Only Jake and Monet stood on the deck.
The dense fog obscured everything and their ability to navigate relied entirely on Jake's Observation Haki enhanced by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, to guide their way.
The air was thick with moisture and both figures on the deck were covered in a layer of damp dew.
Monet gazed at the fog ahead with concern and said.
"Jake, I investigated that branch base in advance. The commanding officer there is known as the 'Mad Dog Commander,' and his reputation isn't just bad—it's downright terrible. There are plenty of rumors that he has shady dealings with Pirates and even the local human traffickers. Are you sure sending them there won't cause any problems?"
In response to Monet's question, Jake nodded slightly before replying softly.
"That's exactly why, aside from finding them a safe place, we're also going to deal with that branch commander. If he really is involved with those damned Pirates and traffickers as the rumors say, then that branch base is long overdue for a cleanup."
"But for something like this, shouldn't we report it to Fleet Admiral Sengoku first? Acting without permission isn't allowed, right?"
"Don't worry. I already notified Borsalino-sensei in advance using the Den Den Mushi. Even though he hasn't responded yet, this doesn't count as acting without authorization. As long as you inform a superior officer before taking action, the responsibility falls on them."
Jake's answer made Monet both amused and exasperated.
Covering her mouth with a light chuckle, she said.
"Aren't you afraid Borsalino-sensei will retaliate later? You know how often he comes over to our place for free meals."
"Even if he does, it won't be anything serious. You and I both know Borsalino-sensei personality, don't we? He's all bark and no bite~"
As they chatted, the two kept an eye on their surroundings.
This operation wasn't going to be easy—it involved the selection of slaves for the Celestial Dragons.
If things weren't handled properly, forget promotions; even their current positions could be at risk.
Yet despite this, Jake had no intention of abandoning the mission.
To him, dealing with matters involving the Celestial Dragons was inevitable.
Rather than letting it torment him later, he'd rather resolve it now.
Moreover, watching slaves like his former self being bought and transported—Jake couldn't bring himself to stand by and do nothing.
....
The ship sailed across the sea, guided by Jake's powerful Observation Haki, allowing them to navigate with the currents.
Thanks to this, it didn't take long before they arrived at the Marine branch base.
The island housing the branch was called 'Sladepar', one of the few prosperous islands in the area.
Thanks to its diverse vegetation and abundance of rare, high-value plants, its economy far surpassed that of neighboring islands.
It was precisely this economic advantage that gave the island enough funds to relocate the Marine branch base from its originally planned location to here.
After all, for any island, having a Marine base stationed there meant at least some guarantee of safety, no matter the circumstances.
However, looking back now, the mayor who relocated the naval branch base here back then might be feeling some regret.
Because instead of bringing peace and stability, this naval base has become like an insatiable Vampire, endlessly draining the fruits of labor from all the local residents.
Outside the branch base lay a rather dilapidated and neglected training ground.
The once clean and tidy standard track was now littered with garbage, weeds sprouting everywhere.
Equipment that should have been regularly used for drills was now covered in rust.
Just from the exterior alone, one could easily guess the usual training standards and military discipline of the soldiers stationed here.
In stark contrast, the residential area on the other side boasted lavish decorations that seemed worlds apart from the training grounds.
Fountains, statues, neatly trimmed greenery, artistically designed buildings, spotless pathways, gleaming street lamps, and countless surrounding entertainment venues like taverns and restaurants...
This place didn't resemble a naval dormitory at all—it looked more like a bustling nightlife district on some small island.
Jake stood at the edge, observing everything with an indifferent expression.
Monet glared at the scene, a faint chill emanating from her.
Jake didn't stop her. Instead, he said.
"Monet, freeze everything here with ice. Don't let anyone leave. I want to see if these bastards still have any awareness of their actual roles."
With that, Jake vanished from sight, reappearing in the very center of the street.
And when he saw the street up close, Jake finally realized just how horrifying the level of corruption here truly was.
This place wasn't just home to taverns and restaurants—there were also casinos and unspeakable establishments.
In areas where young women should never have been present, there were instead hordes of provocatively dressed women, flaunting their slender, pale waists as they swayed before Jake's eyes.
The passersby around him all had bloated bellies and greasy faces, nothing like the marine soldiers supposed to look.
Perhaps these men didn't even consider themselves navy personnel.
Though they wore naval uniforms, they had altered them freely.
One man even playfully placed his cap on the head of a woman engaged in lewd talks, grinning shamelessly as he joked.
Under the man's teasing, the woman showed no trace of shame.
She merely gave him a coquettish glance before deftly slipping some Berries from his pocket, smiling as she said.
"In that case, I'll need to charge extra service fees. After all, wearing a navy officer's uniform would be quite embarrassing for someone like me."
"Hahaha, there's nothing to be ashamed of. Put on this outfit, and you'll earn even more money!"
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