Chapter 20: Bartholomew Kuma's Kingdom!
Inside the extremely luxurious Ryugu Palace.
At this moment, Coulson and two CP7 members had already left.
But King Neptune and the high-level figures of Fish-Man Island still remained in the Banquet Hall and had not dispersed.
Because the shock brought to their hearts by everything that had just happened still hadn't subsided.
"Unbelievable, truly unbelievable," King Neptune sat on the spacious Throne, repeatedly exclaiming in surprise as he looked at the main entrance at the other end of the Main Hall. "Is this really the World Government? That World Government?"
From time to time, he lowered his head and glanced at the two Gold Thread Scrolls in his hand.
"It's like a dream."
Queen Otohime stood on the platform, the tear stains on her face not yet dried.
The feeling of fatigue brought by childbirth was completely swept away at this moment.
"In this way, the long-cherished wish of our Fish-Man Island for hundreds of years is about to be achieved. Our Merfolk Tribe and Fish-Man Tribe can finally freely enjoy the Sunlight, Forest, and land on the Land, and be able to openly and honestly interact with Humans, and even other Races!"
In her opinion, although Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters deep on the Seabed, is good and safe enough.
But why can't it be seen as a relatively large Cage?
"This time, for the Speech at the Reverie, I must prepare well. I must convey the sentiment of our Fish-Man Island's willingness to integrate into the big world family to all the Kings!"
Queen Otohime clenched her fists and encouraged herself, feeling a fire burning in her Heart.
"Cough cough."
But just at this moment, the Right Minister, standing below the platform, deliberately coughed twice to attract the attention of the other three, then softly said, "Your Majesty, Queen, may your humble subject express a couple of ideas?"
"Of course!"
King Neptune agreed without hesitation.
He was not the type of person who couldn't listen to his ministers' advice.
"Regarding this Matter, on the surface, the World Government has indeed undergone huge changes, and their sincerity towards our Fish-Man Island is full."
As a civil minister, the Right Minister's thoughts were more delicate and complex. He slowly stated his views.
"But your humble subject thinks it's better not to hold too much expectation for now. Otherwise, if the development of the Matter is inconsistent with what we hope for when the time comes, the disappointment will be too cruel. After all, that is the World Government."
These words of his immediately made everyone's mood calm down.
Queen Otohime also listened and fell silent for a moment, slowly sitting back in her seat.
The Right Minister then continued speaking.
"Moreover, although it takes effect from the signing of the Communique, your humble subject thinks that specific Operations regarding those contents above will only happen after the Reverie ends."
"Of course, the premise is that this Agenda Item must pass smoothly and be able to undergo a powerful push. Otherwise, even if the World Government allows us to land, we wouldn't dare let the Citizens go!"
King Neptune nodded his head in agreement.
"Indeed, it still depends on the World Government's subsequent specific Operations. As for the issue of the Agenda Item passing."
"I think since they informed us in advance, they should also make contact with other Kings. We just don't know which Kings there are, and whether their Influence is great enough, or if their number is large enough."
This made Queen Otohime's Gaze slightly dim, and unease and worry began to arise in her Heart.
"Besides this, there is also a very important Matter!" the Right Minister said with distress.
"Even if all of this is very smooth, and the World Government side also gets serious, and we can really safely leave Fish-Man Island and then live on the Sea Surface under the Sunlight, it would still be very difficult for us to migrate the Citizens up there."
"Although everyone in our Fish-Man Tribe can breathe in the sea and swim at high speed, where would we put those Shell Tools, furniture, and household items? We can't possibly ask the Citizens to abandon their own property, right?"
Queen Otohime looked at him with confusion.
"Why can't we first let a small portion of the Citizens live at Sabaody Archipelago? Afterwards, wait until we find suitable Islands to be the new Fish-Man Island, then just migrate over little by little."
"Moreover, we also don't need to abandon this place. After all, some people like to live on the Seabed."
