Just then, the lookout shouted excitedly, "Report, sir! Another pirate ship is coming!"
It was a pirate ship flying an unknown skull flag. The pirates on board were clearly greenhorns who had just rushed out of 'Paradise,' their faces filled with longing for the New World and lawless fanaticism.
"Halt!"
The G-5 veteran thugs picked up megaphones and skillfully shouted the lines Tatsuki had taught them yesterday, "Marine G-5 Branch is collecting taxes ahead! Raise your hands and surrender! Hand over all the treasures on the ship!"
"Hahaha! Marines? Just you?" The pirate Captain laughed arrogantly.
"I am the man who will become the Pirate King! Boys, charge through! Seize their ship!"
However, their laughter soon froze on their faces.
"Young people these days really have such scary bloodlust." Borsalino's voice drifted over slowly.
With a flash of golden light, he appeared at the top of the pirate ship's mast, looking down at the stunned pirates below. He adjusted his sunglasses and unhurriedly raised his leg.
"Speed is weight. Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
BOOM!
An incredibly brilliant golden laser beam pierced straight through the pirate ship's deck.
A violent explosion instantly consumed half the hull, and countless pirates were blown into the sky amidst screams.
[Ding! Detected that the host is condoning subordinates in the indiscriminate slaughter of pirates, seriously violating Marine humanitarian standards!]
[Violation Points +2200!]
"Beautifully done!"
Tatsuki adjusted the back of his beach chair down another notch, enjoying the sunlight and the system notification tones.
This was the retirement life he had dreamed of.
"Next ship!"
A sneaky underground merchant ship was intercepted.
"We are legitimate merchants!" The Captain trembled on the deck.
"Legitimate?" Tatsuki's voice spread across the entire sea area through a den den mushi.
"Then explain which pirate you were planning to sell those weapons on your ship to?"
"Cut the crap." His tone instantly became unquestionable.
"Leave the cargo. As for the people, you can beat it."
[Ding! Detected that the host is openly robbing merchant ships and abusing power for personal gain, behavior is no different from a pirate!]
[Violation Points +3500!]
"Next ship!"
A noble vessel flying the flag of a World Government affiliated nation sailed over pompously.
A pot-bellied noble stood at the bow, pointing arrogantly at Tatsuki's flagship and cursing, "You bastard! Do you see this flag? I am a member of the royal family of the Storaub Kingdom!"
"You lowly Marines actually dare to stop my ship?"
"Move! Or I will definitely file a complaint against you with the World Government!"
"Stop shouting, it's so noisy."
Kuzan, who was napping on another beach chair, opened his eyes impatiently at the noise and waved his hand.
Ice Age!
Crack... Crack...
Frigid air swept across the sea, and that magnificent ship was instantly frozen into a giant ice sculpture.
The G-5 soldiers erupted in thunderous cheers and rushed forward. They used chisels to clink and clank, "extracting" the loot from the ice.
[Ding! Detected that the host is permitting subordinates to attack a ship of a World Government affiliated nation, seriously damaging the international reputation of the World Government!]
[Violation Points +5800!]
"Next ship!"
This time, a great pirate crew with a bounty exceeding five hundred million arrived, radiating murderous intent.
"Absolute Justice does not allow any evil to exist."
Sakazuki didn't bother saying another word.
He raised his hand.
Great Eruption!
BOOM!
A massive fist of magma descended from the sky. That giant pirate ship, along with the hundreds of pirates on it, was evaporated by the high temperature before they could even let out a scream.
[Ding! Detected that the host...]
[Violation Points +3100!]
In this way, the three of them took turns "on duty," with terrifyingly high efficiency.
When they encountered pirate rookies, they made them ascend.
When they encountered underground merchant ships, they collected heavy taxes.
When they encountered blind nobles, they flipped the table directly.
In just a few days, G-5 Branch transformed from a junkyard recognized by the Marines into an incredibly efficient maritime money-printing machine.
The entire entrance to the New World was turned upside down by them, filled with complaints and grievances.
Countless pirates and underground forces felt the fear of being "robbed" by the Marines for the first time.
—
Night fell.
The plaza of the G-5 Branch was brightly lit, even more bustling than during the day.
Treasures, fine wine, and food plundered over the past few days were piled up like mountains.
Under Tatsuki's instructions, the golden Berries were heaped into a glittering small hill.
All the soldiers sat around, devouring greasy roasted meat and gulping down bowls of spicy liquor. The atmosphere was heated to the extreme.
"Listen up, boys!"
Tatsuki stood atop the mountain of Berries and raised his glass. The entire area instantly fell silent as everyone looked at him with fanatical eyes.
"Tell me, these past few days, was it good or what?!"
"YEAH!!!"
The roars of hundreds of men almost shattered the night sky.
"In these past few days, we've collected a total of 1.3 billion Berries in 'Justice Maintenance Tax'!"
"Whoa!"
The soldiers erupted in even more intense cheers, many of them flushing red with excitement.
1.3 billion!
This was a figure they hadn't even dared to imagine before.
"Before, others called you trash, called you thugs, and left you to rot in this godforsaken place!"
Tatsuki kicked a gold bar, which rolled down with a dull thud.
"But in my eyes, every single one of you is a damn talent!"
Tatsuki waved his hand dismissively. "According to the rules we agreed upon, I get seventy percent, you guys get twenty, and the public account gets ten!"
"Your twenty percent, which is 260 million Berries! We're handing it out right here, right now!"
"Ohhhhh!"
The cheers were loud enough to blow the roof off the entire base.