Chapter 48: Seeking Follow-up Reads! The Most Top-Tier Navy Second Generation!
South Blue, Navy 194th Branch Base stationed on Watermelon Island.
The reason this island is called Watermelon Island is because, viewed from above, it's oval-shaped, with a narrow extended area at the northern tip like a Watermelon Vine, and inside there are two winding long rivers that resemble Watermelon Patterns. The overall Entity looks like a super large flat Watermelon.
The most crucial point is that over fifty percent of the island's Area is Melon Field, thirty percent belongs to the Navy Base, and the remaining twenty percent is the Residents' Residential Area.
Actually, initially the Residential Area accounted for thirty percent, but ever since a new Colonel arrived five years ago, the Navy Base has been expanding more and more, until now it has forcibly taken over an additional ten percent of the Area.
Because the Melon Field is their main source of income, the Residents are unwilling to reduce the scope of the Melon Field to shrink their living space. Coupled with the gradual increase in Population, this has led to their current living Environment being very cramped.
But even so, the people can only suppress their anger.
Firstly, they cannot resist, and secondly, the existence of the Navy Base indeed prevents harassment by Pirates.
Now everyone knows that Pirates at sea are becoming more and more numerous. Residents who are responsible for going to other Islands to sell Watermelons often hear that villages or towns on certain Islands have been plundered by Pirate Crews.
In the past few months, when they go out to sell Watermelons, they have even been escorted by Warships all the way.
Of course, it's not free. The Navy Base proactively proposed to provide full protection service in exchange for forty percent of the total watermelon sales.
This is another helpless choice for the Residents.
Having a Navy escort is certainly a good thing, at least it guarantees the safety of the watermelon sellers and the Watermelons, but the forty percent split is excessively high.
As a result, the living conditions of all the Residents on Watermelon Island have dropped from being relatively well-off and comfortable to now barely enough for subsistence.
Inside the Base, stand three cylindrical buildings painted blue, one tall and two short. In front is an extremely spacious Training Ground, and behind is the area connecting to the Port/Dock, scattered with numerous Warehouse Buildings.
Marine Soldiers with ruddy complexions and sturdy physiques hold Muskets, guarding various places. Inside the Port, eight small Warships are moored side by side. This type of Warship can generally carry three hundred people, and a maximum of five hundred.
At this moment, on the top floor of the Main Building, in an Office space of nearly three hundred square meters, Colonel Haros, with naturally light yellow hair and a hooked nose, stood by the wide Floor-to-Ceiling Window admiring the Screen Feed of the entire Island, his gaze occasionally gazing at the more distant horizon.
"Calculating the Time, he should be arriving soon."
[Knock knock knock!]
"Come in."
An ordinary Major walked in holding a plain wooden box. After closing the door, he respectfully looked at the back of Colonel Haros.
"Base Commander, the goods from over there have arrived, and also your things..."
"Arrived!"
The latter suddenly turned around, looked at the wooden box in the other party's hand with surprise, quickly walked over and took it. Just about to open it and take a look, he paused, and glanced at the Major in front of him.
"You go out first."
"Yes!"
After the person left the Office, Colonel Haros impatiently lifted open the wooden box lid. The next second, a Devil Fruit that was bright green throughout and covered in spiral patterns appeared before his eyes. A card was also included inside.
"Haha, it's finally here. Now my Son's future is secured!"
He excitedly took out the Devil Fruit and examined it, as if looking at a rare treasure. Just looking at the price, it can indeed be called a treasure.
He spent a full five hundred million Berry to buy this from King Taklamakan, which was considered emptying out half his life's savings.
Fortunately, ever since becoming the Base Commander here, the annual income is also considerable. This doesn't refer to the watermelon selling earnings of the island Residents; that's not worth much. It's mainly because the Tutmos Kingdom will regularly send a sum of 'Protection Fee'.
Of course, this is not aimed at him as a Branch Colonel, but aimed at his position as the 194th Branch Base Commander.
The so-called 'goods' just now referred to this!
Colonel Haros's Son is named Gaspardi. Due to his naturally tall, sturdy, and strong physique, coupled with his recommendation letter, he entered the Marine Headquarters three years ago and became a Private.
But after so many years, he has only now been promoted to Private First Class. Although his Son told him through contact that he is about to be promoted to Corporal, he still felt it was too slow.
Actually, he also understood that the promotion difficulty at Marine Headquarters is definitely much greater than at the Four Blues Branch, and the Strength of Pirates on the Grand Line is also stronger.
