Since Roger's execution, the Marines' advance line in the New World had stopped moving forward. In fact, even maintaining it had become difficult to a certain extent.
The main reason for this was not high-end combat power, but the number of mid-level combatants. There were not enough of them to maintain the safety of the islands under their influence.
In addition, the affiliated nations in the New World did not rely solely on the Marines to a certain extent. Larger islands, like Dressrosa, had their own armies.
As for smaller islands, places that were merely towns with small concentrated populations, they had to rely entirely on the Marines.
The G-5 Branch was purely a Marine base. Its warning range covered roughly a dozen small islands, but its scope of responsibility also involved larger islands such as Dressrosa.
As the Marines' front line facing the New World, the G-5 Branch itself carried the responsibility of advancing forward. But for now, the Marines could not accomplish that.
Even Sakazuki alone could not form a deterrent over multiple islands.
There were too many pirates entering the New World. Every year, countless newcomers entered the Grand Line from the entrance at Reverse Mountain, then used various methods to cross the Red Line and enter the New World.
However, a base on the front line like this also had its advantages. That was, for almost everything that happened, the Marine Headquarters' intelligence department basically needed to obtain it from the base commander through reports.
In his memories, the base commander of the G-5 Branch twenty years later was Vergo. He cooperated with Caesar to cover up the disappearance of a large number of children, reporting it to Headquarters as maritime disasters.
If not for the coincidence involving Smoker, the protagonist group, and Law, that incident would definitely have continued to be covered up.
In that case, the islands within the area covered by G-5 would also have a certain degree of protection for the Revolutionary Army.
Even if they were exposed in the end, if the Marines and the World Government wanted to take action, they would have to mobilize him, the front-line base commander.
Soon, after several days passed, the warship carrying Rowan, Smoker, and Hina approached the harbor of the G-5 Branch.
But they did not see a single Marine.
"The notice should have been sent here when you were promoted. They should also know when we were arriving. So they're not taking you seriously at all, Vice Admiral."
Smoker teased him.
The Marines responsible for sending them over were also laughing. Thanks to Rowan's reputation at Headquarters, it was obvious that they had no intention of reminding him.
Hina, who was beside them, frowned. "Hina heard before that because most of the Marines in the New World G-5 Branch come from the New World, most of them have no discipline and do not listen to orders."
Rowan threw his luggage to Smoker, then brought the two of them off the ship and walked straight toward the G-5 Branch building.
Behind them, the warship from Headquarters was about to leave, but it happened to cross paths with the G-5 Branch's 06 Unit, which was heading out.
"Wait before going back to Headquarters. I think there's going to be a good show."
"That's the captain of the 06 Unit, Commodore Saseboda. I heard he's always been a troublemaker."
"Heh. The last Headquarters Vice Admiral who was transferred here fell into a bitter battle, but not only did this guy fail to support him, he even ran away with the 06 Unit at top speed. Afterward, he said the Den Den Mushi was broken. Do you think that's possible?"
"A commodore who has been in the G-5 Branch for nearly ten years. His ability to save his own life is first-rate."
"Now we'll see what our Vice Admiral does. You have to know, the entire G-5 Branch is responsible for quite a large defensive line. He can't keep running around alone without stopping."
Rowan and Smoker both stopped at the harbor, because behind the returning warship, a small boat was closely following.
On the small boat was an old man. His head was already bleeding, but he still followed stubbornly.
"What's going on? Is G-5 letting civilians personally come to the branch to file complaints? Where is the warning line? Where are the Den Den Mushi for emergency communication from the various islands?"
Smoker was a little stunned. Rowan and Hina did not speak.
Soon, the people of G-5 Branch's 06 Unit got off the ship, carrying baskets of green apples, oranges, and other fruits in their hands.
"Yo? Isn't this the Vice Admiral who's supposed to take office today?"
A Marine with a big round face, wearing a peaked cap on his head and a red bow tie on his chest, walked straight up to Rowan.
Then he even picked up a green apple and handed it over. "Vice Admiral, you must be tired after such a long journey. Would you like an apple?"
Rowan glanced at him, then looked directly toward the harbor.
Commodore Saseboda followed his gaze and looked over, then deliberately put on a look of sudden realization. "Oh... so this pirate hasn't been dealt with yet. I'm truly sorry, Vice Admiral. We were too careless."
