Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Amid the raging storm, silver‑white lightning forked across the sky, illuminating the dark sea in tremors of harsh light.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't inspect us, damn it!"
Under the strobing glare of lightning, several Marine warships were anchored on the churning sea, encircling more than a dozen merchant vessels.
"Let them pass!"
Rain the size of beans hammered down on the Marines standing on deck.
"Vice Admiral Gilbert, are you crazy! What these ships are transporting is illegal DP!"
Naval Colonel Vincent looked at the usually composed Vice Admiral Gilbert in disbelief, fury rising in his voice.
"I told you, let them pass!"
Gilbert's once amiable face had hardened, his expression colder than the sea around them.
"You haven't been here long, so it's normal you don't understand what's going on."
He looked at Vincent as though addressing a fool, irritation thick in his tone.
"Step aside, do you want me to say it a third time?"
"I don't understand? You say I don't understand?"
Vincent's face turned livid, he clenched his teeth, pointing toward the crates of contraband that lay stacked on the seized ship.
"Then let me ask, Vice Admiral Gilbert, do you understand how much harm this DP would bring to the citizens of this country if it enters their markets?"
Slap!
Without hesitation, Gilbert struck Vincent hard across the face, his gaze blazing fiercer than the storm.
"Naval Colonel Vincent, how dare you raise your voice at a Marine Vice Admiral! Are you insubordinate, attempting a rebellion!"
Vincent staggered, dazed from the blow.
"You…" he said, stunned into silence by Gilbert's rage.
"You just arrived in North Blue, and you don't understand a thing," Gilbert continued, eyes bloodshot with exasperation. Then he turned and pointed at Marines standing behind him, and his voice thundered louder than the storm.
"Do you think the salaries of Marines from Branch 126 come from some generous funding by the World Government? That paltry sum barely covers a tenth of our real needs, enough to support our families back home? No, far from it!"
Boom! Crack!
Lightning split the sky overhead, flashing gloriously across the faces of the Marines at attention.
…
"You, you all…"
Only then did Vincent, blinking in the flashing light, realize the truth.
The anger and frustration on the faces of the Marines were not directed at the merchants, nor at the smuggled DP. It was directed at him.
"You think we are traitorous Marines letting contraband into this country? You are wrong."
Gilbert lowered his gaze, eyes cold and merciless.
"Most people in this region work monotonously day after day, they do not know what joy is. They live for brief moments of leisure at night, and if they seek some form of relief from drudgery, is that wrong?"
"But the Marines must prevent this contraband from crossing borders, because it would ruin entire communities."
Vincent, recovered from the sting of the slap, shouted at the Marines behind him.
"Your families live in those lands too! Aren't you worried they could become addicted to this DP?"
There was no response.
…
The faces of the Marines were set in cold stillness, as though Vincent were an enemy in their midst.
"What they fear most," Gilbert said softly, over the rain and thunder, "is we can no longer provide a dignified life for our own families."
Amid the storm, Gilbert lifted his eyes toward the pitch‑black clouds overhead. His voice carried a heavy weight.
"If merchants once traveled these seas freely, we could always extract enough from them to survive. But that damned Sky Island Alliance provided sky‑sea travel technology to the merchants with no strings attached. Now they refuse our sea routes, cutting off our source of income."
Vincent remembered the harsh words of a drunken man from a tavern not long ago:
The Marines greedily exploit passing merchant ships, what makes them different from pirates?
Pah!
Vincent's face flushed red with embarrassment.
In an instant, it felt as though the drunkard's spit had struck him squarely.
"Colonel Vincent," Gilbert said, looking at him as though he saw guilt in his conflict, then stepped forward and patted Vincent's shoulder gently, voice softer now.
"It is the fault of that damned Air Force. If they had never appeared, if the Marines still ruled these seas alone, merchants would still depend on us. They would gladly hand over protection money. Without Marine escort, those merchants would be easy prey for pirates. We were their only safeguard."
He sighed, resignation in his tone.
"Times have changed. They have more paths to choose from. We Marines are no longer their sole defense."
"Damn it, what are you waiting for!"
A voice of complaint came from one of the merchant ships below.
