The pinnacle of pirates begins with deceiving fate!

Dorag, who had been sitting in a daze, looked up and blinked blankly at the unfriendly gaze of the young man in the black suit.

Are you talking about me?

"Nonsense! Do you mean you want to stand up for Felosser and his gang?"

The young man in the black suit thought the other party was deliberately feigning ignorance. Veins bulged on his forehead, and he pressed down the hammer with his thumb while gripping the flintlock pistol.

Pressing down the hammer is like cocking the gun, something that wasn't done during the standoff with the Felosse Chamber of Commerce.

This means that he really wanted to kill someone!

Dorag, however, ignored this and instead turned to look at John's table.

But then they saw a naval lieutenant wearing a coat of justice, engrossed in his meal, while a marine in a sailor's uniform casually rested his chin on his hand and gazed over.

None of them had any intention of intervening to uphold justice.

Dragon's expression darkened; he was utterly disappointed in the Navy. He stood up and walked out of the restaurant.

The young man in the black suit, having regained face by targeting an innocent person, smugly snorted and strode towards the man in the white suit, ready to continue making things difficult for him.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the restaurant.

"Stop this kid!"

"what!!!"

"Damn brat, how dare you attack us!"

"This kid's pretty good, quick! Everyone, attack together!"

"Oh dear! This kid has backup..."

Upon hearing the sound, John became interested and spread out his "mind network" to observe the situation outside.

The troublemaker wasn't Dorrag, but another unfamiliar face who seemed to be trying to barge into the restaurant but was stopped by gang members waiting outside.

The two sides clashed and started fighting; Dorrag was simply trying to help because he saw injustice.

Chapter 39 Flame

"Let's go out and take a look!"

The young man in the black suit glared at the man in the white suit with a warning look, then led his men out of the restaurant.

John watched as the gang members surged out like a black tide and asked Reed:

"Sir, are we just going to stand by and do nothing?"

"They're gangsters, not pirates. They're a nuisance to the local town council. Mind your own business," Reed said without looking up.

Upon hearing this, John reached out and pulled Reed's plate away, meeting the other's puzzled gaze as he spoke:

"The Navy is indeed not allowed to interfere in the affairs of the member states, but our 153rd branch is different from most branches in that our base is located within the territory of the member states."

"Simply put, Shells Town was assigned to our navy, and in exchange, the World Government may have reduced the 'Heavenly Gold' for the Kingdom of Leon."

"Now that the World Government has secured this power for us, we should take good care of maintaining the safety of this town."

John had done his homework before coming.

Member states pay "heavenly gold" annually in exchange for a commitment to protection from the world government.

If the navy can arbitrarily interfere in its internal affairs, it will severely undermine the willingness of other countries to join or remain in the system, and shake the foundation of the world government's rule.

Furthermore, the world government relies on its more than 170 member states to maintain economic and political stability. Frequent naval intervention could exacerbate tensions.

Of course, most importantly, the Navy needs to focus its main forces on protecting the "Holy Land" Mary Geoise and suppressing major pirate threats, and is neither able nor willing to delve into the daily affairs of each member state.

Just like in the future, Navy Captain Smoker knew that Luffy's crew and Crocodile were causing trouble in the Alabasta Kingdom, but he had to weigh the pros and cons and bear the pressure of being held accountable by his superiors before daring to get involved.

Even if they did get involved, they were hesitant and timid, and dared not act openly at all.

Ultimately, if Crocodile's usurpation of the membership had not been established, and if King Cobra had not pursued the Navy's responsibility...

The mere fact that he entered a member state to enforce the law is enough for Smoker to be court-martialed!

However, there are always exceptions.

Just like in the future destiny, the son of "Axe King" Monka, the base leader of Branch 153, can run rampant in Shells Town at will.

Not only did they bully the local people, they also captured and executed a passing traveler named Zoro.

He's a local tyrant who controls local law enforcement!

Ultimately, it's because the 153rd branch's base was established in this town, which is completely different from those branches that established bases on isolated islands.

“You’re right, our 153rd Naval Squadron does indeed have law enforcement authority in Shells Town.”

Reed was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected John to know so much.

