Originally, Luo Lan had expected some resistance—after all, no matter how rotten, this was still a Navy branch.
But to his surprise, the 16th Branch…
was far worse than he'd imagined.
There wasn't even a single guard on duty. Only a few people were loitering inside the branch headquarters.
And those few?
They were gambling.
Tossing around Berry coins, shaking dice, completely oblivious.
Even when Luo Lan and his team stood behind them, not a single one noticed.
Good grief…
The squad exchanged glances—and moved in.
Moments later, every last one of those marines lay unconscious on the floor.
---
Ten minutes later, the three teams regrouped at the training field.
"Reporting! The marine dormitory has been secured—49 personnel under control!"
"Reporting! The harbor is also under control—17 personnel detained!"
The two squad leaders who had split off gave their reports in sequence.
Everything had gone smoothly. No surprises.
Including the 7 captured in the headquarters building earlier, that made 75 personnel in custody.
According to intel, excluding the so-called "rats", there should be 82 people in the 16th Branch.
So where were the remaining 5?
More importantly—
"Ian, what about our undercover agent?"
"Reporting—he hasn't been found. We've lost contact."
"Hm?" Luo Lan frowned slightly. "What happened?"
"I have a theory," Ian said.
"Speak," Luo Lan ordered.
"Yes, Colonel. Two days ago, the undercover agent embedded in the 16th Branch contacted me. He said the 'Rat' were planning to make a move on some rebellious new recruits and asked for instructions."
"You told him not to alert the enemy?"
Luo Lan immediately began to piece things together.
"Yes. I told him to lay low until our arrival."
"I see. In that case, I'll handle Nezumi myself. You take the others and search every inch of this place. Look for any hidden rooms or secret compartments."
"Yes, sir!"
---
Orders given, the marines followed Ian and began a thorough sweep of the entire branch.
Luo Lan, meanwhile, walked toward a rather conspicuous villa behind the main building.
---
Inside a bedroom—
Nezumi had only just fallen asleep when he suddenly jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat.
Looking around and confirming he was still in his room, he let out a relieved sigh.
Just a nightmare.
Back to sleep, then.
But before he could even settle down again, he was startled awake once more.
He felt… wind.
Cool, fresh air drifting into the room.
But… didn't I close the window before bed?!
He turned sharply—and saw a shadowy figure perched on the windowsill.
The figure was gently polishing a white pistol with a cloth.
"Who are you?!"
Startled, Nezumi reached under his pillow and pulled out a small flintlock pistol, aiming it at the intruder.
But before he could fire—
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
The pistol was blasted from his hands, sent flying across the room, smashing into the wall before crashing to the ground in pieces.
His right hand trembled violently…
Blood trickled from his shattered knuckles, dripping to the floor.
Drip… drip… drip…
The figure leapt down from the windowsill and walked toward him.
Under the moonlight, Nezumi finally saw the intruder clearly.
A Justice cloak?
He didn't recognize the face,
but that uniform—it was unmistakably Navy.
At the very least… a colonel.
His slow brain began to churn furiously, trying to make sense of things.
But even with smoke practically pouring from his ears, he came up with nothing.
"Nezumi, if I'm not mistaken, you're Muskrat's cousin, right?"
"You know that, and still dare to attack me?" Nezumi shouted, trying to put on a brave front.
"Heh. With that Muskrat's personality, if he knew what you've been doing out here in the East Blue, he'd probably kill you himself."
Luo Lan sneered.
He knew Muskrat all too well.
Back at Marine HQ, the two had a good relationship.
And now this idiot was trying to use Muskrat as a threat?
"You know my cousin?" Nezumi asked, stunned.
Images of Muskrat's fury flashed in his mind.
If he ever found out what the Rat had done…
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
Just as Luo Lan had said—Muskrat would absolutely kill him.
But who the hell is this guy?
What does he want?
Could it be… HQ found out and sent him to arrest me?
No, impossible. I just spoke to that 'lord' over the phone. If HQ had discovered anything, he would've warned me.
Then…
Maybe this guy found out on his own?
Is he here to blackmail me?
Fine, fine, that's manageable.
As long as HQ doesn't know, anything else can be handled.
Worst-case scenario—pay him off now and let the lord clean up afterward.
"Alright, name your price. How much to keep your mouth shut?"
Luo Lan paused, stunned.
What kind of wild story have you conjured up in that little head of yours?
Where did this confidence come from?
With a sigh, he vanished in a blur—Shave.
In the next instant, Luo Lan appeared beside Nezumi.
Whack!
A precise chop to the neck.
Nezumi went limp.
Luo Lan hoisted him up and leapt out the still-open window.
---
Back at the training field—
Ian and the others were already waiting. A few marines were supporting several injured men.
"You found them?"
"Yes, sir. They were locked in a storage room. If we'd been two days later, we might've been too late…"
Ian's expression darkened.
When they found the storage room, the five men had been hanging from ropes—bloody, battered, barely breathing.
One of them was his subordinate.
The very one who had gone undercover in the 16th Branch.
Originally, Ian had told him to wait for backup.
But apparently, he'd been forced to act early to save someone—
and got caught himself.
He only survived because Nezumi wanted more information from him.
"Good. As long as they're safe. Proceed with the clean-up. We're leaving."
"Yes, Colonel!"
---
A merchant ship that had been waiting offshore quietly docked at the port.
One by one, the unconscious marines—including Nezumi—were loaded aboard.
They were locked away in iron cages in the ship's hold.
After all, Luo Lan's two submarines couldn't hold this many prisoners.
As for the piles of confiscated Berries and valuables?
Those were stashed aboard Ship No. 2.
An hour later, the merchant ship and both submarines departed the area.
The 16th Branch…
was left completely empty.