The next day.
In the filthy, dimly lit Royal City Prison.
Another prisoner turned into a dried-up corpse, adding a terrifying ghost legend to the entire prison, and even the prison officials and guards became afraid of their territory.
Some veteran prison guards even bullied the new guards into doing the daily task of delivering meals to the prisoners.
Some prison officers with connections even used their influence to transfer out of this bizarre prison.
In a cell deep inside the prison.
"Damn it, why couldn't I have restrained myself from executing him prematurely!"
Aramaki felt a little annoyed and blamed himself. He had secretly decided yesterday to "eat" a prisoner every three days.
As a result, early this morning, bored Aramaki couldn't resist draining his next target dry.
It has a slightly addictive feel to it.
If one prisoner were executed every day, more than 180 people would die in six months.
Aramaki is forced to worry about its future sustainability, which is essentially "cannibalizing" people.
"What's going on outside? Why hasn't a single guy come in to visit and give us any updates?"
Aramaki grew increasingly annoyed with his drinking and gluttonous colleagues and superiors, for not a single one of them had come to visit him for so long.
What Aramaki didn't know was that his colleagues and superiors, upon learning that Aramaki had offended the Grand Duke's daughter and Aramaki Prince Qizhi, immediately severed ties with him, fearing they would be implicated by Aramaki.
Some even took advantage of the situation, providing Prince Qizhi with "evidence" of Aramaki's crimes of "violent assault" and "harassing respectable women."
Aramaki's hope that these people would come to his rescue was somewhat naive and self-deceptive.
Just as Aramaki was silently warning himself to keep his 'man-eating fingers' in check, a commotion arose outside the prison.
"Impressive presence indeed. When did the Taya Kingdom acquire such a powerful individual?"
Aramaki's Observation Haki detected a series of auras outside the prison, which were much stronger than those of the pirates and criminals he had defeated in the past.
'Tap tap tap tap...'
A series of steady, powerful footsteps approached, growing ever closer, which made Aramaki stand up.
Has someone come to rescue me?
Under Aramaki's watchful gaze, four men dressed in imposing military uniforms walked in, their Baron medals gleaming in gold.
'What a handsome military uniform!'
'Noble general?'
The next moment, Aramaki sensed an even more powerful aura.
A man dressed in a platinum military uniform, protected by four Baron generals, walked step by step to the front of the Aramaki's prison.
Aramaki's gaze instantly met that of the domineering young man with an air of nobility.
This is definitely a man who is more powerful and noble than Grand Duke Harada and the Guard Commander.
"Officer Aramaki, standing before you is His Majesty the King of the Overlord of the East Blue, the Emperor of the Goa Empire, known to the world as the [Wang Shi of King of Exile]."
Eric, head held high and chest puffed out, proudly introduced their esteemed Majesty.
Van Augur, Zoro, and Saka were all sizing up this top-tier powerhouse who could wipe them out.
Such a powerful person, yet he was reduced to a mere prisoner.
This is somewhat unbelievable.
Anyway, if it were Van Augur or Zoro, they would rather become pirates than willingly become prisoners if they lost the freedom to pursue their dreams.
"Wang Shi? You're the Goa Emperor from the East Blue who launched a series of attacks on six countries?"
Aramaki's eyes lit up; he had seen reports about this man in the newspapers before.
"Isn't that Overlord of the North Blue Germa 66 going to the East Blue to cause you trouble?"
"You defeated Germa?"
Looking at the group of people who had appeared, Aramaki saw no signs of defeat or people seeking reinforcements; each of them exuded a powerful aura.
"The strongest cyborg warrior of Germa has already been casually banished by our Wang Shi."
Even the Germa Legion has become part of our Goa Empire, and the Germa Princess has become our Imperial Consort."
Eric continued to answer proudly, his eyes filled with admiration and loyalty that reached almost its peak.
"You really defeated the Overlord of the North Blue? That's impressive!"
Aramaki's eyes were filled with longing; he wished that the Taya Kingdom could also have such a glorious record.
But the Taya Kingdom was too comfortable, and he had no opportunity to demonstrate his abilities.
Otherwise, he would at least have to become an Imperial Baron like those four men in military uniforms.
"Aramaki, I have heard of your deeds and greatly admire you."
"I have already ascertained your crimes. You have offended the Grand Duke's daughter, and Prince Qizhi and the sons of many dukes and marquises are all deeply infatuated with this Grand Duke's daughter."
"Therefore, you have been Prince Qizhi, and all the nobles and Guard Army commanders have tacitly agreed to imprison you until death!"
With Eric's flattery, Wang Shi's prestige in Aramaki's eyes rose to a new level, which made Wang Shi very satisfied.
"What!"
"I only accidentally hugged her waist to save her!"
"How could Shinagawa treat me like this!"
Aramaki spoke somewhat angrily, thinking that after a while, Miss Shinagawa would forgive him.
After all, Grand Duke Harada had praised him before.
"It's not about Shinagawa, but about you touching Prince Qizhi's forbidden fruit. That prince has this Grand Duke's daughter as his candidate for queen."
Wang Shi spoke calmly, his gaze fixed on the hint of panic and anger on Aramaki's face.
"How could this be!"
"So that's why no one came to see me..."
Aramaki clenched his fists, his eyes filled with struggle.
If he is really sentenced to life imprisonment, what is the point of his waiting and endurance?
Does he really have to force a prison break and go to sea to become a pirate?
No, he still has hope.
The Goa Emperor had come specifically to see him.
A thought flashed through Aramaki's mind in an instant.
His heart began to pound.
"Officer Aramaki, I have already used one billion Belly to ransom you from King Qizhi."
"Now you can choose to refuse to leave the Taya Kingdom and remain in prison, or choose to pledge allegiance to me, and I will bestow upon you a title, making you Baron of the Goa Empire."
Before Aramaki could even ask for help, Wang Shi told him about the ransom.
"One billion Belly? A title?"
Aramaki's eyes widened in shock; at this moment, he truly felt the importance that Wang Shi on him.
For a moment, a feeling called being moved lingered in my heart.
You should know that he had struggled in the Taya Kingdom for more than ten years and still had not received the opportunity to be granted a title.
As a result, the Goa Emperor ransomed him for one billion Belly and even offered him a prestigious title.
How could he not be moved by an emperor who valued him so highly?
"I, Aramaki, am willing to become Wang Shi Majesty's sharpest sword, and swear to serve His Majesty to the death!"
Aramaki pondered for a moment, then knelt on one knee before Wang Shi in the prison cell.
Those opportunistic Guard Army commanders and nobles who often 'borrowed' his military achievements, now not a single one of them came to his rescue, which chilled his heart.
His love for his motherland quietly faded away.
Those incompetent members of the royal family of the Taya Kingdom are not worthy of being the ruler he serves.
Especially Prince Qizhi, who was severely punished for the sake of a woman!
"Welcome to the Goa Empire..."