Chapter 13: Inspecting the South Blue

"Ah~ I'm full!"

Renji let out a long breath and patted his now-full stomach. In his other hand, he held a stack of documents, which he used to fan himself.

A day earlier, Renji had received materials from Navy Headquarters detailing the names of officers in the South Blue who had gained some level of fame.

At first, he thought Admiral Sengoku was being kind by letting him investigate his competitors. However, upon receiving the materials, he realized his name wasn't even on the list.

Someone as handsome, charming, wealthy, and powerful as him—left off the list!

The materials highlighted three individuals, all captains, who were the primary candidates for promotion.

This was unacceptable.

So, under Kuzan's resentful gaze, Renji handed over all base responsibilities to him and decided to take a break. With the help of Bear, who was with Ginny, Renji used his abilities to travel to this island.

This island was under the jurisdiction of one of the captains on the list. It seemed well-managed, almost on par with the Sorbet Kingdom.

Renji rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought, until a conversation nearby caught his attention.

"Have you heard? People have been mysteriously disappearing from the village to the east."

The speaker glanced around to ensure no one was listening before continuing to chat with his friend.

"That incident? Someone else mentioned it earlier..."

"Shh..."

The restaurant owner emerged from the kitchen, placing a finger to his lips to signal them to stop discussing the topic.

"Don't you know loose lips sink ships? This isn't something to talk about openly."

The customers were confused. "Weren't you the one who enjoyed talking about it before? Why the sudden change?"

The owner leaned in, his tone mysterious. "I heard something from my uncle's wife's cousin's son..."

The crowd lost interest. Whenever the owner used this tone, it meant he was about to start exaggerating.

"Hey! Don't brush me off. This time, it's serious," the owner insisted, growing frustrated.

His seriousness piqued their curiosity. "Alright, tell us..."

"The Navy Headquarters is sending someone to inspect the South Blue," the owner said. "Captain Charlie is spending money to smooth things over and ensure he passes the inspection."

"Ugh..."

The restaurant erupted in groans. Inspections happened once or twice a year, and everyone knew about them. The owner was making a big deal out of nothing.

"If you keep this up, we'll stop coming here to eat," one regular joked.

The owner's eyes narrowed. He had only brought up the Navy to steer the conversation away from sensitive topics, but now he felt challenged.

"Hold on, I'm not done yet," he said, raising a hand.

"According to my sources, the missing people were allegedly taken to the east..."

"..."

Renji's eyes narrowed. This was interesting—a series of kidnappings?

He placed money under his bowl and left the restaurant without drawing attention.

From what he had gathered, the Navy on this island was deeply corrupt. Their main goal was to pass the upcoming inspection without raising any red flags.

They were suppressing any unfavorable rumors, as evidenced by the restaurant owner's behavior.

The officers knew that even a small mistake could cost them their positions—or worse, their lives. Many would face imprisonment if things went south.

What they didn't know was that Renji was also conducting his own investigation in secret.

He wondered if there were any honest Navy personnel left on the island.

Being unfamiliar with the area, Renji had to proceed carefully, testing the waters step by step.

"The east side of the island, huh? What's over there?"

Renji rubbed his forehead and decided to head there to investigate.

...

After circling the eastern part of the island twice, Renji found nothing unusual.

The area seemed to be a slum. The people wore patched clothing, their eyes dull and lifeless, as if they had been through some trauma.

"Are they hiding something, or is the information just wrong?"

"Something feels off here..."

The streets were crowded, but there was an unsettling atmosphere.

The people's eyes were hollow, as if they had been numbed by some terrible experience.

"Who are you? I've been following you."

A young Navy officer stepped in front of Renji, pointing a sword at him, his eyes filled with hostility.

The standoff drew the attention of passersby, but as soon as they saw the young man's uniform, they averted their eyes and went about their business.

They knew better than to get involved with someone wearing that uniform.

The young officer noticed their reactions and shuddered slightly, lowering his head as if ashamed.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Answer me!"

Renji ignored the young man's demand. In a flash, he appeared behind him and gently tapped his shoulder.

"Are you the Navy officer in charge of this area?"

Renji liked the young man's demeanor—determined and pure, with a hint of naivety.

He charged forward without even knowing his opponent's strength, like a student fresh out of school, full of curiosity and unbroken spirit.

"I asked you first..."

The young officer couldn't even see Renji's movements, and fear began to creep into his heart.

But he refused to back down, turning his head to glare at the man behind him.

Seeing the determination in the young man's eyes, Renji replied, "I'm just a merchant passing through, here to conduct market research."

It wasn't entirely a lie—Renji was indeed a merchant, and he was here to investigate.

The young officer looked at the hand on his shoulder, his expression skeptical.

"Ahem..."

Renji cleared his throat. "You know how dangerous the world is with pirates running rampant. To survive, you need to have some skills."

The young man thought for a moment, then nodded as if he understood.

"I see..."

Renji was almost surprised at how easily the boy believed him. Was he missing a few screws?

"Alright, put the sword away."

The young officer sheathed his sword. Against someone so much stronger, drawing his weapon was pointless.

Renji wanted to get a better look at the boy's face, but his cap obscured most of it.

"What's your name?"

"Fujitora," the boy replied.

Renji raised an eyebrow. The future Admiral Fujitora? Here in the South Blue?

It seemed the South Blue was full of talent—Sengoku, Kuzan, and now Fujitora.

Fujitora looked at Renji, confused. What was this man thinking? The adult world was so hard to understand...

But Renji's next question made his face pale.

"Where have all the children from this area gone?"