After a few more moments of chitchat with Zephyr, Cage hung up the Den Den Mushi.
"Rear Admiral Cage, the battleships are ready. As you requested, we'll go and subjugate Capone Bege first."
Ain saluted loudly as she reported. Capone Bege's organization was quite large.
"If everything is ready, then let's set sail," Cage said, taking a deep breath and once again leading the Marines to hunt pirates.
In a coastal town in the West Blue, a fierce battle raged. Marine battleships were positioned on the open sea nearby, indiscriminately bombarding the town.
Boom boom boom... boom boom boom... boom boom boom...
Flames consumed everything, and buildings crumbled and were destroyed one after another. Cage's orders were simple: destroy every visible structure.
As for the civilians... Cage had no concerns there. According to Marine intelligence, the town was completely overrun by gangsters, and the local residents had long since fled. It was a den of thieves.
Therefore, Cage acted without hesitation, opting to level the place with sheer firepower.
Bang bang bang... bang bang bang...
However, the gangsters ruled by Capone Bege weren't going to hold back. After being caught off guard, they quickly organized a counterattack, engaging the Marines in a fierce cannon battle.
Rumble rumble... rumble rumble...
The firepower of the gangsters was not bad, and a Marine battleship was soon hit. However, the losses were disproportionate, with a ratio of 1:100.
No matter how powerful a gangster's artillery was, it couldn't surpass the Marines'. The bombardment lasted for about ten minutes, and the town was completely destroyed.
"That's enough. Let's land."
About ten minutes later, Cage noticed the enemy's cannon fire had completely stopped. After a quick scan with his Observation Haki, he found that the number of gangsters had been reduced from over a thousand to just a few dozen. Cage then ordered the Marines to land.
The Marine battleships quickly approached the port, and squad after squad of soldiers disembarked, searching through the charred town.
The objective was simple: Capone Bege's body!
Once he found the gangster's body, Cage could leave. As for the other small fries, they could kill them if they wanted, but it wasn't a big deal if some of them escaped. A few stragglers wouldn't be able to achieve anything great.
"After we take down Capone Bege and Lafitte, I'll make a trip back to Marine Headquarters."
"You'll be in charge of maintaining order in the East Blue and West Blue while I'm gone."
Cage handed all the responsibility to Ain.
"Me?!"
Ain's eyes widened. To be honest, she was flattered and didn't know how to respond.
"You don't want to?" Cage asked with a frown.
"N-no, that's not it!"
Ain quickly shook her head, explaining softly, "I'm just afraid I won't live up to your expectations, Rear Admiral Cage."
"You have to believe in your own abilities."
Cage's lips curled into a smile as he encouraged her. "A fledgling eagle will fly on its own one day. You have to believe in yourself and get used to this kind of life ahead of time."
"Okay."
Ain finally nodded her head forcefully, determined to give it her all.
Bang bang bang...
Just then, a flurry of gunshots suddenly rang out. Cage's eyes darted to the location, extending his Observation Haki in that direction.
"Let's go!"
After sensing what was happening, Cage led his men toward the sound.
The gunshots were coming from a destroyed bunker. Although most of it was in ruins, its remaining corner still looked magnificent, giving a sense of its former grandeur.
"Just a few Marine grunts, daring to point their guns at me? A bunch of idiots who don't know what's good for them! Don't you know who I am?"
A short man in a suit and fedora shouted. He had a cigar in his mouth and reeked of a mafia lifestyle.
This was Capone Bege. He had just shot and killed a few Marines who had pointed their guns at him.
Having grown accustomed to being the one in power, he was the only one who ever pointed a gun at others. To be treated this way infuriated him, and he had killed several Marines in a fit of rage.
Cage arrived just in time to witness this scene, and his expression immediately turned cold.
"Surround him!"
Ain waved her hand, and a small squad of Marines encircled Capone Bege. She pointed a finger at him angrily. "You're at death's door, yet you still dare to harm our Marines?"
However, Capone Bege paid no mind to Ain. His eyes were locked on Cage. "You must be that guy named Cage, right?"
"This West Blue was perfectly fine, but it's been turned into a complete mess because of you! You're a stirrer of shit!" Capone Bege yelled in annoyance. The Revolutionary Army, the Happo Navy, and even he himself had suffered at Cage's hands.
The Revolutionary Army had lost a commander, and the Happo Navy was even more miserable, with their forces completely annihilated. Cage had even led people to flatten the Kano Country, and it was rumored that the country's new king was a puppet appointed by Cage, and had now joined the World Government.
The next unlucky one on his list was him.
"A stirrer of shit? I might as well admit it; that description is quite fitting," Cage didn't deny it, then mocked him. "But no matter how bad I am, I'm still a stick. What are you guys? Just a bunch of stinking turds I stirred up!"
Cage's words were so cutting that Capone Bege's face turned green.
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