Chapter 48 Pursue reading! The second generation of the top navy!
Nanhai, the 194th branch base of the Navy stationed at Xigua Island.
This island is called Watermelon Island because its shape is an oval when viewed from above. There is a narrow extension like a melon vine at the top of the north side, and there are two melon-like stripes inside.
The long curved river looks like an oversized flat watermelon.
The most important thing is that more than 50% of the island is occupied by melon fields, 30% belongs to the naval base, and the last 20% is the living area of the residents.
In fact, initially the residential area accounted for 30%, but since the navy brought in a new colonel five years ago, the naval base has expanded larger and larger, until now it occupies more than 10% of the area.
Because the melon fields are their main source of income, the residents are not willing to reduce the size of the melon fields for living space. Coupled with the gradual increase in population, their current living environment is very congested.
But even so, people can only hold back their anger.
First, they were unable to resist, and second, the existence of the naval base did prevent pirate attacks.
Nowadays, everyone knows that there are more and more pirates on the sea. Residents who are responsible for selling melons on other islands often hear that a village or town on a certain island has been looted by a pirate group.
In recent months, when they go out to sell melons, they are escorted by warships all the way.
Of course it was not free. The naval base at that time offered to provide full protection services in return for 40% of the total amount of melons sold.
This is another choice that residents have no choice but to make.
It is certainly a good thing to have a navy escort. At least it ensures the safety of the melon sellers and the watermelons, but the 40% share is too high.
As a result, the living conditions of the residents of the entire Xigua Island have dropped from being relatively wealthy and comfortable in the past to just enough for food and clothing.
Inside the base, there are three blue-painted column-shaped buildings, one tall and two short. In front is an extremely empty playground, and in the back is a connection to the port terminal, with many small warehouse-style buildings scattered throughout.
A ruddy-faced and strong-bodied sailor was guarding the place with a musket in hand. There were eight small warships moored side by side in the harbor. This type of warship can generally carry 300 people, with a maximum of 500 people.
At this time, in an office with a space of nearly 300 square meters on the highest floor of the main building, Colonel Harros, who was born with light yellow hair and a hooked nose, stood in front of the large floor-to-ceiling window and admired the scene of the entire island, looking at it from time to time
Looking at the more distant horizon.
"Count the time, it should be here soon..."
【Dong dong dong!】
"Come in."
An ordinary major walked in with an ordinary wooden box. After closing the door, he looked respectfully at the back of Colonel Harros.
"Chief of Base, the goods over there have arrived, and there are your things..."
"arrive!"
The latter turned around suddenly and looked at the wooden box in the opponent's hand in surprise. He quickly walked over and took it over. Just as he was about to open it and take a look, he stopped and glanced at the major in front of him.
"You go out first."
"yes!"
When everyone left the office, Colonel Harros couldn't wait to open the lid of the wooden box. The next second, a bright green devil fruit covered with spiral patterns appeared in front of him, and there was a card inside.
"Haha, it's finally here. Now my son's future is guaranteed!"
He excitedly took out the Devil Fruit and looked at it up and down, as if looking at a rare treasure. Judging from the price alone, it was indeed a treasure.
He spent a full 500 million beli to buy this from King Taklama, which was considered to have wiped out half of his life savings.
Fortunately, since I became the base director here, I have earned a lot of income every year. This does not refer to the money that the island residents get from selling melons. How much is it worth? The main reason is that the Kingdom of Thutmose will regularly send a sum of money for protection.
fee'.
Of course, this is not for his position as colonel of the branch, but for his position as base commander of the 194th branch.
The so-called ‘goods’ just now refer to this!
Colonel Harros's son is named Gaspardy. Because of his naturally tall, strong, and powerful body, and his recommendation in the letter, he entered the Navy Headquarters three years ago and became a third-class private.
But after so many years, he has only been promoted to a first-class private. Although he contacted his son and told him that he would be promoted to a corps commander soon, he still felt that it was too slow.
