Selkirk stood coldly on the deck, staring at the Marine warship ahead. Beside him, a pirate hesitantly asked, "Second Mate, what should we do?"
Without sparing him a glance, Selkirk replied, "The captain said to seal the city. No one gets in, no one gets out."
"But... they're Marines," the pirate stammered.
Selkirk immediately grabbed the pirate by the neck and, with a burst of strength, threw him off the bow of the ship. "Cowardly trash!" he spat.
Turning to another pirate nearby, Selkirk ordered, "Send two ships to tail the warship. If they make any suspicious moves, sink them immediately!"
Having witnessed the fate of the unfortunate pirate just moments ago, the second pirate dared not hesitate. He quickly responded affirmatively and left the bow.
Once the pirate departed, Selkirk continued to glare at the Marine vessel. The two ships weren't far apart, and with Selkirk's sharp eyesight, he could already make out the figures bustling on the enemy deck. He even spotted someone at the bow holding a telescope, scanning the area. Selkirk smirked coldly in the direction of the observer.
Born in the North Blue and having ventured into the Grand Line, Selkirk had no fear of the East Blue Marines. Moreover, he had once been reprimanded by William for charging tolls on passing ships, so he dared not slack off when carrying out William's orders.
This was precisely why William had Harden assign Selkirk to oversee the blockade of the docks.
On the Marine warship, a Marine Major lowered his telescope, muttered a curse under his breath, and then asked a nearby soldier, "Did you get through to the commander?"
"We did!" The soldier hurriedly handed over the Den Den Mushi.
Before the Marine Major could speak, a voice from the other end of the line asked, "Which pirate crew is responsible for the dock blockade?"
The Major glanced at the pirate flag fluttering in the wind on the opposing ship—a black flag adorned with a skull, its sinister grin framed by a triangular hat bearing the letter "M."
In this world, most pirate flags were hastily designed, often resembling amateurish doodles. However, William, a former corporate professional in his previous life, placed great importance on branding. Even the Morgan Pirates' flag had been meticulously designed by a professional, making it a standout in the pirate world.
The flag was undeniably striking and memorable.
"It's the Morgan Pirates," the Marine Major reported.
"Morgan Pirates?" The commander on the other end muttered in confusion before issuing an order, "Do not act rashly. Avoid conflict with them."
"But, Commander—" the Major protested.
The voice on the other end cut him off sharply, "Major, that's an order!"
With that, the call ended. The Marine Major gritted his teeth as he glanced at the pirate ship, then reluctantly ordered, "Retreat to the docks."
...
Meanwhile, the noble district remained oblivious to the fact that the city's docks had been sealed off by William's forces—or perhaps they simply had no time to care.
The unrest in the slums was escalating. Some of the rioters, dissatisfied with merely robbing fellow impoverished residents, began invading the civilian district. Worse still, some had already ventured into the noble district, engaging in theft and even outright robbery. The entire city was descending into chaos, and the noble district was no exception.
Count Rielde, the Minister of Internal Affairs, wasted no time once he resolved to eliminate Arcadio. Seeing the turmoil as an opportunity, he ordered his guards to storm Arcadio's estate. However, Arcadio had anticipated this move and had prepared accordingly. His estate was heavily guarded, stocked with modern bolt-action rifles and revolvers. The defenders took advantage of cover, and with no skilled fighters on Rielde's side, the estate proved impenetrable.
The once-peaceful noble district had suddenly transformed into a battlefield, bullets flying near Arcadio's estate. Gunfire rang out incessantly, leaving neutral nobles trembling in their homes, unable to comprehend how the city had changed so drastically in just a few days.
Arcadio feigned composure, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow, though he had clearly lost his usual calm demeanor. If today's events succeeded, he would wield unparalleled power in Navia Kingdom, possibly even usurping the throne. However, if he failed, the Buendía family would be eradicated.
"Any news from the military?" Arcadio demanded sharply.
Count Rielde lacked formal authority over the military, so he needed to resolve Arcadio swiftly. Upon realizing the estate couldn't be breached, Rielde would undoubtedly mobilize the city's troops.
Startled by Arcadio's tone, Butler Eaton quickly left the room. Moments later, he returned with a Den Den Mushi, reporting, "Sir, the city garrison has been deployed."
Arcadio's eyebrow twitched as he snatched up the Den Den Mushi and dialed William. Before William could speak, Arcadio urgently said, "Rielde has deployed the military—you can send your forces now!"
"Understood," William replied calmly. "How are things on your end?"
Arcadio glanced toward the window, where the gunfire outside was intensifying. "We can still hold."
After exchanging a few more words, the call ended. Arcadio exhaled deeply, leaning back in his chair and clutching his left chest, where his heart was pounding furiously.
With Rielde deploying the military, there was no escaping charges of rebellion. After today, Arcadio would become the uncontested ruler of Navia Kingdom. Norton I, the inept king, had been a puppet in his hands from the very beginning.
Yet one threat remained.
Once he had calmed down, Arcadio left the room and entered the reception hall. Pushing open the door, he was met with the wary gazes of two Marine officers.
"Those traitorous scoundrels dared to attack my esteemed guests," Arcadio exclaimed apologetically as he approached. "Captain Nezumi, I must apologize for the poor hospitality you've received."
The guest Arcadio was hosting was none other than Captain Nezumi, the newly appointed commander of the Marine 16th Branch.
Nezumi tilted his head, listening to the continuous gunfire outside, and remarked with displeasure, "It seems every time I visit you, Count, trouble follows."
Arcadio laughed heartily, clapping his hands. Butler Eaton appeared like a ghost, carrying two boxes into the room.
Setting the boxes on the table, Arcadio pointed to one and said to Nezumi, "Captain, this contains the information I mentioned earlier—details on the Morgan Pirates and the infamous pirate Stolt. These criminals have plagued the waters around Navia Kingdom for years. Stolt, in particular, is notoriously cunning, always concealing his true identity. Fortunately, I've obtained evidence of his crimes. Now is the time for the Marines to deliver justice!"
Nezumi remained noncommittal. "The Morgan Pirates are not easy to deal with."
"You're aware of my relationship with Roy," Arcadio said, gesturing to the second box. "Whether you rely on your branch's forces or enlist other Marines, as long as you help me eliminate these pirates, I will transfer 40% of my trading company's shares to you. That's more than I ever offered Roy. And of course, there's potential for further collaboration in the future."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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