But it was hard to say.
The thought had just crossed Cyrus's mind when he shook his head.
He knew the overall layout of this world: the Red Line and the Grand Line formed intersecting bands that divided the world into four seas.
But in reality, compared to the four seas—East, West, North, and South—the Grand Line wasn't that vast.
Of course, that was only in comparison to the four seas.
The Marines had limited control over the four seas. After all, the Marines' main focus was on the Grand Line.
With such vast expanses in the four seas, the Marine branches alone couldn't possibly clear out all the pirates.
Again, it was just too big.
In other words, the islands Monkey D. Luffy had adventured through were merely the tip of the iceberg in the East Blue.
Cyrus tried hard to pull himself out of the story's framework.
This was a real world.
A world where killing was all too common.
"Sir!"
While Cyrus was giving himself a pep talk, the Female Captain and her crew brought over the awakened pirate.
"Bastards! How dare you scoundrels capture me! Admiral Krieg will not let you off!" the pirate, who was being escorted, roared. But when he saw Cyrus, a flicker of fear crossed his eyes.
Cyrus's earlier strike had shown him the immense gap between them.
Now, he hoped to use Krieg's name to intimidate these people.
"Krieg?"
Cyrus paused, looking with surprise at the pirate who was still trying to act tough.
"Scared, aren't you? If you're scared, then hurry up and let me go! Otherwise, when Governor-General Krieg arrives, everyone will die, including you!"
Hearing Cyrus's reaction, the pirate thought Krieg's name had frightened him and renewed his threats.
Cyrus's expression remained unchanged, but an image of a massive ship being split in two by Hawkeye's sword flashed through his mind.
A pirate crew of five thousand men had just entered the Grand Line only to run into the Ocean Skate, Hawkeye.
The bored Hawkeye then chased them all the way from the Grand Line back to the East Blue.
Of course, that was also the first time in the story that the power of a Master Swordsman was truly displayed.
Or rather, Hawkeye was the first top-tier powerhouse to appear in the story.
Therefore, Cyrus had a very deep impression of those scenes.
But Krieg was already building a pirate crew in the East Blue now?
Cyrus pondered.
Seeing no reaction from Cyrus, the bound pirate struggled fiercely.
"Hurry up and let me go! Aren't you afraid of Governor-General Krieg?"
"Do you know where Krieg is?"
The pirate's shouting interrupted Cyrus's thoughts.
He looked up and calmly met the pirate's gaze.
"As a great pirate, Governor-General Krieg is naturally out conquering islands on his Dreadnought Battleship," the pirate answered subconsciously to Cyrus's question.
"So, you don't know Krieg's current location?"
Cyrus nodded upon hearing this, then waved his hand.
"Uh, Sir Cyrus?"
Cyrus's gesture confused the Female Captain.
"Take him down and question him. If he doesn't have a bounty, you can deal with him yourselves."
"And if he does have a bounty?" the Female Captain asked, taken aback.
"If he has a bounty, keep him. We'll cash it in when we reach our destination," Cyrus said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Cyrus had no intention of freeloading off his strength; from now on, these pirates would be his personal ATMs.
"Understood!"
"Bastard, how dare you trade me for—"
The pirate flew into a rage upon hearing this, but before he could finish, the Female Captain punched him square on the nose, turning his words into a cry of pain.
After that, Cyrus never saw the pirate again.
...
Over the next few days, they encountered a dozen more pirate crews.
From the pirates they managed to capture, Cyrus got a clearer picture of this Krieg's situation.
Krieg was indeed active, and the pirates gathered here had been summoned by him with the intention of being recruited.
However, these were the rejects, the ones who hadn't made the cut.
In other words, they lacked the skill to join Krieg's Pirate Crew, which was why so many of them were gathered here.
As for Krieg himself, no one knew where he was.
That made sense.
If things followed the story, Krieg would remain active in the East Blue until Monkey D. Luffy set sail, at which point he would enter the Grand Line, only to be chased back.
After passing through the area where the pirates congregated, they encountered a few more pirate crews on their journey and even captured two pirates with bounties.
...
Two months later.
The 16th Marine Base.
