Sunlight filtered through the thin mist, illuminating the white buildings of Marine Base 16.
The base's main gate stood open, its heavy iron doors slid to either side.
However, the usual clamor of drills and the footsteps of passing soldiers were completely absent, replaced by an unusual, heavy silence in the air.
Marine Base 16 had lost its former vitality.
A profound stillness enveloped the base, as if time had been abruptly paused.
The soldiers who had just been drilling on the parade ground, the patrolling sentries, the clerks enjoying their morning tea...
All now lay sprawled on the ground.
Their weapons were scattered, blades reflecting a dazzling light.
The surrounding Marine flags hung limply, their emblems swaying in the gentle breeze.
The atmosphere in the command center was extremely tense.
Colonel Nezumi's back was hunched, his fingers trembling slightly as he scrolled through the surveillance footage.
His triangular eyes were filled with fear, and he constantly wiped cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
The atmosphere inside the command center was suffocatingly oppressive.
His somewhat sharp face was contorted with fear, and his nose twitched upwards slightly, like a rat's.
His unique Marine cap was adorned with two round rat ears.
Beneath the brim, his eyes were wide with terror, pupils dilated in shock.
"That's… Conqueror's Haki!" Colonel Nezumi muttered under his breath.
It sounded like he was talking to himself, but more like he was trying to use those words to suppress the fear in his heart.
Several officers stood beside him, each of their faces as pale and terrified as his.
"Colonel, are you sure?" a young officer asked tremulously, his voice hoarse, as if squeezed from deep within his throat.
Colonel Nezumi took a deep breath, trying to straighten himself up.
He stared at the screen, which showed Kai and his group slowly walking towards the main building.
Kai led the way, hands in his pockets, his steps steady, as if taking a leisurely stroll.
Luffy and Zoro followed behind him, both exuding an imposing aura, while Nami casually looked around.
Due to the influence of the Conqueror's Haki, Colonel Nezumi had developed a strong psychological suggestion regarding the group.
These people, in Colonel Nezumi's eyes, did not look like ordinary pirates in any way, much less the unknown ruffians of the East Blue.
"Do you know what Conqueror's Haki is?" Colonel Nezumi suddenly asked, his tone carrying a hint of pressure.
He glanced at the officers beside him, "It's an ability that only one in millions might possess!
This isn't ordinary strength; it's the aura of a king, a power that can directly intimidate the soul!
In front of this aura, the weak can't even stand, and even the thought of resistance is stifled."
"But…" another officer swallowed, "that kind of thing… it can't just… appear casually…"
"Shut up!" Colonel Nezumi glared at him, "Do you think I'm talking nonsense?
I saw it once at Headquarters; a high-ranking official there knocked out over a thousand new recruits in just a few seconds!
And now, this power has appeared before us. What do you suggest we do?"
The door was violently pushed open, crashing against the wall with a thunderous bang.
Kai and his group entered the command room, their footsteps echoing in the empty space, each step like a hammer blow to their hearts.
Colonel Nezumi felt his breathing quicken, his legs like lead, unable to even find the strength to stand and greet them.
His fingers gripped the edge of the command table, knuckles white from the force.
"You are… are…" Colonel Nezumi tried to speak, but his throat felt blocked, only managing to emit broken sounds.
His gaze at Kai was filled with terror.
Kai merely glanced at him, his eyes betraying disdain.
Zoro casually tossed the package from his shoulder onto the table; several bloody heads were faintly visible inside, and the smell of blood instantly permeated the entire room.
"We're here to collect bounties," Kai's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable force.
Colonel Nezumi froze for a moment, then forced a stiff smile: "This… I'm afraid it's a bit difficult…"
"Difficult?" Kai raised an eyebrow, "Are you saying these heads aren't worth anything?"
"No, no, no, that's not what I mean." Colonel Nezumi quickly waved his hands, cold sweat trickling down his cheeks.
He licked his dry lips, trying to explain:
"According to Marine regulations, bounties can only be issued to bounty hunters or individuals with legal identities, and… and you are pirates…"
"What about pirates?" Luffy grinned, walking forward with his hands behind his head, "We defeated these bad guys, shouldn't we get paid?"
"This…" Colonel Nezumi looked at Kai, trying to find a hint of compromise on his face, but he was disappointed.
Kai continued to stare at him with that cold gaze, as if looking at an ant that could be crushed at any moment.
Colonel Nezumi took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
He knew that if he couldn't rationally persuade these people, his fate would only be more tragic.
"Bounty posters are issued by the World Government to encourage ordinary people and bounty hunters to capture pirates.
The distribution of bounties has strict regulations; recipients must have legal identities, otherwise, we have no right to pay out these funds."
Colonel Nezumi tried to make his voice sound steady.
"Furthermore, this bounty is paid from the government's treasury; if we pay it to pirates, it will cause huge trouble…"
"So you mean we've done all this for nothing?" Zoro asked coldly, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.
"No, no, no, I don't mean that!" Colonel Nezumi waved his hands repeatedly, his eyes filled with intense fear.
"We can… we can compensate you in another way, for example… for example, provide some supplies, or other forms of assistance."
"For example?" Kai tilted his head slightly, a hint of playfulness in his tone.
"For example… intelligence." Colonel Nezumi said, steeling himself:
"We can provide you with information about the movements of other pirate crews, or… or defensive information about other branches…"
The atmosphere in the command room grew even more oppressive; everyone held their breath, awaiting Kai's decision.
Kai just stood there quietly, seemingly deep in thought.
His gaze swept over everyone in the command room, finally resting on Colonel Nezumi's face.
"You're right," Kai suddenly spoke, "bounties indeed cannot be given to pirates, but… who said we had to take bounties?"
Colonel Nezumi was stunned: "Then… then you are…"
"What I want is all the profits you've amassed by colluding with pirates and frantically enriching yourself through your identity as a Marine Colonel!"
Kai smiled faintly, but his smile carried a chilling coldness that sent shivers down one's spine.