“Quick!
Stop him!” the lieutenant commander shouted in panic as he watched Zoro rushing straight toward him.
When he realized no one was coming to help, he gritted his teeth and drew his sword.
“Then I’ll fight you myself!”
Unfortunately for him, years spent indulging in power and corruption had long dulled his abilities.
There was no way he could stand against Zoro.
With a single clash, Zoro cut him down instantly.
“And this guy was really a lieutenant commander?” Sanji scoffed in disdain.
“That weak?”
“He got taken down by one slash from a moss-head swordsman.
Pathetic.”
“What did you say?” Zoro turned and glared at Sanji.
Something about the cook’s tone felt suspicious.
“Nothing.” Sanji flicked the ash from his cigarette calmly.
“I’m just saying, if someone could get killed by one swing from you, he must’ve been complete trash.”
Zoro paused for a second before finally catching the hidden insult.
“You curly-browed idiot, you’re mocking me!”
He immediately rolled up his sleeves, ready to start a fight with Sanji on the spot, making Usopp sigh helplessly.
“Hey!
We’re still inside an enemy base, you morons!”
Meanwhile, Kai watched the whole thing with great interest.
Those two really were natural-born rivals.
At that moment, an older marine stepped forward nervously.
“You came here to avenge Cocoyasi Village, right?” he asked cautiously.
“But we weren’t involved with Captain Nezumi.”
“When he started doing those things, we strongly opposed him.”
“Oh?” Kai replied with an amused smile.
“Really now?”
“Yes,” the older marine said stiffly.
“Everyone involved in that corruption either died in your bombing earlier or died alongside Captain Nezumi.”
“Even the only officer left here was killed by that swordsman.”
“So…”
“So you’re saying all of you are innocent?” Nami narrowed her eyes.
“Think carefully before answering.”
“Of course!” Seeing a chance to survive, the marine quickly nodded.
“We’re innocent.”
At this point, survival was all that mattered.
Everything else could wait until later.
Kai nodded as if he believed him.
“In that case, lead us to the treasury.”
“Don’t worry.
Once we take the treasure, we’ll leave.”
“Understood.
Please follow me.”
The older marine visibly relaxed.
Honestly, if they only wanted money, that was fine.
Sooner or later, the corruption here would be exposed anyway.
Rather than keeping all this dirty money, it was better to hand it over to pirates.
That way, the remaining marines might even clear their names afterward.
Maybe they’d even earn promotions.
More importantly, attacking a Marine base was a major crime.
The Straw Hat Pirates’ bounties would definitely skyrocket after this.
If Marine Headquarters eventually dispatched high-ranking officers to eliminate them, then every problem here would disappear for good.
His plan sounded perfect.
Too bad Kai had already seen through everything.
“This is the place,” the marine said, pointing toward a giant steel door.
“Everything Captain Nezumi collected is stored inside.”
“Good.
You can leave now,” Kai said casually, waving him away.
The marine immediately ran off in relief, afraid they might change their minds.
“Alright!” Nami shouted excitedly, throwing her hand into the air while dollar signs practically sparkled in her eyes.
“Everything in here belongs to me now!”
“But we don’t have a key,” Usopp said awkwardly while staring at the massive steel door.
“That’s not a problem.” Kai waved dismissively.
“Everyone stand back.”
He placed a compact explosive against the door, walked a short distance away, then softly said:
“Detonate.”
BOOM!
The heavy steel door exploded open instantly.
And in that moment, dazzling golden light seemed to burst from inside.
Well… at least that was how it looked from Nami’s perspective.
Watching Nami charge into the vault like someone possessed by treasure fever, Usopp sighed.
“After everything she’s been through, it makes sense,” Kai replied with a shrug.
Then he suddenly frowned.
“Wait.
Where’s Luffy?”
“And where did Zoro go?”
“Weren’t they just behind us?”
“How did they disappear in the blink of an eye?”
“That moss-head probably got lost again,” Sanji said, asking the question straight from his soul before bursting into laughter.
“That idiot.
How does someone get lost while following a guide?”
“That’s honestly impressive.”
“As for Luffy…” Usopp scratched his cheek uncertainly.
“He probably wandered into the cafeteria.”
“The only things that can attract Luffy are interesting stuff and food.”
“Fair point.” Kai sighed helplessly.
“Forget about them for now.”
“Get in here already!” Nami shouted excitedly from inside the vault.
“There’s so much money!”
“There are at least several hundred million berries!”
“And there’s gold, jewels, and treasure everywhere!”
Kai walked inside, but after seeing the mountains of wealth, his expression darkened.
“How many villages did they ruin to gather all this?”
At that moment, his determination to destroy this base became even stronger.
The others also fell silent.
“Well… not necessarily,” Sanji said after taking a drag from his cigarette.
“Some of it might’ve been seized from pirates.”
“But either way, this money belongs to us now.”
After all, if they left it behind, the remaining marines would simply divide it among themselves sooner or later.
In that case, it was better for the Straw Hats to take it instead.
Especially since they were broke and would need supplies once they reached Loguetown.
“You’re right.” Nami nodded firmly before waving her hand dramatically.
“Move all of it onto our ship!”
At this point, every single berry here belonged to her.
She had once been one of the victims too.
So taking this money now felt completely justified.