"Boom…Boom…Boom…"
There was a knock on the door.
Alan was a little impatient, but he thought that there must be something urgent to disturb him at this time.
"What's up!"
The navy soldier outside the door heard the response from inside and immediately saluted the wooden door respectfully.
"Report to Captain Alan, a pirate group has landed at the port of Essia!"
Alan picked up the clothes scattered on the ground and began to put them on.
"Is it that reckless pirate group that doesn't know that the West Sea is my territory?"
The soldier's voice came from outside the door again.
"According to intelligence reports, it seems the Hound Pirates, who recently retreated from the Grand Line, have a bounty of 22 million berries on the head of 'Hound' Garcia-Hedges."
"He's the user of the Animal-type Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Hound!"
When Alan heard that the bounty was as high as 20 million, he immediately quickened the pace of getting dressed.
"Ready the warships!"
You have to know that this was more than 20 years ago, when there was no inflation, and even Whitebeard's current net worth was just over 10 billion.
A bounty of 20 million is rare in the West Sea.
Alan put on his clothes and looked at Mrs. Mavis, whose head was exposed on the bed, very considerately.
"Madam, I have military duties to attend to. As for tonight's 'discussion', it will have to wait until later."
Without waiting for Mavis to speak, he pushed the door open and walked out.
Then,
Alan threw his hands and put the cloak with the word "Justice" on it on his shoulders.
...
Port of Essia.
As a very prosperous coastal port, the daily import and export trade is an astronomical figure.
Since the advent of the Age of Exploration a year ago, these ports have been plundered by pirates once or twice every month.
At that time, Alan was not the highest commander of the 104th branch, and almost every day people went out to sea to pursue the so-called One Piece "big treasure".
Faced with the ever-increasing number of pirates, the military funds allocated by the Navy Headquarters are completely insufficient to support the recruitment of soldiers and the replacement of weapons.
Just half a year ago, Alan was promoted to naval captain and became the highest commander of the 104th branch due to his accumulated achievements.
Alan began to use his iron-blooded methods to lobby various kingdoms, asking the royal families and nobles of the kingdoms to fund the "military expenses"!
And he made a promise to the royal family that could not be refused.
Whenever a kingdom that funds military expenses faces the threat of piracy, the navy will resolve it as quickly as possible.
For the kingdom, it's like paying protection money to the navy.
Oh no, to fund 'military expenses'.
It's better than being burned, killed and looted by those damn pirates.
For Alan, it was a complete win.
With the funding from the kingdom and wealthy businessmen, not only can the equipment be upgraded, but the number of recruits can also be increased and the navy's salaries can be increased.
You can't expect them to work hard for you just for the few dollars they earn every month.
Killing or defeating pirates has always been what Alan pursues. Even if he has no money, he will suppress pirates with thundering means when he sees them.
at this time,
Port of Essia.
The residents here fled in all directions, and dozens of ferocious-looking men with machetes were chasing them.
Soon thousands of people were brought to the central square.
A man who is over three meters tall stands out in the crowd.
Although a height of three meters is nothing in the world of pirates, it is still much taller than an ordinary person.
Although he was wearing a luxurious captain's uniform, he looked disheveled.
A man with a pointed chin and a wretched face came respectfully to the tall man.
"Lord Hedges, most of the people in the harbor have been captured."
Hedges stood up and shouted at the civilians in front of him with a hostile look on his face.
"I am the great pirate with a bounty of 22 million, Hedges the Hound!"
"I didn't come here today to hurt you. I just wanted to 'borrow' some money for the journey!"
Hedges emphasized the word "borrow".
"Of course, if you don't agree, I also know some fighting skills."
After saying that, Hedges punched the big tree next to him.
The big tree was hit so hard that a big hole was blown out of it.
Everyone in the square looked at each other, obviously they were intimidated by Hedges.
Dozens of pirates from all around also came in with machetes to search for Berries.
At the front of the crowd, a little girl with pink hair was shivering, holding a purse tightly in her arms.
Looking at the ferocious pirates in front of her, she closed her eyes nervously.
"Little girl, what are you hiding in your arms? Take it out!"
Tears flowed from the little girl's eyes, but she still hugged the package in her arms tightly.
"No... No, this... This is for mom... to buy medicine! I can't give it to you."
The pirate in front felt embarrassed when he heard this and pointed his machete at her.
"I'll say it again, hand it over!"
"No...no." The soft, trembling voice still came out of her mouth.
The pirate also showed a ferocious expression and raised the machete in his hand high.
"Since you don't accept my toast, then you should take the punishment."
The machete swung down.
The civilians around her couldn't bear it and closed their eyes, but she seemed to have accepted her fate.
If the money is stolen, my mother will also die. What is the point of living then?
Time passed little by little, but the imaginary machete still did not fall.
clang...
That is...?
The sound of a machete falling to the ground.
She slowly opened her tearful eyes, and what appeared before her was a scene that she would never forget in her life.
A tall figure appeared in front of her, a cloak with the word 'Justice' written on it fluttering slowly.
The pirate who was about to kill her just now was now hanging in the air with his throat strangled, struggling frantically.
While she was still in a daze, a gentle voice came into her ears, and what came into her eyes was a smiling profile.
"Little sister, are you okay?"
The originally desperate eyes suddenly sparkled with hope.
She also came to her senses and realized that she was crying, and quickly wiped her cheeks.
"Hina...Hina is fine..."
...After hearing the girl's response, the navy in front was obviously stunned for a few seconds.
Hina?
Is this the Hina I know?
That arrogant Hina?
Although I knew that Hina was born in the West Sea, I really didn't expect to meet her today. It was really an unexpected surprise.
"Big brother, can you tell Hina your name?" A soft voice came, interrupting Alan's thoughts.
"My name is Alan and I'm a marine."
Alan also spoke gently to little Hina behind him.
"Okay, little Hina, I have to go to work! You go to the back first."
Afterwards, he was no longer gentle towards Hina but full of majesty as a superior.
"The navy is handling the case, everyone else should stay away!"
Alan just finished speaking.
Hundreds of naval soldiers rushed into the square from all directions, giving most civilians time to evacuate.
Hedges had just recovered from the shock of Alan's sudden appearance.
He stared fiercely at the naval officer in front of him, with a hint of fear in his eyes.
"Who are you?"
Alan ignored the tall man in front of him and threw the pirate in his hand away like garbage.
He wiped his hands as he walked forward and talked to himself.
"Reward: 22 million berries."
"The user of the Animal-type Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Hound."
"'Hound' Garcia-Hedges, right?"
After he finished speaking, Alan was already more than ten meters in front of Hedges.
Looking at Alan who revealed his information calmly, Hedges seemed to feel a suffocating sense of oppression, and a few drops of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Hedges still suppressed his discomfort and said with a ferocious look on his face.
"Little devil! Now that you know it's me, do you still dare to come forward and die?"
Alan ignored the ridicule and looked at the incomplete health bar in front of him with interest.
HP: 2878/3261
Physical fitness: 101.12
Strength: 110.86
Agility: 126.54
Alan already knew why Hedges withdrew from the Grand Line. The more appropriate word would be "escape".
Then express your thoughts.
"Just a loser on the Grand Line."
When Hedges heard the word "loser", he immediately became furious and gnashed his teeth.
"Damn kid, what do you know!"
"What kind of monsters are those on the Grand Line!"
"I intend to plunder treasures again, build a powerful fleet, and once again journey towards the Grand Line!"
Alan smiled contemptuously.
"Well, I'm really sorry, you don't have a chance!"