"Boom… boom… boom…"
Knocking sounds arose.
Allen was a bit impatient, but for someone to disturb him at this moment, it must be something urgent.
"What is it?!"
The Marine soldier outside the door heard the response from inside and immediately saluted the wooden door with a respectful expression.
"Reporting, Colonel Allen, a pirate crew has been spotted landing at Asia Port!"
Allen picked up the clothes scattered on the floor and began to put them on.
"Does that pirate crew, not knowing their place, not know that West Blue is my territory?"
The soldier's voice came from outside again.
"According to the intelligence received, it seems to be the 'Hound' Pirate Crew, who just retreated from the Grand Line, with a bounty of 22 million Berries, 'Hound' Garcia Black Kis."
"He's a Zoan-type Dog-Dog Fruit, Hound Form ability user!"
Upon hearing of the 20 million Berries bounty, Allen immediately sped up his dressing.
"Prepare the warship!"
One must know that this was over twenty years ago, without any inflation, and even Whitebeard's bounty was just over one billion Berries at that time.
A 20 million Berries bounty was a rare sight in West Blue.
Allen finished dressing and looked at Lady Mavia, who was only showing her head from under the covers, with great consideration.
"My Lady, I have military duties, so tonight's 'discussion' will have to wait for another time."
He didn't wait for Mavia to speak and pushed the door open directly.
Subsequently,
Allen flicked his hands, and the cape with the word 'Justice' written on it draped over his shoulders.
...
Asia Port.
As a very prosperous coastal port, the daily import and export trade was an astronomical figure.
Since the Great Pirate Era began a year ago, these ports would suffer one or two pirate raids every month.
At that time, Allen was not the highest-ranking officer of the 104th Branch, and almost every day people would set sail in pursuit of the so-called One Piece 'Great Treasure'.
Facing the ever-increasing number of pirates, the military funds allocated by Marine Headquarters were completely insufficient to support recruitment and weapon upgrades.
Just half a year ago, Allen, relying on his accumulated merits, was promoted to Marine Colonel and became the highest-ranking officer of the 104th Branch.
Allen began to use his iron-fisted methods to extensively lobby various kingdoms, making the royal families and nobles of the kingdoms finance 'military expenses'!
And he gave the royal families an irresistible promise.
Any kingdom that financed 'military expenses' would have the Marines resolve their pirate concerns at the fastest speed.
For the kingdoms, it was like paying protection money to the Marines.
Oh no, financing 'military expenses'.
It was better than being burned, killed, and plundered by hateful pirates, right?
For Allen, it was an absolute win.
With the funding from kingdoms and wealthy merchants, not only could equipment be upgraded, but the number of recruits could also be increased, and Marine salaries could be raised.
It was impossible to expect them to risk their lives for you with just a meager monthly salary, right?
Killing or defeating pirates was something Allen pursued anyway; even without money, he would directly suppress pirates with thunderous methods.
At this moment,
Asia Port.
The residents here were fleeing in all directions, while dozens of fierce-looking men with cutlasses were chasing after them.
Soon, over a thousand people were brought to the central square.
A man over three meters tall stood out remarkably among the crowd.
Although a height of three meters was not much in the Pirate World, it was still significantly taller than ordinary people.
Although he was wearing a luxurious Captain's uniform, his entire being exuded a sense of dishevelment.
A man with a pointed mouth, monkey-like cheeks, and a lewd face respectfully approached the tall man.
"Black Kis-sama, most of the people in the harbor have been captured."
Black Kis stood up directly, his face grim, and shouted at the group of commoners in front of him.
"This great one is the great pirate with a 22 million Berries bounty, 'Hound' Black Kis!"
"I came here today not to harm anyone, but just to 'borrow' a little travel money from everyone!"
Black Kis emphasized the word 'borrow' heavily.
"Of course, if you don't agree, this great one also knows a thing or two about fighting."
After speaking, Black Kis punched the large tree next to him directly.
The large tree received a strong impact and was directly blasted with a large hole.
The people in the square looked at each other, clearly intimidated by Black Kis.
Dozens of pirates around them also entered the scene, brandishing their cutlasses and searching for Berries.
