Captain Hill merely smiled and said nothing. He quietly reset the chessboard that Hailan had overturned, picking up the scattered pieces. Hill played the role of an incompetent captain who was ineffectual despite his burning desire for justice. The more he annoyed the Marine major, the more he felt he was successfully playing his part.
"I appreciate your guidance, Major," Captain Hill said calmly as he watched Hailan leave his room.
"This Major's way of turning the tables is rather unique, but it has given me a reminder: those who have the ability to turn the tables aren't necessarily always the players... Is he trying to hint something to me?"
The next day, Hailan did not personally lead the soldiers in training but handed the task over to Ensign Wagner. Perhaps impressed by Hailan's displayed prowess that night, Ensign Wagner had become a devoted follower, executing Hailan's orders with unwavering commitment without a hint of complaint or doubt.
Once Wagner took most of the soldiers for training, Hailan, in civilian clothes, met up with Lieutenant Bellemere, who was also in civilian clothes, at a cozy café.
"What is it, Major Hailan? Are you trying to get everyone out of the way for a date with me?" Bellemere, once a rebellious girl, said with a straight face while sipping sweet coffee.
Hailan laughed at her words. "Ma'am, you're 21, and I'm only 16. Even if I were to date someone, it wouldn't be you."
Bellemere didn't get angry. She responded casually, "You little rascal..."
"You know, talking about a girl's age like that can get you single for life."
"I'm just being honest."
"Well, girls hate guys who are honest and blunt like you."
"I'm single and proud!"
"..."
"..."
Staring into Hailan's eyes, Bellemere finally smiled and waved her hand. "Alright, alright, I give up. What do you need from me?"
Hailan glanced around with his peripheral vision to ensure no one suspicious was nearby before he started. "What I'm going to say might sound harsh, but it needs to be said."
"Your strength is among the top three in the Loguetown base, right?"
Bellemere nodded. "Yes, you guessed right. I rank second, third is that idiot Wagner, and first is Captain Hill. But Wagner and I together can defeat Captain Hill."
"That's the problem."
Hailan set his cup back on the table, looking deeply into her eyes. "I'm curious, how does your current strength protect Loguetown's peace?"
Bellemere gave a bitter smile. "You're right. On our own, we can't maintain peace in Loguetown and the surrounding seas."
"In this Great Pirate Era, the number of pirates has skyrocketed. Meanwhile, due to the high mortality rate, fresh blood in the Marines is dwindling, and fewer people are joining."
"So we mainly rely on Captain Nelson Roy of the Victoria Kingdom's 8th Marine Branch."
"Nelson Roy..."
Hailan repeated the name to memorize it.
"Captain Roy commands 20 ships and 3,000 soldiers, along with the official navy of the Victoria Kingdom. The 8th Branch is the strongest in the East Blue."
"Captain Hill and Captain Roy are old friends. When Loguetown faces unbeatable pirates, Captain Hill asks Captain Roy for help."
"For various reasons, we respectfully call him 'Admiral' Nelson."
"Admiral, huh? That's quite a title. He's a warlord in all but name."
Hailan quickly understood Captain Roy's role. He continued, "So you suspect Captain Hill too? After all, a warlord like Roy wouldn't help Loguetown purely out of justice."
Bellemere had hinted at issues with Captain Hill in her letters, leading to today's "date" with Hailan.
"Yes, I suspect..."
After struggling with her thoughts, Bellemere finally voiced them. "I suspect Captain Hill leaks shipping routes to pirates, leading to attacks on merchant ships traveling from Loguetown to other islands."
"That's how Captain Hill ensures Loguetown's safety—by acting as Roy's informant."
Hailan tried to simplify Bellemere's information. "So, the true mastermind is Captain Roy?"
Bellemere's excitement grew. "It has to be him. Only he has the power to control the East Blue."
Hailan didn't respond immediately but didn't fully agree with Bellemere. Having never left the East Blue, Bellemere was like a frog in a well, unaware of the true power of the strong. Three years ago, when hearing of Shiki the Golden Lion's escape, Bellemere had boasted about teaching him a lesson if he dared to come to the East Blue.
Power without strength would quickly unseat someone from a position like "Admiral." Hailan had seen a photo of Captain Roy, who was so obese that moving was complicated. He didn't look like a fighter. Either Roy was a peculiar Devil Fruit user hiding his strength, or he was a puppet with someone else pulling the strings.
The same was true for the Celestial Dragons ruling over the World Government. Hailan couldn't understand why wise leaders like Fleet Admiral Kong and the cunning Five Elders would submit to a bunch of pigs. The truth was that these pigs were merely puppets used by the absolute rulers to deceive the world.
Even powerful admirals had to bow to protect these idiots. The true ruler must be mighty, either in personal strength or weapons.
Pulling himself back from these thoughts, Hailan asked, "What else do you know about Captain Hill and Captain Roy?"
"Captain Roy has a formidable Devil Fruit user bodyguard. I don't know his exact abilities. Captain Hill has a sweetheart on Pleasure Street... Sorry, that's all I know."
Bellemere had shared all the information she had. She was taking a gamble. If she lost, she planned to resign from the Marines and return to Cocoyasi Village to grow oranges, assuming she survived the fallout.