Chapter 160

In the face of Admiral Aokiji, Mi Zhi, the headquarters colonel stationed at Chuanyu Island's naval branch, appeared utterly tense, nervous, and apprehensive throughout, keeping his head bowed and his eyes never daring to meet Aokiji's.

This clearly shows,

how terrifying Aokiji's deterrent power is in the eyes of all navy personnel!

From this, it also reveals,

the rigid hierarchy within the navy.

As a headquarters vice-admiral, Aokiji's status and position towered over Colonel Mi Zhi by nearly five or six ranks.

"Colonel Mi Zhi?"

Aokiji regarded Mi Zhi and asked.

"Y-yes, it's me."

Mi Zhi nodded hastily.

"Give me a detailed account of the Demon Pirate Crew's movements and intelligence over the past few days."

"I want every detail, without omitting a single word."

Aokiji spoke plainly, getting straight to the point.

"Yes, Vice-Admiral Aokiji."

Mi Zhi nodded again.

Then,

he led Aokiji and Lu En into the naval branch's main hall and to his private office.

Huh!

With a light exhale, Mi Zhi eased his inner tension slightly, his eyes filled with wariness and fear as he reported truthfully: "Reporting, Vice-Admiral Aokiji, over the past few days, the Demon Pirate Crew has left no trace of sailing."

"They have all gathered in the southeastern direction of Chuanyu Island, where the entire street is controlled by the Demon Pirate Crew—the Alcohol Lane."

"Over three thousand three hundred members of the Demon Pirate Crew are mostly concentrated here. Earlier, the Demon Pirate Crew raided three merchant ships carrying wine."

"As a result, for these past few days, the pirates have been drunk day and night, barely leaving that street."

"This includes the Demon Pirate Crew's captain, the Demon Oren."

"And the First Division Captain, Second Division Captain, and the other 877 utterly ruthless sea bandits—all of them have remained on that street these past days…"

Gradually,

as Mi Zhi gave his detailed account,

both Lu En and Aokiji came to understand, from shallow to deep, numerous pieces of intelligence about the Demon Pirate Crew.

As the local naval branch's colonel, Mi Zhi naturally knew far more about the Demon Pirate Crew than what Aokiji had gleaned from reports.

Ever since the Demon Pirate Crew arrived at Chuanyu Island and attempted to establish it as their headquarters, Mi Zhi, this headquarters colonel, had been restless, neglecting sleep and meals.

Fearing…

that the Demon Pirate Crew's utterly ruthless villains might suddenly go mad and lead a force to destroy the naval branch, thereby seizing full control of Chuanyu Island.

Fortunately,

Mi Zhi's fears never came true.

Perhaps the Demon Pirate Crew themselves feared the navy branch's counterattack—over a thousand elite navy troops—or worried about the headquarters' high-level attention.

Various factors prevented the naval branch under Mi Zhi's command from being attacked by the Demon Pirate Crew.

Yet…

Just thinking that a large pirate group numbering no less than three thousand was stationed so close to the naval branch kept Mi Zhi and the rest of the navy awake all night.

Their fears were not unfounded.

Over the past few days,

Mi Zhi learned from his subordinates' reports.

The Demon Pirate Crew had grown restless and were preparing to stir, planning to launch an assault on the naval branch.

Fortunately…

At this critical moment, Vice-Admiral Aokiji of the navy headquarters arrived in person.

This finally dispelled Mi Zhi's inner dread and anxiety.

(cjde) As a mere headquarters colonel, his strength was naturally incapable of resisting the Demon Pirate Crew's murderous onslaught.

A sea bandit with a bounty of sixty million Berries—Demon Oren—was enough to fill Mi Zhi with despair and terror; he did not believe he could stand against Demon Oren.

If the Demon Pirate Crew launched an attack on the naval branch, within half a day, the branch would face total annihilation.

Even he, this headquarters colonel, would very likely perish in the hands of these pirates.

"Are all the Demon Pirate Crew members concentrated on this island?"

"If so, then this matter becomes much simpler."

Aokiji's eyes flashed, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

He naturally did not wish to deal with the Demon Pirate Crew in batches if he could eliminate them all at once.

Doing so would not only complicate matters further but also waste more time.

Aokiji, whose personality was always lazy, hated nothing more than such complications.

Fortunately,

this time, the Demon Pirate Crew happened to be entirely concentrated on a single street.

Thus,

eliminating the Demon Pirate Crew became much simpler.

All that was needed was to deploy the entire navy,

and completely surround and blockade that street.

Then…

Aokiji could personally go in, entering that street alone to deliver a crushing dimensional strike against the Demon Pirate Crew.

"How many personnel does the Marine branch currently have?"

Aokiji asked.

He was preparing to move against the Demon Pirate Crew.

Now that he understood the specifics, there was no need to waste any more time.

"One thousand two hundred."

Mi Zi lowered his head and answered truthfully.

"One thousand two hundred?"

Aokiji's expression showed slight surprise.

A normal Marine branch could never accommodate so many Marines.

But then he thought again.

Chuanliu Island's location was extremely special—it was a vast island, with an enormous volume of merchant ships passing through, and its level of prosperity was extremely high.

It made sense that so many Marines would be stationed here.

Secondly,

Six months ago, the Demon Pirate Crew arrived at Chuanliu Island, an act that naturally provoked the Marine branch stationed on the island, causing it to wildly expand its troop numbers.

Taken together,

It was entirely reasonable for the Marine branch on Chuanliu Island to have one thousand two hundred personnel.

For a normal Marine branch, eight hundred personnel would already be the absolute limit.

"Now, order your men to prepare their firearms and weapons immediately."

"One thousand two hundred Marines, be ready for combat at all times!"

"Next…"

"I want you to surround and blockade the street where the Demon Pirate Crew is stationed."

Aokiji gave the direct order.

"Yes, Admiral Aokiji."

Mi Zi hesitated and worried, but still gritted his teeth and agreed.

"Don't worry—I won't send you to die."

"For this operation against the Demon Pirate Crew, your forces are not the main combatants."

"Rather…"

"It's me!"

"Your primary task is to blockade the Demon Pirate Crew's street, preventing any pirate from escaping, and to kill any who attempt to flee."

"That alone is enough."

"The rest, I will handle myself."

Aokiji explained calmly.

As if…

Dealing with the Demon Pirate Crew was nothing more than a trivial matter to him.

"Are we going to act?"

Standing beside Aokiji, Lu En, after hearing those words, showed strong anticipation, his eyes filled with keen interest.

"You have thirty minutes to assemble one thousand two hundred Marines."

"Have them all fully armed and ready!"

"Thirty minutes from now, depart for the street where the Demon Pirate Crew is stationed and implement the blockade!"

"Can you accomplish this?"

Aokiji asked bluntly.

"Admiral Aokiji, rest assured—I will immediately notify all Marines in the branch to prepare their firearms and weapons and assemble swiftly…"

"Awaiting your command!"

Mi Zi immediately stood at attention and saluted Aokiji.

"Afterward, you will accompany these Marines in their operation. Otherwise, once battle with the Demon Pirate Crew begins, I may have no time to monitor your movements."

"To prevent you from being endangered in this battle, I must arrange it this way."

"What do you think?"

Aokiji suddenly turned his head and spoke to Lu En.