On a certain island, this was the Navy Branch base in Shells Town.
Marine Captain Morgan, sitting in a chair, a cigar clenched between his metal-jawed mouth, looked out at the drizzling rain and couldn't help but exclaim:
"I am truly great!"
Ripper of the Navy Branch, standing in the corner, immediately saluted. His right hand was placed on his right temple like a sword, and his left hand was behind his back, clenched into a fist, as he responded:
"Yes, Captain Morgan is great!"
Morgan paused, then continued, "Without me, there would be no peace and stability in this town. This is beyond doubt."
Ripper replied again, "Yes, without you, there would be no peace and stability in this town!"
Morgan smiled, looked at him, and said, "Since that's the case, to show sufficient respect for me, the townsfolk's offerings should be increased."
"This…" Ripper hesitated for a moment after hearing this, but still replied, "Yes! I… I will explain it clearly to the townsfolk, and they will understand."
Morgan nodded, then gave a scornful smile and asked, "Is my foolish son still toying with that pirate hunter?"
Ripper did not hesitate this time and said directly:
"Young Master Helmeppo tied the pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro to a cross in the square, making a deal that if Zoro could survive for a month without food or water, Young Master Helmeppo would release Zoro and spare the little girl who had previously offended Young Master Helmeppo."
Morgan sneered and shook his head, saying, "How boring."
Just then, with a creak, the door to the Captain's office was pushed open, and Helmeppo, with his golden bangs, strode in.
He had clearly heard the conversation between Morgan and the Lieutenant Commander, and he smiled fawningly, saying:
"Dad, don't worry, how could I make a deal with a mere pirate hunter? When the month is up, if he's still alive, I'll execute him immediately! Hehehe…"
A trace of 'I knew it' disgust flashed in Ripper's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
Morgan placed his right hand on the desk. His entire right arm was gone, replaced by a huge, sharp axe. This was also the origin of his title — "Axe-Hand."
He had always been quite proud of his metal jaw and right-hand axe, as they were his badges of honor.
When Morgan was just an ordinary Marine soldier, he once fought against Captain Kuro, who was skilled in schemes and Trick. He was severely wounded, but he also successfully arrested Captain Kuro and brought him to the base for execution.
Although the details in his memory were quite blurry, Morgan was certain that he was the one who captured Captain Kuro.
He was also promoted to Navy Branch Captain because of this, and his jaw and severed hand were reattached, which is how he became his current Frankenstein-like appearance.
Morgan looked at his son, Helmeppo, with nothing but dissatisfaction, and reprimanded, "Regardless, this is a boring Trick. As my son, doing something like this is truly beneath you."
Helmeppo dared not defy his father's will and quickly changed his expression, saying, "Yes, yes, then… should I execute him now?"
Morgan waved his hand and said, "Since it's already been done, continue with it. Otherwise, what would it look like? Others might think my son is a treacherous person!"
Helmeppo continued to nod in agreement, his face beaming with joy.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from the corridor outside the door. A Marine soldier quickly entered the office and saluted Captain Morgan.
Morgan saw his hurried steps and asked, "What happened?"
The Marine soldier said loudly, "Soldiers on the patrolling Marine warship discovered an unfamiliar Black Ship sailing towards us, suspected to be a pirate ship! They immediately contacted us via Den Den Mushi."
A pirate ship? How dare they brazenly intrude on my territory?
Morgan snorted coldly and said, "In this day and age, even pirates dare to run wild directly in Marine territory? Ripper, immediately gather the soldiers! I will personally lead the attack and capture all these pirates in one fell swoop!"
Ripper immediately responded, "Yes!"
Helmeppo saw that his father would be busy for a while and he couldn't go along, so out of boredom, he decided to excuse himself and go back to the square to continue teasing the green-haired pirate hunter.
A quarter of an hour later, Captain Morgan and his two Marine warships set off together from the Navy base port, sailing into the deep sea.