The Right Minister was stunned and thought to himself: Indeed, nobody said we must migrate all the Citizens in one go, unless we encounter a Situation in the future where we must abandon Fish-Man Island.
Indeed.
If nobody destroys the Holy Land Marie Geoise above, this Fish-Man Island below really won't have any problems.
At the same time.
Just as King Neptune speculated.
At this moment, the Senior Directors of the Administrative Department are either heading towards the target Kingdom, or have already conveyed the Agenda Item and the Five Elders' Attitude to the King in the Royal Palace in advance.
Of course, this is not all Kings, but limited to the Kings who the Administrative Department, after Research and investigation, determined might support this Agenda Item.
Simply put, it is to find some Kings who have a good Attitude towards their Citizens and are relatively kind-hearted.
Because only they will sincerely and genuinely support the passing of the Agenda Item!
For example, the Desert Kingdom Alabasta.
It's just that a major event happened in that Kingdom recently.
The young Prince Cobra became King last year.
Therefore, this 1498 Reverie is the first time this twenty-six-year-old King is attending the Reverie, which holds some significance.
South Blue, Sorbet Kingdom.
"Those words just now, can you say them again?"
A nearly seven-meter-tall Little Giant suddenly stood up from the crude Throne.
Looking in disbelief at the Man in Black below the platform, he was still holding a Gold Thread Scroll in his hand.
"Of course, no problem, respected His Majesty Bartholomew Kuma."
The Senior Director from the World Government's Administrative Department did not show any impatience, and his Attitude was very respectful and polite.
Although he didn't know the reason, the Minister had specifically instructed him to treat this insignificant poor Kingdom well.
But his experience and wisdom from being a High-Ranking Official in the Government for over ten years made him not dare to show the slightest bit of neglect or disregard.
"As long as you support the passing of this Agenda Item at this year's Reverie, then the amount of Sorbet Kingdom's Heavenly Tribute every year can be reduced by fifty percent until the next Reverie."
The always gentle and introverted Bartholomew Kuma was perhaps so dumbfounded for the first time since he was born.
When he first heard it, he suspected that his own ears were having auditory hallucinations.
But after hearing it a second time, he again felt it was surreal.
The World Government was unexpectedly willing to actively lower the amount of the Heavenly Tribute?
It seems like this kind of Matter hasn't happened for hundreds of years!
This Sorbet Kingdom that he managed was originally a famously poor Kingdom in the South Blue, or rather, decades ago, they actually lived quite well.
But ever since joining the World Government, the high amount of Heavenly Tribute every year had drained the Nation's Blood.
It's estimated that in another year or two, they would be completely unable to pay.
When the time comes, they would be sent by the World Government's Army Unit.
Caught and sent to Tequila Wolf, the Bridge Country, located in the East Blue, to build the Great Bridge for a lifetime.
It was precisely at such a desperate moment that he stepped forward!
Relying on his strong Physique talent and the Ability of the Paw-Paw Fruit.
He successfully robbed seven groups of Pirates on the sea, seized enough Treasure, and paid that year's Heavenly Tribute.
From then on, he was directly nominated to this position of King by the Citizens of the entire country.
In the following years, he did this every year, while leading the Citizens in planting and fishing, he also went out to sea alone to search for and collect Treasure.
Except for the ships of the Marines, the World Government, and other Kingdoms, he robbed all ships, whether they belonged to Pirates, Slave Traders, or any Dark Forces.
He finally managed to temporarily stabilize the Kingdom's Situation.
It's just that as his reputation spread, it was already difficult to find ships that could be robbed in the nearby Sea Area.
This Heavenly Tribute was like a Blade still hanging over the heads of all the Citizens.
But if they only had to pay half of the Heavenly Tribute, then the Situation would be vastly different.
"So, Your Majesty the King, what is your answer?"
"Of course I can, even without what you said, for such a good Agenda Item, I would still strongly support it!"
(End of this chapter)