In fact, he also understood that the difficulty of promotion in the Navy Headquarters was definitely much greater than that in the Four Seas Branch, and the pirates on the Grand Line were also stronger.
So for the sake of Gaspardi's future and safety, I thought of finding a powerful Devil Fruit to send to him. However, although he was a captain in the navy, his energy was only that much.
Of course, the Navy Headquarters actually has channels for exchanging war merits for Devil Fruits, but not only is it a lot of trouble, but also the ability of the fruits cannot be guaranteed. Over the years, the really good fruits have long been picked up by others!
For this reason, he worried for many days, and finally thought of asking King Taklama, who had "great magical power" and "power all over the world" for help.
At first, I just asked with the intention of giving it a try, but after a while, the other party was actually willing to provide me with a devil fruit that sounded very reliable.
The special superhuman soft candy fruit can give the ability user the ability to transform into soft candy similar to natural elementalization!
Colonel Harros was naturally extremely satisfied with such a surprise, but the other party was not without conditions.
First, the price needs to be 500 million!
It is extremely expensive. The market price of a normal Superman-type Devil Fruit is only about 100 million Baileys, but this is a special Superman-type, so it is understandable.
Second, he must ensure that he will not be transferred within the next five years.
This doesn't matter at all, because there is no term limit in the current navy. As long as you make sure you don't make any mistakes while you are in office, or you make some great achievements that the headquarters has to pay attention to, you will basically not be resigned or promoted.
He just needs to survive!
The third is to further support the business of the Kingdom of Thutmose, for example, help send fleets to escort when needed.
Anyway, he agreed.
"With this special super-human gummy candy, that guy Gaspardi will be at least a colonel in the headquarters in the future, and he may not even be promoted to a general. Then I will be able to rely on him to run the South China Sea!"
Colonel Harros is well aware of his talent. Even if he eats the Devil Fruit, it will only be the same, so he might as well give it to his son who has extraordinary talent.
If there really is a son of a naval officer in the future, he will basically have nothing to worry about in the South China Sea.
【Dong dong dong!】
At this time, the door of the office was knocked again, which made Colonel Harros, who was immersed in the longing for a better future, frown somewhat displeasedly, but still put the soft candies back into the box.
"Come in."
"What else happened?"
I saw the same major came in and reported: "The base commander, Rear Admiral Monkey D. Drago of Marinefando, led a fleet of five headquarters warships to the South China Sea, saying that he wanted to capture the Black Cat Pirates and the White Cat Pirates.
The Cat Pirates asked us to help investigate the location and are ready to go and provide support at any time."
"What, five warships?"
Colonel Harros looked puzzled.
"Although the bounty for these 'black cats' and 'white cats' is quite high, and there are a lot of people there, there is no need for so many warships to come, right? Do you want us to support them at any time?"
The fleet led by Dorag mentioned by the major must be headquarters-level warships. When he took his son to report to Marinevando, he had seen with his own eyes how terrifying the specifications of those warships were.
"Ahem, Major General Aiwen, who is currently acting as Major General Dorag's adjutant, quietly told me that Major General Dorag is the son of Lieutenant General Garp, so he requires our ministries in the South China Sea to take it seriously!" the major added in a dumbfounded voice.
road.
Colonel Harros was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing in realization.
"That's it, that's it. The son of a naval hero is here to gain military exploits. Then these two cats are in trouble. It would be fine if this operation goes well, but if they hurt Major General Dorag,
Tsk tsk, the consequences will be even worse, hahahahaha!"
After saying that, he straightened his expression, looked at the major with serious eyes, and ordered: "Go ahead and prepare to dispatch the warships. As soon as the order comes, we will set off immediately without any delay!"
In his opinion, this was a rare opportunity to get in touch with Dorag, and it would be even better if he had the opportunity to mention his son's name in front of him.
The son of Lieutenant General Garp, he is considered the top second generation in the Navy system!