Chapter 249: Forcing the Bounty

"What is that?"

"White Ghost?!"

Before the opposing pirates could fully recognize his identity, Adrian swooped in like a yellow sparrow, effortlessly slaughtering the group of "mantis" pirate captains who were poised to strike first.

His eyes glowed red, and his Observation Haki covered the entire island. Given that Jaya Island is small and lacks essential resources for sustaining life, pirate groups here are very transient, with no powerful pirate groups permanently residing on the island.

Through Observation Haki, Adrian confirmed that the number of pirates eliminated on the streets accounted for more than 90% of all the pirates in Mock Town. The remaining ones were either drunk to the point of unconsciousness or too scared to show up. Adrian had no interest in continuing to harvest the heads of such worthless individuals, especially since it wasn't profitable.

Glancing at Enel, who remained standing motionless, Adrian tapped the lead-gray pocket watch in his hand gently. Rumi emerged with a chirp, fluttering in the air.

"Adrian, is there something you need?"

Pointing at Enel, Adrian said casually, "Create a separate space in the castle and let that kid rest well... Oh, and don't let the blood on him dirty the castle."

Rumi nodded, unfazed by the current state of Mock Town. Being the ship spirit of the Roger Pirates, Rumi had experienced countless situations. A small scene like Mock Town was no big deal.

With a ripple in the air, Rumi used her power to place Enel inside a room in the castle, then went in as well. Identifying the direction, Adrian floated leisurely towards the only bar in Mock Town.

A few months earlier, Mont Blanc Cricket, who had traveled to Skypiea with them and was then sent back to the sea, was not on Jaya Island at the moment; his whereabouts were unknown. Adrian's Observation Haki did not detect his presence either. After confirming the existence of Skypiea and the City of Gold, Cricket had vowed to find the location of Skypiea and the City of Gold through his own efforts. Perhaps he was currently preparing to raise funds and build a sturdy ship capable of withstanding the massive Knock Up Stream...

Soon after, Adrian arrived at the only bar in Mock Town. He pushed open the half-suspended door and walked in. Inside, only a few pirates were completely drunk in a corner, muttering indistinctly in their sleep. Noticing their unmistakable pirate insignia, Adrian employed his usual method, ensuring these guys died in their drunken dreams.

"Excuse me, sir, is there anything you need?"

The bar owner, a young man with dark skin and an orange headscarf, stammered nervously.

Adrian glanced at the black mark on the owner's right arm and asked, "You're a pirate too?"

Sweat instantly beaded on the owner Terry's forehead. Covering his right hand, he nervously explained, "I-I used to be! But I haven't been a pirate for many years now!"

Raising an eyebrow, Adrian thought, given your age, how could you have been out of the pirate life for many years? Did you start when you were eight?

Ignoring these minor details, the owner's statement, while dubious in truth, had no obvious flaws. After all, his appearance matched Adrian's impression of the Mock Town owner twenty years later, except for the age difference. Even if this owner used to be a pirate, he would end up being a law-abiding bar owner for decades.

"I heard you have a special 'cherry pie' here?"

One of Adrian's goals in visiting the bar was to taste the cherry pie, which received drastically different reviews from Blackbeard and Luffy.

Seeing that White Ghost wasn't going to cause trouble, Terry breathed a h uge sigh of relief. Ignoring the sweat on his forehead, he hurriedly replied, "Yes, right away! I'll prepare it now!"

Shortly after, Terry respectfully placed the long-awaited cherry pie in front of Adrian. Adrian picked up a knife and fork, casually cut a piece, and put it in his mouth.

"It's just ordinary...

"I guess I'm not a chosen one..."

After a few more bites, the "Sweet Tooth" ability clearly conveyed rejection. Adrian slowly shook his head and called Rumi to store the unfinished cherry pie in the castle, intending for Enel to finish it later.

Approaching again, the nervous Terry rubbed his apron with his hands, "Sir, is everything to your satisfaction?"

"It's just average," Adrian replied blandly. "By the way, can you redeem bounties here? There's a whole bunch of pirates outside."

As a bounty hunter who had been roaming the West Blue for many years, Adrian naturally knew that certain places doubled as bounty exchange centers for pirates.

