One Piece: I am the Fleet Admiral?

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The second half of the Grand Line, a certain kingdom.

Time passed slowly.

A crescent moon quietly hung high in the sky.

As the sun rose, it bathed the entire kingdom in its light.

The rays shone through a window, illuminating a lavish bedroom.

A middle-aged king with a chubby face, large ears, and a thick beard was still asleep in bed.

On either side of him were two young, delicate women.

The room was littered with discarded clothes, evidence of the intense and chaotic "battle" from the night before.

And just then...

bang bang bang.

A knock on the door shattered the silence.

"King, it's not good, something terrible has happened!"

"Wake up quickly, there's trouble."

A shrill, panicked voice called out from outside the door, jolting the king awake.

"What's going on?"

The king, still groggy, hastily threw on some clothes and rushed to open the door.

"King, the captain of the guard has sent word that a notorious pirate with a bounty of 300 million berries is now raiding our people at the port."

A gray-haired old official stepped forward, trembling as he delivered the news.

"Ah??? A bounty of 3-3-3...300 million???"

King Tuck was nearly scared to death by the number, his voice rising in panic.

"Yes!" The old official confirmed with a nod.

The king's round face turned pale immediately, and his strength left him as he collapsed weakly to the floor.

Even though a bounty of 300 million berries is relatively average in the latter half of the Grand Line, it's still terrifying to ordinary people.

In this world where bounty amounts reflect strength and deeds, reaching 300 million berries signifies how powerful and dangerous the pirate is.

In the palace council.

"Why, why would a pirate with a 300 million bounty come here? This place isn't even on the main route marked by the Log Pose."

"Who knows? They've already attacked, so we need to focus on what to do next. I've already made arrangements for my family to escape at any moment."

"Don't worry, the captain of our kingdom's guard is very powerful. It's said that he's already engaged the pirate captain. Let's wait and see!"

"If I didn't trust the strength of our chief guard, I wouldn't still be here with you all!"

At this point, nearly all the kingdom's officials and nobles had gathered, their faces tense and anxious.

There were whispers of fear, and some were so terrified by the mere mention of the 300 million berry pirate that they collapsed to the ground in despair.

The king, who usually held the highest position, was now just as nervous and irritable as everyone else. Seeing the noble officials—who were typically so self-assured and proud—reduced to trembling wrecks only fueled his anger.

Yet, he knew his own composure wasn't much better, so when he opened his mouth to speak, no words came out.

"Damn it, if only we were a member of the World Government," the king grumbled, slapping his throne with a fat hand. "The Marines would've been here by now."

An old official responded, "Even if we were still a member nation, the G-5 base is far from here. By the time they arrive, it'd be too late."

The king shot the official a glare. He knew this already; he just wanted to vent his frustration, hoping it would calm his anxious heart. Couldn't he at least have that small comfort?

The king roared inwardly.

"Fight! Don't let these pirates trample over my kingdom."

"Hey, brothers, let's storm the palace and enjoy the women inside."

"Guards, follow me!"

"This area's better than most. The Marine bank hasn't set up here, so everyone's still hiding their money at home. Heh heh heh, it's all mine."

The commotion outside the palace grew louder, with the voices of the guards clashing with the shouts of the pirates. The sounds of battle—yelling, clashing swords, and death—echoed into the council chamber.

A sudden silence fell over the room.

The king's heart ached, and he didn't even care to look at the state of the officials and nobles now. His eyes were fixed on the door, filled with fear.

If the pirates really did break through, he'd have to abandon his people and flee immediately, dealing with the aftermath once the pirates were gone. Though this would cause his support among the people to plummet and likely lead to future rebellion, he was more concerned about his own life than anything else.

"But you better hold them off, guards," the king muttered through gritted teeth, his voice tense. "I spent so many berries training you all, so prove your worth, damn it."

Time passed in unbearable tension.

Guards rushed in and out, delivering updates on the situation.

"It's not good, the pirates have entered the city."

Everyone panicked and began preparing to flee.

Not long after:

"The captain of the guard fought bravely and repelled the pirates."

Relieved, everyone sighed and set down their belongings.

But soon after:

"The 300 million berry pirate is fighting our captain of the guard! They've reached the palace gates!"

The king couldn't stay put and began quietly backing away.

Finally:

"Good news! The captain of the guard has made the pirate cough up blood. It's now a true battle between them!"

The guard's face radiated confidence.

Immediately, the king and the nobles regained their composure.

Everyone returned to their positions, standing firm as if the situation had never wavered.

"The captain of the guard that my father left me is still quite formidable, not bad at all," the king remarked with a smile, glancing at the noble officials below.

In moments like these, confidence was crucial.

If the chief guard could make a pirate with a 300 million berry bounty cough up blood, it was clear the pirate wasn't a match for him. After all, if the guard had been the weaker one, he'd have been the one spitting blood.

