Chapter 44

The Scavenger Pirates were a far cry from idealistic crews like the Straw Hats. Even Buggy the Clown had loftier ambitions. These guys were mercenaries, plain and simple. That's where their name came from – scavengers. You pay, they clear the way.

This golden opportunity stemmed from their mercenary nature. On Heathville Island in the South Blue, a pirate crew had overthrown the king and forced citizens to mine gold. Their captain, Dora, had a 55 million berry bounty – no small fry in the South Blue.

It was a gold mine, literally. While not the biggest, it still yielded over billion berries. In this world, that's serious cash!

But the pirate crew fell apart, fighting over the spoils. During the chaos, some citizens escaped to sea, where Beard's crew picked them up.

Maybe out of spite, the citizens spilled everything to Beard. They offered the gold mine info as payment, hoping he'd help their country – or at least ransack the island and kill their oppressors.

The kicker? Dora's crew was planning to flee after mining, but their infighting left the gold sitting pretty in the island's treasury.

Over a billion berries? Beard couldn't resist. He kept it quiet, not even telling his fleet. While supposedly stopping for repairs, he snuck hundreds of his best men to the island in small boats.

Here's where it gets interesting. Heathville had good relations with the local Navy branch, even paying them regular "tributes." When three months passed without their usual kickback, the Navy got suspicious. They sent spies, discovering not one, but two pirate crews on the island – including the infamous Beard!

Beard, catching a Navy spy, panicked. He ordered his men to rush the Navy outpost and silence them.

But we all know how this goes. The Navy isn't some isolated kingdom. Their communication is lightning fast. Within 30 minutes of the base's destruction, Navy HQ had the full story.

A billion berries - that's no chump change. Even Navy HQ was salivating over that kind of wealth.

You see, the Navy's not as flush as they seem. Sure, they get World Government funding, but between routine maintenance, casualties, and logistical supplies, they're always scraping the bottom of the barrel. Don't let their fancy uniforms fool you - they're often running on fumes.

But the target was Beard, a big shot with a 70 million berry bounty! His crew wasn't just some ragtag bunch - they were skilled mercenaries. The Navy branch in the Four Blues was too weak to handle this, and even HQ might struggle to spare the manpower.

Pulling Beard's teeth wouldn't be a walk in the park. But the higher-ups couldn't just let all that money slip away. Even if they had to send a Vice Admiral from HQ, they were determined to get their hands on that cash.

That's where Zephyr's plan came in. He decided to send Loya and the others on this combat mission. In Zephyr's eyes, Loya was already Vice Admiral material.

The plan was risky, but the potential payoff was massive. It was a gamble on Loya's strength and the team's ability to punch above their weight. If they could pull it off, it would be a huge win for the Navy - both in terms of prestige and much-needed funds.

Zephyr was betting on Loya's potential, hoping his protégé could rise to the challenge and prove himself against a formidable opponent like Beard. It was a sink-or-swim situation, but that's how legends are born in the world of One Piece.

Zephyr knew that in a full-out battle, few Vice Admirals could match Loya. Taking on Beard would be tough, but not impossible. It fit Loya's style perfectly - only by facing stronger opponents in life-or-death situations could he rapidly grow stronger.

With the target confirmed, Zephyr dispatched both the Navy elite and the Buster Call ships, disguised as ordinary responders, ready to secure the gold mine at a moment's notice.

The harsh reality was that the country was finished. With barely a tenth of the citizens left alive, the gold mines wouldn't last. Better to hand them over to the Navy as a "security fee" now, in exchange for safe relocation.

Ruthless, yes, but undeniably practical. This, Loya realized, was the Navy's brand of justice.

Was the Navy wrong? Not entirely. If they didn't act, Beard would likely pocket the gold mine, strengthening his fleet and causing more harm. And given Beard's bloody reputation, the island's survivors stood little chance.

But was the Navy right? Not exactly. Normally, even if the Navy wanted the gold mines, they'd negotiate after the rescue. But here, might made right. The unspoken message was clear: give us the gold, and we'll protect you. Refuse, and we'll "protect" you anyway.

