Asriel.
Only one day had passed.
With King Gallos' full cooperation, the entire nation began frantically spreading news that Nico Robin, the Demon Child, had appeared within their borders.
At the same time, the gangs in every city mobilized and began searching for her whereabouts.
In order to make those troublesome CP agents leave as soon as possible, Gallos even issued a public bounty. Anyone who could provide Nico Robin's exact location would receive a reward ranging from 1 million to 10 million Berries.
In an instant, the entire country seemed to boil over.
Commoners, gang members, workers, idlers, everyone threw themselves into the hunt for Nico Robin.
After Alvin returned, he changed into a new disguise and pretended to participate in the search as well.
He waited patiently until night fell.
Once darkness covered the city, he quietly infiltrated the Mayor's office building again.
He had already been here once before and roughly memorized the layout. Carefully avoiding the patrol routes of the guards, he made his way toward Zelas' room.
It was called a room, but in reality it was Zelas' private office suite.
The outer chamber functioned as the office, while the inner chamber was his personal quarters. Alvin glanced around the outer office and inwardly sneered. The entire place was decorated in a vulgar display of wealth.
Everything glittered with gold plating.
Then his eyes landed on a large sea chart mounted on the wall. It looked detailed and valuable. Alvin considered it useful for future navigation and immediately stored it inside his system space.
At that moment, intense sound of moans and pleasure echoed from the inner room.
"Bastard."
"This guy really knows how to enjoy himself." Alvin cursed silently.
But this was also an opportunity. Most men lowered their guard when indulging in such pleasures.
However.
As Alvin approached the door, the sounds inside abruptly stopped.
In that instant, his vigilance rose to its peak.
"Sahahahaha!"
"You are the man who rescued Nico Robin, are you not? I did not expect you to be so bold, daring to break into my office alone." Before the echo of his voice faded, Zelas stepped out from the inner room wearing a bathrobe.
Bang!
The moment the door opened, Alvin reacted instantly. He smashed through the office window and leaped toward the rooftop of the opposite building without hesitation.
"You think you can escape?" Zelas' face twisted into a sinister grin.
Grabbing his double edged sword, he sprang through the shattered window like a wild beast and pursued Alvin.
The commotion inside the Mayor's office immediately alerted the guards. They rushed in like a surging tide.
However, they did not see the Mayor.
At that moment, Secretary Isa entered the room, dressed in a tight fitted suit. To the guards, she was nothing less than a goddess.
But in the next second, they were reminded that she was far more than a mere secretary.
Instantly, they lowered their heads and did not dare to look at her again.
Only the captain of the guard forced himself to ask, "Secretary Isa, what just happened?"
"The man who rescued Nico Robin has appeared. His Excellency the Mayor is pursuing him. Immediately order a city wide search. Nico Robin may have returned as well." Isa's expression was cold as frost as she issued her command.
"Yes, Secretary Isa!"
The captain did not hesitate and immediately relayed the order.
Soon, the guards flooded out of the office once again.
After they were gone, Isa slowly turned her gaze toward the broken window.
Her cold expression melted into something alluring and dangerous, like a flower blooming in the night. Her tongue lightly brushed across her lips.
"He is quite handsome. I wonder what his true strength is…"
——
Alvin dashed through the forest like an arrow released from a bow, continuously firing his sniper rifle at Zelas, who was relentlessly chasing behind him.
To his shock, every single bullet was avoided.
A grim realization surfaced in his mind.
This man possesses Observation Haki.
Of course. Years ago, Zelas already had a bounty of 23 million Berries as a bandit. How could he have stagnated after all this time?
Alvin inwardly cursed his miscalculation.
Judging someone's mastery of Haki by their bounty was foolish.
Even before the Seven Warlords system was abolished, Boa Hancock's bounty was only 89 million Berries, yet she possessed all three types of Haki.
Zelas had once been worth 23 million. After several years as mayor, how could he not have grown stronger?
"Sahahahaha!"
"If you surrender now, I will spare your life. I may even allow you to serve as my right hand!" Zelas shouted as he chased him.
Alvin's answer was another precise shot.
The bullet tore through the air and grazed Zelas' ear, slicing his earlobe and leaving a thin trail of blood.
"Bastard!"
"I retract my offer. You are dead!" Zelas roared.
At the same time, he felt a chill in his heart.
Even with Observation Haki, he had nearly been struck. This young man's marksmanship was terrifying.
Moments later, both of them plunged deeper into the forest.
Suddenly, Alvin came to a halt.
He realized that relying on speed alone would not allow him to shake off Zelas.
"What is this?"
"Have you given up?" Zelas stopped roughly five meters away.
Alvin did not reply. He calmly stored his sniper rifle inside his system space and drew out his single edged sword.
"Zelas, have you ever heard the saying that villains die because they talk too much?"
Before the last word left his mouth, Alvin's body shot forward like a released arrow.
"How arrogant!" Zelas roared.
Clang!
The single edged sword and double edged sword collided violently. Sparks burst from the clash, illuminating the dark forest.
The two weapons separated in the next instant.
Both men's expressions turned serious.
Zelas had not expected this youthful looking opponent to possess such terrifying physical strength.
At the same time, Alvin realized something crucial.
His physical attributes were superior to Zelas'.
The discovery filled him with excitement.
He could win.
"Your strength is impressive. No wonder you dared to return to Sagamia. But strength alone is not enough!" Zelas bellowed as he launched another attack.
"Then show me what is!" Alvin shouted back, meeting the strike head on.
The forest echoed with the continuous clash of steel.
The two engaged in a brutal life and death duel. Sparks scattered, and cold flashes of steel intertwined under the dark canopy.
At first, Alvin held the advantage thanks to his superior physique.
However, as the battle dragged on minute by minute, his lack of real combat experience began to show.
In a brief lapse of focus, Zelas' blade sliced across Alvin's left arm.
Blood spilled instantly.
Yet Alvin did not retreat.
The pain only fueled his ferocity. His eyes burned with determination as he swung his sword even more fiercely, launching wave after wave of relentless attacks at Zelas.
Zelas suddenly realized that the young man before him was fighting like a madman, completely disregarding his own safety.
Faced with Alvin's reckless aggression, a sliver of fear began to creep into Zelas' heart.
...
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