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OPI Chapter 20: Bartholomew Kuma’s Kingdom
🕑 Added 2023-10-16 20:19:52 +0000 UTCIn the extremely luxurious Ryugu Palace, Coulson and the two CP7 members had already left, but King Neptune and other senior officials of Fish-Man Island still stayed in the banquet hall and did not disperse.
Because of what just happened, the shock to their hearts has not yet subsided.
"It's incredible. Is this really the World Government? That 'World Government'."
King Neptune was sitting on a large throne, looking at the gate at the other end of the hall in wonder, and occasionally looking down at the two golden scrolls in his hands.
“It’s like being in a dream.”
Queen Otohime stood on the stage, the tears on her face were not yet dry, and the fatigue caused by childbirth was completely gone.
"In this way, the long-cherished wish of our Fishman Island for hundreds of years is about to be fulfilled. We, the Merfolk and the Fish-men, can finally freely enjoy the sun and the forests, and we will also be able to interact with humans and even other people races openly.”
From her point of view, although this Fish-man Island with a depth of 10,000 meters under the sea is good and safe enough, why can't it be regarded as a relatively large cage?
"I must be well prepared for this speech that will take place during the Levely, and I must convey to all the Kings the will of our Fishman Island to integrate into the family that is the World Government."
Queen Otohime clenched her fists to cheer herself up, feeling a fire burning in her heart.
“Ahem.”
But at this moment, the Minister of the Right standing in the audience deliberately coughed twice, attracting the attention of the other three people, and then said softly: "Your Majesty, Queen, can I say a few words?"
"Certainly!"
King Neptune agreed without hesitation. He was not the kind of person who could not listen to the advice of his ministers.
“Regarding this matter, from the surface it seems that the World Government has indeed made huge changes, and it is very sincere towards our Fish-Man Island.”
As a civil servant, the Minister of the Right’s thoughts were more delicate and complex, and he slowly described his views.
“But this Minister feels that it is better not to have too high expectations now, otherwise, when things do not develop as we expected, it would be too cruel to feel disappointed. After all, it is the World Government.”
His words immediately calmed down everyone's mood. Princess Otohime also fell silent for a while and slowly sat back down.
The Minister of the Right continued to speak.
“Furthermore, although the communiqué is signed and takes effect from the moment it is signed, this Minister feels that the above contents will still have to wait until the end of the Levely before any concrete action will be taken.”
“Of course, the premise is that this issue must be passed smoothly and strongly promoted. Otherwise, even if the World Government allows us to go to the mainland, we will not dare to let the citizens go!
King Neptune nodded in agreement.
“Indeed, it still depends on the specific actions of the World Government in the future. As for the adoption of the issue, I think since we have been informed in advance, we should also be in contact with other Kings. I just don't know which Kings have a big enough influence or their kingdom is powerful enough?"
This made Queen Otohime's eyes dim slightly, and she began to feel uneasy and worried in her heart.
“Besides, there is something very important!” the Minister of the Right said distressedly.
“Even if everything goes well and the World Government is serious about it, and we can really leave Fish-Man Island safely and live on the sea under the sun, it will be difficult for us to move the citizens there.”
“Although everyone in our Fish-men tribe can breathe in the sea and swim at high speeds, there is no place to put those shells, furniture, and pots and pans. We can’t ask our citizens to give up their property, right?”
Queen Otohime looked at him puzzled.
“Why can’t we let a small number of citizens live in the Sabaody Archipelago first? Then we can find a suitable island to make a new Fish-man Island and then move there bit by bit.”
“Besides, we don’t have to give up here. Some people like to live under the sea.”
The Minister of the Right was stunned and thought to himself, indeed, no one said that all citizens must be relocated at once, unless there is a situation in the future where Fish-man Island must be abandoned.
Indeed, if no one destroyed the Holy Land above, Mary Geoise, nothing would happen on the Fish-Man Island below.
At the same time.
Just as King Neptune speculated, the Senior Directors of the Administration Department are either addressing the Member Kingdoms of the World Government at this time or have already communicated the problem and the attitude of The Five Elders to the Kings in advance.
Of course, not all Kings are asked to support the Levely agenda, only those who probably agree to support that issue, for this reason an investigation was carried out by the Administration Department before deciding the candidates. In short, you need to find some kings who have a good attitude towards their citizens and are relatively kind.
Because only they will sincerely support the passage of the issue.
For example, the desert kingdom of Arabasta has just had a big event happen recently. The young Prince Nefertari Cobra became king last year.
Therefore, the 1498 Levely was the first time that the 26-year-old king participated in the World Conference, which is of considerable significance.
South Blue, Sorbet Kingdom.
“Can you say what you just said again?”
A giant nearly seven meters tall suddenly stood up from the simple throne and looked at the man in black under the stage in disbelief, holding a golden scroll in his hand.
“Of course, no problem, Your Majesty Bartholomew Kuma.”
The Senior Director from the World Government Administration Department did not have any impatience, and his attitude was very respectful and polite.
Although he didn't know why, Minister Jean specifically asked him to be kind to this insignificant and poor kingdom, but his experience and wisdom as a senior government official for more than ten years prevented him from being careless in the slightest.
“As long as you support the adoption of this issue at this year’s Levely, the Kingdom of Sorbet’s annual Heavenly Tribute can be reduced by 50% until the next Levely.”
Bartholomew Kuma, who has always been gentle and introverted, may have been so stunned for the first time since he was born.
When he heard it for the first time, he suspected that he was hallucinating, but after listening to it for the second time, it felt unreal again.
The World Government is actually willing to reduce the amount of heavenly tribute?
It seems that this kind of thing has not happened in hundreds of years!
The Sorbet Kingdom he manages is a notoriously poor country in the South Blue. In other words, it was actually living well a few decades ago. However, since he joined the World Government, the large amount of Heavenly Tribute he pays each year has left the country destitute.
The previous King even took a ship with his family, and took all the wealth of the country, the amount was enough to pay two years of heavenly tribute.
In this way, the entire nation will face the consequences of being unable to pay the heavenly tribute. Then, army troops sent by the World Government will take over the country and the population would be sent to the Tequila Wolf country to build the massive bridge.
It was at such a desperate moment that he stood up!
With his strong physical talent and the Paw-Paw Fruit, he successfully robbed seven groups of pirates at sea, grabbed enough money, and paid the heavenly tribute for that year.
Since then, he has been directly promoted to the position of King by the people across the country.
In the following years, he did this every year, leading the people to plant and fish while going out to sea alone in search of pirates.
In addition to the ships of the Navy, the World Government, and other Kingdoms, all ships, whether they are pirates, slave traders, or other dark forces, will be robbed.
Finally, the situation in the kingdom was temporarily stabilized.
Just as his reputation spread, it became difficult to find hijackable ships in the nearby waters. The heavenly tribute was still hanging on the heads of all the people like a knife.
But if you only pay half of the heavenly tribute, the situation will be very different.
“Then, Your Majesty the King, what is your answer?”
“Of course, even if there is no such good issue as what you mentioned, I will strongly support it!”
