Chapter 8: Mock Town

East Blue-G62 Branch dock.

The first light of dawn broke, and the sea breeze was crisp.

A fully equipped small warship quietly docked at the outermost pier.

On the deck, Guts stood with his coat draped over his shoulders, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze calm and composed.

Puck led a squad of elite soldiers—veterans who had fought alongside Guts in the East Blue for years, each with resolute eyes and iron discipline.

With the final branch affairs settled, the deputy commander saluted Guts solemnly before departure.

"Guts-sama, the East Blue will forever remember your deeds!"

Guts merely gave a slight nod, offering no words.

With a wave of his hand, The warship set sail.

The ship's horn pierced the morning sky as the armored hull cut through the waves, heading for the Grand Line!

*****

Grand Line-Near Jaya Island

Early morning.

The thick fog dispersed, and sunlight spilled across the sea.

After two days (during which the Air Air Fruit was used to manipulate air currents for speed), the warship steadily approached the waters near Jaya Island.

This was the rumored location of the Knock Up Stream.

But before the stream formed, Guts chose to land on Jaya Island first to gather supplies and intel.

Mock Town

A dilapidated, chaotic, crime-ridden town.

Drunken pirates staggered along the streets, brandishing swords and guns, with gunshots and raucous shouts echoing everywhere.

Puck frowned, muttering under his breath.

"...What a filthy, rotten place."

Guts walked forward with detached indifference, hands behind his back.

A group of Marines in headquarters uniforms stood out starkly in such a place.

Local thugs and low-level pirates instantly grew wary, scattering to keep their distance.

Because from the rhythm of their steps and the aura they exuded, they sensed an overwhelming, suffocating 'Death'!

"Who are these guys... How can they have this kind of pressure...?"

Someone muttered under their breath, quietly backing away.

On the ruined streets.

The flag of the Bellamy Pirates hung high in the center of town, arrogant and glaring.

In the streets, a group of Bellamy's flamboyantly dressed underlings rampaged, overturning stalls, looting goods and beating people indiscriminately, plunging the entire town into terrified chaos.

Leading them was Bellamy himself, laughing wildly as he swung his fists.

Long blond hair, sharp teeth, and a face twisted with arrogant cruelty.

[Bellamy is currently 17]

"HAHAHAHA! Jaya Island belongs to Bellamy-sama now!!"

"Anyone who resists gets their house smashed!!"

Bellamy punched through the front wall of a wooden house, drawing raucous laughter from his crew.

At that moment, the warship docked.

Guts and Puck led their squad, clad in Marine uniforms, marching straight through the chaotic streets.

Moving through the ruins and dust like two sharp blades.

Bellamy noticed this and smirked, his expression dripping with disdain.

"Oh? Where did these guys come from? Dressing up in Marine uniforms like they're something special?"

"HAHAHAHA! Trash from the East Blue? Think changing into uniforms means you can strut around the Grand Line?!"

Sarquiss joined in the mockery, laughing loudly.

The surrounding pirates erupted in jeers, their scornful looks and unrestrained insults flooding the street.

Guts paused slightly, his gaze lowering.

Puck, however, grinned, his bones cracking audibly.

"Boss, they're asking for it."

Guts merely gave a slight nod, his voice low and cold.

"Then grant them their wish."

BOOM!

Puck shot forward like a cannonball in an instant.

[Armament Haki-Explosive Assault]!

His fist turned black as iron, overwhelmingly domineering, smashing the most arrogant Bellamy's underlings head-on!

Blood and shattered teeth sprayed as the man was sent flying through three layers of wooden houses, his fate unknown!

"!!!"

A flicker of shock flashed in Bellamy's eyes.

"You... you actually attacked?!" he roared, kicking off the ground.

His legs transformed into high-frequency vibrating springs, launching him with terrifying force straight at Guts.

The air exploded as if the ground itself was collapsing!

The surrounding onlookers gasped in shock!

But.

Guts simply raised his hand slightly, fingers twisting.

[Air Compression]!

Crack!!!

The moment Bellamy closed in, Invisible air clamped down like a colossal lock, freezing him mid-air!

Grrrk!!

Bellamy's eyes bulged as his body was crushed by the compressed currents, unable to move a muscle.

"What... kind of power...?!" He let out a pained scream.