As soon as his words fell, among the dozens of Marines behind him who had been watching Rowan like they were watching a joke, one with a pompadour directly drew his blade and walked toward the old man.
At the same time, everyone else stared at Rowan.
"A pirate? How is that possible! Hina doesn't believe it!"
Hina, who was behind Rowan, was the first to explode. Just as she was about to rush over, she found that several guns had already been aimed at her.
Moreover, Observation Haki had locked onto her, and Armament Haki was covering the lead bullets.
"Ara ara... what are you doing? This is the Lieutenant lady who came with our honorable Vice Admiral. It wasn't easy for a woman to come to the base. Don't you like her?"
As Saseboda's words fell, the dozens of Marines behind him immediately restrained their killing intent, one by one looking at Hina with obscene gazes.
"We like her, of course we like her, boss!"
"For a woman to come to this godforsaken place, and a pretty one at that."
"She's a little young, but young is good."
At this moment, the Marine who had walked toward the old man was almost there.
The old man had also docked and gotten off the boat. His body trembled with fear, but his gaze was very firm.
Thud.
The old man suddenly knelt on the ground. "Those fruits are the only hope for my family of three to survive. Marine sir, please have pity on this old man and return them to me, all right?"
Clang!
The long blade was drawn, and the old man's body clearly trembled even harder.
"You're a pirate. We spared your life because you're old, yet you actually followed us all the way to the branch? What are you trying to do? Steal intelligence?"
The old man was frightened and shook his head repeatedly. "No! I'm not a pirate! You stole my fruit, and just now on the ship, you even threw stones at me for fun. I only want my things back!"
"Those were bought with borrowed money, just so I could earn a little and support my grandson..."
Before he could finish speaking, the old man saw that the other party's blade had already been raised.
"If you're a pirate, will anyone believe you?"
The long blade fell.
Swish!
A head flew high into the air, then quickly fell onto the wooden planks of the harbor with a thud.
Rowan sheathed his Asauchi, then pulled the old man behind him.
From the prison's special perspective, the Marines of G-5 Branch's 06 Unit basically all had sin values above three hundred. Among them, Saseboda, the captain, had a sin value of more than nine hundred.
"From today onward, the G-5 Branch does not need Marines who plunder the property of civilians."
Rowan's voice was very calm. His gaze turned to Smoker and Hina.
"Kill them all."
This order made Smoker and Hina freeze for a moment. The two of them then looked at the Marines in front of them.
Saseboda also widened his eyes and looked at Rowan. He could not understand how this guy dared to do such a thing.
The G-5 Branch was a Marine branch. It needed more than just one powerful individual to hold the entire G-5 defensive line.
"Do you want to be held accountable by Headquarters, Rowan?!"
While shouting, he also drew the long blade in his hand. "This guy and that pirate are in league! Open fire!"
"Bang, bang, bang..."
Without hesitation, one lead bullet after another locked onto Rowan under Observation Haki.
The Armament Haki attached to them also gave the lead bullets even greater penetrating power.
However, in the next instant, within everyone's Observation Haki, Rowan's presence moved at an extremely terrifying speed, as if it had disappeared.
"Ah!"
A cold flash passed in an instant, and blood dyed the harbor red.
Rowan slowly walked toward Saseboda.
"Ah... bastard!"
The long blade was covered in Armament Haki. The black blade chopped down with force, and a flying slash swept out.
Bang.
Rowan caught the slash in one hand, then exerted force and crushed it directly.
"Even Armament Haki has levels... Foolish bastard. Did you think that by relying on numbers, you could make me hesitate? After all, the law does not punish the masses, right?"
Rowan still walked toward him unhurriedly.
"Ah!"
Saseboda panicked. After looking left and right, he roared, "What are you afraid of?! Don't we know what we've done ourselves? This guy wants to wipe us all out!"
For a moment, the Marines who had originally been shocked by Rowan slowly beheading someone with a single slash swallowed hard, then chose to attack.
Commodore Saseboda was right. According to Marine regulations and law, they had violated far too many things.
Although this world itself was already so sinful.
In the past, as long as they united together, under the idea that the law did not punish the masses, the newly arrived base commander, a Headquarters Vice Admiral, would also be unable to complete the base's patrol and defense duties alone.
That was why they had survived until now, and even dragged the previous base commander to death.
"There are only three of them!"
"As long as we kill them, and the warship behind them too, how we report it will be up to us!"
