"It looks really majestic up close!"
The three of them stood in front of the gate of Branch 153. The iron door with the word "Marine" printed on it was closed tightly. Koby couldn't help but look in amazement.
Luffy curled his lips and stuffed his little finger into his nostrils, "It's far worse than Marineford."
"...Then Mr. Luffy, I'm just going to knock on the door?"
Koby smiled awkwardly and nodded, turning his head to look for Luffy, "——?!!"
The figure next to him disappeared without a trace, and a fallen leaf was blown by the wind on the empty ground.
"Hey! Mr. Luffy, what are you doing?!"
Looking at Luffy who was climbing up the wall, Koby suddenly had black lines on his head.
By the way, aren't we Marines?
Although he has not officially joined the Marines yet, he has already received a promise from Luffy that he will not reveal his time on a pirate ship.
"Of course, go in!"
Luffy glanced at Koby strangely, then motioned for Zoro to quickly climb up behind him.
"..."
Zoro was speechless and didn't move, just staring at this idiot commander.
Suddenly he felt a little regretful. Shouldn't I have accepted his invitation just now?
Dong Dong Dong——!!
During the stalemate between the two, Koby stepped forward decisively and knocked on the door of the base.
It's strange to say that the huge Marine branch doesn't even have a patrol soldier. Could it be that it's too lax?
"Who is it?"
Squeak--!!
With an impatient shout, the closed iron door was slowly opened from the inside.
A man with yellow hair parted in the middle, splayed eyebrows, wearing gold and silver, his chin looked like he had two buttocks, and an arrogant expression on his face came out.
Behind him were two sailors wearing Marine uniforms, leading a huge pet wolf.
He rolled his eyes a little and soon noticed Luffy on the wall, "Hey! What are you doing, you bastard? Do you want to sneak into the military base? Also, where did you steal the clothes you are wearing?!"
Naturally, he recognized the brochure on Luffy's body.
In the entire town of Shells, there was only one Captain, his father Morgan.
Even a Captain from another branch would not come to Branch 153 for no reason without first reporting.
"Eh? Are you talking about me? Butt man?"
Luffy asked, looking left and right, pointing to the bridge of his nose.
"...butt man?"
Helmeppo's face instantly turned livid, he pointed angrily at Luffy and shouted: "Do you know who I am? My father is Captain Monka!"
"Humph - you know how to rely on your father"
Zoro crossed his arms with a look of disdain on his face.
"Don't say that, Mr. Zoro, Mr. Luffy."
Koby waved his hands repeatedly and winked at the two of them.
In his mind, the strong dragon does not overwhelm the local snake after all.
Even if Mr. Luffy is a Captain from the headquarters, after all, his position is the same as that of the butt guy's father in front of him, so his strength will not be much worse. This is his territory.
"——?!!"
The barrage of taunts soon made Helmeppo unable to hold on any longer. With trembling fingers, he directly named Luffy and Zoro, "Take down these two bastards for pretending to be Captain Marines!"
He is not stupid either. He has to come up with a legitimate name before arresting someone.
"Hey! Are the clothes you're wearing real?"
Zoro's eyelids drooped. These enemies in front of him made him not even qualified to use the sword.
"Of course!" Luffy turned around and grinned at Zoro, "I am the man who wants to become the Marine King!"
"I can rest assured that."
Zoro's expression was expressionless as he strode forward to meet the charging Marines and pet wolf.
Clang——!!
The cold light shines, and the sword leaves an afterimage.
Boom--!!
There was a dull sound of a blunt object hitting flesh, and two people and one wolf fell down.
Slowly sheathing the sword, Zoro asked calmly: "This should be regarded as a Marine's internal conflict, right?"
"You...do you want to make an enemy of the Marines?"
Helmeppo finally started to feel a little scared, but deep down he still refused to believe that these guys were Marines.
Even if they are, at this point, it has to be...no!
In the center of the branch, in the Captain's office.
The windows are bright and clean, and there are only a few books placed on the simple desk.
Captain Monka bit a burning cigar and faced the window, leaving the other Marines with a broad back view.
"I..."
"How great!!!"
Monka brainwashed himself over and over again. Although the sailor waiting behind him was complaining crazily in his heart, he couldn't help but compliment him on his face:
"Yes! Because you are a Captain! Captain Monka!"
Monka did not appreciate it, but changed the subject, "But...don't you think the tributes from the townspeople have...been a lot less recently?"
The cold sweat on the Marine's forehead instantly fell, and he quickly gave a Marine salute, "Yes! Regarding the funds dedicated to the Captain... because the financial capabilities of the people in this town are really limited."
"It's not about financial difficulties... it's about them not respecting me enough!"
At this time, Monka started to behave like a diva.
What do you mean you can't take it out? I just want your attitude. Do you really think I lack this stuff from you?
Bang——!!
The office door was pushed open, and the embarrassed Helmeppo broke in, "Dad!!"
"Helmeppo, what's wrong? You're making a lot of noise."
Monka turned around and glanced at his son at this time.
——He was dressed in tattered strips of cloth, his right cheek was swollen, his face was covered with tears, and his eyes were filled with anger.
"I hope..."
"Hey! Which of you is Monka!"
Luffy ran in angrily, "I heard that you are still collecting protection money in this town?"
"Um?"
Monka looked at Luffy calmly, and finally stopped at the brochure on the cloak of justice, "Captain Marine?"
"Hey! Are you asking people in the town to pay you tribute?"
Luffy questioned again.
"So what?" Monka raised his eyelids slightly, and the metal jaw opened and closed, making a clanging sound.
"Looks like Butt Man didn't lie to us!"
Luffy rubbed his fists and glared at Monka angrily, "I'm going to beat you away!"
"I'll settle the score with you later!" Monka glared at Helmeppo fiercely, and then stood up suddenly.
Bang——!!
One punch.
Monka fell directly to the ground unconscious.
"..."
The audience was suddenly embarrassed, watching helplessly as Luffy retracted his rubber arm.
"Dad!"
Helmeppo finally reacted and rushed forward, wiping the snot and tears on Monka.
From entering the door to Luffy taking action, it only took a few dozen seconds.
However, this drastic change suddenly stunned the Marine next to him.
"Sir, what are you doing..."
"I'm from the headquarters. I accidentally got lost in East Blue. Can you take me to... to... where to go?" Luffy racked his brains, but he still couldn't remember which base he was going to serve in.
"Forget it, just prepare things for me to go to sea, and I will go back by myself."
Looking at Luffy who didn't answer the question, the sailor was speechless.
Forget it, let's communicate with the headquarters.
The next day.
Luffy and Zoro boarded the small boat prepared by the Marine for them. There was enough dry food on board, enough for them to eat for a few days.
So, surrounded by the Marine, the two gradually drifted away, and finally disappeared from everyone's sight.
——Captain's Office
A man sat on the originally empty office chair again.
Ripper of Branch 153 stood respectfully at the door and gave a standard Marine salute, "Fleet Admiral Atlas!!"
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