Chapter 40: Infiltration of the Marine Warship – Setting Sail!
At this very moment.
Marine Commodore Barrens' eyes were practically popping out of his skull, his face filled with sheer terror as he stared at the young man in front of him—a man who was both familiar and now utterly alien!
He had no idea why he was here.
Even less idea why Rok was here!
This was Rok!
Just before he had been petrified, Headquarters had sent an urgent message to Vice Admiral Momonga:
Former Marine Captain Rok, together with Straw Hat Luffy and his crew, had brutally murdered Celestial Dragon Saint Charlos at the Sabaody Archipelago.
They had then escaped the combined encirclement of Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru.
All Marine branches were ordered to report immediately if Rok or any Straw Hat was sighted!
Of all the information in that message, the part that shocked the Marines the most was not that Rok had killed a Celestial Dragon.
After all, nearly every Marine knew that Captain Rok's meteo-ric career had been destroyed by a single sentence from a Celestial Dragon.
So Rok taking revenge? Shocking, yes—but not unimaginable.
What truly stunned Barrens and the rest of the Marines was this:
Rok and the Straw Hats had escaped alive from two Admirals—including Kizaru, the fastest man in the world!
And this was the same man who, even while poisoned and gravely injured, had still managed to repel Vice Admiral Momonga.
Now a mere Commodore was standing face-to-face with that monster.
How could his legs not shake?
"Don't be nervous, Commodore Barrens."
Rok looked coldly at the trembling, sweating officer, then slowly sat down on the luxurious throne-like chair that Hancock had ordered her servants to bring in just for him.
The sight made Barrens break into a fresh wave of cold sweat.
What the hell had happened?!
That infamously arrogant, man-hating Pirate Empress was gazing at Rok with lovestruck eyes?!
And the chair Rok was sitting on… wasn't that the Dragon Throne of Amazon Lily?!
He'd only been stone for half a day, yet it felt like the entire world had turned upside down!
"No more nonsense, Commodore Barrens. I need you to do me a favor. Do it, and you'll get a fortune. Refuse… well, you can stay a statue forever. Or get chopped into eight pieces and fed to the Sea Kings."
Rok didn't waste words—he went straight to the point and laid out his plan.
Commodore Barrens was not the type to die for so-called "justice."
He knew exactly what choice to make.
And sure enough, after hearing the full plan, Barrens, knowing he had no way out, immediately agreed.
As for whether Barrens might betray them later—Rok wasn't worried in the slightest.
Either he or Hancock could kill the man in an instant.
…
"Vice Admiral, sir! Great news! Shichibukai Boa Hancock has accepted the summons and is about to board our warship!"
In the Calm Belt waters.
Aboard the Marine warship.
A Marine Colonel rushed to report to Vice Admiral Momonga.
"Finally some good news. Alert all non-petrified personnel—full alertness! She boards alone. Double the patrols. The moment anything seems off, report to me immediately!"
Vice Admiral Momonga finally allowed himself a tiny smile.
His eyes were wrapped in thick bandages, his body covered in wounds, his combat strength heavily reduced.
He had racked his brain all night trying to figure out who attacked him.
But the masked assailant had vanished into the sea without a trace.
He had briefly suspected Hancock, but there was no proof, and Amazon Lily and the Kuja Pirates had no men.
Plus, unless she was insane, the Pirate Empress had no reason to attack him right now.
Given the current situation, Headquarters couldn't spare any more manpower.
So even half-crippled, Momonga had no choice but to continue the mission of bringing in Boa Hancock.
Thankfully, she had accepted the summons.
Otherwise, he really wouldn't know what to do next.
In his current state, he wouldn't last a minute against her.
Soon.
The Perfume Yuda of the Kuja Pirates approached with great fanfare.
Despite his severe injuries, Momonga personally went on deck to greet the Empress.
A Shichibukai was far too dangerous to treat lightly.
Also, he needed her to restore his petrified Marines—especially Commodore Barrens.
He was blind now. He needed a Commodore to handle day-to-day command of the ship.
"Been a day, and you've already become a blind man?"
"What a pity. You'll never get to admire my beauty again~"
Pirate Empress Boa Hancock stepped gracefully onto the Marine warship, threw out a taunt, and immediately struck an impossibly perfect pose.
At that moment.
Every Marine on deck—except the blind Momonga—stood frozen, mouths agape.
Several instantly turned to stone.
And right then, while every eye was glued to Hancock.
Rok and Luffy shot aboard like phantoms and slipped into the hold storing the petrified Marines.
For insurance, after Barrens gave his word, Hancock turned him back into stone.
The deck was chaos anyway—no one would notice if he was restored with the others later.
Rok had even made Luffy change into ordinary Marine uniforms with him.
"Pirate Empress Boa Hancock! Why have you only agreed to restore some of the Marines?!"
"Too many people annoy me. Got a problem with that?"
"Hmph. Then at least restore Commodore Barrens. My condition is poor—I was attacked last night. Commodore Barrens will temporarily take over daily operations."
After some haggling, Hancock finally restored Commodore Barrens and a handful of new recruits.
Then, under Barrens' arrangements, Rok and Luffy—disguised as rookie Marines—were assigned to "serve" the Empress and entered her luxurious cabin.
Thus.
Phase One of Rok's plan to infiltrate Marine Headquarters officially began.
And when Hancock saw Rok in a Marine uniform.
The world's most beautiful woman instantly turned into a blushing fangirl.
She had never seen a Marine this handsome.
If Straw Hat Luffy wasn't there as a third-wheel lightbulb, she would've thrown herself into Rok's arms right then and there!
"Hey, Rok!"
"What is it, Luffy?"
As the warship officially set sail for Marine Headquarters.
Inside the cabin, Luffy suddenly slapped Rok's ba
ck.
"You told me before… Ace is being held in Impel Down right now, right?!"
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! New sign-in quest triggered! Quest Level: Supreme!]
==============================================================
Support me and be 100 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/inkshield