The sky was painted with streaks of orange and purple as the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the village. With Chibi perched on my shoulder, I made my way toward the marine base. The ledger tucked under my arm felt heavier than it should, not because of its weight, but because of what it represented—years of suffering, corruption, and the villagers' stolen freedom. Sigh... I really hope this works. Fuck it, we ball.
"Ready for this, Chibi? Don't be nervous, just do what we've practised." I said quietly as we approached the base, the crunch of gravel beneath my sandals breaking the evening's stillness.
Chibi chirped in response, mimicking a loud military trumpet, which pulled a small smile from me. Her Sound-Sound abilities had become useful, but more than that, they brought lightness to moments like these. I needed that. Today has been a long ass day.
As we neared the base, two guards stood watch at the gate, rifles crossed in front of them. Their eyes narrowed suspiciously as they spotted the ledger in my hand, but they didn't immediately react.
"State your business," one of them barked, his grip tightening on his weapon.
"I'm here to speak with Captain Nezumi," I replied, keeping my voice as cold as the ice I wield. "It's about his... dealings with Arlong."
The two guards exchanged glances before one of them turned and walked inside. The remaining guard kept his eyes locked on me, his hand resting on his sword's hilt. Chibi, sensing the tension, ruffled her feathers and let out the sound of a sword being drawn, causing the guard to flinch in confusion. I bit back a chuckle. Even in serious moments, Chibi never missed a chance to show off.
After a few minutes, the guard returned. "Captain Nezumi will see you," he said, stepping aside.
I walked into the base, keeping my pace steady and my eyes scanning the surroundings. The marine base wasn't as grand as those in larger towns, but it still carried the air of authority. Although, its design was much to be desired. It looked like the Mickey Mouse Fun-House, if you took the 'fun' part out and burnt it to ashes. Marines glanced my way as I passed, some curious, others wary. They didn't know what to make of a masked stranger walking into their domain, but I wasn't here to make friends.
As I approached the far end of the building, I heard the familiar sound of coins being counted, followed by the squeak of a chair. I didn't need to see Nezumi to know he was behind that door, reveling in his ill-gotten gains.
"Come in," his voice called out, dripping with the smugness that had kept him comfortable in his corruption for so long.
I pushed the door open and stepped into his office. There he was—Captain Nezumi—sitting behind an ornate desk with a pile of freshly counted cash in front of him. His rat-like face twisted into a sneer as he looked me over. "Well, well," he drawled, leaning back in his chair with an air of arrogance. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
I didn't bother with pleasantries. "I'm here to talk about Arlong."
He raised an eyebrow, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk. "Ah, Arlong… I heard about the commotion you've caused. A regrettable situation, but what's done is done. You've dealt with him already, haven't you? So why bother me about it?"
I tossed the ledger onto his desk, watching as his eyes flicked to it, the smugness faltering for a brief moment. "Because you're part of the problem," I said, my voice sharp. "This ledger details every bribe you took, every dirty deal you made with that fish-man. You're as guilty as he is."
For a few heartbeats, the room was silent. The sneer slowly slipped from Nezumi's face, replaced by a scowl. "You think you can just walk in here and throw accusations at me?" His voice rose, and he stood from his chair, puffing his chest as if to intimidate me. "I'm a marine captain! You've got no authority here, boy."
I remained silent, watching him as he tried to assert control. His arrogance was almost laughable.
"And now that I think about it," Nezumi continued, grinning maliciously, "it'd be much easier to make you and that entire village disappear. I'll get rid of all the evidence, take the stashed cash, and no one will be any the wiser. The marines would never believe you over me. I've got the backing of this entire base. You're just a nobody."
I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips beneath my mask. "That's where you're wrong." I glanced at Chibi, who gave me a knowing nod before puffing out her chest and opening her beak.
A sudden click echoed through the room, followed by Nezumi's own voice, replayed with perfect clarity: "I'll get rid of all the evidence, take the stashed cash, and no one will be any the wiser."
Nezumi's face drained of color. "Wha—"
"Surprise," I said coolly, watching as the horror spread across his features. "Chibi ate a Devil Fruit. She can record and replay any sound she hears, which means—every single word you just said."
Before he could react, I moved. Icy snow swirled around me, and in an instant, Nezumi was frozen to his chair, his mouth opening in a silent scream. I left him alive, in pain, but alive nonetheless.
The door burst open, and marines poured into the room, their rifles aimed at me. But they were too slow. I slid across the floor as if skating on ice, throwing up walls of snow to block their attacks. Wouldn't want them to accidentally shoot that rat-fuck before his trial. One marine rushed me with a sword, but I sidestepped, brushing my hand against his blade and encasing it in frost. A quick kick sent him crashing into the others.
More marines entered the room, but I wasn't done. With a wave of my hand, I summoned a flurry of snowflakes that whirled through the room like a blizzard, slashing and biting at my opponents. In the midst of the chaos, Chibi screeched, mimicking the roar of a cannon, and the marines stumbled, disoriented by the noise.
It didn't take long for them to fall, immobilized and trapped beneath layers of snow and ice. Nezumi, still frozen in his chair, could only watch in terror as I calmly approached him.
