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(A/N: If you want to see more chapters, go to my P@treon to see more chapters ahead. You can see more than 20 chapters ahead of everyone on my P@treon: [email protected]/VoyageToGlory
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Yuba City
Under the relentless blaze of the scorching sun, the city of Yuba seemed to be on the verge of being baked alive.
Once a thriving city, it now bore the marks of exhaustion and despair. The rebel army, which had initially numbered only a few thousand, had grown into a formidable force of 300,000.
Despite their overwhelming numbers and military presence, they maintained strict discipline, refraining from harming the local population. Yet, the city teetered on the brink of collapse, its spirit eroded by the unyielding drought and ongoing conflict.
Inside a modest, dimly lit tent, Cobra sat cross-legged. His gaunt and haggard appearance revealed the toll the past months had taken on him. Across from him sat a young man with short hair and glasses—Koza, the leader of the rebel army.
"This country is doomed—it has no hope left." Koza stated bluntly, his gaze fixed on Cobra: "Your Majesty, it's been two months since you surrendered yourself. You've proven your innocence in our eyes, but Alubarna still sees rain while Yuba and the surrounding cities remain parched. I believe you had no part in orchestrating the drought; otherwise, you wouldn't have willingly let us take you captive. However, I cannot bring myself to trust this so-called new king, and neither will we recognize him."
Cobra's voice was hoarse, each word was carrying the weight of his exhaustion: "Will you continue leading the rebellion?"
Koza sighed deeply, his expression conflicted: "It's not that I wish to rebel, but the kingdom has left its people with no other choice." His voice grew firm, tinged with frustration: "You tell me this is all a conspiracy orchestrated by Crocodile, but I find it impossible to believe. How could a pirate ever become the king of Alabasta? He has no reason to do so, and neither the World Government nor the Navy would ever allow it."
Koza's skepticism was shared by many. The idea that Crocodile, a Warlord of the Sea, could be behind the kingdom's turmoil seemed far-fetched. No matter how chaotic Alabasta became, a pirate could never legitimately claim its throne. What motive could he possibly have to target the Royal Family?
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a commotion outside the tent.
Koza rose to his feet and stepped outside, his eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene. A large bird descended from the sky, its wings was beating powerfully. As it approached the ground, the bird transformed mid-air into a human figure. It was none other than Pell.
"Don't move!" Shouted a rebel soldier as the group quickly surrounded Pell, their weapons drawn and aimed at him. Despite the tension, Pell remained calm and composed.
"It's you… Pell, the Falcon." Koza murmured, his voice was a mixture of surprise and bitterness.
When he was a child, he had idolized Pell and Chaka, the stalwart protectors of Alabasta who had patrolled the land alongside King Cobra. But now, that admiration felt like a distant memory, tainted by the chaos that had engulfed the kingdom.
Ignoring the hostile stares of the rebel soldiers, Pell reached into his robes and retrieved an official document. Handing it to Koza, he said in a serious voice: "Koza, this is a letter from His Majesty. The King wishes to negotiate with you."
"Negotiate?" Koza sneered, as he stared coldly at Pell: "Is he coming to Yuba himself?"
"The Royal Family will not bow twice." Pell replied with equal frost. His disdain for Koza was written all over his face. To him, no justification could excuse the rebellion.
"If you truly care for the people, you should read this carefully." Pell shook his head and said.
Koza took the letter from Pell, his earlier smug demeanor faded as he scanned the contents. His expression grew serious with every word he read.
"The Royal Family is willing to allocate 10 billion Beli to construct a network of water pipelines centered on the Sandora River to connect all cities. In exchange, the rebels must unconditionally surrender and release the former king, His Majesty Cobra. Additionally, the rebels must provide labor for the project and agree to face a fair trial under the laws of the Kingdom of Alabasta after the work is completed."
Koza clenched the letter in his hands, unable to process what he was reading. The idea of deploying 10 billion Beli for such an undertaking seemed utterly absurd—far beyond what he believed Alabasta's resources could support.
"Unless the new king can produce the money upfront, I refuse to believe this nonsense." Koza snapped, crumpling the letter like discarded trash and tossing it aside. His disbelief was evident as he turned back to Pell: "This has to be some elaborate trick. It's impossible."