So, for the sake of Gaspardi's future and safety, he thought of finding a powerful Devil Fruit on his end to send over. But although he is a Marine Colonel, his Energy is actually just so-so.
Of course, Marine Headquarters actually also has a channel to exchange for Devil Fruits using Military Merit, but firstly, it's troublesome and effortful, and secondly, the Devil Fruit Ability cannot be guaranteed. After so many years, the truly good Fruits were long ago picked by others!
For this reason, he was troubled for several days. Finally, he thought of finding King Taklamakan, who is said to have great connections and Influence/Power spread throughout the Four Seas, to help.
Initially, he just thought he'd try and asked a question. But not long after, the other party was actually willing to provide a Devil Fruit that sounded very reliable.
The Special Paramecia Type Gummy-Gummy Fruit, which can allow the Ability User to possess Gummy transformation Ability similar to Logia System Element Transformation!
With such a pleasant surprise, Colonel Haros was naturally extremely satisfied. But the other party wasn't without conditions.
Firstly, the price needs five hundred million!
Extremely high. The market price of a normal Paramecia System Devil Fruit is only around one hundred million Berry, but this is a Special Paramecia Type, so it can also be understood.
Secondly, he has to guarantee that he will not be transferred away within the next five years.
This point is nothing. Because the current Marine System has no set term limits. As long as during the tenure he ensures no mistakes, or achieves some great achievement that Headquarters cannot ignore, he basically won't be relieved of duty or promoted.
He just needs to lay low!
Thirdly, regarding the Tutmos Kingdom's business, it needs further Support. For example, when needed, help dispatch Fleets for escort, and so on.
In short, he agreed.
"With this Special Paramecia Type Gummy-Gummy Fruit, that kid, Gaspardi, will at least be a Headquarters Colonel in the future, maybe even promoted to Admiral. Like that, my managing this side of the South Blue will also have support!"
Colonel Haros knows his own talent well. Even if he ate a Devil Fruit, his upper limit is limited. It might as well be given to his Son with exceptional talent.
If in the future he really has a Son who is a Marine Flag Officer, then he basically has no more concerns in this area of the South Blue.
[Knock knock knock!]
At this moment, the Office door was knocked on again. This made Colonel Haros, who was currently immersed in the vision of a bright future, furrow his brow somewhat displeasedly. But he still put the Gummy-Gummy Fruit back into the box.
"Come in."
"What is it again?"
He saw it was still that Major who came in and reported: "Base Commander, Rear Admiral Monkey D. Dragon from Marineford is leading a Fleet composed of five Headquarters Warships to the South Blue, saying they want to capture the Black Cat Pirates and White Cat Pirates, requesting us to help investigate their location, and be ready to go Support at any time."
"What, five Warships?"
Colonel Haros had a look of confusion.
"Although the Bounty of these 'Black Cat' and 'White Cat' is quite high, and the number of members is also considerable, there's no need to come with so many Warships, right? And still need us to Support at any time?"
The Fleet led by Dragon mentioned by the Major must be Headquarters-level Warships. When he took his Son to Marineford to report for duty back then, he personally witnessed how terrifying the specifications of those Warships were.
"Cough cough, Rear Admiral Aven, who is currently temporarily acting as Rear Admiral Dorag's Adjutant, quietly told me that this Rear Admiral Dorag is Vice Admiral Garp's Son, so he requested that our various Branches in the South Blue must take this seriously!" the Major added with a wry smile.
Colonel Haros was startled, and immediately after, he started laughing loudly with sudden enlightenment.
"So that's how it is, so it's like this. The Son of the Marine Hero, huh? This is coming to earn Military Merit! Then these two cats are unlucky. If this Operation goes smoothly, it's fine, but if they injure Rear Admiral Dorag, tsk tsk, then the consequences are even worse, hahahahaha!"
After speaking, his expression turned serious, and he looked seriously at the Major, instructing, "Issue the Order, prepare to dispatch Warships. As soon as the Order arrives, set off immediately, no delay!"
In his opinion, this is a rare opportunity to interact with Dragon. If there's a chance to mention his Son's Name in front of him, it would be even better.
Vice Admiral Garp's Son, huh? This is considered the most top-tier Navy Second Generation in the Marine System!
Don't even need to raise them, begging everyone, please let me have the first test recommendation first, otherwise it's really possible to run naked until Go Premium!!
(End of this chapter)