The Focus of the World

Marineford, the island that had once housed Marine Headquarters, had undergone two rounds of expansion. Its name had changed too: people now called it the Heart of the World.

At the harbor of the Justice Atrium, royalty from the various kingdoms could be seen everywhere.

"Well, well! If it isn't the King of Kenya!"

"King Roderick, my friend! It's been more than ten years since we last met, hasn't it?"

"Indeed. The last time was at the Reverie three sessions ago!"

"Haha! The way the world is changing is getting harder and harder for an old relic like me to understand. I never thought even a behemoth like the World Government would meet its end!"

"Ahem. The Fake Government," King Roderick reminded him discreetly.

The King of Kenya froze, then nodded repeatedly. "That's right. The vile, corrupt Fake Government!"

They exchanged a glance and burst out laughing, as though their laughter could bury everything they had just said.

Once their laughter died down, the King of Kenya asked, "King Roderick, you're here to join the United Government too, aren't you?"

"Of course," King Roderick said with a smile. "The new government doesn't require Celestial Gold as a condition of membership, and even the obligations of an Affiliated Nation seem quite lenient. Why would we refuse?"

"But the new government won't be as easy to fool as the Fake Government!" The King of Kenya leaned close to King Roderick's ear and lowered his voice. "I've heard the new government plans to place limits on the power of kings like us. They might even take away our authority to make laws and set taxes! Don't you think we kings should make our position known?"

King Roderick quietly stepped away from him. "King of Kenya, perhaps you've never seen what happens when the