Chapter 25: Reputation Begins to Show

  The next morning, Hobodi got up early and sat in a chair eating breakfast while handling documents. He was holding the Navy News newspaper for the day, his face turned serious, and he stopped moving his hands.

  "NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL M. KASER KRON, WANTED FOR THE PONGKRA HASSAD INCIDENT, HAS ESCAPED FROM PRISON! 300 MILLION BELI REWARD FOR IMMEDIATE CAPTURE!"

  "This guy is indeed following the trajectory of the comic, it seems that my plan also needs to accelerate its pace, otherwise I won't be able to catch up with those big shots..." Hobodi's face sank, and he pulled open the drawer of his office desk. Inside the drawer, a masquerade mask lay quietly."

  "Good news, good news! The best of news, Chief Hopper!" Just then, the door to Hopper's office burst open and Matty stumbled in, clutching a newspaper.

  Hobbit frowned and immediately closed the drawer, his face displeased. "What's wrong with you? Can't even knock on the door? What is it?"

  "But, sir, look at this newspaper—" Matt's face was filled with an unmistakable expression of admiration as he gazed at Hobodi.

  Hoboldi gave him a suspicious glance, took the newspaper from his hand, and Matt's newspaper was naturally different from the internal reports of the Navy. This world also had many private media besides official ones, just like the Earth in his previous life.

  What Maito was holding in his hand was a newspaper published by the world's largest private media group, "World Deck". Their company not only had excellent intelligence, but also reported some exclusive information. There was even a phone bug sales company that provided unique maritime delivery services, which were particularly popular among sailors and pirates. Often, when ships at sea lacked important medical supplies, as long as they knew the phone bug number of this company, it could deliver the medical supplies to the ship and save lives. (For details, watch episode 132 of the original animation.)

  "The East Sea Road to Peace has taken another step forward! The mighty naval forces from the Great Route have captured the 15 million bounty pirate 'Clown' and brought him to justice, led by Lieutenant 'Iron Fist' Hobadi!"

  The newspaper was completely his personal page, with reports about him occupying nearly half of the paper's scope. Not only did it mention Hoboldy's capture of the clown Baki, but also the fact that 'Iron Rod' Yarlita was killed in one move was written into it.

  Furthermore, there is a detailed description of why he was transferred from the headquarters, what and the great general 'Akainu' had a showdown with, and that he has connections with Navy hero Trafalgar Law, and also the survivors of the incident on Punk Hazard are all linked together.

  What particularly bothered Hobodiyou was that his photo had also appeared in the newspaper.

  The background of the photo is obviously the scenery of Orange Town at sunset. He was photographed walking alone on the side of the street with his profile facing sideways.

  Hobadi's face was somewhat gloomy, although this was only a report from the East Sea, but it wasn't good news for him.

  He is willing to appoint someone to come to the East China Sea, mainly because Fuzi is in a weak and small four seas, expanding its strength and power, and also planning to go to the North Sea next!

  This time, he's likely to be noticed by the axe-wielding Colonel Monka of the largest fortress in the East Sea, as well as that troublesome Smogg from Rog Town.

  "However, even so, I have to go to the North Sea. Caesar got away, and that also proves that Doflamingo's artificial devil fruit industry chain will be opened soon. And two years later, the top war mentioned in the Punk Hazard arc, if I hesitate here, I'll definitely won't catch up with those guys four years later!"

  Hobodi muttered to himself, putting down the newspaper. Suddenly, his piercing eyes stared at the short Matt in front of him. From his gaze, Hobodi saw adoration. The only question was how long this adoration would last.

  But now time is pressing for Hobbit, and Hobbit has no choice but to take a risk.

  "Hobbit lowered his voice and said: 'Matt, can I trust you?'"

  "Huh?" Mart's expression froze for a moment.

  "What if I were to do something that would be detrimental to the Navy?" Hobodi's gaze was fixed intently on Mate, not missing a single detail.

  Ma Te's eyes were filled with a hint of confusion, and after deliberating for a long time on the spot, she lowered her head and then raised it again, occasionally glancing at Hobodi with an expression of admiration.

  Although there was no answer, Hobodi had already gotten the answer he wanted.