At the very front of the crowd, a little girl with pink hair was trembling, clutching a purse tightly in her arms.
Looking at the fierce pirates in front, she closed her eyes even more nervously.
"Little girl, what are you hiding in your arms? Hand it over quickly!"
Tears flowed from the little girl's eyes, but she still clutched the package in her arms tightly.
"N-no… I can't, th-this… this is for Mama… to buy medicine! I can't give it to you."
Upon hearing this, the pirate in front immediately felt his face lose face, and he pointed his cutlass at her directly.
"I'm telling you again, hand it over!"
"N-no… I can't." A soft, trembling voice still came from her mouth.
The pirate also showed a vicious expression, raising the cutlass in his hand high.
"Since you refuse a toast, then you'll have to drink a forfeit."
The cutlass swung down.
The commoners nearby also closed their eyes in unbearable anticipation, while she seemed to accept her fate.
If the money was stolen, then her Mama would also be unable to escape death, so what meaning would her own life have then?
Time passed bit by bit, but the imagined cutlass still did not fall.
Clang...
What was that...?
It was the sound of a cutlass falling to the ground.
She slowly opened her tear-filled eyes, and what appeared before her was a scene she would never forget for the rest of her life.
A tall figure appeared before her, with a cape bearing the word 'Justice' fluttering gently.
The pirate who was just about to cut her down was now held by the throat, suspended in mid-air, struggling wildly.
While she was still in a daze, a gentle voice entered her ears, and what met her eyes was a smiling profile.
"Little sister, are you alright?"
Her originally despairing eyes suddenly filled with a glimmer of hope, sparkling brightly.
She also came to her senses and realized her tear-streaked embarrassment, quickly wiping her cheeks.
"Ti… Tina is fine…"
...Hearing the girl's response, the Marine in front was clearly stunned for a few seconds.
Tina?
Is it the Tina I know?
That tsundere Tina?
Although he knew Tina was born in West Blue, he really didn't expect to meet her today. What an unexpected surprise.
"Big brother, can you tell Tina your name?" A soft voice came, interrupting the Marine's thoughts.
"Me, I'm Allen, a Marine."
Allen also said gently to little Tina behind him.
"Alright, little Tina, I, your big brother, have to go to work now! You go to the back first."
Then, no longer the gentleness he showed Tina, but the authority of a superior.
"Marines are handling a case, bystanders stand back!"
As soon as Allen finished speaking,
Hundreds of Marine soldiers rushed into the square from all directions, also giving most of the commoners time to evacuate.
Black Kis also just recovered from the shock of Allen's sudden appearance.
He glared fiercely at the Marine officer in front of him, with a hint of wariness in his expression.
"Who are you?!"
Allen ignored the tall Black Kis in front of him, throwing the pirate in his hand away like trash.
As he walked forward, he wiped his palms, speaking to himself.
"A bounty of 22 million Berries."
"A Zoan-type Dog-Dog Fruit, Hound Form ability user."
"'Hound' Garcia Black Kis, correct?"
By the time Allen finished speaking, he had already arrived within a dozen meters of Black Kis.
Looking at Allen, who calmly revealed his information, Black Kis seemed to feel a suffocating pressure, and a few drops of cold sweat involuntarily appeared on his forehead.
Black Kis still endured the discomfort, saying with a fierce expression.
"Brat! Since you know it's this great one, do you still dare to come forward and seek death?"
Allen completely ignored the taunt, instead looking at the slightly incomplete health bar in front of him with interest.
Health: 2878 / 3261
Constitution: 101.12
Strength: 110.86
Agility: 126.54
Allen already knew why Black Kis had retreated from the Grand Line; 'fled' would be a more accurate word.
Then he spoke his thoughts.
"Just a loser from the Grand Line."
Upon hearing the words 'loser', Black Kis immediately became enraged, gritting his teeth.
"Damn brat, what do you know?!"
"What kind of monsters are on the Grand Line?!"
"This great one is going to re-scavenge for treasure, form a powerful fleet, and go to the Grand Line again!"
Allen smiled disdainfully,
"Well, I'm really sorry, but you won't have the chance!"