Though the king lacked much strength himself, he had managed to survive in this treacherous sea for a long time. He knew well enough that in battles like these, the one who falters first is usually the one who loses in the end.

That meant, barring any unforeseen events, his chief guard was likely to win.

"Huh? They even tossed newspapers into the palace."

Suddenly, the king noticed out of the corner of his eye that some free newspapers were being thrown from the sky. This immediately annoyed him.

At a time when the kingdom's fate hung in the balance, what were these pesky newspaper pigeons up to? And to think they'd dare throw a newspaper into his domain without permission—how infuriating!

"Come here!" the king barked, pointing to the newspaper on the ground with a scowl. "Bring it to me. I want to see what's written in it. If it's nonsense, I'll have it burned."

The nobles and officials exchanged glances, thinking the king was about to explode in anger.

Soon enough, the king had the newspaper in hand and began to read.

[Good news! To protect the safety of kings and nobles, the Marines have built a special residence in the second half of the Grand Line and it's up for sale!]

[The safest place in the world—Akatsuki! Marine-exclusive construction, what are you waiting for?]

[Blue skies and clear seas await you in this exclusive residence. Only for the most esteemed individuals.]

[Buying a house here is buying your future. Kings and nobles, you don't want to lose your lives while your money stays behind, do you?]

[There are two types of people in this world: those who live in Akatsuki and those who wish they did.]

[Life should be different in Akatsuki.]

[In this life, live in Akatsuki forever....]

[At Akatsuki , you'll have a Marine hero as the head of security and be neighbors with the kings of many allied nations.]

The more the king read, the more engrossed he became.

And the more he read, the more his expression shifted.

The newspaper's content was straightforward and easy to understand: Naval Headquarters had personally constructed a villa complex called "Akatsuki" in the perilous waters of the second half of the Grand Line. Living there would mean never having to worry about safety again.

With Garp, the Marine hero, as the head of security and a large contingent of strong security personnel, the place was well-guarded. Even if the Whitebeard Pirates attacked, they wouldn't stand a chance of getting in.

"It actually seems pretty good," the king murmured to himself.

If he had a choice, he would never want to endure the terrifying ups and downs of a day like today. Sure, his chief guard might handle the current threat, but who knew what dangers might come next?

But what if one day, a pirate with a 500 million, or even 1 billion berry bounty shows up? Then, all you could do is kneel down and wait for death.

If there's a place as safe as they claim, I could enjoy life there while leaving old officials or even my son to manage the kingdom. I'd only need to come back occasionally to check on things.

"So, how much does a villa like this cost?"

The king continued reading and finally found the price hidden in a corner of the page.

"Hiss... Are you crazy? You want me to spend five billion berries on a villa?"

Even though he had a reputation for being a spendthrift, this price was beyond outrageous.

And for what? A villa that wasn't even his own palace—small, uncomfortable, and overpriced. Why would it be worth so much?

Just as he was about to toss the newspaper aside...

Boom!

A violent roar erupted outside the city gate, causing the entire capital to shake slightly.

"Not good, not good!" 

A guard came rushing in, shouting in panic, "The 300 million berry pirate and the chief guard have killed each other! The pirates are about to breach the gate!"

Silence.

The entire council chamber fell into a deathly stillness.

But then, someone reacted.

"Run!"

A noble screamed and bolted for the nearest exit.

Everyone else, jolted by the shout, snapped out of their shock and fled in panic, screaming as they went.

"Wait for me! Wait for me! Head straight for Akatsuki!" 

The king, stunned by the sudden turn of events, couldn't help but glance at the newspaper's model of the Akatsuki villa.

Without another word, he grabbed the newspaper and hurriedly chased after the others.

Meanwhile, free newspapers were being dropped all over the world once again. But this time, it was a little different than usual.

First, there were no shocking or sensational headlines, just straightforward, ordinary news.

Second, the distribution was more targeted, with most papers being dropped near the residences of princes and nobles.

At the same time, many nobles in the second half of the Grand Line, whose personal Den Den Mushi rarely rang more than once a day, suddenly found themselves bombarded with calls from the Marine Commercial Department.

"Moshi moshi, is this Mr. Kumano? I'm Leo, an employee of the Marine Commercial Department. May I have a few minutes of your time? Have you seen today's newspaper? You have? Great, then this will be quick..."

"Moshi moshi, respected King Albert, I have a property that's perfect for you. It will ensure the safety of you and your family, keeping you safe from the threat of pirates..."

"This is Naval Headquarters with a special offer for the kings of allied nations: a luxury villa that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'll need about ten minutes to explain it to you."

"Buying a house is buying the future! Akatsuki, your best choice!"

"You don't want to make money only to lose someone, do you? Imagine another man living in your palace, sleeping with your wife, spending your money, and raising your child? Don't let that happen!"