  "Alright. Let's change the subject! Now go into town and ask around, see which merchant ship is headed to Beihai."

  Ma Te immediately anxiously asked: "Sir, are you leaving Donghai?"

  "I'm just going to take care of some things, and I'll be back. However, this matter requires secrecy. If there's a merchant ship heading to the North Sea, when you're asked, you can only say that one man is going to the North Sea, without mentioning my name. Of course, I will also pay for your passage."

  "But the officer went to Beihai, and that branch..."

  "I'll give the order for you to sort out the intelligence alone, and no one else is allowed in except you. You're to fabricate evidence that I'm still here. If there's an urgent telegram from HQ, answer it and make up some excuse about me being on patrol in town or something. Just in case, I'll take a military phone bug with me, so if you need a convincing reason, just call my bug number. Can you do that?"

  "Yes!" Mate shouted extremely loudly, his eyes incredibly excited.

  "Go!"

  As Mart turned away with a smile, Hobodi sat in the chair with a thoughtful expression. Mart didn't choose to answer his question at first, and in his heart, Mart could already be trusted halfway. He had experienced many unpredictable things in his past life, often those who answered eloquently were actually venomous snakes that would bite back in the end.

  Hoboldi believed in his own means, as long as he made good use of Marte's worshipful emotions towards him and gave himself a little more training, he would definitely follow the example of those dead prisoners in the Ponkhasade chapter who regarded Caesar as 'absolute!'

  About an hour later, Matt returned to Hoppy's office and immediately informed him about the ships of some businessmen in town going to Beihai.

  "Four ships? Are you sure? Although it's not as far as the Great Navigation Channel, but from the East Sea to the North Sea, there should be quite a few pirates on this route. How come merchant ships are willing to take risks at this time?"

  Materna's gaze, which had been fervently fixed on Chopoody, turned back to him and replied: "Thanks also go to the officer. After the officer captured the notorious pirate Bakki, the merchants of Jeku Island thought that the sea was not so scary after all."

  "Isn't the real reason something else?" Hoboldi frowned and said.

  "Yeah, mainly because something happened recently in the North Sea, and now those pirates are all behaving themselves. If we sail for trade now, the profit from the round trip will be much higher than usual."

  "What happened? What exactly?"

  Matte shook her head: "I've also heard about this, some merchants said that the pirate forces in the North Sea have been unified by a certain noble's pirate group, so as long as they pay some tolls, the pirates won't attack their ships. Some other merchants said that a fleet led by a rear admiral from the Heavenly Dragon People's naval headquarters is anchored in the North Sea, and those new pirates don't dare to show up."

  "The unified North Sea aristocratic pirate group, the vanguard of the Tianlong people's headquarters general... " Hopkins sat in a chair muttering to himself, what connection did these two have?

  But obviously, sitting in the room thinking about it is not going to get an answer at all.

  Moreover, Hobodi had already made up his mind about this matter a long time ago. Even if the Tianlong people themselves appeared in Beihai, he would still have to go.

  Relying solely on his naval identity, he could not have produced an impact as great as that of Du Fu in four years; he must also have had the identity of an underground force to be able to set up a powerful faction.

  "When did those four merchant ships set sail?"

  "Hmm, the merchant ship of Kayar Estate sets sail at 3 pm, led by Housekeeper Meri. The Kulanko of Bergen Town Chamber of Commerce is at noon..."

  "Say the earliest."

  "That was only Jeko Island's first rich man Niran De, their merchant ship left an hour later."

  "Alright, that's Niran De. You go now and tell them that bounty hunter Joeboy is looking for his niece who escaped to the North Sea and wants to hitch a ride on their warship with 100,000 Bellis."

  "What the...!? General, that portrait from last time, is that your niece?!" Mate felt his brain wasn't enough to handle this, this general hadn't even set off yet and had already thought of a fake name and fake background, even the purpose of searching for his niece, the portrait that was widely spread on the Jeko Islands a month ago was already prepared?!

  As expected, you're quite formidable, Commander Hopper.

  "Stop nagging! I'll change into casual clothes and leave by the back door. You'd better hurry up!"

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