But this was the world of One Piece, where strength ruled supreme.

Loya, reviewing the information, noticed his packet was thicker than the others'. He alone knew the Navy's full plan - perhaps Zephyr was testing him.

But for Loya, the Navy's motives were secondary. Eliminating a villain like Beard was good enough. Keep the citizens alive, and let the higher-ups handle the rest.

He was becoming more like a true Navy man - passing the buck upstairs, avoiding the backlash.

His pre-time-travel Chinese culture whispered: "The common people are innocent, but those in power bear the guilt."

What if the citizens resented the Navy? The gold was theirs, true, but they lacked the strength to keep it. Without surrendering it, their subjugation was inevitable.

Suddenly, Loya locked eyes with Zephyr. "How long to reach Heathville at top speed?"

Zephyr exhaled a cloud of smoke, smiling. "Three days at full speed. We're close to the Calm Belt, not far from headquarters."

"Three days?" Loya calculated quickly. Beard, preparing for the worst, would try to mine and transport everything within two weeks. They could catch him off guard.

Aludo voiced his concern. "But it's Beard! Even without counting the other pirates, there are over 100 mercenaries waiting, plus unknown high-ranking crew members. Can we really win?" He suggested, "Why not request a Vice Admiral? Vice Admirals Momonga and Onigumo are at headquarters this month. With them, we'd have no problem."

Tony, though reluctant, looked at Loya expectantly.

Loya bit his lip, then smiled confidently. "No need. I can defeat Beard. As for the rest? I'll show them the true meaning of being swept away."

A cold, murderous aura emanated from Loya, dropping the room's temperature. Aludo shuddered into silence.

There was no doubt about Loya's power. Used efficiently, those mercenaries wouldn't stand a chance.

"By the way, Admiral Zephyr," Loya asked, "Any intel on which of Beard's officers are on the island?"

Zephyr pondered, shaking his head. "Nothing concrete. But knowing Beard's greed, he probably brought only a few hundred mercenaries and one or two officers at most. His subordinate pirate crews are under our surveillance, so you needn't worry about reinforcements."

"Perfect!" Loya slammed the bounty poster on the table, stabbing it with an ice saber. "I'll take Beard's head myself!"

The room fell silent, the gravity of the mission sinking in. This wasn't just another assignment - it was a chance for Loya to prove himself against a notorious pirate, and for the young marines to make their mark in the world of One Piece. The stakes were high, but so was the potential glory. As they prepared for the journey ahead, each of them knew that the next three days could change their lives forever.

Navy Headquarters basked in perfect sailing weather - sunny and clear skies stretching as far as the eye could see.

At the massive port before the fortress, a sleek warship stood ready. Navy personnel bustled about, loading supplies for the upcoming voyage.

Jim, blueprint in hand, darted from bow to stern, deck to hold, meticulously inspecting every detail. Finally, he grabbed a water glass, took a long swig, and wiped his brow. With a thumbs up to Loya, he announced, "We're all set!"

Loya nodded, turning to Mingde. "How's Aludo's prep going?"

Mingde, scribbling in his notebook, flipped a page. "Just two more water barrels and... a ton of food. We can't always count on catching Sea Kings, so we're packing extra."

He shot Loya a pointed look. Having Loya and Aludo aboard meant preparing enough food for a small army.

Loya coughed awkwardly, waving it off. "Right, well, sort it out. I doubt I'll eat much with seasickness anyway." As he headed off to find Tony, Mingde muttered, "Yeah, like I'd believe that," with a smirk.

On deck, Tony was doing a headcount. It was his first time commanding a warship, and he could barely contain his excitement. Thankfully, his experience as a gym owner lent him a touch more composure than the others. No rookie mistakes for him, if he could help it.

The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of anticipation and nervous energy. For many, this mission represented a significant step up - a chance to prove themselves against a notorious pirate. As the final preparations fell into place, each crew member felt the weight of the task ahead.

They were about to sail into dangerous, uncharted waters, both literally and figuratively. But with Loya at the helm and a capable crew at his back, there was a sense that they just might pull off the impossible.