Taverns were the most common among them.

Many tavern owners also secretly worked as information brokers, given that taverns were places where information flowed freely.

The tavern owner Terry said with difficulty, "But there are too many pirates outside. My small establishment really can't handle it..."

"Then there's no problem with helping to collect the pirates' heads, right?"

"Of course!"

Half a day later.

The Abyss ship, loaded with pirate heads worth over five million berries in bounties, slowly sailed away from Jaya Island, heading towards the nearest Marine branch base.

Catching pirates, collecting bounties, finding the Marines.

Doesn't seem like a problem?

...

G-13 Branch Base.

"Vice Admiral Onigumo! Vice Admiral Onigumo!"

A communications officer frantically ran to the office of the base commander to report.

The broad-faced Onigumo asked calmly, "What happened? Why are you so flustered?"

The communications officer shouted in terror, "It's White Ghost! White Ghost has come to our base!"

The relaxed and gentle expression on Onigumo's face instantly vanished, turning extremely serious as he quickly ran towards the base's main hall.

His speed was so swift, his movement so rapid, that he even used "Soru"!

"What are you doing here, White Ghost?!"

After many years, the once familiar face had now become an unfamiliar adversary.

"Onigumo?"

Adrian raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected that the randomly chosen Marine branch near Jaya Island would be commanded by Onigumo, whom he had encountered several times in the West Blue!

"Long time no see. You've risen quickly from a major to a Vice Admiral in just a few years!"

Adrian sighed.

In just a few short years, Onigumo had been promoted from a major in the Marine branch to a Vice Admiral in the Marine Headquarters.

Onigumo's growth in strength was also quite remarkable!

It seemed that the elite training camp of Admiral Zephyr, which Onigumo had mentioned before, had indeed helped him greatly!

Onigumo said coldly, "White Ghost, you are now a notorious pirate jointly wanted by the Marine Headquarters and the World Government! Appearing so openly in front of the Marines, do you want to be sent to Impel Down?"

"Is that so?"

Adrian suddenly took a small step forward.

However.

This simple small step, devoid of any aggressive stance, caused all the Marine soldiers in the hall, except for Onigumo, to involuntarily step back, as if they had seen a monstrous beast.

"It seems you Marines aren't very eager to capture me."

Adrian shrugged, his tone relaxed.

Onigumo's face turned extremely grim, but he couldn't scold his subordinates in front of White Ghost, so he maintained a strong stance and asked, "White Ghost, what exactly do you want from the G-13 branch?"

"I just captured some pirates on Jaya Island and wanted to exchange their bounties at this base."

Adrian pointed to the tall stack of wooden crates beside him, his tone playful.

"Isn't this request quite reasonable?"

Reasonable, my ass!

Looking at the neatly arranged wooden crates, Onigumo's expression was extremely stiff, almost ready to draw his sword.

The other Marine soldiers also had strange expressions, finding that the notorious White Ghost wasn't as terrifying as the rumors suggested, but rather...

A bit humorous?

"That's impossible!" Onigumo immediately rejected without thinking, "No pirate has ever exchanged bounties with the Marines!"

"So, I am the one breaking the precedent?"

Adrian reached into the void, and as ripples appeared, the cursed blade Nidai Kitetsu was gripped in his hand, its tip aimed at Onigumo.

"Or do you want to be plundered by a pirate?"

"Justice will never compromise with pirates!"

Onigumo sternly drew his long sword from his waist. He was also a skilled swordsman.

Knowing the vast difference in strength between them, Onigumo took a deep breath and launched an attack, turning into a shadow as he charged at Adrian.

[Dragon's Strength]!

[Power Strike Specialization]!

Adrian swung his sword, and the sharp Nidai Kitetsu effortlessly parried Onigumo's sword in midair.

The next moment, Adrian's right arm exerted a bit of force, and like swinging a baseball bat, he sent Onigumo flying.

The massive body of the Vice Admiral crashed through several thick walls and landed in a pile of rubble, unable to get up.

"Vice Admiral Onigumo!"

The Marine soldiers shouted.

"So, are you ready to pay now?"

Adrian lazily twirled his sword, looking at the group of Marine soldiers.

"I am sincerely here to rob—cough, collect the bounty."