"This letter was personally written by His Majesty and represents a binding commitment of 10 billion Beli." Pell responded coldly: "The Captain of the Royal Guard, Chaka, is already on his way to Yuba with the first 2 billion Beli in funds. The first pipeline will begin construction here. Furthermore, the king has decreed that, if possible, the old canal systems will also be restored, with additional funding allocated for that effort. If you still don't believe it, then throw the letter away—it makes no difference."
Without waiting for a reply, Pell transformed back into his falcon form and soared into the sky. If he had stayed any longer, he might not have been able to restrain his anger toward the rebels.
In Pell's mind, the Royal Family's resources and determination were sufficient to carry out the projects even without the rebels' cooperation. Eventually, the rebels would become isolated, exposed as the true traitors to the people.
Koza watched Pell's retreating figure, his mind conflicted. The weight of the proposal pressed down on him like a storm cloud. Yet, he sneered, shaking his head in defiance as he watched the letter flutter on the ground: "Only a fool would believe this!"
Unbeknownst to him, Cobra had quietly approached, standing at his side. He said in calm and deep voice: "I suggest you pick it up."
Koza turned to face the former king, his disbelief was still evident, he shook his head and said: "I don't believe the new king has 10 billion to spare."
Cobra chuckled softly, a faint smile spread across his worn face. He watched the crumpled letter drift farther away, and said: "Do you know why I felt secure stepping down and handing the throne to him?"
Koza remained silent, his expression was skeptical.
"It's because, in just one month, my son earned one billion Beli." Cobra said, his voice filled with a mix of pride and hope: "His remarkable business acumen gives me faith in Alabasta's future."
Unbeknownst to even Kael himself, what had truly impressed his father wasn't just the amount of money he had earned but the ingenious methods he had employed. In Cobra's eyes, Kael was nothing short of a financial prodigy, capable of securing a bright future for their nation.
Koza fell silent. After a moment of hesitation, he walked after the letter, retrieving it from the desert sand. Brushing it off, he carefully folded it and slipped it into his pocket.
"I hope what you said is true." Koza said in a low voice, glaring at Cobra.
---
Two days later, as promised, a convoy of carts arrived in Yuba, laden with resources and the first installment of 2 billion Beli, escorted by Chaka himself.
The rebel camp fell into chaos. Faced with such immense wealth and the practicality of the proposed policies, even the most steadfast rebels felt their resolve waver. After all, these were the very demands they had been fighting for.
Word of the delivery spread quickly through the rebel ranks. Though there was skepticism and doubt, the gesture of goodwill began to shift opinions.
For many who had lost everything, the sight of tangible support from the royal family stirred a glimmer of hope. Presented with 2 billion Beli and the promise of change, many rebels began to reconsider their stance. Why not give the kingdom another chance?
Kael, the young new king, unintentionally solidified a mysterious and undeniable authority among the rebels. His strength, decisiveness, and—most importantly—his overwhelming financial power left even the harshest critics questioning their assumptions.
Finally, Koza made his decision. He would personally travel to the Royal Palace to meet the new king. If the talks succeeded, he vowed to escort King Cobra back safely.
---
Two days later, Koza arrived at the Royal Palace.
He was led by Pell into the palace gardens, a place he immediately recognized as the most breathtaking spot in all of Alabasta.
Lush greenery blanketed the area, wildflowers bloomed in vibrant clusters, and foliage thrived in every corner. It was more than a garden—it was a sanctuary of life, rare and precious in the arid desert kingdom. Here, even the weeds seemed to hold value, creating a strange yet poignant reminder of Alabasta's struggles.
As they ventured deeper into the garden, Koza spotted Kael. The young king stood with his back to them, gently stroking a wildflower as if lost in thought.
There was an air of calm about him, yet an undeniable pressure loomed—the shadow of the promised 10 billion Beli hung heavily over the encounter. For the first time, Koza felt the weight of the man before him. Kael wasn't just a king; he was someone who might truly have the power to transform Alabasta. But who was he, really?
Without turning around, Kael spoke in a calm and direct tone: "What are the demands of the rebels?"
The bluntness of the question caught Koza off guard. Gathering his thoughts, he replied cautiously: "Your Majesty, I can't fully trust you yet. Until all our demands are met, the rebels won't back down."
"I accept that." Kael said, finally turning to face Koza, and said in a steady voice: "What else?"
Koza hesitated before speaking again: "Please don't punish those who joined the rebel army. Many of them are innocent."
