Within the royal palace of Joromia, there was a dedicated training ground for the palace guards. Ever since the formation of the Bloodsworn Guard, this place had become their exclusive training area.
As the commander of the Bloodsworn Guard, Bins had been personally leading daily training sessions here—an order issued by Rosinante himself.
Today, like any other morning, Bins arrived with his squad for training. But today wasn't quite like the others.
After Jack and the others returned, they brought back several dozen pirates. Rosinante had assigned all of them into the Bloodsworn Guard. Among them were ten pirate captains with bounties exceeding one hundred million berries—three of whom had bounties soaring over three hundred million.
Among pirates, strength and bounty were everything. And now, these captains with bounties of over 300 million were expected to take orders from Rosinante , whose own bounty was only 190 million? Naturally, they weren't having it.
The strongest of these pirates was Winter, boasting a bounty of 330 million berries. His strength rivaled even that of Hemmie and the others. The reason he submitted to Rosinante was because of Rosinante's monstrous abilities, the intimidating Healing Seal, and the overwhelming might of powerhouses like Jack. He figured joining such a force didn't sully his name.
But just because he agreed to join didn't mean he'd tolerate being ordered around by someone weaker than him.
"Hey, kid. So you're the commander, huh? This is your so-called training? What a joke! How about we step aside and have a little duel? Let's see who's stronger," Winter sneered.
Bins' expression darkened.
So, it begins... He thought, recalling what happened the day before.
The previous day, after Jack and the others had left, Bins was summoned to Rosinante's chamber.
The moment he walked in, he spotted two strange fruits placed on the table.
As a pirate from the New World, Bins immediately recognized them—Devil Fruits.
"Bins, you haven't been with me for very long, but I'm pleased with you. The Bloodsworn Guard is my personal unit. It must be led by someone I can trust. You've done well so far, and I'm ready to hand the command to you without worry. Jack brought back some capable pirates today. I've assigned them to the Bloodsworn Guard as well—three of them with bounties over 300 million. You know what that means. Among pirates, strength rules. If you want to command them, your strength must surpass theirs. Here are two Devil Fruits: one is the Paramecia-type Hole-Hole Fruit, and the other is the Zoan-type Lynx Fruit. Choose one and eat it," Rosinante said.
Upon hearing this, Bins could hardly contain his excitement. These were Devil Fruits!
In the New World, Devil Fruits were tightly controlled by powerful factions and major pirates. It was nearly impossible for an average pirate to obtain one. Ironically, weaker seas or the first half of the Grand Line had a higher chance of finding Devil Fruits.
Being a native of the New World, Bins had never had an easy path. His strength was respectable—but acquiring a decent Devil Fruit was a pipe dream. And now, here were two top-tier fruits just handed to him!
"Your Majesty, I swear once again—the Bloodsworn Guard will be your strongest shield and spear. As long as one of us still draws breath, no harm will come to you," Bins declared solemnly.
"Excellent. From now on, my protection is in your hands. Now choose— which one will you take?" Rosinante asked.
Back in the training ground, Winter's face twisted into a menacing grin as he raised his massive blade—nearly three meters long, matching his own towering height. With a brutal slash, he brought the weapon crashing toward Bins.
As expected of someone with a bounty of 370 million, the speed and force of his strike were astonishing. Even before the blade landed, a crushing wind pressure slammed forward like a wall, ready to overwhelm Bins.
Yet Bins didn't move. It was as if fear had paralyzed him, and he simply stood still, eyes locked on Winter's descending blade.
The older members of the Bloodsworn Guard cried out in alarm, while the newly inducted pirates smirked mockingly, believing the commander was about to be humiliated.
Blood sprayed—but not from Bins.
Winter's massive blade had sunk into Bins' chest... only to pass clean through and emerge from a dark portal that had silently opened behind him—right behind Winter.
The blade pierced straight through Winter's own back.
"If it weren't for His Majesty's Silent Seal, you'd be dead right now. You'd better remember this gift," Bins said coolly.
"A Devil Fruit ability?!" Winter exclaimed, yanking his blade free in shock.
"This is the proof of my appointment as commander of the Bloodsworn Guard, granted by His Majesty himself. The Paramecia-type Hole-Hole Fruit—it allows me to open wormholes through space," Bins explained.
In the New World, it was said that Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit was the most destructive power in the world. Devil Fruits were capable of world-shattering might. Bins had long admired Rosinante's terrifying Devil Fruit ability, and in the end, he had chosen the Hole-Hole Fruit over the Zoan-type.
Bins' own fighting style was based on physical prowess and swordsmanship. With a solid foundation, he quickly mastered the fruit's basic abilities—much like how Sabo had swiftly grasped the basics of the Flame-Flame Fruit after eating it.
The Hole-Hole Fruit enabled him to open spatial wormholes—an ability that made him nearly invincible. Even Rosinante envied such a power.
"Anyone else have a problem?" Bins glanced calmly at the gathered pirates.
"..." The pirates exchanged uneasy glances. But with Winter having just been humiliated, none dared make a move.
Several peaceful days passed.
One afternoon, Rosinante was enjoying lunch at his table when he suddenly stopped mid-bite. Setting down his utensils, he waved the maids away.
"Come out. I left a Healing Seal on you—there's no point trying to hide from me," he said as soon as they were alone.
Swish! A small, sharp object flew toward him. Rosinante casually caught it.
It was an invitation.
"A Tea Party invite from Mama. No one turns down an invitation to Mama's tea party. To decline is to declare war," a voice echoed, as a figure stepped out of the shadows and leaned against a column with arms crossed.
"So Big Mom's not jumping straight to war after all?" Rosinante raised a brow in mild surprise.
"After Mama saw how the Healing Seal could rapidly suppress injuries, she changed her mind. I suspect... she's taken interest in your Silent Seal," Katakuri said grimly.
"She's taken interest in my Silent Seal? What, does she think I'm just going to start carving seals on your siblings for her?" Rosinante scoffed.
But Katakuri's face darkened even more.
"…You can't be serious. No matter what, you're still her son. She wouldn't possibly put your lives in the hands of an outsider. You didn't tell her I can control the Healing Seal at will?" Rosinante asked, genuine shock flashing across his face.
"In Mama's eyes, if your powers can elevate Totto Land's strength, that's all that matters. As for being under your control—if she can control you, then your control means nothing," Katakuri replied flatly.
"Heh... heh heh... So that old hag really thinks she can mold me like clay?" Rosinante's voice turned cold and furious.
A tidal wave of overwhelming Haki burst from him. Several maids fainted on the spot from the sheer pressure.
Bins and the Bloodsworn Guard arrived immediately, weapons drawn. Jack and the others rushed in as well, quickly surrounding Katakuri.
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