North Blue, Sri Lanka Port of the Rubunir Kingdom.
A Marine warship from the Marine 113th Branch in North Blue was docked here.
Not far away, a squad of Marines could be seen walking towards the port town.
Soon, this squad of Marines arrived in front of a tavern.
Two Marine soldiers quickly stepped forward, one on each side, pushing open the tavern door.
Then, a young man wearing the shoulder insignia of a Marine Branch Colonel was the first to step into the tavern.
The entire tavern was incredibly noisy, with all sorts of people gathered inside: black laborers from the docks, hooligans from the town, and even some smugglers.
In short, it was a den of iniquity.
The Marine Branch Colonel surveyed the situation inside the tavern, then smacked his lips and said, "Tsk, no pirates…"
Just then, a Marine soldier walked up to him and whispered, "Colonel Dante, that middleman Blainet is over there…"
As he spoke, the Marine soldier pointed towards a corner of the tavern, where a group of fierce-looking individuals were seated.
Five or six burly men, full of muscle, with old scars on their bodies, looked intimidating and immediately gave off the impression of being bad people.
"Looks like it wasn't a wasted trip," Dante said with a smile.
Showing no fear of the fierce strongmen, after confirming his target, Dante walked towards them.
As he passed, the tavern patrons quieted down, not daring to make a sound.
After all, no matter what, the Marines represent justice and power in this vast sea.
Aside from a few extremely vicious pirates, few people dared to openly attack or oppose the Marines.
Especially these low-level villains, who were aggressive towards ordinary people but obsequious when facing the Marines, fearing being targeted by them.
At this moment, the middleman named Blainet was drinking with his associates.
It seemed they were completely unaware that these Marines had come for them.
Dante naturally walked to their table, pulled out an empty chair, and sat down very casually.
"Marines? I don't recall inviting you for a drink?" Blainet frowned, looking at Dante.
"Five days ago, you handled a batch of goods, and among them was a famous sword… Nagasone Kotetsu.
Where is it now?" Dante completely ignored him and asked on his own.
"Hey, Marine, we're not obligated to answer your questions, and we don't know what you're talking about at all.
We are legitimate merchants protected by the Rubunir Kingdom!" one of Blainet's burly associates said fiercely.
Dante turned his head and glanced at the man, who seemed quite unyielding, slightly puffing out his muscular chest and glaring fiercely at Dante.
In terms of physique, this strongman was about two meters tall, with well-developed muscles all over his body, clearly a tough character.
However, Colonel Dante appeared much weaker, standing just over 1.8 meters tall, wearing a standard Marine uniform, with an ordinary sword hanging at his waist.
He seemed like just an ordinary Marine member, nothing special.
If there was anything noteworthy, it was merely his slightly handsome appearance, looking quite dashing.
'Slap!'
A crisp slap landed, and the fierce strongman's head involuntarily turned to the side, a bright red handprint appearing on his cheek.
His eyes held some confusion, seemingly surprised and astonished.
How did this person suddenly slap him?
"When I'm not talking to you, don't yell at me.
After all, I have a bad temper and I really dislike that," Dante said nonchalantly.
At the same time, the Marine soldiers Dante brought began to enter the tavern, driving away all the loiterers.
Before long, the entire tavern was left with only the trembling owner and Blainet's group, who were surrounded by a group of Marines.
Casually picking up a half-empty wine bottle from the table, and weighing it in his hand, Dante looked at Blainet again and said, "Nagasone Kotetsu, where is it?"
Blainet felt a bit flustered, but seemed to be afraid of something as well, gritting his teeth and saying, "Colonel, that sword was pre-ordered by someone.
I can't afford to offend them, please don't make things difficult for me…"
"Sigh…" Dante sighed helplessly, and said softly, "Wrong answer…"
As his words fell, the wine bottle in his hand was raised, and he smashed it fiercely onto Blainet's head.
The force was so great that the wine bottle directly burst open, and the inferior wine and crimson blood flowed down Blainet's cheeks.
Indeed, this guy wasn't a tough nut to crack.
After taking that blow, he immediately wailed, clutching his head, looking utterly disheveled.
"So, you think you can afford to offend me?" Dante shook the wine off his hand, still asking very calmly.
