The ship slowly entered the docks of G-3. Alex didn't really think the structure was very defensible but then again with the strangeness of this world normal logic was at a major disadvantage.

His heavily damaged ship stopped at one of the dry docks of the marine base, allowing the work crews to start the damage assessment and repairs. His soldiers lined up and carried the caskets along with the injured who couldn't walk to the base infirmary. There the living will get help, and the dead an autopsy and a tag.

He walked past the saluting soldiers and proceeded to the upper levels to find the commanding officer of this facility. On his way he noted absentmindedly that though stereotypically empty the corridors possessed a large number of windows that helped illuminate the hallways and give a sterile look to the whole thing.

He reached the commanders office and knocked.

"Come in" came the reply.

Mercer entered the office and saw the man behind the desk. And I thought the officer would be someone normal.

The man behind the desk was dressed in a long greyish-blue button up coat, but it was the whiskers on his face and the mouse ears attached to his cap that made the man an oddity in Mercers eyes. Searching Shu's memories he concluded that he, or rather Shu never met this man before, or was aware of his existence. Luckily for him a name tag was on the desk so that helped in that regard.

"Captain Nezumi" Alex nodded to the man "I'm afraid I will be occupying one of your dry docks until my ship has been repaired or I find a replacement."

"Naturally Captain Shu, I take it pirate scum did this" he pointed at his damaged ship through the window. It was no surprise that the mouse man was already informed of his arrival since they already requested permission to dock in the navy base.

"Indeed. They placed underwater explosives on the only other dock knowing that we would pick the fastest route into the city"

Nezumi actually squeaked much to Mercers amusement, thankfully the veil hid the smirk.

"I hope you dealt with the rabble."

"Unfortunately no. Their captain had an irritating ability that made him rather hard to hit, but I'm confident that the next time he will not be so lucky."

"Oh, what pirate crew?"

"Unknown, he didn't appear in any wanted poster or books about devil fruits. From what I have gathered it's some kind of legendary zoan. It allows him to passively drain the luck of his opponents" Mercer explained.

Captain Nezumi looked thoughtful for a second before he shook his head "Have to admit I never heard about that one."

"Beside the fruit he also used gloves with katana long blades on his fingers, he mentioned they were made from sea stones. If that is true, then I'm surprised that he wasn't on any wanted list. When I called HQ they said they will look into it, but I still didn't hear anything from them."

"Well I'm sur- katana gloves? Did the pirates have a cat skull and crossbones?" Nezumi asked thoughtfully.

"The ship didn't have any pirate insignia on it, but the crew did indeed have a heavy touch of feline motifs."

Nezumi snorted "I think I know who your trouble maker is."

Mercer smiled "Who?"

"Possibly a imitation of the deceased Captain Kuro. It wouldn't surprise me that someone tried to impersonate him, he was rather infamous in the East Blue before his capture and execution" the mouse man said.

"So I'm dealing with a copy cat?" Mercer smirked.

"Positive, now I have some business to finish up so I would ask you to leave. I'm sure you wish to have some R&R before your ship is repaired" Nezumi went back to his paperwork but was interrupted by Mercer once more.

"Only one more question, do you know about any Vice-Admirals in the local area?"

Nezumi pulled on his whiskers before answering "Vice-Admirals? If you came here to see Vice-Admiral Doberman he left the base a day ago."

"Where did he go?"

"If I'm not mistaken he went to Sabaody Archipelago" Nezumi said absentmindedly as he shuffled around some papers.

"Thank you" Mercer said and turned around, but before he could reach the door a knock announced another person entering.

The door swung open and a young man with pink hair entered the office. Mercer had to fight the urge to dissect the human right here to see what sort of gene made human hair pink.

"Ah Captain Coby, what brings you here" squeaked the human rodent.

"Only a routine inspection Captain Nezumi, nothing too important" answered the pink haired boy before he glanced at Mercer and smiled sheepishly "I'm sorry, I wasn't told you were already in a meeting."

"No, Captain Shu was already leaving when you entered. I take it you two haven't met before?" both shook their heads "not surprising, Captain Coby here is one of our new rising stars in the Navy" said Nezumi, there was always time to give compliments to people of equal or higher rank, you never knew when they could be useful.

Mercer was not that interested in captains and the longer he talked here the greater the distance between him and the vice-admiral "Its a pleasure" he said as he shook Captain Cobies hand, he then turned back to Nezumi "Do you have a ship to spare? I have to catch up with Vice-Admiral Doberman as soon as possible."

The man thought for a second before using his Den Den Mushi to ask the repair crews about it. The reply took a few minutes but the base had indeed a ship to spare, it was an old marine battleship that was waiting to be decommissioned, and most of its armaments were already striped off but that actually played in Mercers favor since it will make the ship faster. He agreed to let his men rest while his ship was repaired, but would take a handful of marines with him so they could operate the new...or rather old vessel.

"I thank you captain for your help, and It was a pleasure meeting you Captain Coby. I hope we meet again" said Mercer as he left the captain's office and went to the dock to resume his hunt. With a vice-admiral so close, he could even look for that Captain Kuro or whatever he called himself.