The death of Moria III threw the entire Kingdom of Liria into chaos.
Nobles turned on one another like starving wolves, each vying for the vacant throne. Within days, the royal court was drenched in suspicion and blood.
Vice Admiral Spider reported the situation directly to Steelbone Kong, and soon after, the World Government dispatched CP9 agents to intervene personally.
When word spread that Emperor Tenzan had appeared within Liria, Fleet Admiral Sengoku recognized it as a critical lead. He immediately ordered Admiral Aokiji to begin a thorough investigation, narrowing the search area drastically.
Meanwhile, under Liam Ross's quiet guidance, Osmond and the young Eustace Kidd escaped Liria aboard a humble fishing boat. With the fifty thousand Berries Liam had provided, Osmond opened a modest tavern in a neighboring country. Liam had plans for the boy. Kidd was still too young, but one day, when he was ready, Liam would personally train him just as Garp once did with Luffy.
Two days later, the naval fleet had already covered two-thirds of the South Sea on their patrol.
During that time, they eliminated countless vicious pirate crews. The most infamous among them were the Night Ghost Pirates and the Blood Wolf Pirates. The Night Ghost had a bounty of thirty-one million Berries, while Blood Wolf carried thirty-three million.
In the Blues, such figures marked them as notorious, deadly names.
Unfortunately for them, they had the worst luck imaginable crossing paths with a fleet commanded by a Vice Admiral. Their end came swiftly.
"Meal time!"
The ship's head chef's booming voice echoed across the deck.
Liam was soon dragged enthusiastically by his superior, Lieutenant Tross, toward the mess hall on the upper deck.
Ever since Liam had revealed just a hint of his true strength, he had become the shining star of this unit the golden boy every officer wanted to claim credit for.
Just yesterday, when the fleet took down the Blood Wolf Pirates, Liam personally defeated a small-time pirate leader worth five million Berries. Even the lieutenant from another squad took notice, later approaching him with offers to transfer.
After all, for someone only nineteen years old, not a Devil Fruit user, and without formal training, to rely solely on raw combat skill and defeat a pirate captain it was remarkable. With a bit of training, he could easily rise to the rank of colonel in the future.
So, of course, Tross guarded him like treasure.
After breakfast, the lieutenant dismissed the others for their duties but kept Liam close.
"Liam," he said warmly, "I've already told Charles to take care of your shift today. You just rest up or train if you want. Your top priority now is to grow stronger. Next time we encounter pirates, I want to see you take down a captain worth more than five million. That'll really put our unit on the map."
Liam didn't argue. He knew exactly what Tross was thinking. The more bounty heads their unit captured, the more merit Tross earned and the faster he'd climb the ranks.
Achievements meant promotion. Promotion meant money.
Liam accepted it with a smile and, under the envious stares of his teammates, returned leisurely to his cabin.
"System," he murmured, "initiate today's morning sign-in."
Ding!
"Congratulations, host. Sign-in successful. Reward: 100,000 Berries."
Not bad.
Another hundred thousand earned.
He would've preferred a "special" location to boost his rewards, but out here, surrounded by nothing but endless ocean, there was nowhere else to go. He sighed and settled for it.
The rest of the day passed peacefully.
By nightfall, the fleet anchored near a small inhabited island, granting the crew half a day's shore leave. Liam disembarked with his teammates, eager for a short walk on solid ground.
Then
Ding!
"Detected: special sign-in location. Reward bonus +20%."
"What?" Liam froze.
A twenty-percent bonus? That was the highest multiplier he'd ever seen even higher than most locations at Marineford.
Could this island really be that special?
He didn't hesitate. "System, initiate evening sign-in."
Ding!
"Congratulations, host. Sign-in successful. Reward: Pirate King Gol D. Roger's Sword Technique Divine Avoidance (Unawakened)."
"What the—?!"
Liam's eyes widened, disbelief flickering across his face.
How was that possible? Here, of all places, he'd just signed in the Pirate King's technique?
"Would you like to integrate this ability?" the system prompted.
"Of course I would!" he muttered.
Instantly, a flood of knowledge filled his mind Roger's personal insights, his methods, his experience with Divine Avoidance.
It was a technique that launched a flying slash infused with Armament Haki, capable of bypassing an opponent's weapon to strike their body directly.
A devastating, legendary move.
Though Liam hadn't yet mastered Conqueror's Haki, the system marked it as "Unawakened."
Still, his swordsmanship level had now risen to Great Swordsman roughly equivalent to Zoro before training under Mihawk.
"Looks like it's time to take swordsmanship more seriously," Liam thought, eyes gleaming.
He'd just received one of the greatest sword techniques in history. To leave it unused would be criminal.
Of course, to wield it properly, he'd need a worthy blade. A swordsman without a good sword was like a marine without justice.
When they reached the island town, Liam asked around until he learned its name Patrilla Island.
His expression changed slightly. Patrilla… the birthplace of Portgas D. Ace.
So that's why he'd received Roger's technique here. The island carried the Pirate King's lingering legacy.
He couldn't help but think of Portgas D. Rouge a woman whose love and sacrifice were immortal.
After exploring the market and buying some local specialties, Liam returned to the ship.
The next morning, the fleet passed the capital of Patrilla Island. Liam, cloaked in his perfect invisibility, slipped away to the royal palace for a special sign-in.
Ding!
"Reward: Intermediate Devil Fruit Development Card."
"Bonus: +200 experience points."
"Elemental mastery increased by 20%."
Combined with his own training, Liam had already developed forty percent of his elemental ability. With this card, full mastery was just days away.
By noon, the sky blazed with sun, and seagulls wheeled overhead.
Liam and his comrades had just finished lunch, laughing as they stepped out of the dining hall, when suddenly
Woooo!
The fleet's main ship sounded its siren.
"Battle stations! Enemy vessel sighted ahead!" shouted the lookout from the mast.
Liam and his squad exchanged quick glances.
In an instant, the fleet sprang into action three warships, a thousand marines, faces set and serious.
But as Liam's eyes fell on the distant pirate ship, its flag snapping wildly in the wind
His heart froze.
"You've got to be kidding me," he whispered.
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