Chapter 48: Seeking Follow-up Reads! The Top Navy Scion!
South Blue, Navy Branch 194 Base on Watermelon Island.
The island was called Watermelon Island because, viewed from above, it was oval-shaped.
At its northern tip was a narrow, vine-like extension, and within the island were two long, curving rivers resembling watermelon stripes, making the whole thing look like a giant, flat watermelon.
Crucially, over fifty percent of the island was dedicated to melon fields, thirty percent belonged to the Navy base, and the remaining twenty percent constituted the residential area.
Initially, the residential area occupied thirty percent, but ever since a new Captain arrived five years ago, the Navy base had expanded continuously, forcefully occupying more than ten percent of the original residential space.
Since the melon fields were their primary source of income, the residents were unwilling to shrink them for more living space.
Coupled with a gradually increasing population, their living environment had become extremely cramped.
Even so, the people could only swallow their anger.
Firstly, they couldn't resist.
Secondly, the presence of the Navy base did indeed prevent pirate raids.
Everyone knew that pirates were becoming increasingly numerous on the seas.
Residents responsible for selling melons on other islands often heard about villages or towns on some island being plundered by pirate crews.
In recent months, when they went out to sell melons, a warship would even escort them the entire way.
Of course, it wasn't free.
The Navy base had proactively proposed the arrangement, offering full protection services in exchange for forty percent of the total melon sales revenue.
This was another choice that left the residents feeling helpless.
Having a Navy escort was certainly a good thing, at least ensuring the safety of the melon sellers and the watermelons, but the forty percent cut was excessively high.
Consequently, the living conditions for the entire population of Watermelon Island had declined from relative prosperity and comfort to merely subsistence level.
Inside the base stood three pillar-like buildings painted blue—one tall and two short.
In front was an extremely spacious training ground, and behind it, connected to the port docks, were numerous small, warehouse-style buildings.
Navy soldiers, rosy-cheeked and robust, stood guard everywhere holding muskets.
Eight small warships were docked side-by-side in the harbor; this model of warship could typically carry three hundred people, with a maximum capacity of five hundred.
At this moment, on the top floor of the main building, in an office nearly three hundred square meters in size, Captain Harros, born with light blond hair and an aquiline nose, stood before the large floor-to-ceiling window, admiring the view of the entire island, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the more distant horizon.
"Calculating the time, they should be arriving soon..."
Knock, knock, knock!
"Come in."
An ordinary-looking Major entered, holding a plain wooden box.
After closing the door, he respectfully looked at the back of Captain Harros.
"Base Commander, the goods from over there have arrived, along with your item..."
"It's here!"
Harros spun around abruptly, looking delightedly at the wooden box in the Major's hands.
He strode over and took it.
Just as he was about to open it for a look, he stopped and glanced at the Major before him.
"You may leave first."
"Yes!"
After the man left the office, Captain Harros eagerly lifted the lid of the wooden box.
The next second, a Devil Fruit, entirely bright green and covered in spiral patterns, appeared before his eyes, accompanied by a small card inside.
"Haha, it's finally here! Now my son's future is guaranteed!"
He excitedly picked up the Devil Fruit, examining it from top to bottom as if looking at a priceless treasure.
Judging by the price alone, it could indeed be considered a treasure.
He had spent a full five hundred million Beli to buy it from King Taklama, practically emptying half a lifetime's savings.
Fortunately, since becoming the Base Commander here, his annual income wasn't small—not referring to the melon money from the island residents, which wasn't worth much, but primarily the regular 'protection fees' sent by the Thutmose Kingdom.
This, of course, wasn't directed at him personally as a branch Captain, but at the position of Base Commander of Branch 194.
The so-called 'goods' just now referred to this!
Captain Harros's son was named Gasparade.
Due to his naturally tall, sturdy, and strong build, coupled with Harros's recommendation letter, he had entered Navy Headquarters as a Seaman Recruit three years ago.
But after all these years, he had only been promoted to Seaman First Class.
Although his son had contacted him saying he was about to be promoted to Corporal, Harros still felt it was too slow.
