~ Support & Read 12 Advanced Chapters on My Patreon!

  ????

  The bearded Puros was inally the heir to a kingdom in the West Blue.

  Just a year ago, this kingdom was quered by the neighb Kano try. The reason for the invasion was utterly ridiculous.

  The Kano try was a Wover member nation. To receive the Wover's prote, they had to pay a hefty "Heavenly Tribute" to the World he Celestial Dragons.

  The Kano try had vast sources of ine and immense wealth, but they were unwilling to use their own resources. So, they set their sights on the neighb Vira Kingdom.

  The Vira Kingdom was not a member of the Wover and therefore nnized by it. Thus, isoted and without allies, it was quickly quered by the Kano try.

  The Door-Door Fruit, along with a trove of treasures, was taken from the Vira Kingdom's vault by the Kano try forces.

  This year, the Heavenly Tribute was due to the Celestial Dragons. The Kano try po offer the Door-Door Fruit, along with a batch of treasures.

  Although the Vira Kingdom was destroyed, remnants of its army still roamed. They were currently hiding on an isnd, barely surviving. Word had it that the Kano try had discovered their location and reparing to send a rge force to extermihem, eliminating any future threat.

  After listening to Puros's hateful at, Arthur shrugged—inwardly looking down on him.

  Such a powerful Devil Fruit had been sitting in his family's possession, and they hadn't used it. Now, after the kingdom was destroyed—he resented his own inpetend the ruthlessness of the Kano try.

  What kind of logic was that?

  If Puros had eaten the fruit, he could have at least defended himself. His safety would have been higher than even Arthur's, and no one could have captured him.

  "Alright, this Devil Fruit is mine now. As for the Celestial Dragons' Heavenly Tribute? I wouldn't be doing myself justice if I didn't try to snatch it from those parasites and imbeciles—hahahaha!" Arthur ughed wildly.

  Puros pressed his forehead firmly against the deck, uo lift his head under Arthur's imposing presence.

  Yet, his heart was filled with admiration.

  To have the gall to steal from the Celestial Dragons—this was true audacity, true recklessness!

  "Sir, I became a pirate to cause trouble for the Kano try and to learransportation route of the Heavenly Tribute. I've already made some progress. I give you the route right now, only asking that you save the surviving forces of the Vira Kingdom!"

  Puros was very clever. He khat threatening Arthur with a clue about a Devil Fruit would not only cost him his life but could also endanger his try's army.

  "This is a good deal. I accept..." A smile touched Arthur's lips as he quickly agreed.

  ——

  A few days ter, Admiral Zephyr's warship crossed the Calm Belt and quickly traversed the Red Line, returning to Marine Headquarters—Marineford.

  In the feren, only a few people were present: Fleet Admiral Kong, Admiral Zephyr, Vice Admiral and Chief of Staff Tsuru, and Vice Admiral Kizaru. The other Vice Admirals were busy with important matters and couldn't attend.

  "Fleet Admiral, this person's attitude is unclear. We couldn't determine if he's leaning towards the Marines or the pirates. However, without a doubt, he is extremely dangerous, untrolble, and... ambitious!" Zephyr reported his assessment to Kong, seated in the first seat below.

  The mission to "invite" Arthur roposed by Vegapunk. Although Vegapunk art of the Marine research facility, he could directly unicate with the highest authority of the Wover.

  He had asked the Five Elders to issue this mission. One could imagihe sequences of failure.

  This matter ed Vegapunk's research progress. It couldn't be taken lightly; these were his own words.

  "Even Borsalino's Glint-Glint Fruit couldn't detain him?" Fleet Admiral Kong frowned, asking in disbelief.

  "He's very ing. He wouldn't exhaust his stamina fighting us. And... Borsalino suffered a minor setba their csh!" Zephyr, disregarding Kizaru's unpleasant expression, revealed the truth.

  This i could serve as a wake-up call for Kizaru, showing him that relying solely on fruit abilities was insuffit. What harm was there in that? Zephyr was even a little pleased.

  "Hmph!" Kizaru snorted coldly. His smooth, worldly demeanor vanished, aood up ahe feren, probably to find a pce to be alone.

  "Acc to the information from the West Blue, this Arthur is the only son of the Seabury family, right? He's sixteen this year. His family's mert ship had an act near Jaya in the Grand Line a full eight years ago. Somehow, he returo the West Blue." The taciturn Vice Admiral Tsuru spoke.

  "Send someoo iigate near Jaya. Find out where he got the fruit! He's so young and already parable to an Admiral didate. He'll be a dangerous figure iure."

  Starting the iigation from Jaya was actually just a pretehe underlying meaning was to have someone check if there were any surviving members of the Seabury family. If there were... at least it could make Arthur wary.

  Don't assume that the Marines represent justice. They itted far more dirty acts than pirates, but they represented Justice, so they could do it openly without leaving any leverage.

  "Should we issue a bounty?" Zephyr asked.

  "Let's wait and see for a while. If he does anything to harm the Marines or the Wover..." Kong said gravely. Right now, Arthur had only ihe CP0 agents, which was sidered self-defense and couldn't be used to vict him.

  "The Wover just sent a telegram. They want the Mario stay out of this matter. They will let the CP anization ha entirely."

  The feren fell silent. Zephyr and the others said nothing.

  "Vice Admiral Tsuru, do you have anything else?" Kong inquired.

  "Fleet Admiral Kong..." Chief of Staff Tsuru handed over a cssified dot. "The West Blue archaeological team that you asked us to monitor has ered the Grand Lihe leader, Nico Olvia, they are indeed searg for the Poneglyphs. What should we do ?"

  "Those restless fellows!" Kong put down the dot, rubbing his temples. "Keep a close watch. If they cross the line, immediately report it to the Five Elders!"

  Each of them held high positions and naturally knew what the Wover was desperately trying to ceal from 800 years ago.

  It could be said that this was a taboo. Whoever touched it would die. If the Ohara archaeologists crossed that lihe Wover would definitely find an excuse to elimihem.

  Without power, yet doing things beyond their capabilities, the sequences were very dangerous. One misstep could cost them their lives.

  Those archaeologists were doing nothing wrong in studying archaeology, but what they were doing posing the Wover. The oute was already determined.

  For a person, if their strength wasn't enough to bear the sequehe more they khe closer they were to death.

  ????

  ~ 12 Advanced Chapters Avaible on Patreon!

  https://p-atreon./dragonnx

  (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)