With the Marines gone, only Colonel Nezumi remained in the room, accompanied by a young clerk with a notebook in hand.
"You're the bounty hunter here to exchange a head for money? Hm, why haven't I seen you before? A newcomer?" Colonel Nezumi wiped his greasy beard, his eyes filled with cunning calculation.
Kaito didn't waste words. After confirming the man before him was indeed Colonel Nezumi, he placed the wrapped head onto the table, untied it, and spoke in an even tone.
"This is the leader of the Arlong Pirates I killed Arlong."
The moment Nezumi saw the severed head, a flicker of shock passed across his sly features, followed quickly by barely contained rage. For years, he had taken bribes from Arlong—enough money to secure a future transfer out of this backwater base.
Now, with Arlong dead, that steady stream of wealth had been cut off. His long-term plans of easy money and a comfortable reassignment were gone in an instant.
Still, he couldn't show his fury outright. Collusion with pirates was forbidden in the Marines.
Nezumi's eyes shifted greedily back to Arlong's head. Twenty million berries… With that, and what he'd already pocketed over the years, he could still buy his way to a better post.
He forced a smile. "Impressive. A bounty hunter strong enough to take down a pirate worth twenty million! Excellent!"
"The identity is confirmed. The bounty is twenty million," Kaito replied calmly.
"Of course, of course," Nezumi said smoothly. Then he turned to his adjutant. "Fetch five million berries for the bounty hunter."
"Five million?" Kaito's eyes narrowed. His voice sharpened. "As far as I know, Arlong's bounty is twenty million. Since when did it become five?"
Nezumi smirked. "The remaining fifteen million is… processing fees."
His expression was smug, filled with pride. He had pulled this trick on countless bounty hunters before. Normally, he only skimmed ten percent, but this time was different. Arlong's death had ruined him. His greed demanded more.
"You dare to steal fifteen million as handling fees? Marines allowing filth like you… are you mocking me?" Kaito's tone flattened, stripped of all emotion.
Nezumi leaned back, unfazed. "I'm the colonel of the 16th Branch. My word here is law. You'll take what I give you, and you'll be grateful for it."
"That's enough. You can die."
Before Nezumi could react, Kaito's hand shot forward and clamped around his throat.
"Stop! What are you doing? Do you mean to defy the Marines? Let go of Colonel Nezumi!" the clerk shouted in panic.
"Defy the Marines?" Kaito's eyes gleamed coldly. "Heh. I couldn't care less about your ranks and rules. This man dies here."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Murderous intent radiated from Kaito, suffocating the air. His presence was like that of a reaper.
"You… you were pretending all along?" Nezumi gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Yes. And as for your so-called reward—consider your death my answer."
With a sharp twist, Kaito snapped his neck. Nezumi's body crumpled to the ground.
He turned his gaze on the terrified clerk. "Your master is dead. Now, it's your turn."
"Y-you're insane! This is treason against the Marines! You—" The man's voice cracked with fear.
"Marines?" Kaito sneered. "Even if the elites of Marine Headquarters came here, they would die if they stand against me."
Kaito raised a finger, and a compressed blast of air shot forward. The bullet pierced the clerk's skull, dropping him instantly.
Dusting off his hands, Kaito walked out of the Marine 16th Branch without a backward glance. The soldiers stationed outside weren't worth his effort. The head of the rot had already been dealt with.
Ripples spread beneath his feet as he rose into the sky, vanishing like a streak of light.
Three days later, news of Arlong's death spread across East Blue like wildfire. The underground world, pirate crews, and bounty hunters alike were stunned.
Arlong was no ordinary pirate. He had returned from the Grand Line, his bounty soaring to twenty million berries—the highest in East Blue. Even the once-feared Krieg Pirates were nothing compared to him.
And now, he had been killed by a stranger.
Information on Kaito—his appearance, his deeds, even his photo—spread rapidly among the underground networks. The more they learned, the greater their fear became.
Another chilling detail: this same young man had effortlessly crushed Monkey D. Luffy, the rising pirate star of East Blue, with a single punch.
How strong is this man? the underworld leaders wondered, their minds filled with unease.
They issued swift orders: Kaito was not to be provoked under any circumstances.
As night fell, a brilliant moon bathed the sea in silver light. On a heavily fortified island, Marines patrolled diligently. Warships lined the harbor, and cannons bristled from the coastal forts. The island resembled a fortress of war, ready to annihilate any invading pirates.
This was the Marine 23rd Branch, the command center of East Blue. At its head stood Rear Admiral Kata Kongbo, the base chief appointed directly by Headquarters.
Inside his office, brightly lit against the night, Kata frowned over a dossier. At its center was a single image: Kaito.