"Hurry up, Gilbert! You greedy bastard, are you making us stand here in the cold with you? I'll give you an extra five percent! Don't waste everyone's time!"
"All right, you may leave!"
Gilbert's eyes widened and he gestured for the merchant ships to depart.
Not bad. I didn't expect this newcomer's defiance could even raise my cut.
Hmph, next time I'll follow this ratio.
Gilbert smiled inwardly.
But Vincent, drenched and trembling, watched the merchant ships swagger off toward the distant horizon, his voice rough.
"Vice Admiral Gilbert, aren't you afraid that your actions will be reported to Marineford! Marineford has recently severely punished Marine branches that violated Marine Justice!"
"Afraid? Of course I am afraid," Gilbert said, his gaze fixed on Vincent. Then slow, quiet words followed, chilling to hear.
"So I have collected some information on Naval Colonel Vincent. I know details about your family, and your fiancée who works as an editor at a newspaper."
"You!"
Vincent's eyes widened, blood boiling as he suddenly seized Gilbert's collar, roaring in fear and fury.
"Bastard! What do you intend to do!!!"
Click! Click! Click!
The surrounding Marines silently cocked their weapons, cold barrels trained on Vincent's vital points.
"Don't be nervous, Naval Colonel Vincent," Gilbert said, freeing himself from Vincent's grasp with ease, his voice surprisingly calm.
"I just wanted to give you a heads‑up. After all, we are on the same side, and no one wants this to escalate, right?"
…
Vincent's face burned with anger, yet he could only glare at these Marines who had betrayed everything he believed Marine Justice stood for.
"Don't worry, I won't be stingy with your share."
Under Vincent's furious stare, Gilbert smiled pleasantly, then turned, his Justice coat fluttering as he walked toward the warship.
"You! You are unworthy of Marine Justice! You do not deserve to wear the Justice coat!"
Vincent shouted hoarsely after him.
"Oh, that thing? If I am not worthy, then I am not. I never cared for it anyway."
Gilbert touched the soaked Justice coat on his shoulders, unbuttoned it with disdain, and casually cast it into the wind and rain.
…
The Marines looked at Vincent on the deck with disgust, then turned and climbed back aboard the warship, ignoring him completely.
…
Crack!
Lightning split the sky again, illuminating Vincent's ashen face. His heart throbbed as he stared blankly at the torn Marine Justice flag fluttering on the warship above him.
Is this the righteous Marine I believed in?
If the righteous Marines are corrupt like this, who will uphold justice in this world?
…
Boom!
Suddenly a cacophony of thunder boomed outside the cabin where Vice Admiral Gilbert was walking alone.
"What loud thunder. Damn newcomer, if he hadn't intercepted those merchants, I wouldn't be here."
Gilbert grumbled as he approached the Captain's cabin and pushed the door open.
"Hmm?"
He was surprised to find the cabin light on.
On the main chair lay a wet Marine Justice coat.
It was the very one he had discarded not long ago.
"Who?"
Gilbert's teeth suddenly sharpened as his body grew, thick black fur sprouting all over him, and a powerful tail like iron extending behind him.
Monkey‑Monkey Fruit, Black Ape Form!
His eyes searched the cabin, keen senses alert.
"I know you're here, come out!"
He stepped inside cautiously, tail coiling behind him, ready for any intruder.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Lightning cracked over the sea outside, and a lazy voice with a hiccup sounded behind him.
"Vice Admiral Gilbert, do you know your crime?"
"Die!!!"
The Black Ape‑transformed Gilbert lashed his thick, iron‑strong tail toward the voice.
Bang!
The cabin floor shattered under the force.
At the same time, an electric shock coursed through him, making his fur singe with the smell of burned energy.
"Who!?"
Gilbert spun around in shock, fur bristling.
Standing there was a white‑haired young man clad only in silver pants, shirtless and swaying slightly, a drunken smirk on his face.
"Hiccup, oh dear, what a shame, I missed!"
Even more terrifying to Gilbert was the silver crackle at the young man's waist, healing rapidly with electric intensity.
"You! You…"
Gilbert trembled in disbelief.
"You are the new Marine Admiral, Silver Snake!!!"
---