King and Nobles (Please Bookmark and Recommend)

Life at sea was monotonous. There were none of the Straw Hat crew's many joyful adventures from the original story, and time passed in training.

Half a month later, the warship finally reached its destination: Pus Island of the Euro Kingdom.

The warship slowly approached the dock. Hina shaded her eyes with a hand and looked toward the shore. "Looks like there are a lot of people. Are they here to welcome us?"

On shore, rows of armored soldiers stood in neat formation. Led by a group of extravagantly dressed people, they assumed a welcoming posture.

Zephyr raised his telescope and looked toward the dock. "No. We didn't announce our arrival. Even if someone were here to welcome us, it would only be the Marines, not soldiers from this kingdom. Besides, this island doesn't permit the Marines to establish a base."

"Zephyr-sensei, a ship is coming up behind us. What a luxurious ship!" Smoker's voice came from overhead.

Zhong Hao looked behind them and casually said, "Looks like they're here to welcome them. Judging by the ship's decorations, it must be someone of high status. Those pampered fat men on the dock should all be so-called nobles. They wouldn't make such a grand display to welcome other nobles. There's a ninety percent chance it's the king or someone like him."

As they spoke, a sailboat left the dock and sailed in front of the warship. A meticulously dressed, skinny man stood aboard it. His flat tone allowed no argument. "Marines ahead, the king's royal vessel will soon arrive at the dock. Please clear a passage and let the royal vessel pass first. Do not delay His Majesty's time."

"Damn it, what do they mean by that? We were obviously here first. Why should we make way for them? What royal vessel? I'll smash it to pieces with one punch." The skinny man's words had been utterly flat, as though he did not regard the warship at all. Flames burned in Smoker's eyes as white smoke continuously poured from his body.

Zephyr's expression darkened. He let out a heavy breath, raised a hand to stop Smoker, and said in a low voice, "Change course. Make way."

"Zephyr-sensei!"

Smoker still wanted to argue, but Zephyr shook his head at him.

Zhong Hao watched without saying anything. If Zephyr were still an admiral, then for the sake of Marine honor, they could not yield no matter what. But now, he was only an instructor for recruits. Though he possessed immense strength, he was bound by the Marine system. That was also why, despite having so many powerful figures, the Marines had never produced anyone with Conqueror's Haki besides Garp. Shackled all over, with a heart that was not free enough—how could one become a conqueror?

The warship turned, and the skinny man on the sailboat gave them an expressionless glance before sailing back to shore.

Only after the royal vessel docked and the king slowly finished walking down the red carpet was the warship allowed into the dock.

Zephyr walked in front, with Smoker following behind him angrily. Rows of recruits disembarked in formation.

The dock was packed with people: laborers unloading cargo, merchants discussing business, fishermen returning from work, and passing pedestrians. They had all gathered at the dock, making it difficult for the Marines to move.

Fifty meters ahead, the king and his group of nobles were also moving slowly. The king angrily demanded, "What is going on? Why are there so many people? Do they not know that I am returning to the palace today?"

The skinny man who had stood on the sailboat and given orders to the warship stepped forward. Bending down to the king's ear, he said, "Your Majesty, four merchant caravans arrived at the port today at the same time. They brought specialties from many other countries, and many citizens have come to look and buy. The guards are already driving them away, but it will take some time."

There were too many people. Nearly all the citizens had come to the dock, packed together as though attending a market fair. Though guards were clearing the roads, their efficiency was low.

The king's face turned cold. "Too slow. Must I wait here for these lowborn wretches? I don't care what the reason is, nor do I care what method you use. We must reach the palace within twenty minutes."

Cold sweat appeared on the skinny man's face in the face of the king's fury. This had indeed been his oversight; he had not cleared the roads beforehand. Carefully, he said, "B-but, all the guards have already been deployed."

The king's expression remained blank, his eyes utterly cold. "One second of my time is worth more than the lives of ten thousand lowborn wretches. Call every guard back. Have them fire their guns and blast a path open for me."

The skinny man dared not say more and ran off to summon the guards.

Very soon, gunshots, screams of agony, and terrified shrieks rang out through the streets.

Zephyr's expression changed the moment he heard the sounds. He immediately leaped up, air-stepping several times to reach the scene. In an instant, he saw corpses covering the ground. Some had been trampled to death, while others who had not been hit in vital spots lay on the ground screaming without stop.