"Take some men and stop those people too!"
"Everyone else! Kill this guy!"
A cloud of white smoke spread out. After elementalizing, Smoker appeared behind the Marines.
The smoke restrained several people, and his jitte swung.
"Bastard! He's a Logia!"
Just after he knocked down three people, a lead bullet flew over, caught his physical body, and pierced through Smoker's shoulder.
Bang.
The jitte flew out of his hand and pinned the attacker to the ground.
Only at this moment did Smoker understand the meaning of the phrase that in the New World, people who could skillfully use Armament Haki were as numerous as carp crossing the river.
They were merely seamen first class under the branch's 06 Unit, yet these guys all knew both Armament Haki and Observation Haki.
"Smoker!"
A warning voice rang out. Hina waved her hand, and prison bars extended from her arm, restraining the G-5 Marines behind Smoker in place.
"A Paramecia Cage-Cage Fruit user? But if it's only a cage like this, it won't be able to stop us, beautiful Lieutenant from Headquarters."
Before his words had even fallen, a pitch-black blade light cut the prison bars apart.
"Ah!"
A cold flash passed in an instant, and Rowan's long blade severed the man's neck.
"This really is troublesome."
After Rowan exhaled, he sheathed the Asauchi in his hand.
His swordsmanship had not reached the level of a swordsman, and he could not use Shikai to burn this group of scum directly into ash. Using a blade at this level really felt unfamiliar.
Rowan twisted his neck.
"Everyone, are you ready?"
"Kill him!"
"Bastard!"
"Bang, bang, bang..."
The moment the words fell, Rowan charged through the lead bullets. Not a single one hit him.
He smashed down with a punch.
"Pfft!"
The pompadour man's head was directly hammered into his chest cavity. Rowan then disappeared again.
"What are you looking at? Observation Haki can't catch me, can it?"
Rowan appeared in front of a sniper and threw a punch, directly shattering his Armament Haki. The Armament Haki passed through his body and shattered his heart.
"Pfft!"
Blood sprayed out. After his pupils lost focus, he collapsed to the ground and lost his life.
At this moment, Rowan moved through the gunfire like he was flashing from place to place. Not a single attack escaped his Observation Haki.
Every strike he made was filled with violence and blood.
This scene left Hina and Smoker stunned.
When the two of them met Rowan, he had already been practicing with a blade in swordsmanship class. Although they had heard of his title as the fourth monster of the training camp, they had never seen it so directly before.
That kind of violence, smashing someone's head into their chest with one punch, made him seem even more like a monster than cutting off a head with a blade.
Soon, no one was standing in the harbor anymore.
Even the guys who had previously been sent to stop the Headquarters warship from leaving were thrown down by Rowan, who crushed their skulls underfoot.
In the end, only four people were left collapsed on the ground, trembling all over, with no courage left to resist.
As for Commodore Saseboda, Rowan had twisted his head off with his bare hands. At this moment, he was holding it in his hand as he walked toward the four people.
"Marine... Marine sir!"
A voice rang out. Rowan turned back and saw that it was the old man who had begged them to return his fruit earlier.
"After I kill these four pieces of scum, I'll return your property in a moment. If anything has already been eaten by them, the G-5 Branch will compensate you at the original price."
Hearing this promise, the old man, who had just been frightened, seemed to relax a little. After glancing at one middle-aged man among the four, he said, "Forget about what they already ate, Marine sir. What this old man wants to say is that he never bullied ordinary people like us. Although he would take some every time, he always secretly left some money behind."
Following the old man's gaze, Rowan looked at that middle-aged man.
"Only him?"
In an instant, the other three people all looked at the old man, their eyes filled with pleading and hope to survive.
However, in the next moment.
"Ah."
The three men's necks were cut open. Rowan looked at the only surviving member of the 06 Unit.
"Report your identity."
The middle-aged man stood up trembling. "Le... Leelton, Seaman First Class of Marine G-5 Branch 06 Unit, reporting to Vice Admiral!"
Rowan nodded. The violence on his face faded, and he smiled gently.
He reached out and patted the man's shoulder. "Looks like the G-5 Branch hasn't rotted completely. Knowing that you have to pay for what you eat proves you still have a bit of a bottom line."
At this point, Rowan leaned closer and said in a low voice, "But if you've done anything else, I might still twist your head off. Understand?"
----------
Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon .com/OneFic