They first rendezvoused with the patrolling Marine warship, and then the three warships sailed together towards the sighting location.
For some reason, during this daylight, it was still raining lightly on the coast, but as the warships sailed into the deep sea, it turned into a torrential downpour, and the sky also became gloomy.
It was as if it was foreshadowing something terrifying about to happen.
Morgan stood at the bow of the ship, his expression cold.
A Marine soldier stood on tiptoe to hold an umbrella for him, afraid of even a drop of rain touching him.
Meanwhile, Ripper was in charge of coordinating the three warships.
Soon, they saw their target, a solitary Black Ship.
Only one ship?
A single ship dares to challenge a Navy Branch base? These pirates are far too ignorant of their own limitations!
Morgan looked through his telescope for a while, seeing no Trick, and then ordered, "Open fire! Sink it!"
Ripper couldn't help but ask, "Captain Morgan, shouldn't we first confirm if those on board are pirates? After all, we haven't seen a pirate flag."
"Hmph!" Morgan's face was grim. "Would pirates dare to raise a pirate flag after coming to my Morgan's territory? Ripper, use your head. If I say they are pirates, then they are definitely pirates!"
Ripper's heart sank.
In other words, even if it was later proven that it was a merchant ship or a passenger ship, Morgan would forcibly cover it up and claim it as a meritorious achievement for destroying a pirate crew!
He dared not resist Morgan; if he did, he would surely be directly cut down and killed right there.
That was Morgan's style.
And the higher-ups in the Marine were quite lenient and trusting of Morgan, the one who had defeated Captain Kuro. They would definitely choose to believe Morgan and brand Lieutenant Commander Lipa as a rebellious Marine traitor who colluded with pirates!
Ripper endured it once more, then turned and ordered, "Didn't you hear? Go quickly and prepare the cannons to bombard that pirate ship!"
The Marine soldiers immediately acknowledged the order and left.
Thus, the muzzles of the three Marine warships all aimed at the Black Ship ahead, and under Ripper's unified command, the cannons fired.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" —
The cannons fired continuously, shells roaring away, arcing through the air, seemingly about to land on the Black Ship.
Suddenly, that Black Ship made an incredibly extreme and bizarre turn, cleverly dodging all the cannon fire, and then sped away.
The Marine soldiers were all greatly astonished, especially those responsible for firing the cannons.
They couldn't imagine how such a heavy ship could execute such a terrifying trajectory in an instant?
That ship was as agile as a living shark!
Morgan was also shocked, but he quickly recovered and shouted, "Continue the bombardment! Don't stop!"
His idea was simple: as long as the firepower was sufficient, some shells were bound to hit.
Ripper relayed the order again.
The bombardment continued!
However, something strange happened again!
The continuous cannon fire from the warships rained down, yet each time the Black Ship dodged all the shells, not a single one hitting its hull.
How was this possible?!
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, the Marine soldiers would have found it hard to believe that such dense cannon fire could not threaten that Black Ship at all!
Morgan pushed the soldier holding the umbrella for him onto the deck, letting the torrential rain drench him, and furiously chopped at the ship's rail with his right-hand axe, raging:
"What a bunch of good-for-nothings! Can't hit even one shot? What do I keep you for? Idiots! Useless!"
To make matters worse, Ripper ran over at this moment and reported, "Captain Morgan, all our cannon shells have been used up."
Cannon shells used up?
Morgan looked at the Black Ship in the distance, which seemed capable of disappearing from sight at any moment, and became even more enraged.
If that Black Ship were to escape like this, wouldn't my reputation be completely ruined in this sea area?
I am "Axe-Hand" Morgan, who defeated Captain Kuro!
He immediately shouted, "Advance! All warships, advance towards the Black Ship immediately! Everyone prepare your firearms!"
Ripper understood after hearing this that Captain Morgan intended for everyone to board the ship and fight to the death, no matter how many casualties it would entail.
He frowned but still complied and relayed the order.
Soon, the warships turned around and sped towards the Black Ship.