One Piece Devouring Fruit - Chapter 49

Time is a great author, capable of writing countless endings about the future.

Michion didn’t know or want to see the future, but he lived in the present.

A month had passed since Roger’s death, and Michion and his companions had arrived in the Kingdom of Ishtar under Aokiji’s leadership.

The early days were indeed as Sora and the others had hoped: tasting delicious food in the palace or city, wandering the streets, and playing freely in the forest.

This was much better than the monotonous training life at the Marine camp. Although Michion insisted on training, and daily beatings were unavoidable, the lure of food and fun made the training and beatings bearable.

Yes, it was just one-sided beatings. Since Michion awakened his Observation Haki, he had been honing it constantly, making him more than capable of defeating his little companions.

Sora and the others also participated in combat training during Michion’s Observation Haki practice.

Overall, life here was a paradise for the kids stuck in the Marine training camp with its rigid routine of training, studying, eating, and sleeping.

They weren’t afraid of training or beatings, but escaping from the mechanical routine was a cause for celebration, especially since they were no longer trapped in endless drills.

After their nature was unleashed, they went wild, enjoying a life they had never experienced before, except for the training sessions Michion insisted on.

As for Aokiji?

The day after Michion was declared the heir, Aokiji borrowed a bike and leisurely rode to some unknown place to find troublemakers.

The warship that had brought them had also departed to fight pirates, with Aokiji setting out a day later, choosing to act separately.

However, the peaceful and pleasant days lasted only a week. The upheaval of the pirate era finally reached this country, with pirates continually invading.

The Kingdom of Ishtar was a mighty nation. Historically, the phrase “soldiers march before provisions” is held here, with abundant food supplies never in shortage.

Under the king’s benevolent policies and leadership, the country’s military strength grew, easily repelling early sporadic pirate attacks.

However, after the onset of the “Great Pirate Era,” the number of pirates worldwide increased.

As the waves of the new era surged, countless people, driven by ambition and greed, became increasingly extreme and arrogant.

Like a great tide washing away the weak, those who survived were exceptionally brutal and powerful pirates.

Pirates’ plundering ravaged numerous countries, and despite the North Blue’s enhanced vigilance and reinforcements from the Grand Line, including Aokiji and a warship, it was still a drop in the bucket against the overwhelming number of pirates.

Pirates roamed the seas, plundering one country before moving to the next. Their mobility and unpredictability made them difficult to catch.

In this scenario, the Kingdom of Ishtar, having remained untouched, became a tempting target. Its wealth and abundant food drew the attention of many pirates.

Even with additional Marine reinforcements, the increasing number of pirates eyeing the prosperous kingdom was undeniable.

Despite Ishtar’s strong military and Marine support, the country couldn’t withstand the onslaught of greedy and fierce pirates.

Not engaged in production and prone to destruction, pirates plunder and move on without regard for consequences. Many places were devastated, and food became scarcer.

Despite their lack of strength, these pirates were numerous and ruthless, their crude methods leaving nothing behind.

As a result, many areas stopped producing food and instead hid it. Pirates, uninterested in conserving resources, began running low on supplies.

Unwilling to become fishermen, pirates turned their sights on the wealthy Kingdom of Ishtar, seeking abundant food and resources.

From this week onward, sporadic pirate attacks on the kingdom’s outskirts began, repelled mainly by the royal guard and Marines.

But as more pirates gathered and formed alliances, Michion and his companions’ good days ended.

War with the pirates had begun!

…

The clash erupted on a cloudy day. Near the turbulent sea, the usual tranquility of Ishtar’s coastline was shattered.

Shouts, cannon fire, the smell of gunpowder, and the taste of dust filled the air, blown inland by the fierce wind.

Gunfire and cannon blasts echoed continuously, mingled with battle and clashing swords. The once peaceful Ishtar coastline had turned into a battlefield.

There were too many pirates. They had gathered and planned to strike the Kingdom of Ishtar, aiming to significantly damage this prosperous nation.

The entire country was on high alert. People, smelling the blood and gunpowder on the wind, silently prayed for the pirates to be driven away soon.

However, what reassured the people was that their king possessed incredible strength. Not only that, but the recently announced prince was also fighting on the front lines.

This greatly boosted the people’s morale and gratitude toward the royal family, which was protecting its citizens rather than oppressing them.

The citizens praised the wisdom of the Abraham royal family, whose just rule inspired loyalty and a willingness to defend the nation.

With the heir fighting alongside them, it signaled that the future king would be as beloved as the current one.

Michion’s brave leadership had earned him the people’s recognition.

But at that moment, Michion had no time to appreciate this goodwill, as he was immersed in a fierce battle.

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