"It's over," I said, my voice colder than the ice that surrounded him. "I'll be taking that transponder snail now and be a dear, give me your HQ's number."
One of the marines, shaking in fear, handed me the snail and a note from Nezumi's desk. Without hesitation, I dialed Marine Headquarters, my fingers moving swiftly over the buttons.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku speaking" came a familiar voice from the other end.
Ok, that actually caught me off guard. I was expecting a Commodore or Rear-Admiral to answer the call. No way in hell did I anticipate one of the most influential and strongest people in the world to pick up the snail. Why would a regent manager have the CEO's phone number? I turned to Nezumi for some answers only to see my work of art staring at me in horror. Yeah, he's useless, might as well bite the bullet and make the most of it.
Sengoku was growing frustrated as he spoke out again, "Captain Nezumi of the 16th Branch, this number was provided to you for extreme emergencies. If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation right now, you will face punished accordingly!"
I took a breath to calm myself before speaking. "Hello, unfortunately, he is currently preoccupied. I'm calling regarding Captain Nezumi and his dealings with Arlong. I have evidence here of bribery, human trafficking, and corruption within the Marines. I suggest you turn on the snail's video feature and listen carefully. Also, before you go crazy with misunderstandings, the marines around me are all just incapacitated and still alive. Everything was an act of self-defence. "
There was a pause before the transponder snail crackled to life, but this time, the eyes of the snail widened as it morphed into a video transmission, reflecting the imposing face of Fleet Admiral Sengoku. His sharp eyes, framed by half-moon glasses, were immediately drawn to the carnage behind me. The room in Nezumi's office was coated in ice and snow, marines sprawled helplessly on the floor. The man himself, Captain Nezumi, was frozen in place, eyes wide with terror as he remained bound to his chair, barely visible behind the layers of frost.
Sengoku's expression hardened. His square jaw clenched, and the vein on his forehead pulsed with restrained fury. Dressed in his pristine white admiral's coat, his broad frame radiated authority and years of battle-hardened experience. His iconic seagull cap sat atop his head, but the calm, wise demeanour he usually carried was overshadowed by visible frustration and suspicion.
I started retelling him the events, omitting unnecessary parts like the underwater stash. As I turned the ledger pages to show him evidence of bribes, illegal dealings with Arlong, and the trafficking records, Sengoku's eyes narrowed further.
His reaction to Chibi replaying Nezumi's confession was subtle but telling—a flash of disgust crossed his face, his lips curling in displeasure at the recorded words. Sengoku's gaze shifted back to me, lingering on my mask that covered my face. Though composed, there was a storm brewing behind his eyes, his calculating mind already working through the implications of everything laid before him.
"This is damning evidence," he said finally, his tone cold. "But who are you? Why bring this to me?"
"I'm just a concerned citizen performing a citizen's arrest, who wants justice for these villagers," I answered evenly. "And I know how much the marines value their reputation. Here's my offer: compensate the victims, arrest those responsible, and in return, I'll hand over the evidence quietly. No leaks. You keep this from becoming a scandal."
Sengoku's voice was suspicious. "And what do you want in return?"
"Arlong's bounty," I said simply. "That's all."
There was a long pause. Then Sengoku spoke again, his voice low and dangerous. "And if we refuse?"
I kept my voice steady. "Please don't insult my intelligence. I have a contingency plan. If you go back on your word, this evidence will be leaked to the world. Every news outlet, every pirate, every citizen will know about the marines' dealings with pirates. The World Government won't be able to save face. Besides, I would like to believe that they didn't give you the position of Fleet Admiral just for the pretty face. The word 'justice' you all keep preaching about must stand for something. Or am I wrong?"
Another pause. The only change in the Fleet Admiral's expression were the viens hiding back into his head, which I think is a good sign. Finally, Sengoku let out an exasperated sigh. "Very well. Someone will come from Logue Town to pick up Nezumi and the others, they should be there by tomorrow evening at latest. You'll get Arlong's bounty. Although you've done the marine's a service by uncovering corruption within our ranks, but attacking and damaging the base is still a criminal offence. I'll let it go for now, but don't think for a second that this means you're off our radar."
"I never expected to be," I replied calmly.
The call ended, and I set the transponder snail back on the desk. I let out a breath I didn't know I've been holding before turning to the rat-bastard. "Well, that went as well as one could hope it would. Am i right?"
Nezumi's eyes were wide with fear, his still-frozen body trembling slightly. I leaned down, my voice soft but sharp. "Your time's up. The marines are coming for you."
Chibi chirped triumphantly, letting out a sound that resembled a victory fanfare. I let out a chuckle before saying, "Ok, lets unfreeze everyone and package them for the pick up. God, I need some sleep."
----
Far away, in Marine Headquarters, Sengoku rubbed his temples, deep in thought, before looking up. "Find out who this masked kid is," he ordered his subordinates. "I want every scrap of information we have on him. Call Smoker, tell him to pick Nezumi and his goons up as soon as possible. And get me Garp on the line, right now!"