Chapter 148: The Dirty Secrets of the Navy!
Vice Admiral Vilas, who had been lounging arrogantly in his mansion, instantly paled when he saw who was standing outside.
Ryuunosuke!?
When the hell did he get here?!
He had been drinking, minding his own business, not giving a damn about whatever was going on outside. After all, this was a high-security zone—close to the territory frequented by the Celestial Dragons. Ordinary pirates wouldn't dare cause trouble here unless they had a death wish.
But he forgot one crucial thing.
There was nothing ordinary about the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
And by the time they realized it, Ryuunosuke was already standing at the front gates.
"Ryuunosuke… captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates?" Vilas stuttered.
"You know me? Good. Saves me the intro," Ryuunosuke replied casually. "I'm here for the slaves. You gonna hand them over? Or do I have to take them myself?"
Vilas heart dropped.
How the hell did this guy find out!?
Everything they did had been kept under tight wraps. Not a single whisper had slipped through—at least, that's what he thought. Their navy status gave them cover. If Marine HQ found out about their involvement in the slave trade, Fleet Admiral Sengoku would personally hang him out to dry.
That's why they were always careful. They never spoke of these things outside. Never left a trace.
But as the saying goes—there's no such thing as a perfect wall.
If someone like Shakky could sniff it out, so could other intelligence agencies. The Cipher Pol groups might've known, but they didn't care. It wasn't their jurisdiction.
As for Marine HQ? They'd dispatched a vice admiral here merely for appearances. This area was tied to the Celestial Dragons—no one wanted to poke that hornet's nest.
And let's be honest. The Navy was already neck-deep in other problems.
...Except for Garp, of course. That guy only did what he wanted to do.
"It seems like you're not going to give me a straight answer," Ryuunosuke said calmly. "Guess I'll just help myself then."
He raised his hand.
"Bastard pirate! Who do you think you are!?" Vilas roared, drawing his blade.
Sure, he'd heard the rumors about Ryuunosuke—but hearing wasn't believing. Vilas still had confidence in himself. He was a vice admiral, dammit. A seasoned officer of the Navy!
His character might be questionable, sure—but his strength was not.
He coated his sword in Armament Haki and charged straight at Ryuunosuke.
Clang!
His blade was intercepted before it could even reach the captain.
"You don't have the right to lay a finger on our captain," said a calm voice.
The one who blocked the attack was none other than Akame, who had been quietly following Ryuunosuke.
She was originally part of the training group, but due to her unique nature, she opted to train solo instead. Rayleigh's method didn't suit her, so Ryuunosuke brought her along on this mission.
"One-Slash Killer… Akame?" Vilas eyes narrowed.
He immediately leapt backward, distancing himself.
Rumors said her blade could kill in a single cut.
Shit. These guys…
Just that brief exchange told him all he needed to know—his strength was barely equal to hers. Maybe even less. And that cursed sword of hers? He'd have to avoid it at all costs.
And Ryuunosuke? That bastard hadn't even moved yet.
Why the hell were the Dragon Hunter Pirates targeting him of all people?
"I'll ask one more time," Ryuunosuke said, tone calm but sharp. "Hand over the slaves. I'm not here to kill you."
Akame, who was ready to attack again, silently returned to his side.
"We—we don't have any slaves!" Vilas blurted out. "I don't know where you got that idea! We're the Navy! We crack down on slave trading! You're clearly mistaken!"
His words came out fast, desperate.
Because if Ryuunosuke wasn't here to kill him, then survival was still possible—as long as he didn't confess. He had even noticed the News Coo flying nearby. That damn bird was definitely filming.
If this got out…
Marine HQ would crucify him.
So under no circumstances could he admit anything.
"Oh? So that's your play, huh?" Ryuunosuke smirked. "Not stupid, I'll give you that. But you think I'm dumb enough to believe you?"
Before Vilas could answer, Ryuunosuke vanished.
He reappeared a moment later—this time, holding a disheveled navy officer by the collar.
The man looked horrified, clothes torn, hair messy. Behind Ryuunosuke, was a half-dressed woman—clearly exhausted, clearly abused.
No words were needed.
The scene spoke volumes.
Ryuunosuke stared coldly at Vilas.
"Want me to show you more?" he said. "I've got plenty of examples inside. So tell me… are you still planning to resist? Or are you going to hand them over?"
"I don't care about your life, Vilas. I just want the slaves."
His smile was disarmingly casual, like he was chatting with an old friend.
But to Vilas, it was the smile of the devil.
If he handed over the slaves, Marine HQ would know.
And when that happened, they'd send people to clean house.
Best case? He'd get thrown into Impel Down.
And he knew damn well how many pirates he'd put in there.
They'd rip him apart the second he stepped foot inside.
Hell, some of those freaks might even turn him into a toy for their twisted games.
Worst case?
They'd kill him on the spot.
His actions had dragged the Navy's so-called "justice" through the mud. And now, death was his only way out.
"Don't push me, Ryuunosuke!" Vilas barked, voice trembling. "You should know what happens when people are cornered—!"
"Are you seriously going to tell me those slaves wanted to be slaves?" Ryuunosuke interrupted, eyes sharp. "That you didn't force them into it?"
Vilas fell silent.
Because Ryuunosuke was right.
Those people weren't there by choice.
The Navy's methods made Ryuunosuke look like a saint in comparison.
Still, Vilas couldn't afford to admit anything. If he did… it was over.
"Vice Admiral Vilas of the Navy Headquarters!" Ryuunosuke suddenly declared, mocking his title. "Fell in battle against Ryuunosuke, captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates!"
Vilas face twisted in disbelief. "I'm a vice admiral! There's no way—"
SLAP!
Before he could finish, Ryuunosuke appeared right in front of him and slapped him across the face.
Hard.
"Tsukuyomi," Ryuunosuke called. "Grab him. We're going inside."
Without another word, he dragged Vilas toward the mansion.
The time for games was over.
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