Eight slaves with collars locked around their necks carried a sedan chair trimmed in gold and studded with jewels, stepping over corpses as they moved forward. The nobles followed behind them, chatting and laughing as though they could not see the hellish scene before them. A few nobles even complained that the carpet beneath their feet, made of corpses, was not flat enough.

On both sides of the road, surviving citizens huddled trembling in the corners, not daring to make a sound for fear that their voices would draw the soldiers' attention—and their bullets.

Zephyr flashed forward and appeared before the sedan chair, loudly demanding of the king, "Why? Aren't these your people? Why did you order their slaughter?"

Zhong Hao and the others also arrived at the scene. The instant they saw it, their expressions turned grim. Smoker transformed into smoke and searched everywhere for survivors, while Zhong Hao concentrated and listened carefully for people beneath the corpses who had not yet drawn their last breath. Hina directed the medics in emergency treatment.

Seeing someone blocking his path again, the king raised a golden pistol in his right hand and fired a shot at Zephyr without a word. Zephyr did not dodge. He casually caught the bullet in his hand, tossed it to the ground, and looked coldly at the king.

The king's expression changed. "Who are you, to dare block my way?"

Zephyr snorted. "Chief Instructor of the Marine Headquarters Recruit Training Camp, Zephyr."

The skinny man's face changed. He hurried forward, bent down to the king's ear, and said, "Your Majesty, this man is a former Marine admiral. We must not offend him lightly."

Upon hearing this, the king changed like a chameleon. A false smile instantly appeared on his face as he warmly said, "Oh~~! So it is Admiral Zephyr. I have long admired your name. Now that fate has allowed us to meet today, let me hold a banquet to welcome you."

Several nobles behind the sedan chair stepped out at the right moment. They too piled on false smiles, echoed the king's words, and tried to curry favor with Zephyr.

Zephyr's expression did not change in the slightest. "There is no need for a banquet. I only want the king to answer me: why did you order this slaughter?"

Seeing the atmosphere about to turn tense, the skinny man hurriedly prepared to step forward and mediate.

But the king's expression darkened first. "Since the admiral does not wish to attend the banquet, I will not press the matter. As for your question, I am the king, of noble blood. These lowborn wretches dared block my path, so they deserved death. Furthermore, this is the law of the Euro Kingdom. The Marines have no right to interfere."

Those words, so contemptuous of life, made Zephyr—who had always adhered to the principle of not killing—turn livid with rage. Just as he was about to speak, Zhong Hao carried a four-year-old child who still had a breath left from beneath a pile of corpses to the temporary medical tent. As he passed Zephyr, he said:

"The people are water, and the nation is a boat. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. You treat them so lightly, but perhaps one day, the ones who will drag you from your throne and take your life will be the lowborn wretches in your eyes." Zhong Hao swept his gaze around, looking at those who still wept for their dead loved ones. He also saw the hatred they struggled to conceal in their eyes.

Atop a tall building, a figure draped in a dark green cloak had appeared out of thin air when Zephyr questioned the king. The figure watched the scene below with an icy aura radiating from his body. Upon hearing Zhong Hao's words, a ripple and a trace of solemnity flashed through his eyes, and his gaze at Zhong Hao became even deeper.

"You insolent brat! Guards, seize this fiend who seeks to undermine the peace of the kingdom!" The king and nobles immediately flew into a rage upon hearing Zhong Hao's words and loudly ordered the guards.

"How dare you! Who dares arrest a Marine under my command?" Zephyr took a swift step and stood in front of Zhong Hao. A powerful aura surged from his body, intimidating the kingdom's guards and stopping them in their tracks.

The king narrowed his eyes at Zephyr. After staring for a while, he said, "Admiral Zephyr, do his words represent your own thoughts? And do they represent the Marines' position?"

Zephyr took a deep breath. The question was too sensitive and too malicious, so he chose to avoid it. "Harm him, and you become an enemy of the Marines."

The king sneered, killing intent flashing in his eyes. He said to Zhong Hao, "Brat, there are some things you cannot say, and some thoughts you cannot have. No matter who taught you those words, I will remember you. I will also report what you just said to the World Government. We are leaving."

The sedan chair passed beside Zhong Hao, followed by the nobles one after another. Every one of them looked at him with icy eyes.

Yet they did not know that Zhong Hao looked at them more like they were already dead.

Even any stray cat or dog can call himself 'I.'

That was you just now, wasn't it, Dragon? Since you're here, this country is bound to become lively very soon...

Earlier, Zhong Hao had sensed Dragon's gaze. With a glance from the corner of his eye, he spotted that attire and quickly guessed his identity.