Cyrus stepped off the merchant ship, sword in hand, and looked at the port, which hadn't changed much from over a year ago, and the 16th Marine Base visible in the distance.
"The employment is concluded," Cyrus stated.
"Yes, Sir Cyrus. Thank you for your protection during this time!"
The Female Captain respectfully presented him with a money pouch, then gestured.
Two listless pirates, bound by ropes, were dragged off the ship.
Cyrus glanced over, took the ropes, and started walking toward the Marine base.
People on the docks cast curious glances his way, but no one approached to ask questions.
Even the patrolling Marine soldiers didn't come over.
Because Cyrus was heading for the 16th Branch Base.
Dragging the two pirates, Cyrus arrived at the gate of the Marine base under the curious gazes of the town's residents.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
Seeing Cyrus approach, the Marines at the gate immediately went on alert.
"Pirate Hunter, here to collect a bounty."
As Cyrus spoke, he yanked the rope, tossing the two pirates at the other end forward.
Cyrus's action startled the Marines at the gate, who nearly pulled the triggers of their muskets.
A Pirate Hunter?
The Marines heard Cyrus clearly.
After looking at Cyrus and then at the two listless men, one Marine immediately ran off to report, while Cyrus was invited inside.
...
In the Base Commander's office.
Captain Nezumi was admiring himself in a full-length mirror with delight, occasionally adjusting the corners of his collar.
The previous Base Commander had been promoted to Marine Headquarters Major after reporting for duty, and he, in turn, had been promoted to become the commander of a branch base.
A promotion was naturally a happy occasion.
Of course, it was also possible that the intelligence he had provided a year ago had earned him merit.
After all, he still remembered that a Vice Admiral from Headquarters had even contacted him to inquire about the situation.
That was a true high-ranking Marine officer.
"Sir!"
A loud shout from a Marine outside made Captain Nezumi jump.
He then turned unhappily toward the open office door.
"What is it?"
Captain Nezumi feigned an air of authority, but his rat-like whiskers gave him a somewhat sleazy look.
"Sir, a Pirate Hunter has brought in two pirates to collect a bounty!"
A Pirate Hunter?
The term made Captain Nezumi jolt.
Although many bounty posters were issued, not many people actually captured pirates with bounties and came to the Marines to claim the reward.
Of course, this was also related to the general environment of the East Blue.
The last time a Pirate Hunter had come to claim a reward was that boy who was a suspected ability user.
'What was his name again? Cyrus,' he thought.
Captain Nezumi stroked his whiskers, recalling the events of a year ago.
His own promotion seemed to be related to that person as well.
But now, if that person had been found, he might have already been brought into Headquarters.
Perhaps the next time they met, that person would be his superior officer.
After all, a Lieutenant at Headquarters was comparable to a branch's Base Commander.
At this thought, envy sprouted in Nezumi's heart.
But the feeling passed quickly.
Although promotions were fast at Headquarters, at a branch base, he was the commander of the entire base.
Each had its own advantages.
"Sir?"
Seeing Captain Nezumi smiling to himself without saying a word, the reporting Marine cautiously called out.
"Ahem!"
Startled, Captain Nezumi coughed lightly twice.
"Since a Pirate Hunter has captured pirates, as the Base Commander, it is my duty to meet him and offer some encouragement."
Captain Nezumi said with a solemn face, but in his mind, he was already scheming how to pocket a portion of the bounty.
Learning to be good was hard; learning to be bad was a slippery slope.
He had suffered for half his life, couldn't he embezzle a little money to enjoy life?
He didn't dare touch the Marines' official funds, but he had the guts to skim a little from a bounty hunter's reward.
Not only did he have the guts, but he was also very bold.
Captain Nezumi led a squad of Marine soldiers to where Cyrus was.
"Ahem, I am the Marine Branch Base Commander, Captain Nezumi. Are you the one who captured the pirates?"
Nezumi saw the seated Cyrus and cleared his throat before speaking. But then, he found Cyrus somewhat familiar, feeling as if he had seen him somewhere before.
"Long time no see, Captain Nezumi. How cool is that, you've been promoted to a base commander in just one year!"