After seeing off Vice Admiral Furuta, a new visitor arrived at Eric's mansion.
"Mayor Luo?"
Eric almost forgot the man's name.
"Respected Colonel Eric, my name is Diaro."
Well, he only remembered the "Luo" part.
Eric shook his head: "Mayor Diaro, is there anything you need?"
"I would like to ask you for a favor!" Diaro took a deep breath, his face serious, his tone humble.
"Please, tell me."
Eric didn't agree, nor did he refuse. The man had helped a lot with the construction workers earlier.
"Thanks to you, since your army stationed in Xi Hong Town, no pirates have dared to come and rob for the past few months."
Diaro first flattered him, then brought up the real reason:
"I'm here today because of the King... you should know, the Celestial Dragon Tribute from our country was robbed, and the World Government wants us to pay a replacement!"
Sorry, that was me.
Eric mused: "They want you to pay a replacement?"
"The King doesn't have that much money, he wants to ask you to please catch the criminal, Capone Bege, as soon as possible! Please!"
With a thud.
Diaro knelt down and begged.
Eric was speechless.
Although it wasn't his intention, the fact that he robbed the Celestial Dragon Tribute did cause significant trouble for the Rubeck Kingdom.
The World Government was the one who had a grudge against him, Rubeck Kingdom was innocent. This unfamiliar king even generously paid for his construction workers.
But.
He had used all that gold as a dowry.
"I understand, I'll do my best. Don't kneel."
Eric felt a little guilty and helped him up. He was then bombarded with pleas from Diaro for another half an hour before he could finally send him away.
Back in the living room, Reiju was sitting on the sofa, quietly reading a book.
"What's wrong? Husband, your face doesn't look good."
"The World Government is really shameless..."
Eric simply explained the situation. He didn't hide anything from his wife, she already knew what he had done.
"So, how are you going to solve it?" Reiju helped to brainstorm: "Why don't I find Father and return the gold as a 'dowry'?"
Eric: "..."
They say a daughter who marries out is like water spilled out, the ancients were right!
She had only been married for a few days, and Reiju's stance had already changed. She had become Germa's black-hearted little darling.
Eric shook his head: "It's pointless, I'm not going to capture Capone Bege for now."
Only by catching Capone Bege could he return the gold in a suitable manner.
Without catching him, the gold would be useless if he got it back.
"Then what should we do?" Reiju closed her book and suggested: "Just ignore it."
"It's still impossible to not return it, we can only escalate the matter."
Eric sneered and said: "A transport ship was robbed, and the World Government wants a country to pay a replacement, then I'll rob ten ships, twenty ships, if they dare, let all the robbed countries pay."
As long as the damage is big enough, the World Government will have to reconsider.
Even if the World Government dared to make all the countries pay, then that would be exactly what he wants.
Reiju was stunned, gaining a new understanding of Eric's character.
This guy is like a stubborn donkey, you have to go along with him, if you make him unhappy, he can make you even more unhappy.
"What are you going to do? Need my help?" Reiju naturally stood by her husband's side, she brought her combat uniform with her when she got married.
"You just need to be healthy, that's the biggest help you can give me."
Healthy, so she can have children better.
Eric smiled, he didn't want his woman to be in danger.
"I'll be out for a while."
...
Xi Hong Town, resort hotel.
Because the 187th branch of the Marines was still under construction, they had nowhere to live and could only stay at the hotel temporarily.
As soon as everything was settled, Eric showed up.
"Vice Admiral Furuta, I just thought of a serious problem!"
"What?"
Eric said with a grave expression: "Since Capone Bege dared to rob the Celestial Dragon Tribute, he will definitely make another move. The top priority is to understand the situation of other transport ships in the West Sea."
It was only two months away from the end of the year, and it was prime time for countries to pay tribute to the Celestial Dragons.
There were over thirty affiliated states in the West Sea alone!
"You're right, you reminded me, Colonel Eric!"
Vice Admiral Furuta's expression changed.
Immediately, he took out a Den Den Mushi and contacted the newly appointed World Government Finance Minister directly, getting some information from him.
Eric was listening beside him, not missing a word.
After hanging up the phone, Furuta's expression was extremely serious.
"A Celestial Dragon Tribute transport ship bound for 'Flower Country' left port four days ago and is about to enter the Grand Line!"
After a pause, Furuta gritted his teeth: "My warship was sunk on the way here, I need to borrow your warship!"
"Please take it, you must stop Capone Bege!"
"Rest assured, I will escort the transport ship until it leaves the West Sea!"
Vice Admiral Furuta was decisive and immediately took his soldiers to the port.
Eric watched him leave, then returned to the villa.
"Shinfu, Aka, I have an important mission for you two!"
...
...
A few days later.
A Celestial Dragon Tribute transport ship was sailing on the calm sea.
"Did you see the news from the other day?"
"Ramkin's matter? That fat bastard was just unlucky, hahaha."
"The Marines' Furuta had us return to Flower Country, waiting for him to arrive before escorting us back?"
"It's ridiculous, how dare mere Marines command us?"
Several World Government officials were standing on the deck chatting, talking about the robbed Celestial Dragon Tribute transport ship, the atmosphere was full of joy.
They spoke with disdain for the Marines.
"We brought back over thirty female slaves this time, maybe we'll get promoted when we return!"
"If only one of the female slaves could be chosen by Charlos Saint... these female slaves are all pretty."
"The beautiful women of Flower Country are indeed numerous, unfortunately, their Eight Treasures Water Army is a bit annoying."
"It's just grabbing a few women, they actually want to drive us away!"
The officials all had angry expressions when they mentioned Flower Country.
Besides the female slaves, they also captured some men who offended them, all of whom they were taking back to be enslaved.
"We have to get revenge, we'll have the Marines drive some pirates to their country, humph, they're all just commoners!"
Just as they were chatting, suddenly.
"Hmm?"
One World Government official holding a glass of red wine frowned.
He stared at the sea on the starboard side of the ship, and his face changed slightly a moment later: "There's a ship approaching us... a pirate flag!"
The other colleagues looked over.
At a distance that could be seen by the naked eye, about five or six nautical miles, a pirate ship was approaching.
"Looks like they're coming for us."
"What? Arrogant and lowly pirates!"
"Could it be that they want to imitate that West Sea King?"
"Could it be Capone Bege's Fire Tank Pirates?"
Meanwhile.
Fire Tank Pirates, on deck.
"The Godfather of the Underworld," Capone Bege, was fawning over the two little ancestors with a flattering smile:
"That's the Celestial Dragon Tribute transport ship, Shinfu-sama, Aka-sama, are you really going to do...? "
The two 12-year-old children found him a few days ago and demanded that he obey their orders.
Capone Bege was furious, then... he got beaten up.
He later learned that they were sent by Colonel Eric.
He was in despair, why didn't you say so earlier? Why did you have to beat me up?
Shinfu and Aka ignored his words.
Aka said: "Take me there, I'll do it."
"Okay."
Shinfu was always snotty, not sure if it was because of his Black Dragon physique.
He transformed into a Black Dragon, then carried Aka and sped towards the Celestial Dragon Tribute transport ship.
The World Government officials saw this from afar and immediately turned pale.
"Dragon!"
"Black Dragon!"
"The dragon from the news!"
"It's Capone Bege!!"