205. Save This Country

"Are you from the Marines?"

Upon learning that his location had been found, a young boy, seemingly around thirteen or fourteen, emerged from a hidden spot. His face was smeared with dirt, as if he intended to conceal his identity. This boy was none other than Lionel Andrew, the royal who had been avoiding capture!

In recent days, he worked hard to stay hidden, and luckily, Pizarro didn't pay much attention to him. Otherwise, relying on his limited anti-tracking technology, he might have been discovered and then meet his father, the queen, and the other authorities.

"Ah~ Admiral Sengoku sent us. We're here to rescue this nation."

Observing the forlorn prince before him, Atlas didn't show any disdain. Instead, he regarded him with curiosity.

Despite the worn-out yet opulent attire, it couldn't hide the slightly weary face, just a tad paler, with cheeks showing a hint of sunkenness. It appeared that Prince Andrew had been enduring a challenging period, not enjoying a very comfortable life.

"Marine! Please rescue our country."

Right after uttering those words, Andrew, who had been holding on, could no longer contain the fear and sorrow in his heart. He cried out loudly, his legs giving way, and he knelt before all the Marines, tears streaming down his face. In that moment, he no longer resembled a prince at all.

"Stand up, quit the tears, and fill me in on what's happening here."

Atlas raised his hand, and Andrew, who was on his knees, was promptly lifted to his feet.

He was pleased with the young lad's demeanor. Atlas wondered if it was because of the boy's youth, lacking the usual aristocratic arrogance. Otherwise, once Pizarro was dealt with, the question of who the true king would be remained uncertain.

"The pirate who took over the Kingdom of Chris goes by the name Pizarro. I've heard fellow pirates refer to him as the Corrupt King. Currently, apart from the pirates under Pizarro's command, there are others arriving on the island one after another. Their numbers might not be high, but they..."

"...Upon setting foot on the island, they immediately started burning, killing, and plundering the island's residents. Pizarro and his crew took residence in the original palace, while the other pirates occupied the central part of the kingdom, guarding the palace. The outermost region is where the fortunate survivors, including some nobles, are situated."

Despite feeling a bit nervous, Andrew's solid education enabled him to articulate the current state of the entire kingdom in a clear and logical manner.

"Are there only pirates assembling on the two floors inside?"

Atlas inquired solemnly. 

Although he had conducted a preliminary exploration of the island upon arrival using his haki, the Observation haki wasn't all-powerful. In terms of understanding, it certainly couldn't match Andrew's firsthand experience.

"Yes."

Andrew nodded emphatically. Despite seeking assistance from the Marines and agreeing to certain conditions with World Government officials, he was well aware of the situation.

Being the sole legitimate heir to the country, he also shouldered essential responsibilities as a member of the royal family. Hence, he took considerable risks to venture out and gather information about the state of the nation.

"Alright, I get it. Do you want to join us or stay here?"

"I... want to be with you!"

Andrew gathered his courage and displayed the qualities befitting a heir to the kingdom.

"Alright, let's go."

With a nod of satisfaction, Atlas lifted his feet, leading the Marines forward without relying on Andrew to guide them. With his haki, it would be a joke if he were to get lost on land. (T/N: Only Zoro can get lost even when using Observation haki)

.....

The Kingdom of Chris doesn't cover a vast expanse, comprising only a handful of small towns. Along the second ring road, there lies the largest tavern in the country, initially managed by a noble.

Now, not only has the ownership of this tavern changed hands, but it has also transformed into the prime meeting spot for pirates in the Kingdom of Chris. Pirates tend to pursue a few specific things, and it turns out that one of them is wine.

"Hey! Is the Corrupt King planning to turn this entire country into a pirate haven? Hahaha!"

"Perhaps so, or else we wouldn't be welcomed here as foreign pirates."

"Currently, the New World is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. It's only in this lawless pirate territory that we can enjoy more freedom. Curse the Sanko!"

"Shhh, lower your voice. If any of the Sanko catches wind of this, they won't even need to intervene personally. Plenty of pirates are willing to do their bidding."

Within the expansive tavern, groups of rowdy pirates congregated. Each had a fierce demeanor, with guns and clubs strapped to their waists, engaging in boisterous conversations and raucous behavior.

Being a pirate is quite challenging. It involves daily encounters with Marine pursuit and potential betrayals from fellow pirates, all while enduring the monotonous life of sailing.

As a result, many of them can only release their frustrations through drinking, or else they would risk driving themselves mad.

"Talking about the Sea Emperor, it reminds me of something..."

Suddenly, a shirtless pirate, his chest covered in a mass of black hair, appeared intoxicated as he mumbled with gossip drawn on his face.

"Huh? What's going on? Kaido of the Beasts got captured? That's old news, isn't it?"

One of the pirates looked dismissive.

"Hey~ The Marines claimed they sentenced Kaido to death. It was just a joke. How many times has this happened?"

"True..."

"Hey! Stay on topic. I'm talking about the Corrupt King."

The pirate with the hairy chest interrupted, dissatisfied.

"Corrupt King? You're daring to mention him in his territory without valuing your life? Are you drunk?"

His companion cautioned in a hushed voice.

"Hiccup~ Back off, I'm not drunk. I heard Big Mom wanted the Corrupt King as her son-in-law, but he turned her down. Can you believe that with Big Mom's temper, Pizarro can still be here safe and sound?"

The hairy-chested pirate burped contentedly, shrugged off his dissuading companions, and started to spill his big revelation.

Upon hearing these words, all the pirates were momentarily stunned, and a hushed silence settled over the entire place. Then, as if snapping out of it, they began a massive discussion.

"Hey hey hey! Is that for real? He actually dares to cross Big Mom!"

"Then we better get out of Broccoli Island pronto. With Big Mom's temper, the enforcers she's sending to conquer might already be on their way. I don't want to get caught up in that mess."

"Then what are we waiting for? Despite Pizarro being strong, he might find it a bit challenging against the Big Mom Pirates."

"Yeah, even an alliance of pirates, stronger than Pizarro a few years ago, got completely crushed by the Big Mom Pirates!"

Upon hearing the news, many pirates had already contemplated quitting. Whether the information was true or not, they were unwilling to risk their lives to confirm it. It's human nature to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.

Squeak——! !

The door of the tavern was abruptly pushed open from the outside, and an emotionless voice forcefully interrupted the pirates' discussion.

"Ah, I apologize, everyone..."

"Perhaps you won't be able to leave!!"

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