
"That's right, just like Captain Ryuen said. What are you standing around for? Hurry up and drag them away!" Boshichi barked at the Marines.
"Vice Admiral Boshichi, we'll remove them right away!"
The Marines snapped back to attention and quickly dragged away all the lifeless pirates.
"Captain Ryuen, your methods are quite effective. This way, please..." Vice Admiral Boshichi's expression was grim, but he held back his frustration.
The others might not know, but he was well aware—this Dream Exploration Team was incredibly strong!
"Not too bad. Since you're being so welcoming, Vice Admiral Boshichi, then we'll accept your invitation..." Ryuen said with a smile.
Led by Vice Admiral Boshichi, the group headed toward the fortress's banquet hall.
However, not all of the Dream Exploration Team left the ship. Ryuen only brought Nami, Daisy, Sugar, Kuina, and Nojiko.
The others stayed behind on the Dream.
Meanwhile, a warship from Marine G8 branch was already approaching G9.
Onboard, aside from Vice Admiral Jonathan, there was another high-ranking Marine officer—Vice Admiral Onigumo, a member of Akainu's faction.
"I didn't expect headquarters to send you here..." Jonathan said in surprise.
It wasn't until the warship left G8 and neared G9 that Onigumo finally revealed his mission. Headquarters had ordered him to replace Boshichi as the new base commander of G9!
"This is because G9 needs a full purge. That's why Fleet Admiral Sengoku chose me for the job," Onigumo said in a deep voice.
"What about Boshichi?" Vice Admiral Jonathan asked.
"Him... According to Fleet Admiral Sengoku, by the time I arrive at G9, Boshichi should already be eliminated." Onigumo's expression was complicated.
"He's from that family. Whose subordinate would dare touch their interests?" Jonathan was shocked. Google seaʀᴄh No(ᴠ)ᴇlFire.nᴇt
"The Dream Exploration Team," Onigumo answered without hesitation.
"It's them... Well, that does sound like something they would do. They're still young and reckless..." Jonathan sighed.
"But they have the strength to back up that recklessness," Onigumo replied.
Being stationed at Marine Headquarters, he naturally knew more about the Dream Exploration Team than Jonathan did.
"You're right. Now I really want to meet them soon..." Jonathan said, grinning.
This Chapter isn't over yet! Click the next page to continue reading—things are about to get even more exciting!
Boshichi and Jonathan had always been at odds.
G9 Branch, Banquet Hall.
The atmosphere wasn't lively—it was clear that this wasn't a banquet both sides were happy about.
"Um... Vice Admiral Boshichi, could you pass me the blueberries on the table? I can't reach them..." Sugar ran up to Boshichi's side, looking up at him with big, pleading eyes.
"What a cute little girl. Just a moment, I'll get them for you..." Boshichi squinted his eyes and smiled warmly.
But the moment he turned around, Sugar lightly touched his leg.
With a soft "poof," Boshichi instantly turned into a toy!
"Vice Admiral Boshichi!"
*Bang... bang... bang...*
The moment Boshichi turned into a toy, everyone at the banquet collapsed to the ground one by one!
"Done!" Daisy clapped her hands.
Nami immediately opened the pocket dimension, then looked at Sugar and said, "Sugar, order him to go inside."
"Get in there, now!" Sugar quickly gave the command to the now-toyified Boshichi.
Boshichi panicked. He couldn't control his own movements and stepped forward, walking into the dark void of the pocket dimension.
"What about these people?" Kuina pointed at the unconscious Marines with her sword.
"Let the new base commander deal with that mess. We're leaving..." Ryuen said calmly.
Nami and Nojiko each carried two chests as they walked into the pocket dimension.
Nami: *Hehe, I ate too much just now!*
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