Kael's eyes hardened as he looked at Koza, his expression was unreadable: "The situation you created—dragged the kingdom into chaos and even taking my father hostage—do you really think everything will be resolved simply by disbanding the rebel army?" His voice became sharper as he continued: "I will keep my promise—not because of the rebellion, but because Alabasta is my kingdom. It is my responsibility to ensure my people live good lives. But no one will escape punishment."
Koza froze under Kael's piercing gaze. Though Kael's words carried sincerity, there was no mistaking the seriousness in his tone. Kael's resolve was unshakable, and Koza felt a chill run down his spine, his back damp with cold sweat.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Koza responded: "All I ask, Your Majesty, is for mercy. Most of those who joined the rebellion did so only because they wanted to survive."
"The punishment for most of the rebels will be light." Kael said in a neutral tone: "But justice must be served for those truly guilty—especially the leaders, including you."
Koza froze. Kael's voice, though calm, carried an unmistakable sharpness that sent a chill down his spine. Fear and unease welled up within him.
"Koza, you've committed an unforgivable sin." Kael said bluntly, his piercing gaze fixed on him: "You didn't even know who your true enemy was, yet you allowed yourself to be manipulated into rebellion. Because of your ignorance, innocent people's blood was spilled. Thousands of Alabastans have died, directly or indirectly, because of your actions. Do you feel no guilt for what you've caused?"
Koza's face turned red with anger and shame as he shot back: "The royal family is also at fault!" His voice was filled with frustration, unable to bear the thought of the innocent lives lost due to his decisions.
"My father tried his best." Kael responded calmly: "He even used the Royal Treasury to buy water supplies to alleviate the drought. Instead of supporting him, you led a rebellion, making the situation worse than it ever had to be." Kael shook his head in disappointment.
Then, with a calm voice filled with respect, Kael continued: "My father willingly relinquished his crown and endured two months of imprisonment. That is a punishment far greater than death. He did this to atone for what he believed were his failures to his people. He was a truly great king."
Kael's words struck a nerve, leaving Koza speechless. The weight of guilt settled heavily on him. After a long silence, Koza finally conceded. He agreed that once the construction projects were completed, he and the other rebel leaders would accept whatever punishment the Royal Family deemed fit.
As Koza prepared to leave, he hesitated for a moment before turning back to Kael: "Who is truly behind all of this—the Dance Powder?"
Kael's gaze hardened as he replied without hesitation: "If you still can't figure out the answer after everything that has happened, then you're the most idiotic person I've ever met."
Koza flushed with embarrassment, the shame cutting deeper than Kael's words. Without replying, he quickly left the palace.
Koza's naivety and lack of political experience had made him an easy pawn in a much larger game. He was like a starving dog chasing a bone, desperate and blind to the trap being laid before him.
Crocodile had exploited this desperation perfectly, manipulating Koza and the rebels into doing his bidding without them ever realizing the true scope of his plan.
---
After Koza returned to Yuba, Kael sent another 2 billion Beli to the city, further demonstrating his genuine commitment to solving the drought problem. The move solidified his sincerity in the eyes of the rebels and the citizens alike.
Seeing Kael's determination and earnest intentions, the leaders of the rebellion finally made their decision. They escorted Cobra back to the capital and formally announced their surrender to the Royal Army.
However, they refused to disband the rebel forces, opting instead to remain intact for reasons of security and trust.
Shortly after this pivotal event, Ocean Headlines published a decree signed by Kael, detailing the huge "River of Life" project. The plan outlined the construction of a massive network of water pipelines across Alabasta to bring life and prosperity to its cities.
In a kingdom where news often took over a month to travel from one region to another, the decree reached every corner within days, thanks to the 300,000 newly distributed phones. It was then that people realized the revolutionary devices were a creation of none other than their new king.
Almost overnight, Ocean Headlines became the most trusted source of information in Alabasta, surpassing the influence of traditional news networks.
Kael seized this momentum, establishing a government channel on the platform to communicate new policies and reforms directly to the public. This innovation eliminated the outdated practice of posting decrees on public boards and ushered in a new era of transparency and accessibility.
Within just ten days, even as the River of Life project was in its early stages, the kingdom was swept into a frenzy of demand for phones.
The phones became a symbol of progress and hope, and citizens clamored to own one. Despite Kael's extraordinary efforts to improve his physical strength and abilities, enabling him to produce over 10,000 phones daily, it wasn't enough to satisfy the insatiable demand for mobile phones.
Kael's innovations not only transformed the way Alabasta operated but also cemented his position as a leader capable of bringing real change to the kingdom.