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Chapter 29
At this moment, Vilin had long since transformed into a small tree and escaped.
Even Garp's Observation Haki couldn't locate Vilin hidden underground.
As the dust and smoke gradually cleared,
Garp saw that the crater contained no trace of Vilin.
His face instantly darkened.
"Vilin… I will definitely capture you."
Seeing his target vanish, Garp could only roar in frustration toward the sea.
Looking at the scattered, heavily wounded Marines around him, Garp felt a surge of anger.
He, Garp, had never suffered such a humiliating setback.
"Get on board. We continue the pursuit of Vilin."
After a long while, Garp finally calmed his rage and spoke to Bogard.
"Vice Admiral Garp… I'm afraid we can't set sail right now."
Bogard said nervously under Garp's puzzled gaze.
"The warship's food and fresh water are completely depleted."
"If we want to continue the chase, we'll need to wait until tomorrow to resupply."
Hearing that the ship's food and water were gone, Garp looked at his remaining exhausted subordinates and spoke slowly.
"Everyone rest and recover first. We'll pursue Vilin once your bodies are back in shape."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Garp."
Seeing they could finally rest, relief appeared on the faces of all the Marines present.
Bru bru bru~
Garp pulled a pink Den Den Mushi from his coat and dialed.
"Moshi moshi, this is Kong?"
"Fleet Admiral Kong! It's Garp!"
"Did you capture Vilin?"
Kong, sitting in the Fleet Admiral's office, asked curiously while looking at the Den Den Mushi.
"Uh… he got away."
"You idiot Garp! Then hurry up and chase him!"
Kong instantly exploded in anger, roaring into the receiver.
"Fleet Admiral Kong, I have intelligence to report about Vilin."
Seeing Kong so furious, Garp stopped joking.
He spoke seriously.
"Hm. You fought Vilin, right?"
"How strong is he exactly?"
Garp thought for a moment, then clenched his fist before answering Kong.
"He's strong!"
"How should I put it… If my strength is high-tier, then his is around mid-tier."
"That guy Vilin has awakened both types of Haki!"
"Though his Armament Haki isn't very strong, when combined with his Devil Fruit ability…"
"His overall combat power has already reached mid-tier Vice Admiral level."
Kong listened to Garp's analysis.
His expression grew grave.
For the first time, Kong truly took Vilin seriously.
He spoke heavily.
"Garp, I have only one demand."
"Capture him before he enters the New World."
Hearing Kong's serious tone, Garp nodded solemnly.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Kong."
"My men suffered heavy casualties in this battle."
"I need reinforcements."
"I'll immediately dispatch 200 elite soldiers from the nearest branch base to you."
With the call ended, Kong hung up the Den Den Mushi.
He rubbed his throbbing brow and ordered his secretary, Puru:
"Puru, raise Vilin's bounty to 150 million Berries!"
"Yes, sir."
Puru left the office immediately after receiving the order.
Once the Navy received the news, the World Economic Journal also obtained the information through their channels.
In no time,
the news that Vilin had escaped from the Navy's genius Garp spread like wildfire across the seas.
Vilin once again became a major topic on the Grand Line.
New World, Beehive Island.
Shakky was looking at the latest issue of the World Economic Journal.
When she saw the photo of Vilin transforming into a forest giant clashing with the Navy's strongest genius Garp, her cheeks couldn't help flushing slightly.
In the most luxurious manor at the center of Beehive Island,
Rocks held Vilin's newest bounty poster and grinned broadly.
"Hahahahahaha! Hurry up and come to the New World! I want you as captain of my Seventh Division!"
"You can't escape the fate of joining the great Rocks Pirates!"
"All you monster geniuses will be tricked into becoming my subordinates!"
Great Route – first half.
A medium-sized sailing ship flying the Aitrias family flag sped across the sea.
On the deck of the Flying Bird,
Vilin sat leisurely at the bow, fishing rod in hand, with Rouge nestled against him in a loose white spaghetti-strap dress.
Vilin felt the gentle sea breeze.
His hand, wrapped around Rouge's waist, unconsciously stroked her abdomen softly.
Rouge felt Vilin's mischievous hand.
Her snow-white cheeks flushed bright red.
The female crew members playing on deck saw the loving couple and watched with envious eyes, unable to look away.
Just as everyone was immersed in this peaceful moment,
a voice suddenly broke the calm.
"Sophia, how long until the next island?"
Vilin asked Sophia, who was drawing sea charts.
Sophia saw Vilin looking at her.
She stretched lazily.
Then she gave Vilin a sweet smile.
"Captain Vilin, according to my calculations, as long as we don't encounter extreme weather, we should reach Little Garden in about ten days."
"That's great!"
Hearing they would reach Little Garden in ten days, Vilin felt excited.
It had already been a month since the Aitrias Pirates left Cactus Island.
Vilin had tried training to increase his strength.
But to his frustration, aside from using life energy to enhance his physique, almost no other training could improve him anymore.
If he wanted to grow stronger quickly, he would have to fight powerful opponents.
Actually, there was one other method for Vilin: learning powerful techniques.
He was particularly eager to master the Elbaf techniques of the giants—Spear of Elbaf and Hegemony.
While Vilin was deep in thought,
lookout Annie spotted a pirate ship approaching the Flying Bird.
"Captain Vilin! There's a pirate ship ahead!"
"It looks like the Rocky Pirates."
Hearing pirates were approaching, Vilin stood up, still holding Rouge.
He ordered Aelria:
"Bring the ship closer."
As soon as Vilin spoke, Aelria—in her light clothing—immediately steered toward the enemy vessel.
In the dance studio,
Annie, who was creating her dance, heard the commotion on deck.
Her eyes instantly lit up.
"Where are the pirates? My hands have been itching lately!"
Annie rushed to the deck and began searching eagerly.
In the training room,
Fiona, practicing swordsmanship, heard about the pirate ship.
She grabbed the Good Grade sword Green Bamboo that Vilin had given her and hurried to the deck.
The resting crew members saw the pirate ship approaching.
Excitement appeared on their faces.
The most thrilled was the female gunner, Caitlin.
Caitlin wore a purple spaghetti-strap top and an ultra-short purple skirt.
Her snow-white skin was exposed to the air; her eyes burned with heat as she looked at the approaching pirate ship.
In her hand she toyed with a revolver, loading specially modified bullets into the cylinder one by one.
Vilin saw how eager his crew was and felt very pleased.
This way, he could easily harvest a wave of life energy from these pirates.