It becomes more and more clear that the Marines are separate factions with individual goals and motivations, many of which are selfish and corrupt. This Nelson character is seeking an elixir, Smoker is quick to abandon his post, that rat faced guy taking bribes, Morgan’s nepotism, etc. Much like real world government enforcement agencies, the Marine chapters are ultimately just a gang of organized thugs. The bureaucratic high-ranking officer commanding the Section 8 fleet at the end of this episode is likely in that position resulting from nepotism and/or bribes, leaving him without basic understanding of sailing and demanding impossible results from his underlings. This is a natural type of incompetence that rises in power under fascism & other authoritarian governments.
Apis’ line “I survived escaping the Marines only to be picked up by a pirate ship” is a lovely take on a classic colloquialism. While one may be most familiar with “out of the frying pan into the fryer,” my favorite quote is Tolkien’s “escaping goblins to be caught by wolves!” from Bilbo in The Hobbit (1937). I find this concept perfectly describes a fantastically human experience of conquering one goal only to discover another equally or more difficult task waiting to be accomplished. There are, then, as many potential variations on this phrase as there are goals in the minds of humanity.
Last note, I appreciate the way the Straw Hats essentially gentle parent Apis and instill a sense of safety & love in their relationship is representative of their revolutionary approaches to life and their respect for the lives of all young people. All five members of the crew had difficult & non-traditional childhoods without much parenting so they are treating this child the way they wish they had been treated when they were lost children. This is deeply touching to me personally as I feel similar about my own childhood and the way I am trying to raise my own children.