Whether it was abolishing the Celestial Tribute or killing an Emperor of the Sea, such things had once been unimaginable in the Holy Land... But times had changed. Ron now held power, and aside from his forceful, domineering methods, he was also famously a "scheming dragon."
With his approval, implementation, oversight, management, and the rest were no longer problems.
Whoosh!
Fujitora opened his clouded eyes and bowed. "Lord Azure Dragon, Fleet Admiral Akainu is right."
"These eyes of mine were cut blind because I once saw soldiers from an Affiliated Nation take the only food commoners had in their homes to pay the Celestial Tribute, while I could do nothing—indeed, while I was even forced to become an accomplice... It is time for the Celestial Tribute to be abolished!"
To put it more elegantly, the people had suffered under the Celestial Tribute for far too long!
This system was long overdue for abolition.
After all... the Celestial Dragons were gone, weren't they?
Trafalgar exchanged glances with the others and saw the excitement in their eyes. Clearly, they all supported this decision.
However...
"Lord Azure Dragon, I believe the Celestial Tribute cannot be abolished just yet."
Kong unexpectedly stepped forward and spoke respectfully.
Akainu's eyes widened at once, then he rebuked him furiously. "Commander Kong, do you believe the Celestial Tribute still has value?"
"Of course it does!"
Kong glanced at him, unmoved. "If the Celestial Tribute is abolished, why would the Affiliated Nations continue to remain under the Government's banner?"
"Because of the pirates, of course..."
At that point, Akainu sucked in a sharp breath.
"My apologies. I was too presumptuous."
"It is nothing. Concern clouds judgment."
Kong waved a hand, then turned around. "The pirate problem is no longer what it once was. Over the past two years, aside