The royal castle of the Tobias Kingdom stood atop a ridge several kilometers inland from the coast. Constructed of stone, it lacked ornate embellishments but exuded an air of strength and solemn authority.
Heavy muzzle-loading cannons loomed from atop battlements and towers, while palace guards patrolled the grounds in strict formation. Security here was tight.
"Your Majesty, Count Amphitrite Cross has arrived!"
In the grand yet sparse hall of the royal palace, a palace guard knelt on one knee and reported respectfully to the king seated upon the throne.
Cross stepped forward with unhurried ease, entering the somewhat empty palace hall with composed grace. His eyes swept across the simple surroundings, aside from racks of weapons and suits of armor lining the sides, there were no extravagant decorations.
"Good day, Your Majesty."
Stopping four or five meters from the throne, Cross placed his right hand over his heart and bowed slightly in the traditional chest-salute.
On the stone throne sat an elderly man crowned in gold, his hair and beard snowy white. He looked at the young noble with a gentle smile and said warmly, "Perfect timing. We were just waiting on you."
This was Haritch Usoppaca, also known as Haritch XIX, the nineteenth monarch of the Tobias Kingdom.
Cross straightened and turned to greet the two men standing before the throne with a light smile. "Sarin-dono. General Humil. Good day."
The taller of the two, a lean man with a long face, drooping fish-like eyes, and cascading white curls, responded coolly, "Good day, Count Cross."
This was Timor Sarin, the kingdom's minister of civil affairs.
The other, a burly man with deep brown skin, a scarred face, and a black forehead band beneath a white headscarf, nodded and replied in a low voice, "Good day, Count Cross."
This was Hanks Humil, the general in charge of the Tobias Kingdom's military.
From the throne, King Haritch XIX chuckled and said, "I imagine you must be wondering why we summoned you today."
"I am, a bit," Cross nodded. "Especially seeing Your Majesty, Sarin-dono, and General Humil all present. Something important must be at hand."
The Tobias Kingdom was a small nation on a modest island with a population of just over 200,000 and a standing army of about 3,000, divided between the kingdom's regular forces and the elite royal guard who defended the castle.
The main urban district was situated by the coastal foot of the mountain, complete with a port and docks. Residences and shops ascended in layers up to the royal castle at the summit. On the far side of the ridge were only scattered villages, small mines for iron, copper, and coal, and a few noble estates and villas.
Governing a nation of 200,000 was no easy feat. The full presence of the kingdom's top brass meant this was no routine matter.
"It's not a major issue, really," the king said with a hearty laugh, "but we do need your help, Count Cross."
"You honor me, Your Majesty. Please, tell me what you need," Cross replied respectfully.
"Not long ago, we finally scraped together 300 million Berries to purchase a shipment of muskets and cannons to rearm the kingdom's military," the king said gravely. "Sarin recently established contact with an underground arms dealer and arranged the transaction. I'd like you to accompany General Humil and ensure the deal proceeds safely. Even if it falls through, you must bring the money back intact."
"Equipping the army with better firearms and artillery is the right move. I'd be glad to make the trip," Cross answered without hesitation.
King Haritch XIX may not have been a brilliant ruler, but he was a benevolent one; kind to his people, and fair to his allies. Even Cross's noble title had come by the king's hand.
For a poor kingdom like Tobias, 300 million Berries was a fortune. No wonder the king had called him here personally.
"These past two years, your strength has helped repel many pirate incursions," Haritch said with a touch of jest. "But we can't keep leaning on the shoulders of a young man who hasn't even reached adulthood. It makes us old men feel ashamed!"
"Your Majesty, I've only done my part as a member of the Tobias Kingdom," Cross replied calmly, shaking his head.
"Ah… you know how it is," the king sighed. "Ever since that damned Pirate King Roger sparked this so-called Great Pirate Era, the number of pirates in the North Blue has skyrocketed. Our kingdom has suffered constant raids, and both commerce and civilian life have deteriorated. But we've lived in peace for too long, our military's grown lax, our armaments outdated. With tax revenue plummeting, we can't even match the pirates' firepower."
Haritch's tone brimmed with both fury and shame.
If pirate attacks were an external threat, then the kingdom's lack of military readiness, and its failure to protect the people, was an internal failing. A failing that rested squarely on the king's shoulders.
"Your Majesty, this isn't your fault!" General Humil interjected hastily. "If not for the Heavenly Tribute—"
"Silence!"
The king's expression darkened, cutting Humil off sharply.
"My apologies, I misspoke," the general said quickly, his face paling.
Sarin smoothly changed the subject, forcing a stiff smile. "In truth, the kingdom was only able to amass the 300 million Berries thanks to Count Cross. Over the past two years, he's defeated eleven pirate crews and seized a trove of loot. With peace slowly returning, tax revenue has stabilized. That's how we managed to save up such a large sum."
"You flatter me, Sarin-dono."
Cross gave a modest smile, though inwardly he was thoughtful.
He had only overheard part of the exchange, but he already understood.
The Tobias Kingdom was a poor nation, and King Haritch had no desire to burden the people further. Most of the annual tax revenue went toward the Heavenly Tribute, the extortionate dues required by the Celestial Dragons as part of being a World Government member nation. What little remained barely covered domestic expenses and the upkeep of a modest military.
Before the Great Pirate Era, the Tobias Kingdom had enjoyed relative peace. The small standing army had been more than sufficient to handle minor threats. There was no need to waste resources on heavy militarization or expensive armaments, that would have only strained the treasury.
But no one had anticipated that the dying words of Gold Roger would spark a global tidal wave. Countless criminals now roamed the seas, branding themselves pirates, committing atrocities under the banner of freedom.
The kingdom could barely fend off raid after raid, and its already-weak finances were pushed to the brink. Most of the money went toward calming and compensating the injured and bereaved.
The royal family and nobility, cloistered in their fortified castles, never had to fear for their safety. But the common folk, who lived in coastal cities and port towns, suffered the brunt of every pirate attack.
If the kingdom failed to properly support those citizens, if they didn't at least offer some compensation, then the next time pirates struck, even the soldiers might mutiny.
That was the cycle the kingdom was trapped in: a fiscal death spiral.
There was only one way out, renounce their status as a World Government member and stop paying the Heavenly Tribute.
But that would be a direct challenge to both the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, a far more catastrophic risk than even the most savage of pirate raids.