Chapter 24: The Navy and CP1 are in the East Blue!

The East Sea, the Kingdom of Oikot—a relatively wealthy nation specializing in various types of lighting. Its flagship products are a wide variety of crystal chandeliers, making its primary clientele the rich and the noble.

To maximize profits, the domestic royalty and nobility directly enacted laws that drafted all citizens into factories, producing lighting for them year-round.

While these citizens, having become full-time professional workers, did not lack food or drink—and in fact lived in conditions far better than many poor nations—they had almost no free time. This resulted in a population with faces of pure numbness.

They looked like a swarm of robots!

Even when a massive warship appeared in the harbor, the passing citizens showed little reaction. Only the soldiers of the King's Army stood there with mouths agape, staring dumbfounded at the lines of marines stepping briskly down the gangplanks with muskets in hand.

Aside from quickly sending someone to notify the King, the leading general did not even dare to approach to intercept or question them.

He had seen Navy warships before, but he had never seen one this massive; the triple-barreled turrets and the two rows of large-caliber cannons on either side were truly terrifying to behold.

Is this the Navy Headquarters?

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

A Royal Guard, wearing white breastplate, a black leather scabbard at his waist, and carrying a long-barreled musket on his back, rushed in, shouting continuously.

King Sinier Livai was sitting on a crystal throne, speaking with Prince Lyle who stood below the dais. Seeing the guard's blatant rudeness, a clear look of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

"What are you shouting for? Where have your manners gone!"

Beside him, Prince Lyle cast a look of disgust.

"Your Majesty, the warships from the Navy Headquarters have arrived! They say they wish to see you!" The guard hurriedly stopped, reporting while gasping for breath.

"What!" King Sinier Livai stood up abruptly, intending to go out and receive them, but after a moment of thought, he slowly sat back down.

"Father?" Prince Lyle looked at him in confusion.

"Although they come from the Navy Headquarters, I am also a King of a member nation under the World Government. In terms of status, there is no need for me to receive them. We shall simply wait here."

King Sinier Livai spoke in a slow, calm voice. Prince Lyle nodded repeatedly in agreement; indeed, who were they?

The royalty of a nation!

The Navy from Headquarters was still just the Navy, wasn't it?

Ten minutes later, a Navy officer wearing a "Justice" coat and carrying a reddish-brown scabbard walked in, accompanied by a man dressed as a government official in a black suit, black leather shoes, a white shirt, and a blue tie, carrying a small black briefcase.

"Greetings, King Sinier Livai. I am Rear Admiral Roman of the Navy Headquarters."

The former gave a brief self-introduction and fell silent, allowing the latter to take over the speaking. "I am Harold, a member of the World Government's direct department, CIPHER POL No.1."

A member of CP1?

King Sinier Livai sensed trouble. If it were just the Navy Headquarters, it would be one thing, but for a CP member to accompany them meant this was certainly no small matter—and certainly nothing good.

"Hehehe, welcome, welcome. May I ask what brings you two to our Kingdom of Oikot?"

On the surface, however, he maintained a warm and enthusiastic attitude.

"Please wait a moment."

The CP1 member lifted the small black briefcase, rapidly entered a triple eight-digit code, and pulled out a yellowish-brown file folder. He closed the case, placed it on the ground, and then handed the document to a nearby guard with both hands.

"Please present this to His Majesty the King."

Perplexed, King Sinier Livai took the folder from the guard. Upon opening it to find a report, he realized it was actually a bulletin from the World Government!

"This..."

As he read the contents, his expression shifted, turning quite unsightly, though he quickly regained his composure.

"Establishing equal and friendly relations with Merfolk and Fish-men is indeed a good thing, but if it is merely to deliver a bulletin, I imagine there would be no need for you two to come in person, would there?"

King Sinier Livai asked tentatively. Meanwhile, Prince Lyle watched the CP1 member with a face full of tension.

"According to the first article of the 'Bulletin on Establishing Equal and Friendly Relations between Humans, Merfolk, and Fish-men,' all Merfolk and Fish-men within the territory of member nations must be returned to the Fish-men unconditionally."

The CP1 member stared expressionlessly at the King on the dais, his tone becoming even colder and more ruthless.

"The slave trade is already a violation of the World Government's laws and should be punished. However, the Five Elders have granted special permission: as long as you cooperate fully with our work, no responsibility will be pursued!"

King Sinier Livai smiled. "But we have no Fish-men here. Have you perhaps come to the wrong place?"

"Please do not doubt the intelligence capabilities of CIPHER POL, Your Majesty." The CP1 member's gaze was calm, completely disregarding the King's evasion.

"Six months ago, your Prince Lyle visited the Goa Kingdom and purchased a female Merfolk from Marquis Abbott for the price of 130 million Berries. She is currently in the newly installed tank in the palace garden."

King Sinier Livai fell silent. He had nothing to say, and was simultaneously somewhat intimidated.

Suddenly, Prince Lyle could no longer endure it. He stepped forward and shouted angrily, "Hey, what kind of talk is that?"

The gazes of the CP1 member and Rear Admiral Roman turned toward him.

"Yes, I did buy a Merfolk, but she was bought by Marquis Abbott of the Goa Kingdom at the Sabaody Archipelago and then resold to me. The entire process was legal and legitimate, so she is my property! On what grounds do you claim her?"

Prince Lyle was naturally unwilling to let go. He hadn't finished playing with that Merfolk yet, and even if he did, he could make a profit by flipping her to nobles of other countries.

"Legal and legitimate?"

The CP1 member looked coldly at Prince Lyle. "The slave trade was prohibited by the laws of the World Government a long time ago!"

"Ha! There are so many slave companies and slave auctions on the Sabaody Archipelago, yet I don't see you closing them all down! Slave trading has long been a de facto reality accepted by everyone, including your World Government and the Navy!" Prince Lyle laughed in anger.

"Accepted is not the same as recognized. If we pursue this, your purchase of a Merfolk is a violation of the World Government's laws. So, do you decide to refuse to cooperate with our work and instead accompany us to Enies Lobby?"

As the CP1 member issued this challenge, Rear Admiral Roman's fierce eyes sharpened, showing absolutely no respect for the dozen or so Royal Guards surrounding the hall.

"You—"

"Enough!"

Prince Lyle wanted to argue further, but King Sinier Livai barked an order from the dais to stop him. He then turned to a guard and commanded, "Go and bring that Merfolk out, then deliver her to the port to the Navy."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Father—!" Prince Lyle was exasperated.

"In that case, we shall take our leave."

Seeing that the matter was settled, the CP1 member and Rear Admiral Roman turned and walked out of the palace hall without any hesitation. They were in a hurry to demand Fish-man slaves from two other nations.

"Father, why? We are a member nation of the World Government! We turn in our Heavenly Tribute on time every year! What would happen if we just refused to give up a single Merfolk? Would they actually dare to seize her by force?"

Prince Lyle was trembling with rage.

"By force?"

King Sinier Livai had not expected his son to be so foolish. He sneered, "They hold orders from the Five Elders; why wouldn't they dare? Do you think Rear Admiral Roman came here for nothing?"

"To defy the World Government over a single Merfolk... I think if that throne is truly passed to you one day, it will sooner or later end in the destruction of our nation!"