The Fire of Revenge Twenty-Two Years Later

South Blue, Sobel Kingdom.

Billowing smoke stained the night sky as towering flames surged upward, sweeping across the kingdom's lawless zone—fully half of its territory.

Twenty-two years ago, in order to avoid the exorbitant Heavenly Tribute, the kingdom's former king had chosen to split the entire country in half.

The northern half under the king's rule had been designated a lawless zone, while the southern half remained under the protection of the royal army and the Navy.

Without the royal army and Navy's protection, ordinary civilians with no ability to resist naturally became prime prey in the eyes of pirates and bandits.

Whenever pirates passed through, they took the opportunity to carve a hefty slice from this "meat."

A few months after the decree was issued, Emporio Ivankov and Monkey D. Dragon, who had returned from sea after finding their ambitions, joined forces to establish the Freedom Fighters, determined to make the king revoke the law.

Bartholomew Kuma and Ginny, who had escaped God Valley together, also joined them. Half a year later, they completely overthrew the former king of the Sobel Kingdom and helped the king before the previous one reclaim the throne.

Though the devastation in the lawless zone could not be undone, the royal army once again placed it under their protection.

Inside the Sobel royal palace, the deposed former king Bekori held a telescope as he watched the distant flames and listened to the anguished screams that rose from time to time, dancing with excitement.

His comically long nose and the ugly expression beneath his crown could not conceal the smug delight in his heart.

"Heehee, hahahahaha! Those damned lowlifes actually dared to overthrow me and drive me out of the kingdom in such humiliation. Now it's your turn to scream in front of me..."

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