Chapter 45: The Hidden Treasure
In the face of that powerful slash, even the sturdy city walls couldn't withstand a single strike from the two sword masters.
In less than two minutes of combat, all the surrounding buildings were destroyed.
Pami's body was covered with deep sword wounds, while Li Yuan had no injuries beyond torn clothing, with only a few white sword marks left on his body.
"I have witnessed your swordsmanship. Before you die, let me show you mine."
"Infinity: Void-Splitting Sword Draw Technique"
Zhan Feng sheathed his sword and then instantly drew it, unleashing a massive sword energy slash that extended 150 meters.
The sword energy was incredibly sharp and fast, even breaking the sound barrier. Pami could only react instinctively, placing his sword in front of himself.
"Crack!!!!"
However, in the face of that powerful and sharp slash, even Pami's long sword, covered with Armament Haki, was broken. He could clearly feel his throat being cut!
"Please..."
Pami knew his life was slipping away and reached out, trying to ask something of Li Yuan.
"Sorry, I refuse!"
Li Yuan coldly turned away, knowing full well what Pami wanted.
But he wouldn't agree; he wasn't the type to feel sympathy for his opponents and grant their requests after a duel.
Furthermore, this person, who didn't even know his name, wasn't strong enough to earn Li Yuan's respect.
"Bang!!!!"
Unable to hear the answer he wanted before dying, Pami's unyielding eyes remained open as his body fell.
"Everyone, start looting!!!"
Li Yuan shouted to the eager pirates behind him.
"Long live the Decapitating Sword Master!!!"
"Charge!!"
"I want to loot, I want treasure!!"
The pirates, excited by Li Yuan's words, jumped off the ship and rushed into the Kingdom of Pano, killing anyone who dared to resist.
In an instant, the once-peaceful Kingdom of Pano became a hell on earth, ravaged by a group of pirates.
Li Yuan watched all this unfold without saying a word, as he was the mastermind and the one who benefited the most.
He paid little attention to the pirates and headed straight for the palace. The noble district was left to Kano and the others to plunder, while the palace was his.
"Your Majesty, let's leave quickly. General Pami can't stop those ruthless pirates."
Inside the palace, an old minister was advising the King of Pano, who was seated on the throne.
"Prime Minister, as the King, how can I abandon my people and flee alone? You need not say more."
The King of Pano shook his head and firmly replied.
"Very well, you are a king who loves his people, but unfortunately, you don't have the strength to protect your kingdom. So, to prevent your kingdom from suffering further losses, hand over all your treasures."
Li Yuan appeared silently before the King of Pano, looking down at him.
"Guards, protect the King!!!"
The Prime Minister shouted instinctively upon seeing Li Yuan's sudden appearance.
"Step, step, step!!!"
There were still some guards in the palace, and they quickly rushed in.
"Hmph!!!"
But Li Yuan unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, enveloping the soldiers, who immediately fell unconscious.
"My patience is limited. Will you hand over the treasures, or should I search for them myself?"
"If you hand them over, you'll at least keep your lives. If I have to find them myself, you won't survive."
The King and Prime Minister weren't affected by Li Yuan's Conqueror's Haki, as he could control its coverage area at will.
Some kingdoms had hidden vaults, which Li Yuan might not find himself. The best way was to have the King hand them over.
"As long as you promise not to harm my people, I will give you all the treasures in the kingdom."
The King of Pano trembled as he spoke.
"You have no right to negotiate with me. Either die or hand over all the treasures. My patience is limited. You have three seconds to decide!"
Li Yuan placed the Zhan Feng sword against the King's throat, threatening him.
"I, I'll give them!!!"
Feeling the chill on his throat, the King of Pano finally succumbed to death, knowing that the kingdom could be restored as long as he lived.
"Lead me to the treasury!"
Li Yuan said with satisfaction.
As for the other treasures in the palace, Kalu and the others would naturally come to collect them later.
Since Li Yuan led the team, the main share would naturally be his, while the other pirates could only follow along.
"This is the treasury!"
The King of Pano soon led Li Yuan to the treasury.
"Is this all?"
Upon entering the treasury and seeing so few treasures, not even amounting to five billion, Li Yuan's expression turned grim.
Such few treasures hardly seemed fitting for a kingdom's treasury.
"The King of Pano is too poor to pay the Celestial Tribute, so he couldn't join the World Government's alliance."
The King of Pano quickly explained upon hearing Li Yuan's remarks.
"Hmph, I think you're not being honest!"
Li Yuan snorted coldly.
"A mere dark vault, trying to escape my Observation Haki."
Li Yuan slashed at a hard wall beside the treasury. Though the wall was two meters thick, it was split open under Li Yuan's strike.
Once the wall was broken, it revealed another treasury, with treasures three times as many as outside.
"It's over!!!"
These treasures were the accumulation of the Kingdom of Pano over the years, untouched even when unable to pay the Celestial Tribute.
The kings of Pano knew these treasures should only be used in times of life and death, or to rebuild the kingdom after its destruction.
Even other kingdoms' experts had used Observation Haki to probe but found nothing. How did this pirate find it? The King of Pano was perplexed.
"You can die now!"
After finding the hidden vault, Li Yuan ended the King of Pano's life.
"If it weren't for your own eyes and emotions giving you away, I wouldn't have found it."
After the King of Pano died, Li Yuan muttered an explanation to him.
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