Then, the conversation shifted.

"But Colonel Burns, the base commander, has stipulated that no marine from the 153rd Division may intervene in local conflicts without his permission."

After saying that, Reed offered some advice, speaking from his own experience.

“Private John, I know you have a sense of justice, but we are soldiers.”

"Soldiers are duty-bound to obey orders and cannot act recklessly like pirates."

Upon hearing this, John clenched his fists in frustration.

After a long silence, he suddenly stood up.

"But I am a righteous navy officer, and I cannot stand idly by while ordinary people are being bullied."

"I will carry out my justice to the end, and I will never back down even if it comes to the Five Elders!"

As soon as he finished speaking, John's figure blurred and he rushed out of the restaurant.

Reed felt a gust of wind hit his face, making it impossible for him to open his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, John was no longer in the restaurant.

"Ugh! You wretched fellow who only causes trouble for everyone!"

"How could insignificant people like you and me possibly ever get to meet the Five Elders, the 'world's highest authority'!"

"That Burns guy alone is enough to crush you!"

Reed slammed his fist on the table in anger, completely oblivious to the speed John was displaying, and then got up and chased after him.

He didn't know why he chased after John instead of immediately cutting ties with him; his body acted before his mind.

Perhaps it's because... that guy is his lucky charm.

Five minutes ago

A young man wearing a dark green cloak walked down the street with his head down, looking at the pirate skull flag draft in his hand, his heart filled with longing for the future.

His name was Floyd Vincent, and he was the son of the president of the Floyd Chamber of Commerce.

"Since we're not welcome, then we'll leave this place, return home as pirates, and defeat those corrupt nobles!"

In Vincent's mind, pirates were a righteous army resisting the oppression of nobles.

The main symbolism of the skull and crossbones flag is death, fear, and never compromising!

However, when Vincent looked up at his father's restaurant with high hopes, he found it surrounded by a group of gang members.

Vincent gripped the skull and crossbones flag draft tightly in his hand and quickened his pace as he rushed forward.

"These bastards are here to cause trouble again!"

"Stop this kid!"

When the gang members saw someone rushing towards them, they immediately formed a human wall and tried to force the other party back.

Vincent rushed forward, leaped up, and slammed his fist, still clutching the skull and crossbones flag draft, into the face of one of the gang members.

Conflict is imminent!

Just then, Dorrag, who had been driven out of the restaurant, saw a group of gang members beating up ordinary people as soon as he stepped out the door.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately rolled up his sleeves and charged forward, carrying all the emotions he had accumulated over this period of time.

Having been trained by his father, a vice admiral, since childhood, Dragon was able to defeat two gang members with his bare hands, swinging his left and right fists.

"Oh dear! This kid has backup..."

As the man who was knocked down cried out in pain as a warning, half of the twenty-odd gang members who were besieging Vincent immediately turned around and faced Dorrag.

bang bang

The trigger was pulled, and flintlock pistols spat fire as lead bullets flew straight toward the Dorag.

Dorag moved with the agility of a monkey, dodging all the lead bullets with a few leaps and somersaults, then lunged forward and sprinted, quickly closing in on the gang members.

He kicked one person down with a swift kick, then used the momentum of that person's body to twist his waist and hips in mid-air and deliver a spinning kick, striking the attacker on the right side in the chin.

In just a few breaths, seven or eight people were knocked down by Dorrag's superb physical skills.

Vincent on the other side was no less formidable. Although he wasn't as agile as Dragon, he possessed great strength.

By simply lowering his center of gravity and throwing a series of jabs, he can knock down a gang member in one blow, rendering him unable to get back up.

As the number of gang members decreased and the view became more open, Dragon and Vincent's eyes met in a moment of sudden realization.

They all grinned, showing off their white teeth, and gave each other silly smiles.

Mutual appreciation is the best we can do.

Chapter 40 A Little More Action Makes Everything Smarter

"What's your name?"

"Drag, and you?"

"Vincent!"

The two shifted and moved, standing back to back, facing the gang members who were closing in.

Although it was their first meeting, there was an innate trust that made them feel like they could entrust their backs to each other.