The Ultimate Navy Scion!

South Blue, Marine Branch 194 base on Watermelon Island.

This island was called Watermelon Island because, when viewed from above, it was oval-shaped. Its northern tip had a narrow extension like a watermelon vine, while two long, winding rivers inside resembled the stripes on a melon. Altogether, it looked like an enormous flat watermelon.

More importantly, over half the island was covered in melon fields, thirty percent belonged to the Marine base, and only the remaining twenty percent was the residential area.

Originally, the residential district had taken up thirty percent. But ever since a new colonel had arrived five years ago, the Marine base had expanded further and further, eventually seizing more than ten percent of the land.

Since the melon fields were the residents' primary source of income, they had no desire to reduce their acreage for the sake of more living space. Combined with the steadily growing population, their living conditions had become extremely cramped.

Even so, the people could only swallow their anger.

First, they had no way to resist. Second, the Marine base did indeed protect them from pirate raids.

Everyone now knew that pirates were becoming increasingly numerous. Residents responsible for traveling to other islands to sell melons often heard about villages or towns on one island or another being looted by pirate crews.

In recent months, Warships had even escorted them all the way whenever they went out to sell melons.

Of course, it was not free. The Marine base had proposed the arrangement themselves: in exchange for forty percent of the total melon sales, they would provide protection throughout the journey.

This was another choice that left the residents helpless.

Having Marines escort them was certainly a good thing. At the very least, it ensured the safety of both the melon sellers and their watermelons. But a forty percent cut was simply too steep.

As a result, the living standards of Watermelon Island's residents had fallen from relatively prosperous and comfortable to barely having enough to eat.

Inside the base stood three blue-painted cylindrical buildings, one tall and two short. An exceptionally spacious drill ground lay before them, while behind them were numerous warehouse-like structures connected to the harbor docks.

Ruddy-faced, powerfully built Marines stood guard everywhere with Muskets in hand. Eight small Warships were docked side by side in the harbor. This type of Warship could generally carry three hundred people, with a maximum capacity of five hundred.

At that moment, on the top floor of the main building, Colonel Haros—born with light blond hair and a hooked nose—stood before the broad floor-to-ceiling windows of an office nearly three hundred square meters in size, admiring the view of the entire island. From time to time, his gaze drifted toward the more distant horizon.

"By my calculations, it should be arriving soon."

[Knock, knock, knock!]

"Come in."

An utterly unremarkable Major entered carrying an equally ordinary wooden box. After closing the door, he respectfully looked at Colonel Haros's back.

"Base Commander, the goods from over there have arrived, along with your item."

"They're here!"

The man spun around, staring at the wooden box in the other man's hands with delight. He strode over and took it, but just as he was about to open it for a look, he stopped and glanced at the Major before him.

"You may leave first."

"Yes, sir!"

Once the man had left the office, Colonel Haros impatiently lifted the lid of the wooden box. The next second, a Devil Fruit, bright green all over and covered in spiral patterns, appeared before his eyes. There was also a card inside.

"Hahaha, it's finally here! Now my son's future is secure!"

Excitedly, he took out the Devil Fruit and examined it from every angle as though it were some rare treasure. Judging by its price alone, it truly could be called one.

He had spent a full five hundred million Beli to buy it from King Taklama, practically draining half a lifetime of savings.

Fortunately, ever since becoming the base commander here, his annual income had been considerable. This did not refer to the money the islanders made from selling melons—how much could that possibly be worth? His main income came from the regular "protection fees" sent by the Thutmose Kingdom.

Naturally, those payments were not made for the sake of him, a mere branch colonel, but because he held the position of commander of Marine Branch 194.

The "goods" mentioned just now referred to this!

Colonel Haros's son was named Gasparde. Born tall, broad, and powerful, and backed by his father's written recommendation, he had entered Marine Headquarters as a Seaman Apprentice three years ago.

Yet after all these years, he had only been promoted to Private First Class. Although his son had told him through their contacts that he would soon be promoted to corporal, Haros still felt that was far too slow.

