That voice… it wasn't any of the slave traders or guards they were familiar with.
A faint ripple flickered in Barnes' murky eyes. His lips trembled slightly, as if trying to form a name.
"You are… La—?"
Before he could finish, Morris—who was locked in the same cell—suddenly sprang forward like a man grasping at his last lifeline. He rushed past them and clung desperately to the half-opened cell door, his wrinkled face breaking into an almost fawning smile.
"Barnes! Ryan! You're getting out? Don't forget me! We were sold together—we're in this together!"
It was obvious—before Barnes and Ryan had even reacted, Morris had already realized this man was here to take them away.
"You are… Mushroom King Morris?"
Morris immediately nodded frantically at the figure in the doorway.
"Yes, yes, that's me! Brother—no, hero! You recognize me, right? Mushroom King Morris! If you save me, I'll never forget your kindness! I'll tell you where my treasure is! I'll serve you, do anything you want!"
His desperate pleas were like sparks thrown into oil.
In an instant, they ignited the survival instincts of every prisoner in the surrounding cells.
"Let me out! I'll do anything too!"
"I have money! I know secrets!"
"Please! Hero! Save us!"
"Don't sell me! Please don't sell me!"
The man at the doorway frowned slightly, clearly annoyed by the chaos.
He raised a hand and gently pushed up his glasses with a finger. Behind the lenses, his gaze was utterly cold—devoid of emotion.
"Silence."
His voice wasn't loud, yet the frenzied prisoners instinctively fell quiet.
He looked at Morris, who still wore a hopeful expression.
"I am Vice Admiral Rald."
"Ma… Marine Vice Admiral?!"
Those few words hit like icy water.
All the color drained from Morris's face. His ingratiating smile vanished instantly as his body trembled, shrinking back into the corner of the cell as if trying to merge with the wall itself.
The shouting from the other cells died abruptly, replaced only by fearful gasps.
"It seems… everyone here is a wanted criminal," Rald's gaze swept across the cells. "Good. You'll all come with me to Impel Down."
"No—!!!"
Desperate wails erupted once more, but no one dared rush the bars again.
Rald ignored them, gesturing for Barnes and Ryan to follow.
The two staggered out of their cell, walking through a corridor thick with despair until they reached the deck.
The once ostentatious deck of the Gilded Dice was now completely under Marine control.
Jillian and his slave traders, along with their subordinates, were bruised and battered, shackled by Marines and forced to kneel to the side.
Rald waved his hand with visible disgust, ordering his men to throw them into the cells.
Barnes and Ryan stepped forward and knelt on one knee.
"Vice Admiral Rald… our mission failed. We were even sold by pirates… bringing disgrace to the Navy."
"Stand up," Rald said calmly. "If Admiral Kong hadn't temporarily reassigned me to take over part of Commodore Sengoku's duties, I wouldn't even have known you were secretly sent on an undercover mission. Colonel Barnes, Lieutenant Ryan—report everything in full."
"Yes, sir!"
The two stood and began recounting everything in turn—
From Barnes provoking Riberra Sami in an attempt to infiltrate, only to be suppressed…
To Ryan disguising himself as a thief to hitch a ride, only to be exposed…
To ultimately being sold as cargo to Jillian…
"So," Rald said after listening, "until you were sold as slaves, your identities were never exposed?"
Barnes and Ryan exchanged a glance, then nodded firmly.
"Yes, Vice Admiral. That Riberra Sami… he seemed to regard us only as valuable merchandise."
Ryan added, "As for Morris, he was a pirate captured earlier on Mushroom Island. Based on how the Jellyfish Pirates treated him and their subsequent actions… it's likely they are deliberately cultivating the rumor of recruiting strong fighters. This raises the value of their targets before selling them to slave traders for profit."
"Greed for wealth… I see."
Rald nodded thoughtfully. It explained many of the Jellyfish Pirates' seemingly contradictory actions.
Barnes couldn't help but ask, "Vice Admiral Rald, how did you know we were here? After being resold, all visible connections should have been severed…"
Rald looked toward the distant horizon, where the outline of the Sabaody Archipelago was becoming clearer.
"Because on that ship, there was another undercover agent—one who never had direct contact with you. He provided the crucial information."
"W-what?! There was… a third undercover agent?!"
Barnes and Ryan both looked up in shock.
They had always believed they were the only ones who had successfully infiltrated the Jellyfish Pirates.
"Bring me the leader of these slave traders."
Soon, Jillian—his face pale—was brought back onto the deck.
The moment he saw Barnes and Ryan standing beside Rald, his expression stiffened.
Rald stepped forward, looking down at him with oppressive authority.
"You said earlier that when you parted ways with the Jellyfish Pirates, they were in Water 7."
His voice was calm—but it made Jillian shiver.
"Y-yes, Vice Admiral! Absolutely true!" Jillian nodded frantically, cold sweat dripping down his face. "After the transaction, I personally watched them return to the docks of Water 7!"
"At the time of the transaction," Rald repeated. "That was their location then. Now—how long has it been since you parted ways?"
"Th-this…" Jillian's eyes darted nervously. "A-about… one month…"
Even as he said it, he felt uneasy.
A month at sea could change everything. He had no certainty that Riberra Sami was still there.
"One month…"
Rald murmured, lightly tapping his fingers against his sword hilt.
That was indeed a long time.
Given Riberra Sami's demonstrated caution and mobility, he had likely already left.
Rald raised his gaze back to Jillian.
"In that case, contact him. Now."
Jillian's head snapped up, panic flashing in his eyes.
"C-contact him? Vice Admiral, I—"
"Lure him out," Rald said coldly. "Find a reason. Tell him there's a new high-value deal, or some important information. Make sure he comes to meet you in nearby waters. You've done this before—you know what to say."
"B-but…" Jillian's face twisted bitterly.
Of course he knew how to set up a trap.
But every time before, it had always been Riberra Sami who contacted him.
He had never initiated contact himself.
With Riberra Sami's level of cunning, he would definitely sense something wrong immediately.
And yet—
Looking at the Marines' stance, it was clear they intended to use him as bait… and discard him afterward.
If he refused to make the call, the outcome would be far worse.
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