Chapter 25 Who To Blame?

"Finally we're back." Arch sighed as he gazed at the island enlarging in his vision. 'We've made quite the haul, after all 410 Million plus the 190 Million they had in savings, that's another 600 Million Beris!' Arch thought in excitement looking back at the chests filled with money.

Sure, for the World Government this sum could be considered pocket change but for the current Arch and Tigria as a whole this could be used to nicely boost their position and Arch was already considering what to do with it.

'Maybe more ships? I mean I could go to Water 7 but now isn't the optimal time, on the other hand I've already purchased military equipment so that's a no go.' Arch deliberated as they approached the port.

Immediately Arch's attention was grabbed. "What the..." Arch said as he rushed to the edge of the ship gazing at the the port and the town in shock. "We, were attacked and I was gone." He mumbled seemingly lost in his own thoughts. 'I've failed haven't I, how many people died? How much damage was done? Have I lost the trust of the people.'

Thought after thought flashed through Arch's mind, Tigria was bound to be attacked by pirates at some point, but Arch didn't think it would be the second he wasn't around. Once the ship was close enough to the island, Arch immediately hopped of the boat landing on the damaged port.

Seeing the various soldiers and workers running around repairing the damage he couldn't help but feel his heart ache. Soon one of the civilians noticed him, and they locked eyes. "What happened here?" He asked with a shaky voice.

"Y-Your Majesty." The civilian muttered, almost instantly all gazes turned to Arch, and immediately all their faces lit up. "How did the Lawless capture operation go?" They asked, it was naturally no secret due to the amount of people required for it so most people knew about it.

Arch was stunned to say the least. 'Are they putting up a facade or are they just trying to avoid the topic?' He was confused to say the least. "Rather than that what happened here?" Arch questioned once again.

This time their faces visibly changed, looks of sadness dawned on their faces. A few seconds later a soldier finally dropped to his knees seemingly guilty about something. "Y-Your Majesty! The Frost Saber pirates attack 2 days ago, out of the 500 soldiers guarding 300 lost their lives and 20 Million Beris worth of damage has been done!" The soldier cried.

".....I am sorry." Arch apologised, before walking forward. "I know there's nothing I can do about the lives lost, but I'll try my best to right this wrong." Arch declared before bowing. He then made his way to the capital, and then entered the palace.

As he was walking towards the throne room, Arch spotted a tall heavily bandaged figure. "Bro-" "Arch! I've failed you!" Apollo dropped to his knees leaving Arch stunned. Seeing this Arch had an odd expression on his face. "No its my fault, if I hadn't left we wouldn't have lost so much..." Arch sighed.

"But that doesn't change the fact that I couldn't fulfill my role properly! That I failed at defending the Kingdom and the people!" Apollo voiced, his guilt was on an extreme level. Sighing Arch shook his head.

"Brother, I have to warn you, things or only going to get tougher and tougher and tougher as time goes on so if you couldn't handle this, its best you throw in the towel now." Arch stated the cold hard truth. "That doesn't mean you can't feel guilty though. Rest up, I am going to make sure the pirates who did this pay."

Apollo breathed out heavily before standing up. "They're already dead." Apollo said his bandaged figure towering over Arch. "......Thank you." Arch replied patting his brother on the shoulder. "Ow, could you not, don't you see I am injured here?" Apollo laughed lightening up the mood.

The two brothers then went their separate ways, and Arch entered the throne room. A few minutes later 4th and Ade arrived. "Greetings Your Majesty, I trust the operation went well?" Ade said before kneeling.

"Yes but that's not what I need. I am assuming some of the soldiers arrived at the palace by now, and they should be carrying some chests?" Arch questioned, to which Ade nodded. "Good have them placed in the treasury, Aristophanes I'll need you for sometime." Arch continued.

Realising that Arch wanted him to leave, Ade left to handle the incoming Beris. "...Have I failed?" Arch let out a sigh, he had been sighing a lot today. After a brief moment of silence 4th spoke up. "Only time will tell brother." He replied, he was 9 years old but that didn't mean he was lacking in intelligence.

"Hahaha, I guess you're not wrong. My reign has been too smooth so far, I got a bit full of myself we're truly a weak Kingdom." Arch laughed. "4th the repairs for the damage will be paid in full via the treasury, the families of the fallen soldiers should naturally be reimbursed as usual. Lastly I want a monument built for the fallen, with all their names listed." Arch commanded.

"Anything else brother?" 4th asked he wanted to make sure there was nothing else to do. "Is Achilles still learning the sword?" He replied, to which 4th nodded. "Okay he's forbidden to use the sword and I want him to begin training with the Kuja, effective immediately." Arch demanded.

At first Arch had naturally been annoyed at his youngest brother's actions, but apart from a beating he hadn't done too much he had turned a blind eye in a sense although the thought had always irritated him since that day. Now though, Arch's perspective had changed, even just based on the monetary value Achilles had consumed 500 Million Beris, besides that if Arch had to wait for Achilles to grow up to finally do his part then he at least wanted to make sure he didn't waste that fruit.

'How many could've been saved if I was more decisive?' Arch contemplated, but he knew he'd get no answer, for all he knew the Mera wouldn't have changed everything, that or it could've changed everything but dwelling on it any longer would do no one any good.

With that the town was quickly rebuilt and the families were reimbursed, the 600 Million Beris were safely deposited, and a monument was erected. It was a metallic block engraved with the names of the fallen, with a statue of a roaring tiger atop it.

The monument was aptly named, the "Roaring Tiger" and it would stand for decades to come. Around this same time the soldiers who escorted Arch back to Tigria left for Lawless with the Autumn Breeze restocked with supplies.

Lastly Achilles finally stopped training his sword techniques, and began his training with the Kuja needless to say he wasn't too happy few took pity on him, but that didn't matter because Arch had already decided.

Like this a week had passed and Arch had solidified his will. Pointing his finger at a tree, it briefly turned into a claw, suddenly 10s of wind blades emerged and disintegrated the tree. Arch smiled when he saw this sight.

"It seems I am growing stronger." He muttered now that the Kingdom had calmed down after a week, it was time to implement Arch's next strategy. 'Doesn't everyone love schools?' Arch chuckled.