Chapter 11
"Little Annie! I'm back! Did you miss me?"
The moment he stepped through the gate, Vilin shouted toward the house.
"Stupid brother! Where were you all day? You came back so late!"
Annie's relieved yet pouty voice rang out.
"Heh heh… look what I brought you!"
Vilin pulled out the seeds and books, waving them teasingly.
Annie's anger evaporated instantly.
Her eyes sparkled at the sight of the seeds and books.
She dashed forward on her short legs, snatched them, and bolted toward the garden like treasure had been found.
Vilin followed helplessly.
Seeing how neatly she had already organized the once-messy garden,
he mentally gave her high praise.
As Annie carefully buried each seed in the soil,
Vilin asked,
"Little Annie, want these to grow faster?"
"Of course!"
She answered without hesitation.
"Watch closely then."
Vilin activated his power.
A wave of green light flowed from his hand.
Before Annie's stunned eyes,
the freshly planted seeds sprouted, rooted, and grew at visible speed.
In moments, vibrant seedlings emerged, then bloomed into colorful flowers.
Annie was speechless with shock.
After a long pause, she turned to Vilin with shining, longing eyes.
Feeling her intense gaze like needles on his scalp,
Vilin panicked and tried to bolt.
But Annie was faster.
She latched onto him like an octopus, arms and legs wrapped tight.
"You're not running! I caught you!"
Seeing her pitiful, pleading big eyes,
Vilin gave in.
Under her urging, he revived every wilting flower in the garden until the entire place burst with life.
Only then did Annie release him.
Vilin silently vowed: I have to find her the Superhuman-type Bloom-Bloom Fruit… otherwise I'll work myself to death.
From then on, Vilin's days grew busier.
He spent most of his time either hunting pirates or tracking them down.
Each kill converted their life force into fuel for his growth.
Now he judged his physical strength had reached upper-lower tier in the One Piece world.
During his pirate hunts, he amassed huge amounts of Berries and treasures.
To his pleasant surprise, he even obtained another unidentified Devil Fruit.
The total value of his stored wealth had long surpassed 1.5 billion Berries—enough to live lavishly forever.
Four months passed in a flash.
One early morning, Vilin was jolted awake by Annie.
A cute, pure-looking girl was angrily waving tiny fists at him.
Vilin blinked in confusion.
"Uh… maybe I woke up on the wrong side."
He closed his eyes, then opened them again.
Only now did he notice how beautifully Annie was dressed today.
Seeing how much she had grown and developed,
Vilin couldn't help smiling like a proud (and slightly doting) father.
"Pervert! Where are you staring?!"
Realizing Vilin's gaze was fixed on her chest,
Annie flushed bright red.
Seeing her "one more look and I'll hit you" expression,
Vilin quickly looked away toward the ceiling.
He sighed emotionally.
Seven months already… time had flown.
It was finally time to take Annie out and enjoy the kingdom properly.
Because of his frequent pirate hunts, he rarely let her leave the manor.
Today, he would make it up to her.
Dressed in a white shirt and loose black beach pants,
Vilin swaggered out of the manor with Annie in tow.