"…What…?"
The Marines maintaining order in the marketplace rushed out, only to witness Nezumi being crushed to pieces by Amon. Instantly, terror spread across their faces.
"Hello? Hello? Headquarters?!"
A Marine soldier, shaking with fear in the distance, hastily activated a Den Den Mushi.
"We've encountered a pirate attack in Cocoyasi Village, East Blue. Heavy casualties! Major Nezumi was directly killed by the enemy!"
"Yes! He was killed instantly! I've recorded the video. Requesting immediate reinforcement from Headquarters!"
"Not good!"
Beside Amon, Bell-mère's expression changed drastically when she heard that report.
"Mr. Amon, they've reported this to Marine Headquarters! You have to run!"
As a former Marine, she understood the horror of Headquarters.
She knew Amon was strong.
But compared to the entire Marine Headquarters?
There was no comparison.
Not to mention legends like Garp and Sengoku, even just the three Admirals alone would not be opponents someone could casually handle.
Her first instinct was he had to leave immediately.
"You can't escape."
One of Nezumi's loyal subordinates glared at Amon viciously.
"I've already transmitted your video. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, the Marines will hunt you down. The only end waiting for you is death!"
Nezumi was dead. This Marine had no intention of surviving.
If he had to die, he would drag Amon down with him.
Amon smiled faintly.
"Interesting. Why would I run?"
He had noticed the small movements long ago. He simply did not stop them. There was no point. This incident could never be concealed. Exposure was only a matter of time.
An entire Marine branch disappearing?
Headquarters would definitely investigate.
And Cocoyasi Village would inevitably be traced.
If he ran, it would look like guilty flight.
Worse, it would drag the villagers into danger.
Once the Marines investigated, it would not take long to discover Amon's close connection with Nami's family.
Running would only harm them.
That was why he had remained indifferent to the transmission.
He held the moral high ground.
Why should he flee?
Besides, he truly was not afraid of Headquarters sending someone.
He knew Sengoku would see this footage.
Garp and Sengoku were not fools. They knew Amon had defeated Admiral Kizaru.
The probability of sending another Admiral blindly was actually low.
More likely, Sengoku himself would come.
And if Sengoku or Garp arrived, that would be ideal.
Men like them would uncover Nezumi's corruption easily.
Clarifying everything openly would benefit Amon, Cocoyasi Village, and Nami's family.
Amon casually dragged a small chair from a nearby shop, crossed one leg over the other, and sat down leisurely in the middle of the square.
His fearless attitude left the remaining Marines staring at one another in confusion.
They were terrified that one careless glance from Amon would reduce them to dust.
Yet some of Nezumi's loyal men began to feel a twisted excitement.
They had expected Amon to kill them all and flee.
Instead, he stayed.
Fool.
They did not believe he could survive Headquarters' retaliation.
Once reinforcements arrived, they would be safe.
And they would avenge Major Nezumi.
Though they did not dare move, cruel smiles quietly formed on their faces.
The villagers were just as uneasy. They had thought they were doomed. Then Amon appeared and killed the Marine commander.
But it was not over.
Reinforcements were coming.
Their safety, and Amon's, now hung in the balance.
Bell-mère watched Amon sit there with his legs crossed.
She could not understand him. Was he truly unafraid of Marine Headquarters?
Or…
Was he staying deliberately, so that the truth could be exposed and the villagers would not suffer retaliation?
…
Marine Headquarters.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat in his office reviewing confidential documents. Beside him, Garp was fast asleep, snoring thunderously.
While snoring, he even casually grabbed Sengoku's freshly brewed coffee and gulped it down.
Sengoku nearly exploded in rage.
Sleeping was one thing.
Stealing his coffee while asleep?
Unforgivable.
But in the end, he suppressed his anger.
It was not the first time.
He simply brewed another cup.
Just as he finished, a Marine soldier rushed in urgently.
"What is it this time?"
Sengoku frowned. Only emergencies warranted such panic.
"Report, Fleet Admiral!"
"The commander of the East Blue 16th Branch has sent a report. While attempting to arrest the pirate Arlong in Cocoyasi Village, they encountered a powerful enemy. Branch Commander Major Nezumi was killed in action."
"They are requesting reinforcement from Headquarters. The enemy is extremely powerful. A video recording is attached."
The soldier handed over the report and the Den Den Mushi recording.
Sengoku pressed play.
The moment the image appeared on the screen—
"Pfft!"
He spat out the coffee he had just swallowed, spraying it directly onto Garp's face.
The man in the footage…
He recognized him instantly.