Chapter 58: Sea Knight Jinbe’s Inspection
“Does the Navy want to return to the New World? I see.”
The sixth-generation king of the Eckmond Kingdom, Sokachio Berville, was puffing on a cigar in the study, filling the enclosed small space with swirling smoke like a fairyland, though this fairyland offered no benefit to the body whatsoever.
“Cooperate with the Navy? El, this matter carries quite a high risk!”
“Is that something a king of a World Government member nation should say?” Elus rolled his eyes.
“Just speaking the truth.”
Berville waved his hand nonchalantly. “The New World is currently the territory of the Four Emperors. Even though relations between the four Pirate Emperors are far from friendly, with constant wars at the borders of their territories, there’s no doubt that if the Navy dares to extend its hand into the New World, it will absolutely be met with a fierce counterattack from the Four Emperors.”
“The Navy… not many people in this New World miss them.”
These words were quite harsh.
Yet they were undeniable facts.
The Navy’s control over the New World has always been fragile, far from the authority it holds in the Four Seas and Paradise. No matter how rampant pirates have become in the Four Seas and Paradise nowadays, the Navy has always maintained dominance there, whereas in the New World, it’s the exact opposite—the Navy has hardly ever held a strong position.
Overlords of the New World have come and gone, but the Navy has never successfully taken root here.
The people here have never enjoyed the peace and tranquility brought by the Navy, so naturally, they don’t miss it. Numerous World Government member nations, including the Eckmond Kingdom, are accustomed to fending for themselves and aren’t particularly fond of the Navy.
“However, if you think it’s feasible, I have no objections.”
Berville looked toward his eldest son sitting on the sofa.
Ever since the news of Elus’s draw against BIG·MOM spread, and the rise of the fifth overlord in the New World was boldly published in the newspaper, the Eckmond Kingdom had changed dramatically. The Eckmond Kingdom had shifted from being dominated by others to becoming one of the overlords of the New World.
There were far fewer concerns than before.
As long as it didn’t affect the actual interests of the Four Emperors, the Eckmond Kingdom could now be said to roam freely in the New World… naturally, that was an exaggeration. The murkiness of the New World wasn’t hype—beyond the Four Emperors reigning at the top, countless giants lurked beneath the surface.
“This matter doesn’t need an immediate decision. We can negotiate slowly with the Navy. Helping the Navy return to the New World is such a major event—how could we do it without sufficient benefits?”
Elus didn’t dwell much on the matter. The Navy’s desire to contend for control of the New World wouldn’t yield results in a day or two. After the initial surprise faded, there was little interest left for discussion.
An uncertain future was too distant.
Grasping immediate interests was far more reliable.
“Father, I plan to make a trip to the Red Line.”
Elus said.
“Go if you want! I’ve already prepared gifts for your grandfather.” Berville replied calmly. “Also, take Sar and Adela along this time. Let them get familiar with life on the Red Line in advance—they’ll eventually come with me to the Red Line, so getting accustomed early will prevent adjustment issues later.”
Sokachio Sar Mark.
Sokachio Adela.
They were Elus’s younger brother and younger sister.
According to Eckmond Kingdom custom, to clear the way for Elus and avoid fratricide, his younger brother and younger sister were to be taken to the Red Line to make a living.
“Grandfather has already told you?”
Elus hadn’t mentioned this to Berville yet; he had only consulted his grandfather Sokachio, who was far away on the Red Line, in advance.
Since Berville seemed fully prepared,
it could only mean his grandfather and father had already communicated.
“Of course. How could we not discuss such a major event in advance? Moreover, the Seven Warlords… El, when did you become interested in something like that?”
“Hmm, hard to say. Probably… when preparing to take over Umit’s maritime transport network!”
Elus said hesitantly.
Ambition.
It’s hard to say whether such a thing is buried deep from the start or suddenly sprouts. Elus’s situation was a prime example—ambition had always been there since childhood, but he knew well that without strength matching it, so-called ambition was just a clownish joke.
