The royal banquet hall fell silent. Just moments ago, two marquises had been turned into gold and stripped of their lives, yet no one dared to seek justice for them.
Clearly, crossing the Golden Emperor, Tesoro, over two dead men was neither profitable nor wise. In fact, some nobles were already secretly plotting how to divide up the dead men's lands.
Ordinarily, such estates would be reassigned by the king or inherited by direct descendants. But now, with the rebellion led by the Valos Bastion still unresolved, many nobles believed the king lacked the strength to intervene. The heirs, therefore, would be easy targets.
"State your business directly, King of Andia," Tesoro said as he strolled leisurely to a seat beside the king.
"I heard Crocodile once appeared in your Grand Tesoro. Is that true?" The king distrusted rumors, but he knew Tesoro, as the ruler of the world's greatest entertainment city, would have accurate information if the report were real.
"It's true."
"In that case," the king said calmly, "I'm willing to offer the Iron Bastion and one-third of the nation's entertainment facilities in exchange for you killing Crocodile—or bringing him back alive. What do you say, Lord Tesoro?"
Tesoro grinned. "It seems quite a few people want him dead. The offers I've received so far are quite tempting. But recently, he made a large transaction with me—one of my biggest clients. Don't you think your offer is a bit low? How about this—two bastions and half your entertainment empire."
Although Crocodile had struck a massive deal with Tesoro's Gold Bank, there was no guarantee of future business. Meanwhile, the Andia king's offer was far more substantial—and lucrative.
When the profit was high enough, Tesoro saw no reason to refuse.
The king's face darkened at Tesoro's tone, but anger and hatred burned in his heart. He longed to see his enemy suffer. The growing unrest among the nobility gave him an excuse—he could cede a few rebellious fiefs to Tesoro and let him handle the purging.
It would serve as a warning to others.
Of course, giving away territory meant truly giving it up, and reclaiming it later would be costly. But if it rid him of his enemy and kept the nobles in check, it was a price he was willing to pay.
The entertainment profits were another matter. Losing half the nation's venues would hurt, but he could always squeeze more from the commoners to make up for it.
"Deal," the king said through clenched teeth.
Tesoro laughed darkly. "It's not that I don't wish to befriend you, Crocodile—you're just unlucky."
After the banquet, Tesoro ordered his people in the Grand Tesoro to begin tracking Rosen and his crew's whereabouts.
Meanwhile, in Andia, unrest was beginning to spread.
Iron Bastion – Outer City, Construction District.
"Have you heard? They say the Valos Bastion declared independence. Not only did they repel the king's army, but their workers are living much better now," one builder whispered to another.
"It's true. They work fewer hours, earn several times more, and even get food and medical help. There's no more divide between nobles and commoners. Everyone's treated as… what was it called again?"
"Citizens—yeah, citizens. A city guard said that once when he was drunk. If that's true, they're living in paradise."
Jealousy filled their voices, but beneath it lay a spark of anger and defiance.
"You're behind the times," another said. "I heard each person there even gets their own land and full rights."
"No way! They even have land? What kind of place is Valos Bastion?"
"Heaven, maybe. Where else could life be that good?"
"Stop dreaming," one man sighed. "Someone tried to escape there during work today. The noble overseers beat them to death. We'd better keep our heads down."
"Why should we?! We build cities till we drop dead, can't eat enough, and die of hunger and exhaustion every day. Why do we have to live like this?" someone burst out angrily.
"And what then? The city guards are armed, and we've got nothing. Defy them, and you die for nothing."
"Yeah… I just hope Princess Xia can come here one day."
"If it's weapons you need," someone muttered, "I might know a way to get them."
"What?!"
Such whispers spread not only in the Iron City but across the kingdom. The nobles ignored them, unaware that these murmurs were growing into something uncontrollable.
"Have you heard?" Raymond asked as he and Colson patrolled atop the Iron City walls. "Some of the vagrants have started spreading strange ideas."
"What kind of ideas?" Colson asked, disinterested as usual.
"They're worshipping Princess Xia," Raymond said coldly. "They're preaching something called the Law of Equality. At first, it sounds like a joke—but the more you think about it, the more dangerous it becomes. They're not just challenging the throne—they're challenging the very foundation of our rule. We can't allow it. Tonight, take some men and wipe out Crocodile's officers. Don't underestimate them—one of them has a bounty close to eight hundred million."
If it were just rebellion against the king, Raymond could have waited. But this new ideology threatened the entire noble hierarchy. Only he seemed to recognize how dangerous it was.
"Understood," Colson said.
"And what about the rumor that the king sent assassins after Princess Xia?"
"It's probably true. Our king has lost his composure and his old wisdom. Hatred is poison—several nobles have already been assassinated in the last few days. Is this his warning to us?" Raymond muttered, unaware that Rosen was the one orchestrating these attacks.
"Count Florence has already gathered his troops at the Bastion. He'll coordinate with us," Colson added.
"No rush. Let others make the first move. For now, fortify the castle. If we kill Crocodile's subordinates, he won't let it go—but his ideas are too dangerous to be left alive."
"Don't worry," Colson sneered. "There are plenty of ways to kill someone."
Valos Bastion.
"Report! The king's second expeditionary army is approaching Valos Bastion—over two hundred thousand strong!" a soldier shouted, rushing in.
Xia's brow furrowed tightly. "Two hundred thousand? Impossible! Don't they fear leaving their bastions unguarded? They're throwing everything they have at us?"
(End of Chapter)