Chapter 118: The Most Vicious Pirate
In the year 1495 of the Sea Calendar, the war between the Exeter Kingdom and the Strale Kingdom, the two largest of the five intertwined nations on the Rulusas continent in the New World, was interrupted by the Great Pirate Alucard.
The combined forces, estimated at 45,000, suffered nearly 28,000 casualties, almost all of whom were killed by Alucard. The remaining armies, already severely depleted from previous battles, had fewer than 2,000 soldiers combined returning to their respective countries.
Alucard’s large-scale slaughter placed him above even Kaido of the Beasts in terms of killing records, surpassing another member of the "Beneath the Legends." His current kill count was rapidly approaching that of another Great Pirate, Charlotte Linlin.
Because of Alucard’s intervention, the military strength of both the Exeter Kingdom and the Strale Kingdom was severely depleted, forcing them to cease hostilities.
Fortunately, Alucard didn’t take the opportunity to invade either nation’s interior. However, due to this incident, Ostein Hyd, the King of the Exeter Kingdom, fell ill and was now almost entirely bedridden.
In response to Alucard’s terrifying massacre, the Marines and the Government immediately launched an investigation into the events on the Rulusas continent. In addition to the CP organization, Marine Headquarters also dispatched "Buddha" Sengoku the Strategist.
Sending an Admiral demonstrated the Marines’ serious concern.
Sengoku led Borsalino (Kizaru) and his fleet to Rulusas.
After learning that the King of the Exeter Kingdom had hosted Alucard, Sengoku decided to focus his investigation on that nation.
Even a nation’s king held far less status than an Admiral, especially since Sengoku was highly likely to be the next Fleet Admiral of the Marines.
With Garp uninterested in rank and Zephyr having retired, Sengoku’s succession to the Fleet Admiral position was practically set in stone.
Hyd immediately received Sengoku and submitted to the investigation. During the process, he openly admitted to his plan of using Alessia’s feminine charm to poison Alucard. This wasn’t illegal, and since the target of the assassination was a pirate, Hyd had nothing to hide. In fact, from the Marines’ perspective, he should have been commended.
After two hours of discussion, Sengoku had a clear understanding of the events’ causes and effects.
"Ooh~, so that’s it. Although using feminine charm made Alucard leave for a while, it was just a temporary relief for the brat’s desires. Pirates really can’t be trusted," Borsalino said, stroking his chin.
"Silence, Borsalino!" Sengoku snapped. He then saluted Hyd and said, "We will absolutely apprehend this monstrous pirate! Please rest well, Your Majesty."
"Please, Admiral Sengoku," Hyd pleaded. He now absolutely loathed Alucard but was powerless, so he could only place his hopes in the Marines.
"Borsalino, have you retrieved the information on the woman named Aliya?" After leaving the palace, Sengoku asked Borsalino, who was walking beside him.
"She drifted and wandered with her grandfather until she was ten. Her grandfather was then specially recruited as a military doctor during a large-scale war in the Exeter Kingdom, as the nation was facing a manpower shortage. He died shortly after, and she then joined the kingdom’s army. This year, she became a squad leader in the royal army." Borsalino read from a document handed to him by a subordinate. "Because she’s very beautiful, she’s known as the ’Military Flower’ of Exeter. She’s skilled in martial arts and firearms. Last week, King Hyd chose her to assassinate Alucard using a seduction plan. The next day, Alucard left. However, two hours later, she submitted her resignation to King Hyd. King Hyd also gave her a large sum of money, and she eventually departed on a passenger ship."
After finishing the document, Borsalino pouted. "Oh, how pitiful, ne~ Betrayed by her country, had her body trampled by a pirate, and ended up having to flee to a foreign land."
A flicker of pity crossed Sengoku’s face. Indeed, this woman named Aliya was quite pitiful, no matter how one looked at it. He shook his head sharply, discarding these distracting thoughts.
Sengoku stroked his mustache, then decided, "That woman named Aliya might know a lot more about Alucard. Find her and question her about this matter."
"We’ve also investigated the shipping route of the ship she took. Should we go?" Borsalino asked, looking at Alessia’s photo again.
"No, she’s a woman. It’s more appropriate for Tsuru to go. We’ll immediately return to Headquarters and report this incident." Sengoku finished speaking and strode towards the pier, the Marine soldiers on both sides saluting him.
As Chief of Staff, Tsuru was also the commander of the female Marines. It was better for her to deal with a woman who had been "defiled" by a pirate.
En route from the Exeter Kingdom to Rulusas, blood stained the wild grass red everywhere, making even Sengoku frown. Borsalino, hands in his pockets, spoke frankly, "It’s terrifying, ne~ Nearly thirty thousand people died at his hands. We’d best not provoke that kind of monster."
"Nonsense!" Sengoku roared angrily as he boarded the battleship. "I must report this brat’s actions to the higher-ups. His malevolence is no less than that of Roger or Whitebeard!"
A massacre of thirty thousand people was an extremely rare and heinous event in pirate history. If Alucard wasn’t captured, the Marines would lose face!
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