So,
he had always been cautious, scraping by and developing in the New World’s murky waters, bending to the claws of flood dragons and giants, until he killed Umit, the King of Maritime Transport, in Dressrosa. Only then did he confirm he was no longer an insignificant shrimp.
After clashing fiercely with BIG·MOM for three days and nights,
he realized he had unwittingly grown into a behemoth qualified to stir up waves in the New World.
Ambition swelled step by step in this process.
Now, he even dared to bargain with the Navy, the strongest overlord on the Sea.
So-called growth
seemed to be just like this—unnoticed, it had already expanded.
“Fine!”
Berville flicked his cigar ash. “As long as you know what you’re doing with the Seven Warlords matter, that’s fine. I can’t help much anyway. In short, if going to the Red Line, be extremely careful. Avoid trouble if possible… well, though I doubt you’ll listen even if I say it, and it probably wouldn’t help if you did.”
“No way? I don’t like seeking trouble—trouble always finds me first, okay?”
Elus defended himself.
“Heh!”
His Majesty the King chuckled amiably, offering no comment.
————
The New World had undergone new changes. Ever since the World Economic News published the news of the fifth overlord’s rise, the people living in the New World had understood that another sun now hung oppressively in the sky.
Beyond the four Emperors, a seat for a young overlord had been added.
However, the residents of the New World hadn’t yet awaited the massive storm that would shatter the existing balance. This excessively young overlord showed none of the impulsiveness or aggression of youth. He methodically absorbed the remnants of the King of Maritime Transport’s forces, bringing that vast maritime transport network under his control.
Beyond that, he showed no further aggression.
It seemed
that Umit’s legacy alone satisfied the Black Prince, with no intent to covet more.
The Pirate Emperors remained aloof above, the giants of the Dark World continued to rule their domains, and the flood dragons and giants of the New World mostly watched this young overlord’s every move with cold detachment.
The New World was vast—truly enormous, with many uncharted areas to this day.
Yet it was also small—the Four Emperors had long divided up all the easily occupiable spots, leaving the thorns and hard bones that could maneuver between them back then, and naturally, they wouldn’t shift stances now due to the fifth overlord’s emergence.
Apart from the newspaper’s flowery hype, the New World’s residents hadn’t yet felt what it was like to have another sun in the sky.
“How could nothing change?”
Polished boots kicked aside road-blocking rubble, crushing the already cold corpse bones, leaving a trail of fading blood-red footprints behind. Eschbach’s gentleness and mercy were never extended to stubbornly resisting enemies.
He stood at the royal palace’s grand entrance, the splendid majestic complex behind him reduced to vast ruins in just three minutes.
“This is the fate of resisters.”
Overlooking the former noble ministers groveling at his feet, eager to kiss his boot tips, he said coldly: “Your country is finished. From today, this is the Eckmond Kingdom’s fifty-first overseas territory. The kingdom will dispatch a new mayor to manage this city and island. Until then, cooperate with my troops to maintain order on the island.”
“If the new mayor complains to me about poor public security or low economic levels here… you know the consequences.”
“Lord, we dare not defy in any way.”
The defeated cast aside dignity, offering the conqueror their utmost humble obedience and pleas.
“Is that so? Good then. I hope your actions match your words.”
Dismissing this group of terrified wastes, Eschbach turned to gaze at the ruins behind him, exhaling deeply. Recent work had been truly exhausting.
To ensure the integrity of Umit’s legacy, Elus had sent them aides-de-camp out, forcing them to rush around the New World—suppressing reluctant resisters on one side, striking at scheming interlopers on the other. Running nonstop for twenty-four hours a day, even Zoan ability users felt bone-deep fatigue.
Stamina remained abundant, but mentally, exhaustion was overwhelming.
Especially
having to deal with a troublesome guest.
“The world has changed, Your Excellency.”
Eschbach glanced back at the Whale Shark Fish-Man standing beside him.
“Under His Highness’s guidance, and it will only get better.”
