Chapter 13
South Blue, Navy Branch Base.
Inside a fortified military stronghold.
Colonel Jeremy Colin was just about to head out for some long-overdue relaxation when an urgent distress call arrived from the Kingdom of Rommel.
"Damn it! Of all times for something like this to happen—unforgivable!"
"Lieutenant Commander Rowva! Prepare the warship immediately—we're heading to Rommel Kingdom at once!"
At Colonel Colin's barked order, Rowva hurried out of the office.
Once alone, Colin's face twisted in fury. He slammed his fist down on the desk in front of him.
BOOM!
The sturdy table shattered into splinters.
"If I can't use this chance to transfer to Headquarters…"
"I'll be stuck rotting in this backwater post for the rest of my career!"
"But if I capture this reckless pirate… maybe I'll finally get my promotion."
The thought of learning advanced combat techniques at Marineford sent a thrill through him.
"Hahahaha! I won't let this opportunity slip away!"
Kingdom of Rommel – bustling streets.
The kingdom's soldiers surrounded Vilin, but none dared step forward.
Vilin felt wave after wave of life force pouring into his reserves from the fallen.
A faint smile curved his lips.
With cold indifference, he watched the thousands of soldiers before him.
Vines and thorns surged relentlessly, piercing through bodies.
Screams filled the air as soldiers broke ranks and fled in every direction.
Seeing them scatter, Vilin chose not to pursue.
Instead, he scooped Annie up and left the chaotic scene behind.
He knew full well that as a World Government加盟国 (affiliate nation), Rommel could summon the Navy.
While he had no fear of the South Blue branch,
he still deeply respected—and feared—the overwhelming power of Marine Headquarters.
For now, the ceiling of this world remained far beyond his reach.
Yor's Tavern – hidden back room.
Yor sat alone, carefully reading fresh intelligence reports just delivered from outside.
Shock flashed across his face.
"He really went and killed the prince of Rommel Kingdom… brutal."
"A Devil Fruit user, huh?"
"What a lucky bastard."
"I'm genuinely curious how high you'll climb in the future."
Soon, news of Vilin's rampage and the prince's death spread like wildfire.
Every news agency in the Four Blues ran the story.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Fleet Admiral Kong—fresh from a call with the Five Elders—stared grimly at the newspaper in his hand.
On the front page: a young man wielding an ink-green longsword, a cruel smile on his lips.
It was unmistakably Vilin.
"This bastard dared to assassinate a kingdom's heir."
"What audacity."
"Someone! Notify the South Blue branch immediately—deploy forces and eliminate the pirate Aitrias Vilin on sight!"
"Also, issue his bounty."
"Set it at 30,000,000 Berries."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Kong."
The secretary saluted and left swiftly.
The next day, a bombshell headline dominated newspapers across the seas:
SHOCK! Pirate Aitrias Vilin Rampages Through Rommel Kingdom! SHOCK! Pirate Aitrias Vilin Slaughters Rommel Kingdom's Heir! Is This a Direct Challenge to the World Nobility's Authority?
The name Aitrias Vilin spread like wildfire throughout South Blue.
South Blue – open ocean.
Waves rolled across a vast blue expanse.
A modest fifty-meter sailing ship cut smoothly through the water.
Its sail bore a striking emblem: a stylized great tree.
On deck,
Vilin stood at the helm of the Flying Bird, steering toward the next island.
He had been aboard for half a month now.
His plan: head straight for the New World and begin building his own foundation.
Vilin would carve out a powerful family of his own in the New World!
Even before setting sail, he had quietly studied navigation.
While far from expert, he was more than capable in the Four Blues.
Vilin consulted his sea chart, plotting their next route.
Just as he sank into deep thought,
"Vilin! Newspapers are here!"
Annie bounded up from below deck, waving a fresh paper and a bounty poster featuring Vilin's face.
"Vilin… does this mean we're pirates now?!"
Her innocent question made Vilin chuckle and ruffle her hair.
"We're not evil pirates."
"We're adventurers."
Hearing they weren't "bad guys," Annie beamed happily.
Vilin took the newspaper and bounty poster.
Seeing his initial bounty—30,000,000 Berries—he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Wasn't Luffy's first bounty also 30 million?
He skimmed the article.
When he reached the line about "challenging the authority of the World Nobility,"
even Vilin couldn't help laughing out loud.
"Challenge? I didn't know I was doing that."
He felt zero regret over killing a royal heir.
He understood exactly what kind of world this was.
He held no reverence for so-called nobles or Celestial Dragons.
In the end, One Piece was a world ruled by strength.
Still, Vilin decided to lay low for now.
Drawing too much heat from Headquarters or the World Government would be foolish.
He knew better than anyone: the tree that stands too tall gets cut first.
Just as he reflected on his recklessness,
Annie's startled cry came from the deck.
"Vilin! A ship's coming!"
Vilin looked in the direction she pointed.
A Navy warship flying the white seagull flag appeared on the horizon.
"Marines."
He recognized it instantly.
"Didn't expect them to find me this quickly."
Vilin stared at the South Blue branch vessel without fear.
"Little Annie, get below deck—now."
"They're here for us."
He glanced at the warship's cannons, expression grave.
"Be careful, okay!"
Annie stuck out her tongue playfully, then hurried into the cabin.
Once she was safely inside, Vilin exhaled.
He shifted fully into combat mode.
His body began transforming—skin turning to bark, limbs sprouting toward tree-like forms.
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