Chapter 64: An Unwelcome Visitor
In the following days, Satoru and his crew encountered several more pirate crews. Unless the enemy captain required his personal attention, Satoru simply observed, letting his Marines handle the rest.
These battles noticeably improved the Marines' overall strength. Their combat aura grew fiercer, their hands stained with more blood. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. Or rather, Satoru didn't allow any.
During his own fights, he constantly monitored his men. The moment any Marine's life was in true danger, he'd activate 'Blue' from a distance, snapping the attacker's neck with a twist of invisible force.
"Alright," Satoru announced after cleaning up one last crew. "This patrol mission is complete. We're heading back."
He looked at the packed brig of the warship, so full not even a fly could get in.
"Woooo! Alright!"
Hearing they were returning, the exhausted Marines cheered. It was a far cry from their bloodthirsty enthusiasm at the start. Days of constant battle had drained them physically and mentally.
Luckily, the G-8 base wasn't far. Within a few hours, they were home.
"Welcome back, sir," Colonel Clarl greeted him.
The other Marines looked at Satoru with pure admiration. Over the past few days, he'd dismantled multiple pirate crews. They knew exactly which ones. While none were major powers, the sheer number was staggering. The combined bounties of the captured pirates totaled over three billion Berries.
"Good," Satoru nodded. "Process the prisoners in the brig. The base construction must not stop for a second."
"Yes, sir!"
Satoru intended to squeeze every last bit of value from these pirates. Their hands were stained with innocent blood. That they were still breathing was mercy enough.
Meanwhile, the main force from Marine Headquarters had entered the New World. Hearing the lineup, Satoru couldn't help but whistle. It was luxurious.
All three Admirals were deploying simultaneously—something that had never happened before. Even Garp had been dispatched, much to the old man's loud complaints about his vacation being cut short.
Headquarters was left in the capable hands of Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Chief Instructor Zephyr. With two Admiral-level fighters there, it was secure.
They didn't ask for Satoru's cooperation. Their missions differed. The Headquarters force was a mobile strike team, eliminating any pirate they encountered on their route.
Satoru's role was to patrol the waters around G-8, ensuring he could return swiftly if the base was threatened. And now, with the base growing more impressive by the day, Satoru was fiercely protective. If anyone dared damage it, he'd make them pay with their lives.
The New World pirates were aware of the Navy's major move. Some of the less-established crews formed a temporary alliance to resist the Headquarters force.
To Satoru, this alliance was a joke. Only the weak banded together out of fear. They'd offer little resistance against the Navy's concentrated might. The outcome was decided before the clash even began. None of the truly powerful New World pirates joined this alliance, making it utterly informal.
Suddenly, for no reason, Satoru's right eyelid began to twitch violently. Left for fortune, right for disaster—he didn't believe in that superstition, but this was too persistent. Something big was about to happen.
In the next second, he sensed it. He looked up, his gaze piercing through the ceiling. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"No... I didn't expect to meet him now."
As soon as the thought formed, a deafening BOOM shook the air, as if a massive weight had fallen from a great height.
Satoru vanished from his office. He reappeared in front of their newly constructed central building—or what was left of it. It had completely collapsed.
Marines swarmed the area. Captured pirate laborers scrambled out of the wreckage.
"What happened? Why did it just collapse?!" a Marine foreman yelled, his face pale with confusion and dread. He knew how much the commander valued this building.
"I'm sorry, sir! I failed in my duty!" The foreman rushed to Satoru, bowing in apology.
"It's not your fault," Satoru said, not looking at him. His eyes remained fixed on the rubble.
He took a deep breath, his voice cutting through the chaos with absolute authority.
"I have an order for every Marine in this base: evacuate this area immediately. Then, contact Headquarters and request immediate support."
The foreman was bewildered. Request support from Headquarters? Why? Was the enemy here? What enemy could their commander not handle?
"Yes, sir!" He didn't question it. Satoru's command was law at G-8. Their respect for him was absolute.
"What a monster..."
Through his Six Eyes, Satoru saw it—a creature with a terrifyingly vast life force lying within the ruins. The sheer density of its vitality was shocking. It was the definition of rugged, nigh-indestructible endurance.
"But... this is also a perfect chance to test the gap between us."
A thrill of excitement shot through him, battling the tension. He wanted to fight this monster, even knowing he was outmatched. That's why he'd ordered the call for help.
He might not win, but he was confident he could hold the beast at bay. He couldn't kill it, and it couldn't kill him. The stage was set for a stalemate of titans.
(End of Chapter)
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