“Is that so? All I see now is endless death. Is this the ‘better’ your His Highness speaks of?” Jinbe eyed the just-subdued city coldly. The air once filled with laughter and joy was gone, replaced by endless fear and sorrow permeating the streets.
“The roots were already rotten. Is there a better way than tearing it down and starting over?”
Eschbach responded calmly: “Pain and death weren’t brought by His Highness or us, but by the New World’s law of the jungle and these nations’ long-rotted, repulsive rulers. If they can’t see the shifting winds of the New World, even if they don’t die today, they’ll fall under someone else’s blade someday.”
“I merely ended the shackles on this nation early, bringing hope of rebirth to its people. Even if many sacrificed in the process, that’s the necessary cost for pursuing hope.”
“Don’t you think it’s better for my homeland to take over these territories than to be ruled by these already decayed royals?”
The Eckmond Kingdom was naturally no perfect ideal nation.
However,
due to the strict heir cultivation methods established by the previous king.
Eckmond Kingdom’s successive kings had all been decent. They always squeezed their people a bit less than neighboring countries, and with the high profits from coffee plantations, the kingdom’s finances ran smoothly.
Thus, life for Eckmond Kingdom’s citizens was generally good—especially compared to nations under tyrants, where happiness surged dozens of percentage points.
This point
was a conclusion Jinbe reached after personally inspecting.
Interestingly, to determine if Elus was someone Fish-Man Island could entrust its future to, Jinbe had painstakingly toured every island of the Eckmond Kingdom, visiting everywhere possible except restricted areas.
Later, he even shadowed aides-de-camp, personally investigating the Eckmond Kingdom’s outward expansion.
All this
to observe Elus’s character.
For this, he even asked Elus to delay his Red Line trip, keeping the Navy fleet in Eckmond Kingdom’s port as well—since Elus hoped for Navy escort through this “perilous” New World to reach the Red Line safely.
As a World Government member nation, securing some Navy protection was acceptable.
Of course, such tasks were usually handled by Navy rear admirals, but with Vice Admiral Garp conveniently here! And to keep watch on this terrifying monster who could clash with BIG·MOM, Garp was simply left behind to escort Elus back to the Red Line, just in case something happened en route.
“Fish-Man Island… why can’t you understand the queen’s dying wish? Brother Tiger never hated humans either! He just couldn’t like them anymore…”
Jinbe’s gaze drifted empty.
He thought of Fish-Man Island.
The Whitebeard Pirates’ flag could shelter Fish-Man Island from invading pirates, but it couldn’t resolve internal issues. Many friends he once ran with in Fish-Man District viewed humans as mortal enemies—if not for Whitebeard’s terror…
Fish-Man Island might have erupted in civil war long ago.
“Looks like your days as a Seven Warlord have been tough!”
Eschbach glanced sympathetically at Jinbe.
A reminder here: don’t be fooled by Eschbach’s 350-centimeter monstrous build. Beneath that rugged, powerful exterior lay a smart, learned brain and a soft, gentle heart.
From Jinbe’s scattered words and melancholic expression, he could tell this Seven Warlord’s life was far from smooth.
“Naturally not as triumphant as your His Highness. I’m just… a rat in the cracks!”
He couldn’t find a breakout path, only struggling to hold on in this dilemma—appeasing the World Government and Navy on one side, maintaining ties with the Whitebeard Pirates on the other, pleasing both to buy breathing room and choices for Fish-Man Island and Ryugu Kingdom.
Jinbe sighed.
He hadn’t yet informed King Neptune about transferring his Seven Warlord position!
Now,
it was about time to give His Majesty the King a heads-up.
Such a big matter couldn’t shock King Neptune when reading the newspaper.
From his observations over the past few days, this Black Prince didn’t seem as hard to deal with as BIG·MOM or Beasts. Perhaps entrusting Fish-Man Island and Ryugu Kingdom to this young overlord was indeed a decent choice for the future?
Hopefully,
Fish-Man Island’s future would truly be as wonderful as Elus described!
