84. Change of Heart

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When Anos appeared, Aokiji didn't seem surprised. Even though Anos had no intention of joining the World Government, Aokiji knew that the World Government would find a way to pressure him into it.

After serving in the Marines for so long, Aokiji understood the World Government's methods well.

The procedures for joining the World Government weren't as complex as one might expect; they were surprisingly straightforward.

Under Aokiji's guidance, they took only a couple of detours before reaching the agreement site, a space of barely three square meters.

It looked more like a hotel front desk than an official government office.

Not only was it low-grade, but it also seemed to show the World Government's contempt for the kingdoms joining their ranks.

"Alright, here we are. Just sign the agreement right here," Aokiji said with a lazy smile.

Anos glanced around, his smile fading as his expression darkened. A wave of anger rose within him.

"Admiral Aokiji, are you telling me such an important matter as joining the World Government can be settled here?" Anos asked in a low voice.

"What more do you expect? This is the standard procedure," Aokiji replied indifferently.

Anos sneered, then approached a nearby staff member who looked half-asleep.

With small eyes and a distant gaze, the staffer finally noticed Anos and asked casually, "Which kingdom do you represent? What's your title?"

"Tru Kingdom, South Blue. I am the king," Anos replied.

"Just sign here, and you're all set," the woman said, barely looking up as she handed him a crumpled sheet of paper.

The paper looked as though it had seen better days, with faded ink and uneven colour.

Some of the writing was smudged, making parts of the agreement unreadable.

"Are all the other Kingdoms handled this way?" Anos asked Aokiji, turning his head.

"I wouldn't know; this is my first time seeing it myself," Aokiji shrugged.

Anos took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger, though his frustration was evident.

To be treated so casually and expected to pay exorbitant tribute, only to be met with this level of disrespect was galling.

"So, this is the World Government? How disappointing," Anos muttered. He glanced at the squinting staffer, then turned to Daiki. "Let's go."

"Your Majesty, what about the agreement?" Suzu called out, uncertain. They had come all this way intending to join, and leaving now would waste all their efforts.

"It seems the World Government has no place for us. Why should we humble ourselves any further?" Daiki agreed with a sneer.

Aokiji merely watched with a helpless expression as the situation unfolded.

"You might want to reconsider. While the World Government won't force you, they will likely send someone later to encourage your allegiance. Why let anger cloud your judgment?" Aokiji cautioned.

Anos turned to him, his gaze icy. "If this were handled differently, I might feel differently. As a Marine Admiral, I trust you understand."

With that, Anos stormed out.

Any optimism he once had for joining the World Government vanished. Initially, he'd believed that joining could benefit Tru's trade and economy, but now he felt no goodwill toward them.

In this world, there were many ways to grow a kingdom's economy without aligning with the World Government.

Aokiji didn't stop him. After all, this wasn't his business.

Once they reached the white jade plaza, Anos looked back at the imposing World Government headquarters, resentment evident in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, what's our next step?" Daiki asked.

"What do you think of this place?" Anos replied with a slight smile.

"I don't think much of it."

"But leaving like this… is it okay?" Suzu asked cautiously.

"There's no need for us to make ourselves a target. We have Alabasta as a potential ally, after all," Anos remarked with a smirk.

"But, Your Majesty, what if the World Government's CP units pursue us?" Daiki asked, concerned.

He remembered the strength of the CP agents and wondered who might come next.

Anos had made up his mind. "We'll deal with that if it happens. Whether we join the World Government or not won't change much for us."

"Their attitude today, however, has made me rethink everything. Once on board, inform Barlow to set sail immediately. I'll show you all something even more thrilling tonight."

Daiki followed his king without question, though he was slightly puzzled.

As they descended the long steps and boarded the ship, the rest of the crew eagerly awaited the outcome.

But the only order from Anos was, "Set sail."

The details of what transpired remained unknown to the crew, but as Anos cast one last glance at Mariejois atop the Red Line, a slight smile hinted at new plans forming in his mind.

This departure marked a complete break with the World Government. Nearly all previous strategies were disrupted, but this shift would only lead Tru Kingdom toward a new path, without affecting their broader goals.

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