CHAPTER 131

Heading to Fish-Man Island: Tentacles Attacking in the Darkness

The person on the other end of the Den Den Mushi readily agreed to Caesar's commission.

"By the way, inform the other factions that the conditions remain the same. Anyone willing to come will not be turned away," Caesar added.

"Of course, no problem!" The man paused before replying.

With several objectives accomplished, the auction had concluded. There was no longer any reason for the Caesar Pirates to remain on Sabaody Archipelago.

After wrapping up his conversation with the auction house's shadowy benefactor, Caesar decided to leave. Other participants of the auction also dispersed one after another.

Among them, a group consisting of Caesar's crew carried the treasures they had won at the auction, as well as the female slaves purchased by three female crew members. Their destination: Grove 66.

Grove 66 was home to the Sabaody Marine Branch.

The presence of the Caesar Pirates drew immediate attention. Their bold, unrestrained march toward a Marine installation did not go unnoticed.

Word of their approach reached the Marines quickly. The local officers, already wary of high-profile pirate crews operating on the archipelago, grew increasingly tense.

Unlike handling lesser pirates, dealing with the Caesar Pirates was another matter entirely.

Fighting them was nothing short of suicide.

Without hesitation, the Marine branch requested reinforcements.

"This is the Marine Branch at Sabaody Archipelago! The Caesar Pirates are moving toward our base! Their intentions are unclear—requesting immediate backup!"

The entire branch was thrown into a state of panic, quickly shifting into a first-level combat readiness stance.

It wasn't long before Caesar and his crew arrived at the Marine base's front gates. Without a hint of hesitation, they walked in as if the place belonged to them.

The onlookers, keeping a safe distance, murmured among themselves.

"They're just walking in like that? Do they plan to attack the Marines?"

"If they do, this branch won't stand a chance. Even during Fleet Admiral Sengoku's era, they couldn't take down the Caesar Pirates."

"We'd better stay back. If a battle breaks out, we don't want to get caught in the crossfire."

Curiosity and apprehension filled the air.

At the forefront, Caesar led his crew. Behind them were the women they had freed from the auction.

A Marine vice admiral emerged from the building, stepping forward to confront the intruders. His stern glare was laced with apprehension.

"Alexander Caesar, what are you planning?!" the vice admiral demanded. "Are you here to attack this Marine branch?"

"Think carefully. This place is close to Marine Headquarters. If anything happens, backup will arrive within an hour!"

Though his tone was firm, the unease in his voice was unmistakable.

The surrounding Marines raised their rifles, ready to act. Others had their hands on the hilts of their swords, prepared for combat.

Yet, Caesar paid them no mind. With a condescending smirk, he turned to the vice admiral and gestured toward the women behind him.

"Oh, esteemed officers of justice," he said mockingly, "could I trouble you to escort these innocent women back to their homes?"

"Or would you prefer that we, the so-called evil pirates, take care of this righteous deed instead?"

His words struck a nerve.

Some of the Marines lowered their gazes, guilt evident in their expressions. Others bristled in anger.

The vice admiral's face paled. He hesitated, unsure how to respond.

Of course, the Marines had no real interest in getting involved.

But outright refusing would be an embarrassment.

His silence spoke volumes.

Caesar's smirk widened. He turned to the women and announced, "The Marines will ensure your safe return."

"I doubt these self-proclaimed defenders of justice would refuse such a simple task. After all, they wouldn't want people to think they're all talk, would they?"

The vice admiral's face darkened, his clenched fists trembling with suppressed rage. But he knew he had no choice.

This was a checkmate.

Having made his point, Caesar turned and left the Marine base with his crew. The women remained behind.

The onlookers, still watching, were left stunned.

"Huh? That's it? No fight?"

"I thought they were going to storm the Marine base, but they just... left?"

"Wait, those women stayed behind. Did the Caesar Pirates buy slaves only to hand them over to the Marines?"

"Could there be some kind of secret deal between them?"

Speculation ran rampant.

Meanwhile, Caesar and his crew made their way toward Grove 41, where their ship, the Rex, was moored.

"Caesar, do you really think the Marines will send those women home?" Gnali asked, frowning.

"If they have any sense, they will," Caesar replied.

"There were too many witnesses. If they don't follow through, they'll be slapping themselves in the face."

Gnali nodded, and the rest of the crew seemed to agree.

"That was a brilliant move," Brad said, impressed. "You backed them into a corner. They had no choice."

Caesar merely smiled.

This trip to Sabaody Archipelago hadn't been particularly important.

Acquiring a Devil Fruit of unknown ability? That had been a pleasant surprise.

Rescuing the mermaid? A mere coincidence.

In truth, the real reason they had come was because Lily and the other female crew members wanted to shop.

And Caesar had business to handle with certain underground factions.

Before long, they reached the port and boarded the Rex.

Under Eli's supervision, the crew began coating the ship. Though a tedious process, it was essential for their descent to Fish-Man Island.

Caesar had considered using his own abilities to shield the Rex for the journey. However, the crushing pressure of the ocean's depths, nearly 10,000 meters below the surface, made him uncertain.

Ultimately, traditional coating was the safer option. It was also a valuable learning experience for the crew.

After all, they couldn't always rely on him.

Eli had previously trained under Tom, the legendary shipwright, and had mastered the coating process. Under his direction, the crew worked swiftly.

Hades handled the underwater portion, while the rest of the crew secured the upper sections.

Before long, the Rex was fully coated.

From the island, many eyes remained fixed on them—Marines and pirates alike. Yet none dared approach.

Some were still wondering what had happened inside the Marine branch.

But the Marines weren't about to reveal that.

Moments later, the Rex began to sink beneath the waves, disappearing into the depths.

Eli's craftsmanship proved flawless.

As the ship descended, Caesar allowed himself to relax.

This was the first time they were traveling to Fish-Man Island using proper coating.

Before, Caesar had relied on his own abilities to sink to the seafloor. This time, things were different.

"Hah! Looks like Eli really did his homework," Brad laughed, inspecting the bubble coating above them.

Eli grinned. "Of course! I barely slept when I was first learning this technique. I made sure to master it properly."

As the Rex drifted downward, Hades released the mermaid they had rescued, enclosing her in a protective bubble.

Only now did the crew get a proper look at her.

She had striking crimson hair and wore a pink T-shirt. Her beauty was undeniable—elegant and alluring.

Even the most stoic crew members couldn't help but be captivated.

"She's stunning," Gnali admitted, uncharacteristically impressed.

"No wonder mermaids are such high-value targets for traffickers," Lily muttered angrily.

The mermaid, sensing their gazes, bowed gracefully.

"Thank you for saving me," she said softly. "My name is Belisa. I'm a barista at a café."

"Oh? A barista?" Caesar mused, intrigued.

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