For the rest of the process, Garp kept a dark look on his face.
After all, he'd just been bragging to Ryuen about the Marines' sense of justice that morning, only to be humiliated before he even left Cocoyasi Village.
"Vice Admiral Garp, do you think a rat like Captain Nezumi would dare to act so recklessly in East Blue on his own? I think you should look into his superiors," Ryuen said calmly.
"I understand. Don't worry, I'll make sure Cocoyasi Village gets an answer. Bogart, let's go!" Garp replied, his face serious, as he led the 16th Branch away from Cocoyasi Village.
Even if Garp wasn't the sharpest, he could guess that Captain Nezumi's actions must have had someone's protection. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten away with bullying civilians in East Blue for so long, especially in a place Garp often patrolled.
"Wahahaha! Did those fools really think I wouldn't get angry?" On the battleship, Garp chuckled calmly while munching on rice crackers.
"Vice Admiral Garp, since we're targeting someone from the Marine Criminal Investigation Bureau, shouldn't we inform Fleet Admiral Sengoku first?" Bogart asked. Nezumi had already confessed; his backer was indeed in the Criminal Investigation Bureau.
"No need, no need. It's just a small matter; no need to trouble Sengoku over it," Garp said dismissively.
Bogart's mouth twitched. A small matter? This was the Marine's Criminal Investigation Bureau they were talking about—a place full of complex factions with backing from the World Government! But Bogart didn't say anything. This was just like Vice Admiral Garp.
"Ryuen, what kind of answer do you think Vice Admiral Garp will give us?" Nojiko asked as she watched the ship sail away.
"Answer? Yeah, right. Not gonna happen. Let's go home," Ryuen replied casually. "The Marines are rooted in the World Government. The world government is corrupt. Marine is no exception.. What answer could they give?"
Unless the Marines could somehow overturn the World Government, but that was just wishful thinking.
Back at the estate, they found Bellemere busy working in the orchard, also experimenting with her Devil Fruit powers. They didn't disturb her and instead headed to Nami's workshop.
"Ryuen, now that that old guy Garp is gone, can we set off?" Nami looked at Ryuen expectantly.
"Hmm... Sure. Let's just let Bellemere know, and we'll set off," Ryuen decided.
"I'll tell Bellemere!" Daisy dashed downstairs immediately.
After informing Bellemere, the five of them went to the back mountain, where they planned to head to Cozia Island—the country destroyed by Germa.
Cozia Island wasn't far from Cocoyasi Village on Aihai Island, and it took them about two hours to get there by Black Hawk.
Unlike the Kingdom of Oikot, Cozia Island, although destroyed, still had quite a few residents. Due to the scars of war, it had become a lawless place.
The Black Hawk landed in the forest, and Ryuen and the others used a dimensional portal to arrive on the rundown streets. As they emerged from a hidden corner, countless hostile eyes fixed on them.
The five of them remained calm, these war survivors posed no real threat.
But while the tiger may not wish to harm, people may still wish to harm the tiger. As more people gathered, Ryuen and the group were soon surrounded.
They had been marked as outsiders, easily identified by their clothes, which stood out in this place where the locals could barely find enough to eat.
Outsiders meant a boat, food. They wanted to leave this forsaken place, to not be hungry anymore, so they had no choice but to rob them.
Ryuen and his group stopped, calmly watching as more people gathered around them.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Ryuen asked coolly.
"Where's your ship? Hand it over, along with all your food, and we might let you go!" said a fierce-looking man nearly four meters tall.
"You'll die," Ryuen warned one last time, narrowing his eyes.
"Enough talk! We've got nothing to lose—just tell us where your ship is!"
"And the food, where's the food?"
Ryuen's words seemed to anger them, but they still held back, not attacking immediately.
"Kolbo, you really are useless. Hesitating over a few kids—it's no wonder you're starving!" Another group of people suddenly stepped out of the shadows.
The leader walked toward Ryuen's group with a cocky swagger.
"Kate!" Kolbo, the nearly four-meter-tall man from before, glared at the newcomer, clenching his teeth.
"Kolbo, if you can't bring yourself to do it, then get out of my way!" Kate sneered at Kolbo.
"Get lost, Kolbo! These little prizes are ours now!"
"Whoa, check out these girls! Boss, take a look!"
"Yeah, their meat looks so tender. Should be delicious, don't you think?"
These guys were openly talking about eating people, as if it were no big deal.
"Hey! You all should go! I can hold them off, but only if you hand over your ship and food to us!" Just as Ryuen's group was about to take action, Kolbo suddenly stepped in front of them.
Kolbo's group stood with him as well.
Ryuen and his friends were a bit taken aback by this. Could he really be... a good guy? And did they just happen to run into him?
"Hey, did I hear that right? This guy actually thinks he can stand against us?" Kate looked stunned, as if he'd heard a joke.
"Boss, why are we wasting time? I can't wait any longer!"
"Yeah, Boss, let's do it!"
"Alright! Get them, boys!" Guyt ordered. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by ɴovel(ꜰ)ɪre.nᴇt
The thugs didn't go after Ryuen's group, instead, they attacked Kolbo and his people. Within seconds, a full-on fight had broken out. But Kolbo's group was no match for Guyt's, and they kept getting knocked down.
"Ryuen..." Nami murmured, feeling sorry for them.
"Take them out," Ryuen said softly.
In an instant, the four girls disappeared from where they stood, and then came the sound of agonized screams one after another.
To be honest, Ryuen felt moved at this moment. Kolbo and his people had probably once been outstanding, but their country's destruction had left them in this sorry state.
A few minutes later, Kate's gang had all been taken down by Nami and the others.
But now, Kolbo and his group were even more terrified—the kids were this strong?!
Kolbo's mind raced as he desperately tried to think of a way to get these kids to spare them.
"We don't have a ship, but we can give you food."
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