North Coast of the Refal Kingdom Island — Military Fortress
This was the first line of defense and the primary frontline meant to repel the invading forces of the Ragna Kingdom.
But the Ragna army had never even gotten close. The soldiers here were nearly all dead — and only one pirate was responsible for it all.
"Why…?"
The dying general of Refal knelt shakily on both knees.
He looked around the deserted camp, then up at the golden radiance drifting down from the sky as his men crumbled into ash all around him.
"Why? Why attack us…? You don't do it for wealth, nor for women… For a pirate… what exactly are you fighting for?"
He recognized the man standing before him.
News of Grimm's appearance in Mariejois, his occupation of Dressrosa, and his return to the New World after six months of silence had spread across the entire globe.
His reputation was such that nobody knew only his name anymore — everyone knew exactly who he was.
But a pirate who sought neither treasure nor women? It was almost impossible to believe such a person existed until you stood right in front of him.
"Those who take lives must be prepared to lose their own lives too — that rule applies even to me. The Holy Light is Judgment itself." Grimm stood opposite the general, unmoved.
"I punish the unrighteous in the name of the Light. And truth be told, I did give you a chance. Days ago, I sent word ordering your King to cease all war immediately and submit to my rule. He chose to ignore me. That left me no choice but to come handle it personally."
The man closed his eyes, reflecting on his life in his final moments. Suddenly, he let out a hoarse laugh.
"Hahaha… Hahaha… I have killed so many people in my time… but I lived a life worth living!"
"Then you are all the more deserving of purification by the Light."
With those words, Grimm conjured a spear of pure holy energy in his hand.
SWISH!
"I will wait for you… on the other side…" were the general's final words.
Grimm watched as the man's body was slowly reduced to ashes by the holy fire, then smiled faintly.
"Sorry… but I've got plenty of revival tokens and I know how to retrieve corpses myself. You might be waiting there a very long time."
In less than twenty hours since Grimm first set foot on Refal, the entire kingdom and its six‑thousand‑strong royal army… had been completely annihilated.
---
Such a massive event naturally reached the ears of the Kings of both Refal and Ragna almost instantly.
For the King of Refal, the news struck like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky.
But what could he do now? Who acts like this?
He sent a warning just a few days prior… as if a war is something you can just stop whenever you please! And demanding total submission?
How could anyone agree to that?
But he was confused — there were nations fighting wars every single day in the New World… why did this man choose his country specifically?
Still, the King of Refal was a smart man, and he knew exactly what he had to do to minimize the damage.
He immediately recalled every remaining soldier who hadn't been killed by Grimm and ordered a complete halt to all military operations.
Besides, he wasn't worried about Ragna attacking now… because he knew that Grimm's next target was them.
---
And indeed it was. When King Avernus Gineas of Ragna received news that Grimm had wiped out the entire vanguard army of Refal, he felt no joy at all.
Instead, he was filled with dread and despair — because he had received the exact same letter of ultimatum.
Sitting on his throne and sighing deeply, one of his ministers spoke up.
"Your Majesty, we must withdraw our forces immediately! Grimm has always slaughtered armies on the battlefield, but never marched deep into a nation's capital. If we pull back now…"
"Ridiculous!" another minister scoffed loudly.
"We are separated from Refal by only a ten‑kilometer strait, yet our capital is hundreds of kilometers away from the front lines. Do you really think our soldiers can retreat faster than that man's ship can sail? If we run now, he'll just chase us down and slaughter every last one of us from behind!"
"Then what do you suggest we do?!" the first minister retorted angrily.
At that moment, another official spoke up. "Your Majesty… I have an idea."
King Gineas lifted his head slightly to look at the elderly advisor. "Speak plainly. This concerns the lives of tens of thousands of our soldiers and the safety of our kingdom!"
"Very well." The old man bowed respectfully.
"Send orders immediately via Den Den Mushi. Have every soldier take down the white sails from the ships, tie them to bamboo poles, and wave them high as flags of surrender."
The atmosphere in the throne room changed instantly. Protests erupted from every side.
"You… you are suggesting we surrender to a pirate?!"
"Has a kingdom ever surrendered to a pirate before?!"
"How could we ever hold our heads high before our people and other nations after doing such a thing?!"
The elder ignored the outcry and kept his gaze fixed on the letter still gripped tightly in the King's hand.
"News of pirates seizing islands — or even entire kingdoms — is hardly rare these days. Our nation stands on the brink of destruction. We must surrender. And furthermore… he is one of the Four Emperors. Submitting to the rule of an Emperor is certainly no dishonor."
King Gineas remained silent for a long time, rubbing his temples in deep thought. Finally, he spoke.
"Do exactly as he said. Hurry!"
"Your Majesty?!"
"How could you decide this?!" the ministers cried out in shock.
"Understood." The elder bowed again and quickly departed.
---
Two Hours Later…
Grimm landed on the shores of Ragna. But the moment he stepped onto the land, what he saw was nothing like the military forts or patrolling soldiers he had encountered in Refal.
Instead, everywhere he looked lay torn‑down ship sails and white flags stuck deep into the sand all along the coast.
In this world, just like any other, white flags or white objects raised high meant only one thing on a battlefield: Surrender.
"What is the meaning of this?" Grimm muttered — whether speaking to himself or to someone else, it was unclear.
Moments later, from the center of the rocky path, a group of armored figures hurried down the cliffside toward him. The leader stepped forward respectfully.
"Mr. Grimm, I am Commander Ward Sabaku of the Ragna Army. King Gineas… awaits your arrival."
---
Reception Hall — Ragna Royal Palace
"This is the first time I have ever seen a nation surrender before a single blow was even struck."
Sitting across from King Gineas, Grimm finally understood the whole story.
Even for someone like him, this was a new experience.
With the exception of King Riku of Dressrosa, who lived humbly like a commoner, kings everywhere else were usually arrogant and prideful — the kind who wouldn't admit defeat until they saw the very gates of hell.
Grimm couldn't even remember how many wars between nations he had intervened in.
Usually, their kings would stubbornly believe there was still a chance for victory until every single soldier was dead.
To meet someone like Gineas — who literally tore down his own ship sails just to make white flags… that was truly a first.
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