OPJ Chapter 29: Commodore Saitama

"What does it matter if you know or not..."

Captain Nezumi shrugged naturally, "Pirates are criminals, and stealing is a crime as well. Does that mean the Navy can't catch thieves until all pirates are caught? Your thinking is flawed, thief cat, squeak, squeak, squeak..."

"Even with so many big problems..." Nami shouted angrily at Colonel Nezumi, "You took all the stolen goods from a mere thief's hand. Do you only know how to bully the weak?"

"Squeak, squeak, don't act like you're noble and say grandiose words," Nezumi sneered twice, wiping his nose in a pompous manner. "You admit that you're a thief, huh? Well, what's the harm in the Navy catching a petty thief like you? If we're going by your logic, the fact that there are still Yonko-level pirates out there means that we shouldn't even bother with someone as insignificant as you, little thief cat. Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

"You!" Nami was temporarily speechless by Nezumi's words, unable to find a reason to refute him.

Seeing this, Nojiko realized that things weren't looking good and could only pin her hopes on one last possibility.

"Mr. Marine!" Nojiko turned to Saitama and shouted, "Please help us! Nami stole that money to help her village..."

"I can't really do anything about it," Saitama replied indifferently.

Saitama stood up from his seat, but his first sentence made Nojiko's heart sink halfway: "I heard everything just now, but he's not wrong. Stealing is a crime, and if the stolen money isn't claimed by its owner, it should rightfully belong to the World Government..."

Nojiko's hopeful expression gradually faded away. "Yes... He's also a Marine... How could he possibly help others? I'm so foolish..."

"However..." Stepping out of the house with long strides, Saitama's bald head reflected a dazzling light in the sunshine. "But this 'squeak, squeak, squeak' guy himself has committed a serious crime, so he's not qualified to lecture you..."

Saitama stepped past Nami and said with determination, "Please stop, captain Nezumi. You have a lot of problems yourself," Saitama continued, "Although apprehending you isn't within my commission, but as a hero and a Marine, I can't just stand by and do nothing."

"Who the hell are you..." Nezumi didn't immediately recognize Saitama, and just looked at him with a sardonic smile, "Do you even know who you're talking to? I am a Marine Captain, and you're just a bald civilian... Huh? Bald?"

At this point, captain Nezumi was taken aback and asked uncertainly, "Wait a minute... What's your name?"

Saitama smiled, "I'm Saitama, not just an ordinary citizen, but a hero."

"Self-proclaimed hero... Bald..."

Combining all the characteristics, Nezumi finally overlapped the person in front of him with the one in his memory. "You... You're the Commodore Saitama, the guard of Loguetown!?"

Saitama nodded, "Ah, that's me."

His answer was simple and his voice was plain.

Nami and Nojiko behind him widened their eyes in disbelief. They couldn't imagine that this seemingly unremarkable person could actually be a Marine Commodore!

"As a matter of fact, that's already the highest rank that a Marine branch can reach!

How old is he? Forty? Thirty? No, definitely younger!

To achieve the rank of a Commodore at such a young age is almost unimaginable. It's possible that in the near future, he could even become an Admiral in the Marine Headquarters!"

Nami exclaimed in disbelief, "You... you're really a Marine?"

"Yes," replied Saitama.

Turning his head and squinting his eyes, Saitama added, "But let me make it clear, I'm not an exhibitionist."

Despite his deadpan expression, seeing his back now gave her a sense of security!

"Mr. Commodore..." Nami said in amazement.

Captain Nezumi's forehead began to sweat as he stiffly spoke, "I didn't know you had received the early news to capture the thief Nami..."

"Oh, no," said Saitama, waving his hand with closed eyes, "I'm here to take care of the pirate Arlong, and I thought I might as well take you too."

Captain Nezumi's heart skipped a beat.

"T...Take me with him?!"

"Wha... What are you joking about!" Captain Nezumi started to panic. "Although you have a higher rank than me, you are not authorized to arrest me on your own! Moreover, you have no proof of identity. Who knows if you are a fake Commodore Saitama!? Impersonating a naval officer is a serious crime. Even if I kill you now, it is justifiable!"

The stakes were high, and if Captain Nezumi didn't act fast, he might not even have a chance to fight back after being taken into custody!

"Bald Devil!" Nezumi refused to be intimidated by such a title! "This man must have been promoted too quickly by claiming credit for someone else's achievements!"

"All soldiers listen up!" Nezumi barked out the order to his men without hesitation. "This pirate is posing as a marine officer, a heinous crime! Open fire, take him down!"

The tension was palpable as the soldiers readied their weapons, aiming at Saitama. It was a perilous moment that could determine the outcome of the entire battle.

As the order was given, Captain Nezumi imagined that in the next second, Saitama would be riddled with bullet holes.

But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

All of the confidants he brought with him knew about his collusion with Arlong. Captain Nezumi could feel their eyes on him, silently judging him.

He tried to put on a brave face, but his resolve faltered as Saitama remained unharmed. In that moment, Captain Nezumi realized that he had made a grave mistake.

Nezumi's face twisted in frustration and anger as he watched his soldiers hesitate, realizing that they knew about his corrupt dealings with Arlong. He glared at them, willing them to take action, but none of them moved.

"What are you waiting for? Shoot him!" he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "He's a pirate impersonating a Marine officer! We can't let him get away!"

But still, no one made a move.

The captain stood in front of the soldiers, watching their hesitation and refusal to pull the trigger.

He knew that they had likely learned of his true identity as a respected Marine officer, and that taking the life of a fellow Marine was considered mutiny, a crime punishable by execution. He breathed a sigh of relief as they made the right decision.

Nezumi's pleas for action fell on deaf ears as the soldiers remained steadfast. He collapsed onto the ground, realizing that he had lost control of the situation.

The villagers and soldiers watched as he wept, fully comprehending that his downfall was inevitable.

Saitama approached the kneeling captain with his usual deadpan expression, offering comfort. "Stop crying. Once I capture Arlong, I'll come back and take you away. But remember, no running away."

Nezumi suddenly remembered something and got an idea. "Arlong... Oh, I just remembered! Arlong is the one who sent me here! He told me that the little thief cat stole nearly 100 million beli! That's a massive amount of money, who wouldn't be tempted by it? Maybe I still have a chance to survive!" he thought, grasping at straws.

Then, a brilliant plan formed in his mind. "Wait... wait a minute! Mr. Saitama!" he exclaimed, standing up and pointing at Nami. "That little thief over there! She has stolen around 100 million beli! If you let me go, I'll pretend I don't know anything and give you all the money! Every last bit of it, just for you!"

------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you!