Not long ago.
Krieg's residence was the heart of the entire island, guarded year-round by the First Combat Division, his most trusted and elite unit.
This sprawling, grand, and magnificently lavish residence could no longer be considered an ordinary wealthy man's home. "Palace" was a far more fitting description.
Yet to a traditional aristocrat like Princess Vivi, this "palace," with its overly rough lines, sloppy layout, and gaudy colors, screamed one huge word from beginning to end: vulgar.
Still, she showed none of a noble lady's elegance at the moment. Instead, she deliberately wore a cold, defiant expression, swinging her arms and striding with exaggerated steps as her brightly colored platform heeled boots thundered against the floor.
Vivi tried her best to project the domineering air of a hardened criminal, but inwardly, she still felt rather nervous—
Her current identity was that of an agent for a major transoceanic criminal syndicate, and the task she carried was an illegal arms deal.
And now, this fledgling criminal was walking alone through the headquarters of the Krieg Pirates, the East Blue's underworld kingpins.
Vivi had not truly come alone. More than a dozen low-ranking subordinates from Baroque Works followed behind her. But compared to the Krieg Pirates' massive force of five thousand fighters, those dozen or so weaklings might as well have been nonexistent.
Led all the way by several pirate crewmen, Vivi finally reached the heart of Krieg's residence and met Krieg himself, the ruler of the East Blue, seated high upon a broad chair.
He was broad-shouldered and powerfully built, with short light-purple hair. The rugged lines of his face always gave off a fierce, brutal air.
What made Vivi even more uncomfortable was this:
To display his authority as the ruler of the East Blue, Krieg wore his gleaming