[Three days ago, a royal merchant vessel from the World Government member nation 'Nismael Kingdom' received a threatening letter while returning from the Sabaody Archipelago, indicating they had been targeted by pirates]
[They chose to dock near Marine Branch G-51 at the kingdom's Master Port and requested a Marine warship escort]
[Shortly after arriving at Branch G-51, they successfully captured a pirate attempting to infiltrate the base at the harbor and preliminarily confirmed he was the one who sent the threatening letter]
"Interesting."
Lounging in a deck chair on the warship, Roy took a sip of ice-cold cola while reading the detailed mission briefing.
"Sir? What's interesting?"
Hans, who was at the helm, asked curiously.
And it wasn't just him—the other detention force Marines also crowded over with interest.
"The criminal we're transporting this time is interesting—get me a refill."
Roy handed his glass to Farr while speaking quietly.
"No bounty, no name—meaning he's probably a complete nobody."
He pointed at the intelligence report in his hand.
"But this nobody dared to target a World Government member nation's royal merchant vessel, and even sent an advance warning letter."
At this, Roy stroked his chin with interest.
"Now that you mention it, sir, that is pretty unusual."
Farr nodded while handing over a fresh ice-cold cola. "But since he got caught so easily... maybe he's a rookie pirate who just set sail and doesn't know any better?"
"Maybe."
Roy nodded, but then sat up from his chair and removed his sunglasses. "Oh, we're here."
Far on the horizon, a sizable island was gradually coming into view.
The first thing that caught the eye was a massive white structure standing near the island's coastline.
A huge Marine emblem gleamed in the sunlight, and on the building's prominent facade, the black letters 'G-51' were clearly visible alongside the seagull-and-scales flag.
That was Marine Branch G-51 of the Grand Line—their destination.
As the warship drew closer, beyond the base, the outline of a city on the island gradually became clear.
It was a bustling port.
The massive harbor was filled with all kinds of vessels—merchant ships and small boats of various sizes coming and going.
"Pretty lively."
Hans, at the helm, sounded impressed.
"Well, it is Master Port—this is one of the Nismael Kingdom's major harbors."
Farr stated matter-of-factly.
As mentioned before, the Nismael Kingdom was one of the World Government's 170-plus member nations, under direct protection of the World Government and Marines.
Just like this Master Port—a Marine branch had been built right here.
So most pirates wouldn't consider attacking this place.
Most nations' merchant ships were happy to dock here.
Even with the steep berthing fees, it beat getting robbed by pirates.
"Definitely prosperous, though..."
Roy nodded, but his gaze swept to the other side of the harbor.
There was a town.
Compared to the noisy, bustling port, this town seemed much quieter—the buildings were low, and at first glance could even be called dilapidated.
Not hard to guess that was where the island's native residents lived.
Just like in most countries in this world—the port's prosperity and the nation's wealth had little real connection to the citizens' lives.
"Let's go, head to the branch harbor."
So Roy had no interest in looking further and ordered the warship to proceed to the Marine branch's dedicated port.
But upon reaching the G-51 branch harbor, Roy paused slightly.
Because at that moment, within the Marine G-51 branch's berths, besides the branch's warships, there was clearly a merchant vessel docked.
It was far larger and more luxurious than the ordinary merchant ships in Master Port, with a golden hull and massive figurehead that proclaimed its prestige.
The crown flag hanging from its mast revealed its identity.
"That must be the royal merchant vessel that received the threatening letter?"
Roy chuckled. "It's actually docked right in the branch harbor... looks like the branch Colonel gets along well with the Nismael Kingdom."
With that said, the warship docked at the branch harbor.
"The Headquarters detention force!?"
The branch Marine managing the harbor asked.
After confirming Roy's identity, he saluted. "The prisoner transfer is ready. Colonel Astor is waiting for you in his office!"
"Got it."
Roy nodded, but then his gaze swept around. "Where is everyone else?"
He'd already noticed a small problem.
The number of guards at this harbor was clearly off.
Most of the Marine sentry posts at the berths were unmanned, with only a few scattered personnel.
"They're all at the branch preparing for tonight's banquet!"