In truth, he understood. Advancement at Marine Headquarters was surely far more difficult than at the branches in the Four Seas, and the pirates on the Grand Line were also much stronger.

So, for Gasparde's future and safety, he had wanted to find a powerful Devil Fruit and send it over. But while he was a Marine colonel, his influence was only so-so.

Of course, Marine Headquarters also had channels for exchanging military merit for Devil Fruits. But not only was that troublesome and exhausting, the Fruit's ability could not be guaranteed. After all these years, the truly good Fruits had long since been picked over!

This had troubled him for many days. In the end, he thought of asking King Taklama, who was supposedly "all-powerful" and whose influence "spanned the Four Seas," for help.

At first, he had only asked on a whim. But before long, the other party had actually offered to provide a Devil Fruit that sounded extremely reliable.

The special Paramecia Candy-Candy Fruit, which would grant its user a candy transformation ability similar to a Logia's elementalization!

Colonel Haros was naturally delighted by such a surprise, but the other party had conditions.

First, the price was five hundred million!

It was extraordinarily expensive. The market price for a normal Paramecia Devil Fruit was only around one hundred million Beli, but this was a special Paramecia, so it was understandable.

Second, he had to ensure that he would not be transferred away within the next five years.

That was not much of an issue either. The current Marines had no fixed term of office. As long as one did not make mistakes while in office or achieve some great merit that forced Headquarters to take notice, one would generally neither be removed nor promoted.

He only needed to keep his head down!

Third, he had to further support the Thutmose Kingdom's business, such as dispatching a fleet to provide escort whenever needed.

In short, he had agreed.

"With this special Paramecia Candy-Candy Fruit, that brat Gasparde will at least become a Headquarters Class colonel in the future. He might even rise to admiral rank. Then I'll have someone to rely on while I build my influence in South Blue!"

Colonel Haros knew his own talent well. Even if he ate a Devil Fruit, his upper limit would only be so high. It would be better to give it to his exceptionally gifted son.

If he truly had a Marine flag officer for a son in the future, he would have virtually nothing to fear in this stretch of South Blue.

[Knock, knock, knock!]

At that moment, the office door was knocked on again. Colonel Haros, who had been immersed in visions of a wonderful future, frowned in displeasure, but he still put the Candy-Candy Fruit back into the box.

"Come in."

"What is it now?"

The same Major entered and reported, "Base Commander, Major General Monkey D. Dragon from Marineford has led a fleet of five Headquarters Warships into South Blue. He says they are here to capture the Black Cat Pirates and the White Cat Pirates. He wants us to help investigate their location and be ready to provide support at any time."

"What? Five Warships?"

Colonel Haros looked utterly baffled.

"Although the bounties on Black Cat and White Cat are quite high, and their crews are not small, there's no need to send so many Warships, is there? And they want us ready to support them at any time?"

The fleet led by the Dragon mentioned by the Major had to consist of Headquarters Class Warships. When Haros had taken his son to report to Marineford years ago, he had personally witnessed just how terrifyingly large those Warships were.

"Ahem, Major General Ivan, who is temporarily serving as Major General Dragon's adjutant, quietly told me that Major General Dragon is Vice Admiral Garp's son. That's why he wants every branch in South Blue to take this seriously!" the Major added with a wry smile.

Colonel Haros froze, then immediately broke into an enlightened laugh.

"So that's how it is! So that's what this is—he's the son of the Marine Hero. He's here to rack up military merit! Those two cats are in for some bad luck. If this operation goes smoothly, fine. But if they injure Major General Dragon, heh, heh, the consequences will be even worse! Hahahahaha!"

After saying that, his expression turned solemn. He fixed the Major with a serious gaze and gave his orders.

"Pass down the command. Prepare the Warships for deployment. The moment the order arrives, set sail immediately. No delays!"

In his view, this was a rare chance to make contact with Dragon. It would be even better if he got the opportunity to mention his son's name in front of him.

Vice Admiral Garp's son—he was one of the most elite second-generation figures in the entire Marine system!

Please don't let this story die yet, everyone. I'm begging you—just let me get my first trial recommendation first, or I really might have to go without any promotion all the way until it goes premium!!