September, Sea Era 1508.
Nearly two years had passed since the outbreak of the Golden Sea War.
A new round of heavenly tribute was gradually being delivered to Mary Geoise, allowing the World Government to breathe a sigh of relief.
Last year's heavenly tribute had fallen far short of previous years. Every affiliated nation needed to restore its economy and public order, leaving little to spare for the tribute.
Some affiliated nations could not pay any heavenly tribute at all, and would remain unable to for several years.
As a result, last year's heavenly tribute had amounted to only a fifth of the usual total.
This year was better. Although recovery was still incomplete, the tribute had reached sixty or seventy percent of the usual amount.
Of course, prices had risen quickly, but they were falling very slowly.
The actual value of this heavenly tribute was therefore not as high as it appeared.
For the past two years, the World Government had been tightening its belt to get by.
Without the wealth plundered from the many factions in Mary Geoise, the World Government would not have lasted this long.
After two years of effort by the Marines and the World Government, order in the Four Seas had undoubtedly recovered considerably.
This was especially true of the trade routes connecting the affiliated nations.
Whenever pirates appeared, the Marines struck them down.
Under this all-out crackdown, pirate numbers across the Four Seas had fallen sharply, while the prisons at every Marine Branch and Impel Down were overcrowded.
The armies of the affiliated nations had also taken part, gaining extensive experience and considerably strengthening their military capabilities.
Their primary purpose, however, was to suppress the increasingly active Revolutionary Army.
Compared with pirates, the Revolutionary Army undoubtedly posed a greater threat.
Once a rebellion