Early the next morning.
The entire sea outside the G-5 Branch underwent a dramatic transformation.
Twelve warships patrolled back and forth like wolves and tigers along the crucial strategic passage.
On the massive sails of each warship, glaring red paint spelled out arrogantly scrawled characters:
"Navy G-5 Branch, Justice Maintenance Tax Collection Office!"
Below it, a line of smaller text read: "Fair prices for all. Refusal to pay will result in Physical Salvation."
On the deck of the Storm.
Kane had set up a comfortable beach chair under a large sun umbrella.
He lounged lazily in the chair as if he were at a resort beach.
Gion knelt beside him, her slender fingers carefully peeling a purple grape before feeding it to Kane.
Watching the excited G-5 soldiers in the distance waving their weapons and shouting wildly, she frowned slightly and asked quietly:
"Brother Kane, is this really okay? If Admiral Sengoku finds out..."
Before she could finish, a drawn-out, sly voice drifted over.
"Yeeeah~ If Admiral Sengoku finds out, he'll probably have a stroke~"
Nearby, Borsalino held an account book "collected" from a merchant ship, crossing off items on the cargo list while leisurely commenting.
"This is even more brazen than being a pirate~"
"What's there to fear?"
Kane chewed the grape Gion had given him, juice dribbling from his mouth as he mumbled.
"The heavens are high, and the emperor is far away. He can't control us here."
"Besides," he lazily tilted his chin toward a smuggling ship being ransacked by the G-5 veterans, "we're weakening the forces of evil!"
Kane's gaze shifted to the stern, imposing figure on the other side of the deck.
"Sakazuki, tell us."
"How many of these ships passing through here are clean?"
Sakazuki stood by the ship's railing and snorted coldly.
"Hmph! Aside from reckless pirates, they're either smuggling ships supplying the major pirates or filthy slave traders!"
"None of them are innocent!"
"Exactly!"
Kane slapped his thigh and sat up slightly.
"As the old saying goes."
"If they have no money, they can't buy weapons, recruit crew, or commit crimes!"
Sakazuki nodded in deep agreement.
"Correct! Anyone who supports evil must pay the price!"
Just then, the lookout shouted excitedly.
"Report, sir! Another pirate ship is approaching!!"
It was a pirate ship flying an unknown Jolly Roger. The pirates aboard were clearly greenhorns who had just emerged from the "Paradise," their faces filled with dreams of the New World and lawless fervor.
"Halt!"
The G-5 veterans picked up megaphones and expertly shouted the lines Kane had taught them yesterday.
"Navy G-5 Branch collecting taxes ahead!"
"Surrender with your hands up! Hand over all treasures on board!"
"Hahaha! The Navy? With just you guys?"
The pirate captain laughed arrogantly.
"I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!"
"Men, charge forward! Seize their ship!"
However, their laughter quickly froze on their faces.
"Yare yare~ Young people these days, such terrifying killing intent~"
Borsalino's annoying voice slowly drifted over.
A flash of golden light, and he had already appeared at the top of the pirate ship's mast, looking down at the stunned pirates below.
He adjusted his sunglasses and leisurely raised his foot.
"Speed is weight..."
"Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
BOOM!!!
A dazzling golden laser beam shot straight through the deck of the pirate ship!
A violent explosion instantly swallowed half the hull, countless pirates screaming as they were blasted into the sky.
[Ding! Detected that the host allowed subordinates to indiscriminately slaughter pirates, seriously violating Navy humanitarian principles!]
[Violation Value +2200!]
"Well done!"
Kane lowered the backrest of his beach chair another notch, enjoying the sunshine and the system notifications.
This was the retired life he had always dreamed of.
"Next ship!"
A sneaky underground merchant ship was stopped.
"We are legitimate merchants!" The captain trembled on the deck.
"Legitimate?"
Kane's voice, transmitted through the Den Den Mushi, echoed across the entire sea.
"Then explain, which pirates were those weapons on your ship meant to be sold to?"
"Enough nonsense." His tone instantly became uncompromising.
"Leave the cargo behind. The people can scram."
[Ding! Detected that the host openly robbed a merchant ship, abusing power for personal gain, behavior no different from pirates!]
[Violation Value +3500!]
"Next ship!"
A noble ship flying the flag of a World Government Affiliated Country swaggered over.
A portly noble stood at the bow, arrogantly pointing at Kane's flagship and cursing.
"You scoundrels! Do you see this flag clearly? I am a royal member of the Strober Kingdom!"
"You lowly Navy dogs, how dare you stop my ship?"
"Move aside! Otherwise, I will definitely file a complaint against you with the World Government!"
"Stop shouting, it's annoying."
Kuzan, dozing on another beach chair, opened his eyes impatiently at the noise and casually waved his hand.
"Ice Age!"
Crack... crack crack...
A frigid chill swept across the sea surface. That luxurious ship was instantly frozen into a massive ice sculpture.
The G-5 soldiers erupted into thunderous cheers and rushed forward.
They chiseled away with picks, "extracting" the spoils from the ice.
[Ding! Detected that the host tacitly allowed subordinates to attack a World Government Affiliated Country vessel, severely damaging the World Government's international reputation!]
[Violation Value +5800!]
"Next ship!"
This time, it was a major pirate crew with a bounty exceeding 500 million, radiating murderous intent.
"Absolute Justice allows no evil to exist!"
Sakazuki couldn't be bothered with another word.
He raised his hand.
"Great Eruption!"
BOOM!!
A gigantic magma fist descended from the sky. That massive pirate ship, along with the hundreds of pirates aboard, was vaporized by the intense heat without even a chance to scream.
[Ding! Detected that the host...]
[Violation Value +3100!]
And so, the three took turns "on duty," with terrifying efficiency.
When encountering rookie pirates, administer Physical Salvation.
When encountering underground merchant ships, levy heavy taxes.
When encountering clueless nobles, flip the table outright.
Within just a few days, the G-5 Branch transformed from a Navy-designated dumping ground into a remarkably efficient money-printing machine at sea.
The entire entrance to the New World was thrown into chaos by their actions, filled with complaints and uproar.
Countless pirates and underground factions experienced for the first time the fear of being "robbed" by the Navy.