Kneel and Submit!

The Golden Pirates have disbanded and vanished forever!

Under the sunlight and amidst the waves, Vidal offered a second option, one that was equally difficult for Woonan and his companions to accept.

"That's impossible!"

"I think you're dreaming!"

"You think you can disband us with just a few words?"

The Golden Pirates crew instantly became agitated, each member starting to curse and swear, which made Vidal frown in displeasure.

"So noisy!"

[Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!]

Suddenly, the pirate ship and cruise ship shook violently. The more than 300 pirates who were cursing just a moment ago were now entangled in vines and hanging in mid-air.

[Whoosh!]

At the same time, Woonan rushed forward, leaving afterimages, his blade flashing as it aimed directly at Vidal's throat.

This should be his full-force strike, perhaps even exceeding his limit by two points, because he knows he might not have a second chance to strike!

Woonan's assessment was correct, but still too weak. He currently has 20 million Beli, which, even converted to prices thirty years from now, would only amount to 50 to 60 million.

Furthermore, having only been in the Grand Line for less than two years, he naturally lacks Haki and such, so he can be considered similar to Bellamy from Devil Town.

With such negligible strength, Vidal didn't even need to move. A fist swiftly extended from the armrest of the wooden chair beneath him.

[Clang!!]

After shattering the blade hidden in the dazzling light with a single blow, the wooden fist transformed into a palm and grabbed Woonan by the neck, lifting him up without his feet touching the ground.

The so-called Golden Pirates were suppressed by him alone in the blink of an eye!

Vidal calmly looked at Woonan, who was grabbing him, and asked, "Now, can you make the right decision?"

Woonan was gasping for breath as the wooden hand squeezed his throat, desperately pounding and pulling at the damned piece of wood, trying to break it.

But no matter how much he struggled, nothing changed except that his face grew increasingly red.

[Bang!]

Seeing that he was almost done, Vidal released his wooden hand and placed him on the ground, then quietly looked down at him as he lay there, panting heavily.

"I... I understand, cough cough!" Woonan tried to speak, but his words were immediately choked back by the discomfort in his throat.

"No rush, take a breath and speak slowly." Vidal's face once again showed a gentle smile, looking so kind.

He has plenty of patience with Woonan; this kid is a real talent, and that's exactly what he needs right now!

"Phew, I get it. You've had your eye on me from the start, haven't you?" Woonan stood up and said, "You've got your eye on my ability to find treasure!"

"More or less."

Vidal thought about it and realized it wasn't quite right, but it didn't matter; some things couldn't be said too explicitly.

"Disband the Golden Pirates now and become a retainer of the Forest family, and I'll let these crew members leave."

"So, as a member of the Navy, I've effectively 'eliminated' you, thus fulfilling my promise not to send you to Impel Down, right?"

At this moment Woonan sneered, "What makes you think I would give up my freedom for them? We're pirates!"

"Give up your freedom?" Vidal raised an eyebrow, asking doubtfully, "Will you be free if you don't agree?"

"Or do you think you'd be free in a hellish place like Impel Down?"

"By the way, do you know about Impel Down?" He suddenly worried that this newbie Woonan, might not know what Impel Down was.

Woonan fell silent. He didn't know much about Impel Down, but he had heard of it; in any case, it was a terrible prison.

Indeed, if he refused to become a retainer, he would be unable to defeat the other party and would have no way to escape, so wouldn't he be imprisoned? What freedom could he possibly have then?

In comparison, becoming a retainer seems like a more sensible choice.

"Also, since you don't care about the lives of these subordinates, I'll just get rid of them. It won't take much effort." Vidal snapped his right fingers.

The next moment, Woonan saw those thick, long green vines writhing like pythons, and the familiar faces he had known for years began to scream and wail.

No! No!

"I don't want to die, I don't want to die!"

"Please, please let me go!"

"Captain, save me! Save me!"

Vidal now resembles a complete villain, smiling as he watches Woonan make his painful choice.

"Enough!!" Woonan cried out in pain, covering his face, and then knelt down with a thud.

"Let them go, I promise you!"

"Promise me what?" Vidal asked.

"I, Woonan, agree to become a vassal of the Forest family, and from this day forward, I will obey your every command!"

Vidal nodded in satisfaction after listening, but he wasn't much of a believer in oaths.

After thinking for a moment, he flicked his finger again, sending a green seed flying. Woonan, who was kneeling on the ground, was about to make a move when the seed broke through his arm and entered his body.

"This is a seed that allows me to locate you at any time, and if needed, I can also grow a large tree inside you."

Vidal started spouting nonsense, laughing, "I think since you know me, you should also be aware of my abilities, right?"

"I know, the top-tier plant-type Devil Fruit, the Woods-Woods Fruit!" Woonan replied through gritted teeth.

"That's good, saves me the trouble of explaining." Vidal nodded. "Don't kneel, get up, stand to the side."

After saying that, he stood up and ordered Rogers and the others on the warship, "You guys come down and handle this."

"Disarm these pirates and load them onto that cruise ship. Oh, and bring all the children onto this ship first."

"And another thing, pack up all the valuables and move them to the warship!" With that, he removed the Ship Prison.

"Yes!" The navy soldiers sprang into action, carrying over planks one after another, and then quickly surged toward the cruise ship and pirate ship.

Vidal ignored them and beckoned to Woonan, "Come on, let's go aside and talk. Don't get in their way."

Woonan followed, his face grim.

"I have a few things to tell you now. Do them well, and I'll give you the seeds to make you feel better." Vidal walked to the side of the ship and calmly looked at the sea below.

"You said."

"The first thing, just like you said, is that those children can't be sent back to the Fire Country, so I'm going to raise them all."

"Coincidentally, I recently acquired a royal status and a private estate in Alabasta. I need you to take them to 'Forest City' there for a while."

At this point, Vidal added, "I'll give you a Den Den Mushi), and once you contact them, someone will come to pick you up."

Woonan hadn't expected this well-known naval Colonel to have this other identity. "How can I take care of nearly a hundred children and operate the ship all by myself?"

Vidal paused, realizing this was indeed a problem. After a moment's thought, he said, "Then how about this: you go and choose twenty men you find agreeable to go with you."

It's just twenty more retainers, nothing to worry about. As for seeds, there are plenty, more than enough for everyone.

"What about the others?" Woonan asked.

Vidal replied insincerely, "Didn't I have them all put on the cruise ship? They can sail it themselves later."

"However, you cannot bring weapons, nor are you allowed to be pirates again. I will announce to headquarters that you have been wiped out by me."

"Alright." Woonan Nan nodded, satisfied with the outcome.

"As for what happens next, I'll contact you via Den Den Mushi. Just focus on getting this done first."

"I see."

The first official retainer of Forest family has made his dazzling debut! The Gild Tesoro of Roger's era, handsome readers, are you satisfied?

This Woonan, is really handsome! He has a bit of Dracule Mihawk's) aura about him!