Chapter 115: Secret Control of the Kingdom of Alex

"What you see isn't necessarily real!"

Just as Roosevelt thought he had seen through Li Yuan's move, he realized it was a feint within the sword technique.

This misjudgment allowed Li Yuan to find an opening, striking Roosevelt's chest with his sword.

"No!"

Realizing his mistake, Roosevelt tried to recover, but it was too late to bring his sword back, forcing him to twist his body.

"Shhh!!!"

Despite his efforts, he couldn't completely avoid the attack, leaving a deep sword wound on his abdomen.

"You are indeed a great swordsman and possess sword intent like I do."

"But your speed is too slow, your strength is lacking, and your Haki is weak."

"You lack experience against powerful opponents and have grown up in an overly comfortable environment."

"All these factors create a vast difference between us!"

As Li Yuan spoke, his sword strikes became even faster.

"…"

Though Roosevelt could hear Li Yuan's words, he had no time to respond.

After his initial mistake, he found himself at a severe disadvantage.

Li Yuan's sword was incredibly fast and powerful. Even though Roosevelt's own sword intent could counteract some of the force, the raw power and Haki behind Li Yuan's strikes left him on the defensive, unable to retaliate.

"A candidate for admiral-level great swordsman!"

Through his exchanges with Roosevelt, Li Yuan had fully gauged his opponent's strength.

In the Four Blues, a great swordsman of this caliber was indeed powerful.

Considering that the pirates in the Four Blues rarely surpassed the strength of a vice admiral, Roosevelt's strength was more than sufficient to protect the Kingdom of Alex.

But unfortunately for him, he faced Li Yuan. Despite Li Yuan's youth, his experience in battling strong opponents far surpassed Roosevelt's.

Li Yuan had survived the harsh New World, unlike Roosevelt, who had grown in the relatively peaceful Four Blues.

Had Li Yuan not been interested in seeing Roosevelt's swordsmanship, he wouldn't have lasted many strikes.

"I've understood your sword intent."

"Your value is exhausted."

"This fight ends now!"

After forcing Roosevelt back with a strike, Li Yuan coldly declared.

"Unless you step over my dead body, I will never let you destroy this country!"

Despite being covered in wounds, Roosevelt's eyes remained steadfast. His resolve to protect his country hadn't wavered despite his opponent's overwhelming strength.

"One Sword Style: Sword of the East!!"

In a moment of reprieve granted by Li Yuan's indulgence, Roosevelt seized the opportunity to attack.

He concentrated all his sword intent into his blade, his Armament Haki flowing as he charged at Li Yuan, delivering the strongest strike of his life!

"Infinite Sword Technique: Evil Dragon Void Slash!"

Li Yuan also pushed his Infinite Sword Intent to its peak, the sword energy transforming into a dragon that merged with his Seven Star Sword, unleashing all its power in one strike.

Their final clash wasn't marked by a cataclysmic explosion or a sky-splitting slash.

Instead, they charged at each other with extreme speed, exchanging positions in the blink of an eye.

When they finally stopped, they stood back-to-back, holding their initial sword stances.

"Your protective sword intent is impressive."

"But in this world, without absolute strength, you can't protect what you wish to protect."

Li Yuan straightened, speaking to Roosevelt with his back turned.

"Please…"

"Cough, cough…"

"Bang!!!!!"

As Roosevelt heard these words, he coughed up blood, using his sword to keep from collapsing.

"The fate of this country depends on itself!!!"

Li Yuan said calmly.

Seeing Roosevelt had sparked a different decision in Li Yuan's mind, though its success was uncertain.

"Thank…"

Before Roosevelt could finish his sentence, he blacked out and fell.

"Mari, Kano, take the men and loot all the treasures from this country's nobility."

"Remember, don't waste time on the commoners. I want all the nobles' treasures as quickly as possible!"

Having defeated Roosevelt, Li Yuan instructed his men to proceed with their tasks.

"Don't worry, senior brother, we know what to do!"

Kano said excitedly. They were well-versed in such operations by now.

"Also, have someone dress his wounds. Don't let him die."

"And make sure he's detained so he can't escape."

Li Yuan said, indicating the fallen Roosevelt.

He hadn't killed Roosevelt because great swordsmen were rare, and killing one meant there would be one less.

Li Yuan intended to capture him for now.

With that, Li Yuan headed for the Alex Royal Palace.

"Queen Elizabeth, while General Roosevelt holds off Supreme Swordsman Li Yuan, please use the escape passage to leave the country!"

"As long as you're safe, the Kingdom of Alex will endure. You can return once Supreme Swordsman Li Yuan leaves."

Inside the Alex Royal Palace, ministers urged their queen to flee.

Despite being a swordsmanship powerhouse, the Kingdom of Alex had a female monarch!

"You needn't persuade me further. My mind is made up. I won't abandon this country in its time of peril!"

"My uncle is fighting at the front; as the queen, how can I abandon my country?"

Though only fifteen, Elizabeth El exuded determination far beyond her years.

She hadn't become queen at such a young age by chance; she was smart and resourceful.

"Buzz!!!"

As El finished speaking, a powerful Conqueror's Haki swept through the palace, knocking out everyone except El.

