On the street, Jim Carrey and Sammy followed behind Nao, their expressions hinting at something they wanted to say, yet afraid to speak rashly.
"Your faces are almost as purple as pig liver, aren't they?" Nao said without turning his head. "Just say what's on your mind."
The male and female bounty hunters exchanged glances. Finally, under Sammy's intimidating gaze, Jim Carrey was forced to ask, his face etched with a bitter smile:
"Sir, with your strength, you must be at least a Rear Admiral, right? We haven't heard of such a powerful Marine in the nearby branches. Could it be that you're from G-2—"
"No."
Nao's faint voice drifted back. "I'm from the Marine Headquarters Elite Camp."
"Oh." Jim Carrey immediately breathed a sigh of relief, wiping cold sweat and chuckling nervously. "A Headquarters officer, that's good, that's good…"
"However, a little over a month ago…"
Noa finally turned his head and looked at Jim Carrey with a smile, "I was just transferred to the G-2 Branch by the Instructor to train and intern for a period of time."
Jim Carrey's smile instantly froze.
"A-a little over a month ago?" he stammered. "Then, then that means…"
"Ah, that's right." Nao nodded frankly. "That bastard you two were cursing all along the way earlier? That would be me."
It really was you!
The two bounty hunters' eyes nearly popped out. Seeing Nao casually turn his head and continue walking forward, Jim Carrey quickly rushed after him, nervously asking:
"Are you… aren't you angry at all? Aren't you planning to settle scores with us…?"
"I'd very much like to."
Nao glanced at him. "But I already beat you both up the moment I got on your ship earlier. It wouldn't be right to beat you again for this little thing, would it?"
"Definitely wouldn't," Jim Carrey decisively shook his head.
"Problem solved,"
Nao stretched, leisurely saying:
"I'm not one to hold a grudge. Let's go—enough awkwardness."
Then who was it that put a sword to our necks earlier…?
The two hunters grumbled inwardly.
The trio arrived at the harbor and boarded the Max Pirates' ship, giving it a thorough sweep and clear-out.
They not only dealt with the remaining pirates in the cabin but also unexpectedly rescued several young teens.
After finishing all of this and returning to the deck, Onigumo's Marine battleship finally arrived, long overdue.
"What bad luck."
Finding that there was nothing left for him to do, Onigumo's face showed his disappointment.
"I repaired the ship two hours early, thinking I could still catch the last bit of meat soup. I didn't expect you to be so absurdly fast when you get going…"
"You'll get used to it." Nao smiled and bumped fists with him.
Onigumo rolled his eyes at him and began directing the marines to clear the battlefield and move the goods and treasures plundered by the pirates.
After spending most of the morning working, the battleship set sail again, leaving Picardo Island's harbor.
The two bounty hunters had originally planned to head to the G-2 Branch to cash in their bounties. Seeing the opportunity, they shamelessly hitched a ride aboard the battleship.
After all, a Marine battleship was far more reliable than their small, battered boat, both in speed and safety.
At dusk, the battleship successfully returned to where the merchant ship had been stranded earlier. The crew stood eagerly at the bow. Upon seeing the battleship approach, they erupted in cheers.
The blonde girl, Domino, even excitedly rushed forward and gave Nao a warm, grateful hug, under Shia's icy gaze.
However, her father, the bald old man who had previously fainted from anger, reacted completely differently.
After checking the recovered cargo and finding that about 30% of it was lost, he immediately flew into a rage.
He first cursed the Max Pirates, then, not satisfied with that, he dragged the Marines into his rant as well.
His accusations mainly consisted of blaming the Marines for being too slow to rescue them, causing delays, and so on. His tone was extremely harsh, causing everyone on the battleship's deck to frown.
"How does a brain-dead old man like that even manage to run his own merchant fleet without getting beaten to death…?"
Sammy, the female bounty hunter, sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"And here I am stuck with a useless partner, risking my neck for scraps day in and day out. This world's just not fair."
Jim Carrey muttered a couple of disgruntled complaints under his breath but didn't dare talk back.
"He's just begging for it."
Onigumo had a fiery temper and didn't want to humor the old man. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to step forward and strike. "Such a foul mouth, let's see if I don't knock out a couple of this old geezer's teeth…"
"What, you want to hit me?"
Before he could even make a move, the bald old man noticed his gesture and immediately blustered, his mustache bristling:
"I am from the Anka family! Try laying a hand on me, just try! Do you know how much tax money we turn over every year, huh?"
"You know, at least half of the G-2 Branch's expenses come from us! You failed to do your duty, so you should just take the scolding obediently. And you dare to lay a hand on me?!"
These words were even more unbearable.
But Onigumo, after a slight pause, stopped, his face conflicted. He couldn't hit him, yet he couldn't not hit him.
"What's wrong?"
Nao turned his head, lowering his voice in surprise. "Punch him. I've been waiting."
"If this old man really is from the Anka family, it'll be tough to smack him…"
Onigumo's face was constipated. "Of course, half the marine expenses is definitely an exaggeration, but the G-2 Branch's rapid development these past few years indeed owes a lot to the Anka family's help."
"I see." Nao suddenly understood, then said in a low voice, "Then how about I do it? My affiliation is still with Headquarters, so I don't need to save face for him."
As a humble and magnanimous person, his hands had been itching for a long time.
"Still want to hit me, huh?"
No sooner had he spoken than the bald old man opposite him flew into a rage. "Headquarters? Are Marines from Headquarters lawless? I'm telling you, I know people at your Headquarters too! If you dare to lay a hand on me today, be careful, I'll make a call and complain about you to them to take care of you!"
Nao and Onigumo exchanged glances, both looking puzzled.
—This old man is quite old, but his hearing is still so good. Could he perhaps know a bit of Observation Haki?
"Bragging, aren't you, old stinker?"
At this moment, the righteous bounty hunter, Jim Carrey, couldn't stand it anymore and couldn't help but mock:
"Threatening this one minute and intimidating that one the next, and you still think you're in the right? Saying you know high-ranking Marines from Headquarters… with that foul mouth of yours, who would believe your nonsense?"
"You just wait, you little fatty!"
The old man actually turned to get his Transponder Snail, full of bluster, looking just like an elementary schooler setting up a fight after school.
"Little fatty?" Jim Carrey roared in anger, his fatty face jiggling. "Where am I fat, hey, bastard, stop right there!"
"Could this guy really know someone?" Onigumo looked at Nao. "Are you still going to hit him?"
"Let him finish his call first, no rush." Nao said with a smile. "Even if it's Fleet Admiral Sengoku on the phone, I'm still going to let out this frustration today."
He and Onigumo stood at the bow, watching as the bald old man rushed into the merchant ship's cabin, pulled out a large Transponder Snail with a dial pad, loudly dialed a number, and then, while crying into the receiver, pointed accusatorily towards the Marine warship.
"Why is this guy like an old hag, rambling on for so long…" Onigumo frowned. "Is he perhaps distorting the truth and twisting facts with some high-ranking acquaintance at Headquarters?"
Nao shrugged and didn't reply. He had already made up his mind: no matter how badly the old man slandered him on the phone, he would surely repay it a hundredfold with his own dirty tricks later.
Not long after, the bald old man returned to the Marine battleship's deck, holding the Transponder Snail, looking smugly at Nao:
"Hey, kid, I've told Vice Admiral Gion everything. Get over here and listen to her lecture obediently!"
Who?
Nao paused, wondering if his ears were playing tricks on him.
The bald old man, seeing his lack of reaction, thought he was scared and triumphantly shoved the Transponder Snail, mouthpiece and head included, towards him:
"Stunned, aren't you? Here, take it yourself!"