“So you’re saying those bastards planned to pin everything on us after we left?” Nami’s forehead twitched with anger as she listened to Zoro’s explanation.
“How shameless can they get?!”
Everything was their fault to begin with!
She had actually considered sparing them earlier, and this was how they repaid them?
“Kai, blow the place up,” Luffy said calmly as he stared at the distant Marine base.
“Got it.” Kai nodded, then looked toward Nami.
“Nami, move the Going Merry at least two nautical miles away.”
The explosion would be massive.
If they stayed too close, they could get caught in the blast.
Once the Going Merry had sailed a safe distance away, Kai slowly raised a finger.
“Detonate.”
BOOM!
An unbelievably terrifying scene unfolded before the Straw Hat crew.
In the blink of an eye, the Marine base was swallowed whole by a violent explosion!
The blast was so powerful that even the ground beneath the base shattered apart, dragging the entire structure into the sea.
At this point, there was absolutely no chance anyone inside survived.
Other than Kai, everyone aboard stood there with their jaws hanging open.
“K-K-Kai…” Usopp turned stiffly toward him.
“You carry stuff this dangerous around with you all the time?!”
This was nothing like the smaller bombs he usually used.
If one of those exploded on the ship, they would all die instantly!
“Relax.” Kai waved a hand casually.
“I made them myself, so I know exactly how they work.
Unless I activate it, it won’t explode.”
“So this is the power of a scientist…” Sanji muttered while taking a drag from his cigarette, his eyes flickering thoughtfully.
“Well, that problem’s taken care of.” Kai dusted off his hands before turning to Luffy.
“So, where are we heading next?”
Luffy didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward Nami.
After thinking for a moment, she replied, “Our goal is the Grand Line.
The next stop is Loguetown.”
“We have to pass through there and enter Reverse Mountain.
That’s the only route from the Four Seas into the Grand Line.”
“Alright!” Luffy threw his fist into the air.
Full speed ahead!”
“Yeah!” ×5
“This is outrageous!
Absolutely outrageous!”
Sengoku slammed his fist onto the desk, his face dark with fury.
“They actually had the nerve to destroy a Marine branch?!”
Those pirates were far too bold.
Vice Admiral Tsuru remained calm as she carefully read through the report before speaking.
“I’ve already reviewed the situation at East Blue Branch 16.”
“They can barely even be called Marines anymore.
They were nothing but parasites.”
“That still doesn’t mean pirates should be the ones dealing with them!” Sengoku roared angrily.
“Even if every single one of them deserved to die, Marine Headquarters should have handled it!”
Now the pirates had done it instead.
It was practically a slap to his face.
Tsuru nodded slightly.
“That’s true.”
In reality, the Marines had already received reports after Arlong’s defeat.
Headquarters had been preparing to send people to investigate.
No one expected Branch 16 to be completely wiped out before they arrived.
“So what?” Garp suddenly looked up at Sengoku.
“Arlong ruled that sea for eight whole years.
Eight years!”
“Do you have any idea how those people lived during that time?”
He snorted coldly.
“If it were me, I would’ve smashed those bastards too.”
“I know they deserved it!” Sengoku snapped back.
“But it still shouldn’t have been done by pirates!
Don’t you understand that?!”
Garp fell silent.
Of course he understood.
But that pirate happened to be his grandson.
What was he supposed to do, drag Luffy back himself?
Instead, he turned toward Tsuru.
“Issue the bounty posters.”
“The Straw Hat Pirates are guilty of destroying a Marine branch.
This is a serious crime.”
“Captain: Straw Hat Luffy.”
“Bounty: 50 million Berries.”
“Oh, and that scientist named Kai too.
Set his bounty at 30 million.”
Sengoku’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He still didn’t know what abilities Kai possessed beyond his terrifying bombs, but scientists like that were rare among pirate crews.
It would be better to deal with him early.
If the Straw Hat Pirates continued growing stronger, they could become a major threat later on.
As for sending an admiral-level officer after them…
Sengoku glanced at the silent Garp and sighed inwardly.
At the end of the day, Luffy was still his old friend’s grandson.
Sending someone of that level would be excessive.
And as for how the Marines knew there was a scientist aboard the Straw Hat crew…
Never underestimate the Marine intelligence network.
If they truly wanted information, there were very few things they couldn’t uncover.
Honestly, the whole situation was ironic.
Such an efficient intelligence network, yet they still allowed Arlong to dominate the East Blue for eight years.
“Garp, any objections?”
“No.”
After giving that single answer, Garp stood up and walked out.
Tsuru watched him leave and opened her mouth slightly, but ultimately said nothing.
“Don’t mind him,” Sengoku said flatly.
“If his grandson chose to become a pirate, then he should be prepared for the consequences.”
Especially after causing this much chaos.
Defeating Kuro, Krieg, Buggy the Clown, and Arlong.
Those were all infamous pirates in the East Blue.
On top of that, they destroyed a Marine branch.
Honestly, a 50 million Berry bounty was already lenient.
With Sengoku’s order issued, bounty posters began printing in massive numbers, soon spreading across the entire world.