Roelki stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Lu Yu.
"The Dor Pirates and the Alec Pirates are actually colluding with the Navy."
Roelki wasted no time relaying the information.
Lu Yu responded indifferently.
To him, those two pirate crews were nothing more than errand boys. Their actions didn't warrant much concern. After all, it wasn't uncommon for the Navy to collude with pirates in the East Blue.
For Lu Yu, this was insignificant.
"Captain, I'm willing to eliminate any hidden threats for you."
"I hope to become a trainee crew member!"
Noticing Lu Yu's lack of enthusiasm, Roelki pressed forward.
Yes, Roelki was a pirate with ambition.
Since he had chosen to follow Lu Yu, he didn't want to be just another errand boy. Though he couldn't officially join the crew right away, becoming a trainee was a significant step forward.
"A trainee crew member..."
Lu Yu pondered for a moment.
As the saying goes, a soldier who doesn't aspire to be a general isn't a good soldier.
Roelki ambition at least proved he had potential.
"You're now an apprentice of the Dragon Hunter Pirates."
"As for those two pirate crews, leave them be for now. Just keep them busy with chores."
Hearing this, Roelki face lit up with joy.
"Thank you, Captain!"
"I'll make sure those errand pirates do their job well."
Roelki declared before leaving happily.
Meanwhile, in Cocoyasi Village.
"Arlong, aren't you going too far lately?"
"Several villages are starting to revolt."
"If this keeps up..."
Colonel Nezumi trailed off, his narrow, rat-like eyes glancing at the Fish-Man sitting before him.
Arlong, seated at the head of the table, clearly didn't take the Navy officer seriously.
And why would he? Whether in terms of strength or influence, Nezumi was nowhere near his equal.
Taking a bite from the dragon's share was no easy feat.
One had to be prepared to die for it.
Of course, Nezumi had his own leverage.
If Arlong wanted to maintain his reign in the East Blue, he still needed Nezumi's cooperation.
"Public resentment isn't my concern."
"Nezumi, let me remind you—if you take my money, you do your job."
Arlong crushed the wine glass in his hand, startling the Navy officer.
Nezumi had always been a coward at heart.
A rat in both name and nature.
"Arlong, I have a chance to be promoted to a headquarters officer."
"If you help me, my jurisdiction in the East Blue will expand."
"And when that happens, all those territories will be yours as well!"
Nezumi finally revealed his true purpose.
He had never intended to reprimand Arlong. His earlier words were merely a prelude.
"Headquarters officer?"
"Nezumi, you'd better tread carefully."
"If you need me to spell it out for you... there won't be any turning back."
"This is the intel. I'll keep an eye on things and withdraw the Navy when necessary."
"All you need to do is take care of this man."
Nezumi said, pulling out a bounty poster along with a Den Den Mushi.
On the poster was an image of Lu Yu.
"Dragon Hunter Pirates?"
"Hahahaha... Hahahahahaha!"
"With a name like that, there's no way I'm letting him leave the East Blue alive!"
Arlong laughed wickedly, grabbing the bounty poster and leaving.
Just the name alone—Dragon Hunter—was an outright challenge.
Of course, the dragon Lu Yu hunted was not the one Arlong assumed.
Watching Arlong depart, a sly grin crept onto Nezumi's face.
He, too, had his own moves to make.
The entire East Blue was about to be shaken.
The Navy, long absent from these waters, suddenly took to the seas.
Warships patrolled the ocean, striking fear into the hearts of small-time pirates.
Was the so-called "safe haven" of pirates about to turn into a battlefield?
Many pirates chose to lay low, waiting for the storm to pass before resuming their adventures.
Back aboard the Dragon Hunter Pirates' ship.
The Dor Pirates and the Alec Pirates slowly spread out to the sides.
Their ships, like wings, flanked Lu Yu's small, battered vessel.
Meanwhile, the Roelki Pirates lingered at the rear.
"Brother Lu Yu, the Dor and Alec Pirates seem to be adjusting their navigation."
Akame approached, gripping Murasame as she spoke calmly.
"Ignore them for now."
"If we strike too soon, we'll scare away the real prey."
From the beginning, he had known the Dor and Alec Pirates were up to something.
But he had allowed them to linger—because they made excellent bait.
Rather than diving headfirst into chaos, it was better to wait until the battle came to him.
"By the way, Brother Lu Yu... is the government of this world as corrupt as it seems?"
Akame brushed her hair back, a hint of naïve curiosity in her tone.
"If Roger's final words ushered in the so-called 'Golden Age of Piracy,' then this era is more fittingly called the 'Age of Extreme Evil.'"
"And the World Government? They are the Age of Extreme Darkness."
"The Navy may claim to uphold justice, but in reality, they are nothing more than accomplices to evil."
Lu Yu spoke to Akame, sharing his perspective on the world.
To him, a crew wasn't just a collection of tools.
Akame wasn't just a pawn—she was his comrade.
They were a day away from Shells Town.
"Captain, a pirate ship is approaching!"
"Captain, it's the Arlong Pirates!"
Just as Lu Yu was preparing to land in Shells Town, Roelki urgent voice rang out.
"So, he finally showed up."
"Roelki, wipe out the Dor and Alec Pirates."
He issued his command.
Now that the fish had taken the bait, there was no need to keep the bait around.
Roelki hesitated momentarily but quickly composed himself before turning to attack the two pirate crews.
Meanwhile, Lu Yu and Akame turned their sights toward the true enemy—the Arlong Pirates.
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