Chapter 8: Annexing the Yotsuba Kingdom and Aiming at Colonel Morgan
One day later, on the main island of the Yotsuba Kingdom, the Royal City was filled with smoke. The flag of the Yotsuba Kingdom had been replaced with the flag of the Goa Kingdom. The Royal Guards, nobles, and officials of the Goa Kingdom were everywhere, spreading the news that the Yotsuba Kingdom had merged into the Goa Kingdom.
Almost all of the royalty and nobility of the Yotsuba Kingdom had been captured by Kael. The king, Slock, was completely caught off guard by the sudden invasion. He found it unacceptable that the neighboring Goa Kingdom, to which he had recently sent gifts for Princess Sally's wedding and Kael's enthronement, would invade them.
Kael sat on the Yotsuba Kingdom's throne, looking at the weak royals with an expressionless face. "I give you two choices," he said. "One, peacefully merge into the Goa Kingdom, and I will preserve a ducal title for you. Two, you all disappear."
"Impossible!" King Slock shouted. "I am the King of the Yotsuba Kingdom! I will report this to the World Government, I will report this to the Gorosei!"
"Then your choice is two," Kael said. "I will not kill you; I sentence you to exile!"
In front of everyone, Kael directly banished the entire Slock family into a void space. The duration of their exile was unknown; perhaps Kael would find a chance to kill them later, or perhaps they would be released decades from now when no one recognized them.
Seeing the more than a dozen royals suddenly vanish, the nobles and officials of the Yotsuba Kingdom were so frightened that they immediately surrendered and begged for mercy, shouting that they wanted to join the Goa Kingdom. They feared being erased and disappearing forever.
Eric and Van Auger, the mercenaries, were equally shocked. They had no idea what had happened; the royals had simply disappeared before their eyes. Eric, who had just used his Sickle-Sickle Fruit ability to slay many of the Yotsuba Kingdom's Royal Guards, finally realized that this new king was not so simple. Van Auger's eyes flickered as he sensed Kael's desire for control. His plan to leave the East Blue was likely to change.
Kael instructed the young nobles and officials of the Goa Kingdom to immediately take control of the Yotsuba Kingdom and report the merger to the World Government. The Yotsuba Kingdom was to become the Four Leaf Archipelago under the flag of the Goa Kingdom. Princess Sally was astonished that Kael had conquered the first kingdom in just two days. The entire Goa Kingdom became active and enthusiastic, eager to take over the Yotsuba Kingdom and claim their share of the empire's glory.
Kael, however, had already set his sights on the 153rd Marine Branch in Shells Town. The three Goa Kingdom battleships set sail again, heading directly for the Marine branch within the Four Leaf Archipelago.
"Your Majesty, do we really have to arrest Captain Morgan? Even as an Allied Nation, we cannot attack the Marines!" a royal guard protested. Eric and Van Auger were also shocked by Kael's madness.
"Captain Morgan of the 153rd Marine Branch conspired with pirates, used fake pirates to get promoted, and oppressed civilians," Kael explained. "Since Marineford cannot manage such matters, I shall. Moreover, the Yotsuba Kingdom is already part of the Goa Kingdom, so the matters of Branch 153 are my matters!"
Kael waved his hand, making a direct decision. He wanted to use the case of the pirate Klock and Captain Morgan to create a plausible excuse for annexing the Yotsuba Kingdom. He planned to involve Kuro of a Hundred Plans, who was hiding in the neighboring Gecko Kingdom, and ideally, drag the Gecko Kingdom into it as well. Kael was determined to conquer these two small kingdoms. The Goa Kingdom's forces were too shocked to speak, wondering if their mad king planned to conquer several kingdoms in a few days.
A couple of hours later, they arrived at Shells Town. The Marines on the island, recognizing the famous flag of the Goa Kingdom, did not obstruct the three battleships. Captain Morgan, with his sinister and brutal personality, appeared with his subordinates to greet the King.
"Morgan, you colluded with Kuro of a Hundred Plans, helped him fake his death, and used a fake Klock's corpse to get promoted!" Kael announced from his battleship. "You are also tyrannical and oppressive, bullying the residents of Shells Town. I arrest you in the name of the King of the Goa Kingdom."
He continued, "By the way, the Yotsuba Kingdom has now merged into the Goa Kingdom, so Shells Town is now my territory. All other Marines, clear the way for me."
"What? Kuro of a Hundred Plans faked his death?" Lieutenant Commander Ripper asked, shocked.
"The Yotsuba Kingdom merged into the Goa Kingdom? When did this happen?" Lieutenant Roronoa and many other Marines clamored in confusion.
"Bastard! I am a Marine Captain, the officer in charge of Branch 153! What right do you have to judge me?" Morgan's face turned ashen as his memories of Klock flooded back. He became agitated.
Suddenly, a wind blade went straight for Captain Morgan. The Marines of the 153rd Branch were shocked that the people of the Goa Kingdom dared to attack them.
"Dare to attack the Marines? You are all criminals! Open fire, annihilate them!" Morgan swung his axe and shouted, trying to blast away the wind blade. But in one encounter, several bloody marks appeared on his body. Eric's attack was immediately followed by three shots from Van Auger to Morgan's legs and shoulder.