He understood, of course, that promotions at Navy Headquarters were much harder than in the Four Blues branches, and the pirates in the Grand Line were stronger.
Therefore, for Gasparade's future and safety, he thought about finding a powerful Devil Fruit here and sending it over.
Although he was a Navy Captain, his influence was actually quite limited.
Of course, Navy Headquarters did have channels to exchange Devil Fruits for merit, but firstly, it was troublesome and required effort, and secondly, the fruit's ability couldn't be guaranteed—the truly good fruits had long been picked over the years!
He had agonized over this for many days, finally thinking of asking the 'resourceful' King Taklama, whose influence 'spread across the Four Seas', for help.
Initially, he had asked just to try his luck, but not long after, the other party surprisingly offered to provide a Devil Fruit that sounded very promising.
A Special Paramecia-type Soft Candy Fruit, capable of granting the user a 'soft candy-fication' ability similar to Logia-type elementalization!
Such a pleasant surprise naturally left Captain Harros extremely satisfied, but the other party had conditions.
First, the price was five hundred million!
Extremely high; the market price for a normal Paramecia Devil Fruit was only around one hundred million Beli, but this was a Special Paramecia, so it was understandable.
Second, he had to guarantee he wouldn't be transferred for the next five years.
This wasn't a big deal either, because the current Navy had no fixed terms of office.
As long as he ensured no mistakes were made during his tenure, or achieved some great merit that Headquarters couldn't ignore, he basically wouldn't be removed or promoted.
He just needed to lie low!
Third, he had to provide further support for the Thutmose Kingdom's business, such as dispatching fleets for escorts when needed.
In short, he agreed.
"With this Special Paramecia Soft Candy Fruit, that boy Gasparade will at least become a Headquarters Captain in the future, maybe even reach the rank of Admiral! Then my operations here in the South Blue will have backing!"
Captain Harros was well aware of his own talent limitations; even eating a Devil Fruit wouldn't raise his ceiling much.
It was better to give it to his talented son.
If he truly had a Navy Admiral for a son in the future, he would have little to fear in this South Blue.
Knock, knock, knock!
The office door was knocked again, causing Captain Harros, lost in pleasant daydreams of the future, to frown slightly in displeasure.
However, he still placed the Soft Candy Fruit back into the box.
"Come in."
"What is it now?"
It was the same Major who entered again to report: "Base Commander, Rear Admiral Monkey D. Dragon from Marineford has arrived in the South Blue leading a fleet of five Headquarters warships. He says they are here to capture the Black Cat Pirates and the White Cat Pirates, requesting our assistance in locating them and preparing to provide support at any time."
"What? Five warships?"
Captain Harros looked completely bewildered.
"Although the bounties for these 'Black Cat' and 'White Cat' crews are quite high, and they have many members, there's no need for so many warships, right? And they need us on standby for support?"
The fleet led by Dragon, mentioned by the Major, definitely consisted of Headquarters-level warships.
When he took his son to Marineford to enlist, he had personally witnessed how terrifyingly large those warships were.
"Ahem, Rear Admiral Avon, currently acting as Rear Admiral Dragon's adjutant, quietly informed me that this Rear Admiral Dragon is Vice Admiral Garp's son. Therefore, he requires all our South Blue branches to take this very seriously!" the Major added, looking somewhat amused and exasperated.
Captain Harros paused, then burst into understanding laughter.
"I see, so that's how it is! The son of the Navy Hero, huh? He's here to rack up merits! Those two cat crews are really unlucky. If this operation goes smoothly, fine, but if they manage to injure Rear Admiral Dragon, tsk tsk, the consequences will be even worse, hahahahaha!"
After speaking, his expression turned serious, and he looked sternly at the Major, giving orders: "Issue the command! Prepare the warships for deployment! We move out immediately upon receiving the order, no delays allowed!"
In his view, this was a rare opportunity to connect with Dragon.
It would be even better if he could mention his son's name in his presence.
Vice Admiral Garp's son—that was practically the highest level of scion within the Navy system!
Please stop saving drafts, I beg you all, let me get my first trial recommendation push first, otherwise, I might really end up going bare until it's time for paid chapters!!
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