"How can this be!!!"

Though El had heard of Conqueror's Haki, this was her first time witnessing it.

"Supreme Swordsman Li Yuan!"

Despite her youth, Queen El was composed and drew the ornate sword symbolizing her royal power upon realizing Li Yuan's arrival.

"Who would have thought that in the swordsmanship powerhouse of the West Blue, the Kingdom of Alex, the monarch is a woman. Quite surprising."

Li Yuan appeared before El, holding his Seven Star Sword, a smile playing on his lips as he observed the queen, who indeed had a regal presence.

"What about my uncle?"

Seeing Li Yuan here, El instinctively knew something was amiss.

"The great swordsman named Roosevelt?"

"He has been defeated by me, but since he is a fellow great swordsman, I spared his life."

Li Yuan casually walked over and sat on the throne.

"What do you want?"

El asked, her gaze locked on Li Yuan.

As queen, she possessed the wisdom of her position. Since Li Yuan hadn't killed her uncle and had incapacitated everyone in the palace, leaving only her, she doubted he was merely after the kingdom's treasure. He undoubtedly had ulterior motives.

"I prefer speaking with smart people without beating around the bush."

"I want quite a bit. First, all the treasures, Devil Fruits, and swordsmanship heritage of this country's nobility and royalty."

"Second, I want the Kingdom of Alex to secretly become part of my forces."

This idea emerged only after witnessing a great swordsman like Roosevelt.

Li Yuan's ambition was to conquer the world, which meant he would eventually break into the Four Blues from the New World.

Having a strong nation like Alex as an ally in the West Blue would significantly ease that transition.

Moreover, while the Kingdom of Alex lacked top-tier power, its lower and mid-tier strength was commendable.

"You are too greedy!!"

El's expression turned grim as she faced Li Yuan.

This pirate before her was too greedy, wanting not only the country's treasure but its heritage and for it to become part of his forces.

As queen, El found this unacceptable.

"Becoming part of my forces would only be in the shadows, not publicly."

"Publicly, the Kingdom of Alex remains as it is, still a World Government member nation, just one that's been plundered by pirates."

"Furthermore, I won't take all the treasure. I'll leave you a portion to continue paying the Heavenly Gold."

"Moreover, I've spared the commoners, ensuring the kingdom's stability."

"Once you're part of my forces, I won't demand much from you. In the future, I'll help your kingdom grow to become the first in the West Blue."

"Finally, you have one minute to decide your course of action."

"Do you want to remain queen or die for your country, allowing me to choose another royal who accepts my proposal to be king?"

Li Yuan explained his intentions at a leisurely pace.

Even as part of the Rocks Pirates, with his forces not yet fully formed, Li Yuan was already laying the groundwork for his future.

Hearing Li Yuan's words, El gripped her sword tightly, wanting nothing more than to cut him down.

But reason warned her against impulsiveness, knowing that rash actions would doom the country.

El didn't believe the promises Li Yuan made; they were merely empty words.

She pondered how to save her country.

"In this world, to protect something, absolute strength is paramount. Without strength, everything else is just talk."

"You submit to the World Government, offering them the Heavenly Gold, because they possess the power to annihilate your nation with a word."

"Similarly, I have the power to destroy your nation, so submitting to me is no different than submitting to the World Government."

If not for the intelligence he perceived in the woman before him, he wouldn't have wasted his breath.

Promoting a foolish ruler could spell disaster for his plans.

"Strength, indeed, it's strength. This country is too weak!"

El realized, her eyes opening to the truth. If she had the power to defeat Li Yuan, she wouldn't be in this predicament.

"I accept your proposal!"

At the final second, El agreed.

Faced with overwhelming strength, she had no other choice. Otherwise, the nation would face annihilation, and she would perish.

Ambitious and cunning, El had outmaneuvered other royal candidates to become queen at fifteen.

"Good, you are a wise queen."

"But don't try to deceive me. I know your thoughts."

"For instance, the treasure hidden 30 kilometers east of the palace, meant for restoring the nation, with the key being your sword."

"You intended to keep this treasure from me, didn't you?"

"This is your first mistake and will be your last. If I discover any other deceptions, you will lose your throne."

Li Yuan stepped forward, lifting El's chin with a smile as he looked into her eyes.

"I…"

Hearing Li Yuan's words, El's face paled.

"How does he know what I'm thinking?"

"Is it the power of a Devil Fruit?"

"Damn, if that's the case, I'll be under his control forever!"

El's mind was in chaos.

"You still think you can escape my control? Let me tell you, it's impossible. If I, Li Yuan, choose to control someone, unless they defeat me, they'll never be free!"

"Provide me a list of those who threaten your rule. I'll ensure these threats are dealt with, as I want no hidden dangers in my kingdom."

Li Yuan said, smiling as he looked at El.

The act of secretly controlling a World Government member nation, especially a swordsmanship powerhouse, was something only he could dare and achieve.

"Give me the sword. I'll return it once I'm done."

"Come with me, or else my men might harm you if they find me gone."

With that, Li Yuan took the ornate sword from El and led her silently to the treasury of the Kingdom of Alex.

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