Blainet's several strongmen subordinates all tensed up, looking as if they would act at a moment's notice.
But Dante didn't care about any of this.
The fact that they didn't dare to retaliate immediately after he struck already proved a lot.
For example, they were outwardly fierce but inwardly cowardly.
"Beat them." Dante didn't wait for their response, stood up, and walked towards the bar, giving an order at the same time.
As soon as he spoke, the surrounding Marines didn't hesitate at all, picking up their rifle butts and giving Blainet's group a brutal beating.
Twenty-odd Marines beating five or six strongmen was still very easy.
Sitting at the bar, Dante smiled at the trembling tavern owner and said, "Don't misunderstand, we are Marines, representing justice.
As long as you haven't done anything evil, we won't harm you.
Please give me a drink, thank you."
The shop owner nodded hurriedly, then took out a good bottle of wine from the wine cabinet behind him and quickly poured a glass for Dante.
Dante also consciously pulled out a few Berries coins from his pocket, placed them on the table, then picked up the wine and drank it on his own.
Before long, Blainet's group couldn't hold on anymore, wailing and begging for mercy under the Marines' brutal beating.
"Colonel… Colonel… Stop hitting, I'll tell, I'll tell everything…"
However, Dante acted as if he hadn't heard anything, still quietly drinking his wine.
And without his command, that group of Marines didn't care so much.
Their actions showed no sign of stopping, continuing to brutally beat those guys.
Before long, the wailing gradually subsided, as if Blainet's group was too beaten to cry out.
Only then did Dante say softly, "Bring him over."
As soon as he spoke, the Marine soldiers quickly stopped their actions.
Two sergeants stepped forward, one on each side, grabbing Blainet's arms and dragging him to the bar like a dead dog, leaving a 'cruel' trail of blood on the floor.
At this moment, Blainet was bruised and swollen, covered in contusions and dirty blood, almost unrecognizable.
Swollen eyelids covered most of his eyeballs, and his vision could only vaguely make out Dante's figure.
Even so, he could feel his current terror and unease.
Dante unceremoniously poured the remaining half-glass of wine from his cup onto Blainet's head.
The stimulating alcohol on his wounds made Blainet groan twice more.
"Last chance, give me the correct answer," Dante said, still unhurriedly.
Blainet didn't dare to say anything more this time, stammering, "On the ship of the dock boss, that guy Viniel… He's from the Donquixote Family… That sword…"
He didn't finish his sentence, seeming to have fainted from the pain, losing consciousness.
Dante got the answer he wanted, and with another casual wave of his hand, the two Marine sergeants simultaneously threw the unlucky Blainet into the corner of the tavern with force.
Then Dante stood up and said, "Fall in, you guys go to the dock and find that guy named Viniel.
Before dark, I want to see Nagasone Kotetsu on the warship!"
"Yes, Colonel Dante!" all the Marines stood at attention simultaneously.
After Dante walked out of the tavern, a Marine Branch Lieutenant Commander walked up to him and whispered, "Colonel, that guy just said that sword is Donquixote Family's merchandise.
We…"
The Donquixote Family is a gang-like family that has risen in North Blue in the past two years.
They meddle in almost any profitable business, whether legitimate or illicit.
They have developed very rapidly in the past two years, subtly giving off the impression of being North Blue's new elite.
It is said that their leader is still just a kid…
Of course, this is the current surface rumor; Dante knows more.
For example, he knows very well that the Donquixote Family will later become the famous Shichibukai…
But there's nothing to fear about that.
As it stands, the Donquixote Family still doesn't dare to be too arrogant in front of the Marines, at least not openly.
"We are Marines, do we need to be afraid of these people?" Dante said with a smile.
After his words fell, he no longer paid attention to the Lieutenant Commander beside him, and walked towards the warship at the port.
Dante also had his own calculations.
As long as he got Nagasone Kotetsu, he would have more confidence to leave North Blue as soon as possible and strive for a position at Marineford.
Once he shed his identity as a branch Marine and became a glorious Marineford member, would he still need to fear this Donquixote Family?
Even if Doflamingo were given more guts, would he dare to cause trouble at Marineford?