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"Why are there always fools rushing toward their own doom?"
Duke, who had just returned to the West Blue, sighed with a cold expression. He muttered seriously:
"Wouldn't it be nice if I could just farm peacefully and bring a bright future to the West Blue?"
But then his eyes hardened.
"Forget it. If they don't want peace..."
"Then, we'll give them war!"
"Maybe it's time they understood—West Blue belongs to me!"
It wasn't possible for the rulers of West Blue to fully hide the shady dealings of the kings controlling its underground world.
Duke had also established the Figarland Chamber of Commerce Alliance, spreading his influence across every corner of West Blue. With factories producing water and electricity worldwide, Duke had invested heavily in building infrastructure.
But just when the profits began rolling in, those kings dared to try and take advantage of his work?
"Trying to kill me is one thing," Duke thought, "but taking my money and stealing my rewards? That's unacceptable!"
Sure, there were a dozen kingdoms in West Blue allied with the World Government.
"The World Government itself?" Duke mused. "I'm still a bit cautious about them since my forces aren't fully prepared."
"But those dozen kingdoms in West Blue? They don't speak for the World Government."
"I'm sure those five old men at the top won't mind if we replace a few kings in West Blue," Duke thought with a smirk.
Meanwhile, in the South Blue, the Revolutionary Army had grown stronger with Soraka's addition. Her incredible healing powers, which could nearly bring the dead back to life, combined with her frightening combat strength, had boosted the army's morale.
In the palace of the Kingdom of Flowers, the most loyal officer of the Four Treasure Navy reported to the king:
"Your Majesty, King Troia and the others seem to be planning an attack on the Figarland Chamber of Commerce."
"This is a huge prize. Shouldn't we take action too?"
The Kingdom of Flowers, the dominant power in West Blue, had also noticed the joint efforts of more than a dozen other kingdoms.
The king, with his hunched posture, snow-white hair, and deeply wrinkled face, remained silent for a moment. His wise, piercing eyes showed a lifetime of experience. Finally, he shook his head firmly:
"The Figarland family isn't an easy opponent."
"The World Government won't stand by and let us take the biggest piece of this prize!"
"This fight isn't ours to join."
Years ago, the World Government had sent elite Marines, including Garp, to crush the Eight Naval Armies of the Flower Kingdom. Since then, they had worked openly and in secret to weaken the kingdom's strength.
Even so, the Flower Kingdom remained a formidable power to this day.
But reclaiming authority in West Blue wasn't easy.
Several kingdoms, secretly supported by the World Government and at constant war with the Kingdom of Flowers, had tied up much of its military power.
The leader of the Four Treasures Navy clenched his teeth after hearing the king's words. His eyes burned with hatred for the World Government.
Elsewhere, the king of the Kingdom of Rathgap firmly rejected yet another invitation from the Trojan kings.
Standing before the towering water and electricity factories in his land and observing the towns that had grown wealthier thanks to them, he sighed to himself:
"Even without taking over the Figarland Chamber of Commerce, these factories already bring us great wealth."
As the infrastructure improved and the people prospered, the kings naturally received more taxes—and more money.
But human greed knows no limits.
They always want more.
"By the king's decree," announced the envoys of several West Blue kingdoms, "the factories and homes built on the king's land are a violation of the king's law."
"This land, and everything on it, now belongs to the king!"
The envoys delivered this message proudly to the heads of Figarland Chamber of Commerce factories across West Blue.
In the eyes of these kings, everything within their borders was their property. Though it was little more than glorified theft, they cloaked their actions in the guise of authority.
"Belongs to the king?"
"Are you joking?"
"This is Figarland family property! What are you trying to pull?"
The factory managers protested, invoking the power of the Figarland name.
"Figarland family?" one envoy sneered.
"Hahaha! This is West Blue—the West Blue ruled by the great kings!"
"Either crawl back into your hole or die here!"
The king's envoys laughed wildly, while a large force of soldiers and hired bounty hunters stood ready behind them, weapons gleaming.
Some kingdoms might have hesitated to challenge the Figarland family outright. But with more than a dozen World Government-backed kingdoms united, the kings felt invincible.
They believed the Figarland family wouldn't dare challenge them all.
But suddenly, sharp blades struck from behind.
The envoys of the kings fell instantly, their chests pierced.
Half the troops and bounty hunters who had accompanied the envoys turned their weapons against them, rebelling on the spot.
Working alongside the factory leaders and Figarland family disciples who had already prepared for battle, they crushed the armies of the kings one by one.
With control over most of the chambers of commerce in West Blue, the powerful and wealthy Figarland family had deeply infiltrated every aspect of the kingdoms.
Duke didn't care who sat on the thrones of West Blue's kingdoms. As long as he controlled the livelihoods of everyone in West Blue, any king was just a figurehead.
"If I want," Duke thought, "I can let anyone claim the so-called noble throne at any time."
After all, power doesn't come from merely sitting on a throne. Only with overwhelming strength can one truly rule.
The flames of war engulfed all of West Blue.
The Figarland factory workers, family disciples, and countless others whose lives had improved thanks to Figarland's water and electricity factories refused to bow to the kings.
These workers, who had found hope and stability, would never hand over their hard-earned property.
They didn't see themselves as subjects of kings who only exploited them—they were part of the Figarland family.
The Figarland family was never just a simple chamber of commerce.
After taking control of West Blue's underworld, Duke focused heavily on training his disciples. With Jace's technological advancements, including upgraded equipment for the Figarland forces, their strength was enough to shake the world.
Just as Germa 66 ruled the North Blue through bloodline factors and advanced weapons, the Figarland family relied on leaders like Graves and Seti, along with Hex technology, to dominate West Blue.
Blood stained the seas red, flames lit up the skies, and smoke covered the land. The envoys sent by the kings were executed, their heads severed.
Frightened and furious, the kings scrambled to gather their remaining loyal armies, locking themselves in their palaces.
"How dare they?! How dare they defy us!"
"Those traitors—what are they thinking?"
"This is treason! Rebellion! They're making enemies of the entire world!"
"Contact the World Government immediately! Request a Marine Admiral to crush this rebellion!"
Even though the Figarland family hadn't yet stormed their palaces, the kings were terrified by their defiance and the sheer strength they displayed.
What they thought was a vulnerable, profitable "piece of fat" had turned out to be a lion with razor-sharp claws.
In Mary Geoise, the Five Elders frowned as they reviewed the desperate pleas for help sent by more than a dozen West Blue kings.
Piles of similar requests from South Blue kings lay before them as well.
"Why does it feel like the whole world is suddenly at war?"
The Five Elders groaned in frustration, their calm façade starting to crack.