Reborn in one piece as a prince

Chapter 3: The Beginning of Rebellion

When Leon turned fifteen, he showed unprecedented courage by confronting his father for the first time during a royal meeting. In that meeting, King Reginaldo was discussing a new deal with a World Government agent to sell a group of strong young men as slaves in exchange for access to advanced naval weaponry.

Leon could no longer remain silent. He stood and said loudly:

"How can a king sell his people to protect his throne? Shouldn't a ruler be the shield for his people, not the dagger in their back?"

The anger was evident on the king's face. He looked at Leon coldly and said:

"You're just a child who doesn't understand the game. In this world, you either bow or you break. The World Government is what keeps us alive."

But Leon didn't back down, and he swore in front of everyone that he would find a way to free the kingdom from these unjust shackles, even if he had to stand against his family.

After the public confrontation, the royal family began to see Leon as a threat. The king tried to limit his influence by keeping him away from important meetings and sending spies to monitor him. Even his younger brother, Prince Kaiser D. Arthur, the second prince, began to see Leon as an obstacle and an opportunity to overthrow him and secure his place as the heir to the throne.

It wasn't long before Leon was lured into a trap. He was sent on a diplomatic mission to a remote island to secure a deal with a local ruler, but it was, in fact, a scheme to eliminate him. He was ambushed by "CP8" agents, who tried to kill him to remove him as a potential threat to the royal family and the World Government.

But this incident became a turning point. During the battle, Leon used the power of the Nemean Lion Zoan fruit for the first time in a real fight, which had been dormant within him since he consumed it as a child. His form transformed into a hybrid between man and lion, gaining sharp claws, a golden mane, and eyes blazing with a terrifying glow. He led his first battle against the CP8 forces, using his hybrid form. The fight was fierce, but he showed incredible strength, tearing through enemy ships and fending off their strongest attacks. He managed to defeat the attackers easily, but this incident made him realize that his family wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice him.