Guts took a slow step forward, his palm opened slightly.

[Pressure Point Detonation]!

BOOM—!!!

An invisible airburst erupted in Bellamy's chest.

The captain of the Bellamy Pirates, bones shattered and mouth spewing blood, was blasted dozens of meters away like a ragdoll, crashing through the ruined wall of a tavern at the street's end.

His fate was unknown.

His crew watched in horror as their captain was taken down in a single move.

A wave of chilling dread surged from their feet to the crowns of their heads!

"Aaaaah!! Run!!!"

Some of the cowardly pirates tried to flee.

Only for Puck to charge into their midst with a savage grin!

Every punch carried the weight of deafening sonic booms, each blow twisting limbs and spraying blood.

Fists howled through the air, screams echoed relentlessly!

In less than three minutes.

Every last remnant of the Bellamy Pirates was pummeled into the rubble by Puck's fists.

At the street's end.

Guts coldly surveyed the scene.

The faint ripple of air still lingering in his palm like divine wrath.

No one dared move.

Mock Town was Death silent.

Only the wind carried dust, stirring the blood and broken blades on the ground.

Puck retracted his fists, shaking off the blood and return to Guts' side as he grinned.

"Boss, should we toss these trash into the Knock up stream too?"

Guts replied indifferently, "Not worth it."

Hands behind his back, he spoke calmly, "Clean up. Rest here and wait for the stream."

The wind whipped his coat once more.

The warship stood ready at the harbor.

And on the distant horizon, thick clouds gathered ominously—

The Knock up stream was brewing!

******

Jaya Island · Mock Town · Noon

The sun scorched the dilapidated streets.

News of the Bellamy Pirates' annihilation spread like wildfire across Jaya in an instant.

Just as Guts directed his soldiers to quickly secure the scene—

A small naval vessel approached in the distance, its white-and-blue Marine flag fluttering high.

Minutes later, a squad of mid-to-high-ranking Marine officers arrived at a brisk pace.

Leading them was a burly man clad in a vice admiral's uniform, his left shoulder bearing the insignia of the G-2 Branch in the East Blue.

Vice Admiral Comil of the G-2 Branch!

Comil strode forward with his men, first offering Guts a formal, solemn salute.

"Lieutenant Guts, Ensign Puck."

[Guts will have his promotion once he returned to HQ]

"Thank you for cleaning up this cesspool."

His voice was deep, his tone uncharacteristically sincere and direct.

Guts returned the salute with a faint nod and replied calmly.

"Mock Town should fall under the jurisdiction of the Grand Line's order. How did it degenerate to this state?"

Comil gave a bitter smile and spoke bluntly.

"The outskirts of Jaya are designated as a special Lawless Zone."

"Though the G-2 Branch has maintained surveillance, Mock Town… has spiraled completely out of control since the Golden Age of Pirates years ago."

"Drifting pirates, exiles, and black-market smuggling rings have entrenched themselves here, turning it into a tangled mess."

"We conduct purges several times a year, but there are always stragglers. Eradicating them entirely is nearly impossible."

He paused, his gaze solemn as it rested on Guts.

"To resolve it this swiftly and thoroughly—that's your achievement."

Puck grinned, accepting the praise with his usual carefree smirk.

Guts merely smiled faintly, offering no further words.

In his mind, Lawless Zones and dark corners—existed only where the reach of justice had yet to extend.

Watching them, Comil marveled inwardly.

This young officer squad from the East Blue carried within them the same lethal decisiveness as the Marine Headquarters' top brass.

Without a doubt, they would become core figures groomed by the Marines in the future!

Comil said no more, leaving only his contact details and expressing that the G-2 Branch was willing to provide intelligence, logistical support, and manpower if Guts ever needed it.

Before departing, he murmured with quiet admiration.

"...If the Marines had more people like you, the world would've been cleansed long ago."

The warship sailed into the distance once more.

Guts stood with his hands behind his back, watching as the gathering clouds on the horizon slowly swirled into a vortex.

The Knock up stream was nearly formed.

Puck stood nearby and grinning.

"Boss, the Knock up stream is about to erupted."

Guts smiled faintly.

The wind whipped his uniform, making it snap loudly.

Gazing at the towering column of rising air about to surge, he murmured softly.

"—Let's go."

"To Skypiea."