The branch Marine explained.
"Banquet?"
"Yes—since we caught that pirate, Manager Mantar from the Nismael Kingdom's merchant vessel organized this banquet and invited the branch brothers to attend. I heard Manager Mantar even prepared gifts for every Marine as thanks."
The branch Marine sounded somewhat excited.
Nobody would be unhappy about extra income.
"That generous?"
Roy grinned. "You'll be going too, I assume? What about harbor security?"
"Sir, you don't need to worry."
The branch Marine was quite confident. "This is a World Government member nation's harbor—normally, no pirates would attack here."
"Besides, we still have them, don't we?"
At this, he pointed to the distance.
Roy turned and saw that near the royal merchant vessel's berth, there were indeed some guards in ornate court attire walking around.
"Who are they?"
Before Roy could ask, Hans had already voiced the question curiously.
"Oh, they're the Nismael Kingdom's royal guards."
After hearing the branch Marine's answer, Hans continued, "They're not attending tonight's banquet?"
"Of course not—they have to guard the cargo on the ship."
After this brief exchange, Roy said nothing more.
He simply turned to Hans. "Hans, head back to the ship with Farr and prepare the holding cell. I'll handle the transfer with Colonel Astor."
"Yes sir!"
After Hans departed for the warship, Roy declined the Marine's offer to escort him and headed toward the G-51 branch building on his own.
However, as he walked, his gaze inevitably drifted to that royal merchant vessel—mainly because the ship's size was just that conspicuous.
Upon closer inspection, Roy noticed many strange details.
For instance, along the ship's hull, there were clearly many sharp iron spikes.
The ship's overall structure also seemed excessively enclosed, with only the cannon ports revealing the interior, where he could faintly make out what appeared to be cage-like structures.
"This ship..."
Roy's brow furrowed as he muttered to himself.
But just then—
"Collie! Collie!"
He heard a commotion.
When he turned his head, he clearly saw someone struggling to squeeze through one of the royal merchant vessel's cannon ports.
It was an old man.
His frame was hunched, his skin and clothes covered in bloodstains, eyes nearly sunken into their sockets, his graying hair matted into clumps.
A rope hung around his neck, shackles on his feet.
"Collie... Collie..."
He waved his hand, muttering deliriously, seemingly clutching something.
Roy's excellent eyesight let him faintly make out what the man held—it appeared to be a piece of cloth.
At that moment, the merchant vessel's guards noticed him too.
"That old lunatic again... get him back inside!"
"How'd he get there? Where's the person watching the cargo hold!?"
Soon, through the gap in the cannon port, Roy saw a hand reach out from behind the old man, roughly grabbing his hair and yanking him back inside.
"..."
Roy watched this scene without speaking.
However—
[Rabbit-Rabbit Fruit: Snow Rabbit Form LV1 - Equipped - Grants partial snow rabbit traits, overall physical enhancement, additional boost to hearing and speed]
His enhanced hearing allowed Roy to hear what was happening inside the hold—the sounds of beating and cursing accompanying the old man's delirious muttering.
"Collie... Collie..."
"Your daughter's already been sold, old bastard! You're unsellable goods causing me trouble—if the manager hadn't said your fresh organs are still worth something and need another sales channel, I'd have killed you already."
In that instant, Roy understood everything.
"The spikes on the hull and those cage-like structures... I see."
"A slave ship."
He murmured quietly, reaching the logical conclusion.
The slave trade.
One of this world's festering sores.
Though the World Government officially banned the buying and selling of human slaves, in reality, because of the Celestial Dragons' existence, the slave trade occupied a gray area—the World Government not only didn't truly regulate it, but even covered for it.
Just like right now.
The World Government member nation 'Nismael Kingdom' was clearly engaged in the slave trade.
Their slave transport methods weren't even remotely concealed—at least Roy could confirm that the G-51 branch's Marine leadership definitely knew about it.
Yet despite this, they were still going to escort a returning slave ship.
"Justice, huh..."
Roy clicked his tongue.
This was exactly why he sneered at the Marines' so-called justice.
A tree rotting from the roots—justice has no place to rest.