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Chapter 36: Nezumi's Confidence
Mt. Colubo, in the forest.
Captain Nezumi was in high spirits. He led his pumped-up Marines, marching into the mountains.
"Look alive, all of you!"
"Vice Admiral Garp is watching us from behind! This is our chance to impress a legend!"
Nezumi kept his voice low, but the excitement and greed in his tone were unmistakable.
He could already see himself capturing the "ruffians," receiving praise from Garp, and then returning to a life of debauchery with five million Beri in his pocket.
The Marines also puffed out their chests, their aura menacing.
In their eyes, this mission was no longer about eliminating ruffians; it was a military parade.
However.
When they rounded a mountain pass and arrived at a familiar clearing, the entire squad's footsteps screeched to a halt.
"..."
"..."
It was as if someone had grabbed them all by the throat. The elation on their faces froze, turning to utter bewilderment.
The sight before them made the brains of these Marines, who prided themselves on having seen it all, completely shut down.
This wasn't a forest clearing!
This was a giant f*cking crater, like a meteor had just struck!
A massive, charred pit, over thirty meters in diameter, lay before them.
The edges of the crater were blackened and still smoking.
The air was filled with a pungent, burnt smell, mixed with a strange "fragrance" of burnt vegetation.
The surrounding trees were knocked askew, and the broken trunks still bore the marks of fire.
The ground looked as if it had been plowed by some terrifying force, covered in overturned, scorching earth and rubble.
"C-Captain..."
A Marine swallowed, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
"Wh-What... what happened here?"
Nezumi's mouth hung wide open. His two vulgar whiskers twitched comically as his facial muscles stiffened.
The five million Beri and the glorious merit in his eyes were instantly shattered by this hellish landscape.
Is this... a joke!
He was just here to catch a few kids!
This level of destruction... you're telling me a few kids did this?!
This is a fcking Buster Call level of firepower!*
"Was it... was it those ruffians?"
"Is this... a Devil Fruit user? A really destructive one?"
"No wonder the Outlook family was willing to pay five million Beri! These aren't kids, they're monsters!"
The Marines exploded, their morale instantly evaporating, replaced by uncontrollable fear.
"Shut up!"
Nezumi snapped back to his senses, roaring, though his voice was brittle.
"What are you panicking for! We have Vice Admiral Garp backing us up! What the hell is there to be afraid of!"
He shouted, but his legs had already begun to tremble.
Just then.
A lazy voice came from not far away.
"Hey. What are you guys in uniforms doing, skulking around our territory?"
Nezumi and all the Marines flinched, snapping their heads toward the sound!
Three small kids were walking out from behind a large, charred tree.
In the lead was a black-haired boy with freckles. His hands were in his pockets, and he was staring at them with hostile eyes.
Next to him, a blond kid in a worn-out top hat, carrying a pipe, looked wary.
And last...
Was a dumb-looking kid in a straw hat, who was struggling to stuff the last of a giant meat leg into his mouth, his cheeks puffed out like a hamster.
It was Ace, Sabo, and Luffy.
They had just recovered a bit of strength when they heard the noise.
Looking at these three filthy, exhausted kids, and then at the apocalyptic crater behind them...
Nezumi's brain couldn't process it.
He pointed at the terrifying crater, then at the three kids, and stammered.
"Th... That... Did you do that?"
Ace glanced at the "masterpiece" behind him, then frowned impatiently.
"None of your damn business. Who are you? What are you doing here?"
This arrogant attitude instantly ignited Nezumi's heart, which was already a mess of fear and greed.
He remembered the five million Beri in his suitcase!
He remembered that Vice Admiral Garp was backing him up!
Just three brats! Even if they are Devil Fruit users, in their current half-dead state, what can they do?!
"Insolence!"
Nezumi's confidence returned instantly. He stood up straight, reassuming the authority of a Marine Captain.
"We are the 16th Branch of the Marines! Commissioned by the Goa Kingdom, we are here on orders to arrest the ruffians entrenched on Mt. Colubo!"
He sized up the three with his greedy eyes, a savage grin spreading.
"Looks like... you're the little mongrels!"
"Goa Kingdom commission..."
Those words, like a dull, rusty knife, stabbed deep into Sabo's heart.
The wariness and fatigue on his face vanished, replaced by a paleness mixed with anger and despair.
"Was it... Was it my father who sent you?"
His voice trembled uncontrollably, filled with unwillingness and accusation.
"We are not ruffians!"
"Ha?"
Captain Nezumi dug in his ear. He looked at Sabo like he was an idiot, his whiskers twitching.
"I don't care who your daddy is."
He sneered, tapping the Marine symbol on his chest.
"Here, if I say you're a ruffian, you're a ruffian!"
"Don't try to pull any tricks! Come with us quietly now, and you'll suffer less!"
"If you dare to resist..."
Nezumi's eyes turned sinister. "Your good days... are over!"
"In your dreams!"
Ace was the first to explode!
He took a step forward, shielding Sabo and Luffy. His right fist whooshed as it ignited in flames!
"You want to catch us? Then be prepared to die for it!"
The scorching heat wave washed over the front-line Marines, making them instinctively take half a step back.
Sabo also gritted his teeth, turning his pain and despair into cold battle intent.
He raised his pipe, and a verdant breeze began to circle him, whistling softly.
"Oh? You dare to fight back?"
Nezumi's eyes flashed with fear when he saw the fire and wind, but it was quickly replaced by an even deeper greed.
Devil Fruit users! They really are monsters!
If I capture them, the merit will be even greater!
And Vice Admiral Garp is right behind me! He's my greatest insurance!
"Get them!"
Nezumi ordered.
"Arrest all of them! If they resist, kill them on the spot!"
"Sir!"
The Marines roared in unison, bolstering their courage. Gripping their swords, they charged at the three little brats!
The battle was about to begin!