Chapter 118: King Cobra, Your Choice?
In the First Half of the Grand Line, on Saintine Island, the Continental Island where the Alabasta Kingdom is located.
"Yo—do re mi fa so~~~"
A voice filled with a bel canto singing style sounded from outside the room.
Immediately, a man over two meters tall, with golden curly hair and wearing a high-ranking court attendant's uniform, pushed open the door adorned with patterned reliefs and walked in holding a finely crafted Royal Attire.
"Igaram, is something the matter?"
King Cobra, only twenty-four years old and having just inherited the Throne (Position), gently looked at the newcomer, his arm around Queen Ti Ti's slender waist, and smiled.
"Your Majesty, this is the newly made formal attire. Wearing it to attend your first Reverie will surely make you full of confidence and look majestic and noble!"
"What do you think, Titi?"
King Cobra lowered his head and asked his wife.
The latter walked two steps forward, stroked her chin, and carefully examined the formal attire, which was primarily yellow with green as secondary. Then she turned around and revealed a smile so beautiful it was beyond compare.
"It looks great!"
"Hahahaha, really? Since the Queen said so, alright, I'll wear this one!"
King Cobra laughed heartily with great joy.
"This year's Reverie is unusual. It's truly good luck that I can encounter such an agenda item in my first time participating in the Reverie. This year will surely be a year recorded in history!"
The young King clasped his hands behind his back, looking at the prosperous scene of the Capital Alubarna outside the window, feeling only a grand ambition burning in his chest.
"Although I don't know why the World Government suddenly showed such great mercy, this King must strongly assist in eliminating slavery from the world and let all races live equally!"
Seeing her husband so excited, Queen Ti Ti, whose beauty was 90% similar to the future Princess Vivi, walked over and smiled gently:
"Then will we be able to see the legendary beautiful Mermaids here in the future?"
"Uh, this... Mermaids probably don't really like the intense heat here. As for beauty, in my heart, you are the most beautiful woman. I believe even a Mermaid wouldn't compare to the Queen..."
King Cobra looked at his wife affectionately and said.
This made the latter lower her head, her face flushed with shyness.
Igaram, behind them, quietly exited the room.
But just as the King and Queen inside the room were about to share a romantic, affectionate embrace by the Floor-to-Ceiling Window—
"Yo—do re mi fa so~~~"
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
[Bang!]
The next moment, Igaram, who had just left, pushed the door open and entered again, and he was running.
This made Queen Ti Ti shyly and quickly push King Cobra away.
She quickly slipped into another small bedroom, leaving the latter looking at Igaram with a face full of helplessness.
However, this young King truly had a good personality. He didn't get angry or upset about this, merely sighed and asked:
"What happened? It's really rare to see you looking so flustered, Igaram."
"Your Majesty, news just came from Yuba! The World Government Officials' ship has arrived and they said they are coming here immediately to see you!"
"World Government?"
King Cobra's expression immediately turned serious.
Thinking in his heart, regarding the agenda item for this Reverie, he had already given Senior Director Coulson of the Administrative Department a clear answer. So why are they coming this time?
To be honest, anyone or anything related to the World Government must be treated seriously.
"Travel by ship along the Sandora River to the Alubarna Dock, then ride a Camel from there. It will take about two hours. Igaram, go make preparations."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The latter heard the order, turned around, and went to arrange it.
Two hours later, King Cobra sat upright on the Throne. Standing below the platform were Captain of the Royal Guard Igaram, and two current 'Guardian Deities of the Kingdom'.
They were Ability Users who had inherited the powers of the Animal-Type Tori Tori no Mi, Falcon Form and the Animal-Type Inu Inu no Mi, Jackal Form, and they were also Adjutants of the Royal Guard.
However, they were not the future Pell and Chaka, because those two were only teenagers this year.
[Thump thump thump thump]
At this moment, the sound of leather boots stepping on the floor rang out from outside. Immediately after, five expressionless Men in Black, emitting a cold aura, walked in.
One in front, four behind!
Seeing the appearance of these people, Igaram and the two Adjutants all revealed wary gazes.
"Greetings to King Cobra of the Nefertari Clan. I am Warner, a Senior Director of the Poneglyph Processing Division, directly under the Historical Research Department of the Proclamation Government Institute."
The leading Man in Black, who had white skin and wore gold-rimmed glasses, gave a self-introduction without smiling, which also made King Cobra frown.
Poneglyph Processing Division?!
This immediately made him recall the legend only passed down orally by successive Kings.
"We have come this time because we received reliable Intelligence. A Poneglyph is hidden in your country's Royal Tomb, and it is a Poneglyph that records the location of 'Pluton', one of the Three Great Ancient Weapons."
Senior Director Warner continued to utter cold words, his gaze also gradually becoming sharp. At the same time, it made King Cobra inwardly think 'not good', but his expression remained calm.
"May I ask where your Intelligence comes from? How can you be sure it is reliable? Do you have Evidence? If so, can you show it to this King?"
"This is Confidential. Cannot be disclosed. You only need to cooperate with us to enter the Royal Tomb and inspect."
King Cobra's expression became serious, and he said in a deep voice: "Since you know about the Royal Tomb, then you should understand its significance to Alabasta, to the Nefertari Clan. How could I possibly allow you to go in and mess around?"
As soon as his voice fell, Igaram and the three others took a step forward, their gazes fixed tightly on the five Men in Black opposite them. But the latter treated them as if they were invisible.
"We won't mess around. We just need to see if there is a Poneglyph inside. If there is, just let us take it away. Other than that, we will not pursue Alabasta's responsibility." Senior Director Warner said.
"What this King means is, you should produce Evidence. If there really is, then this King can accompany you on a trip. If not, sorry, no!"
King Cobra said sternly and righteously, but this also made the atmosphere between the two sides become tense. Senior Director Warner was silent for a moment, the corner of his mouth curled up into a cold smile.
"Evidence?"
He raised his right hand and beckoned. The Men in Black behind him immediately took out a Photo from their pocket and handed it over. After receiving it, the former casually flicked it, and the Photo instantly turned into an afterimage and flew towards Igaram.
"What are you doing?!"
The two 'Guardian Warriors', 'Falcon' and 'Jackal', were immediately provoked and drew their Weapons to defend themselves. The Royal Army around the Main Hall also aimed their long-handled axes with angry expressions.
"Don't act rashly!"
Igaram took the Photo and found it had little force upon reaching his hand, knowing that the other party had no intention of harming anyone. He quickly shouted to stop them, saying, "I'm fine."
After speaking, he quickly walked up to the royal platform and handed the Photo to King Cobra.
The latter's pupils contracted upon seeing it, but immediately showed anger. He slapped the Throne forcefully and stood up, saying angrily: "How dare you trespass into the Royal Tomb Forbidden Area? Who gave you the Authority?!"
On that Photo, it was precisely the Poneglyph placed at the Entrance of the Royal Tomb.
"We just went to get the Evidence you just requested. Now, you have seen the Evidence, haven't you?" Senior Director Warner put away his cold smile and looked at the other party expressionlessly.
"Now, please make your decision. Is it to cooperate with us and take the Poneglyph, or resist the World Government's Prohibition?"