Construction was well underway at the 16th Branch's new docks. With Vegapunk on board, Dante's long-term plans were finally starting to take shape.
The only problem was the scarcity of good shipwrights in the East Blue, especially experienced ones. Dante was already making plans to send a recruitment team to Water 7, perhaps even hold a job fair. He could have just relied on Vegapunk, of course, but the man already had his hands full. Dante couldn't very well ask him to focus solely on shipbuilding. In fact, Vegapunk had already complained about his workload, reminding Dante that he was only one man and couldn't possibly do everything at once.
Still, as long as the funding was there, Vegapunk was more than willing to dabble in these "boring" side projects in his spare time. Speaking of which, Dante had also tasked him with researching airships.
The moment Vegapunk saw the design blueprints for Enel's Ark Maxim, the concept of a sky-faring vessel ignited his imagination. A torrent of new ideas flooded his mind, and he unceremoniously kicked his new boss out of the lab. He told Dante not to bother him with anything non-essential, as he needed to focus on bringing his new visions to life before any more distractions came along.
Dante could only shrug and leave him to it, postponing his other grand ideas for the scientist.
'The man is a genius, though,' Dante thought. He seemed to know everything. His budget was steep, yes, but he never wasted a single Berry, it all went straight into his research. The only real problem was that Dante couldn't clone him.
Soon enough, the 16th Branch would be building its own warships.
For now, the branch's main priorities were clear. First, they had to manage the spoils from their last expedition, which included taking control of several new territories, a process that would take time. Second, they needed to recruit more Marines. And third, they needed to make money.
Especially money.
The branch's income relied on three main sources. The processed tangerine products brought in a steady, reliable profit.
The cosmetics line, meanwhile, was growing more popular by the day, so much so that Dante had asked Vegapunk to upgrade the factory equipment to increase production. It was quickly becoming one of their most important industries.
The third source was Mock's side business, but that was becoming more difficult. They had so thoroughly cleared out the budding pirates of the East Blue that there were hardly any left to hunt.
Dante sighed at the thought. To keep that revenue stream alive, they might have to expand their operations to the Grand Line or one of the other seas. But the thought of sending Mock to "revive the pirate glory of the North Blue" was laughable. The man would be beaten to death if he tried anything like that.
After checking on the training camp, the docks, and the factory, Dante stopped to give Kuina some pointers on her swordsmanship. Finally, he returned to his office, where he found Robin already at work. A cup of black tea, conjured by one of her sprouted hands, was already waiting for him. He picked it up, took a sip, and asked, "How are things going on the Conomi Archipelago?"
"Everything is in place," Robin replied, looking up from her work. "We've sent personnel to manage the new islands. As you requested, we assigned the people we brought from the other Member Nations to territories near their former homes." She paused, a faint smile. "I imagine the kings and nobles of those nations are starting to get headaches by now."
--**--**
As the "Revive East Blue Pirate Glory" operation drew to a close, a fragile calm settled over the sea once more. The pirate uprising hadn't lasted long, but its impact on the Member Nations was hard, especially for the royalty and nobility. The treasures they had lost were gone for good, leaving them with crippling financial losses. To compensate, they turned to the one solution they always did: raising taxes.
In the Michael Kingdom, one such nation in the East Blue, the policy was in full effect.
"Have those filthy commoners been driven out yet?" King Patterson asked, his voice dripping with disdain as he looked down at the gray-bearded old man before him. "Get them out of here. I won't have them dirtying my beautiful kingdom."
"They have been, Your Majesty," the old man said, his expression pained. He hesitated for a moment. "But... they are citizens of the Michael Kingdom, too."
"Citizens who can't pay their taxes have no right to be my subjects," Patterson sneered, his eyes narrowing. "Buck, are you questioning my decision?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Buck bowed his head quickly. "Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty. It's just... the taxes have been raised so many times, people simply cannot afford to pay." He looked up pleadingly at the corpulent king. "The Heavenly Tribute has been gathered. Can we not stop now? Any more, and everyone will be left homeless."
"Shut up! The Heavenly Tribute might be paid, but my personal losses have not been recouped!" Patterson's face twisted with scorn. "I know you've always looked down on me. You think that pathetic failure was the true king, and I have no right to this throne. But I don't care what a commoner dragged up from the mud thinks. Honestly, if he hadn't given up his position and made me promise to keep you on, I would have dismissed you years ago!"
Buck sighed and lowered his head again. 'Forgive me, King Russ.' He was not a noble, but a minister promoted by the former king for his merits. Russ had been a true king, a man who cared for his people, but the other nobles had driven him out. Buck had wanted to leave with him, to repay his kindness even with his life, but Russ had persuaded him to stay, hoping he could watch over the kingdom.
'If you leave, there will be no one left to care for the commoners,' Russ had told him. 'The country will truly be beyond saving.'
So Buck had endured the humiliation, hoping to honor his promise and protect the people. But just as Russ had predicted, the country was beyond saving. Patterson and the nobles treated him like a joke. No one ever listened to his counsel.
"Please, Your Majesty, forgive me!" he said in hollow tone.
"I forgive you, Buck. After all, you are the minister my dear brother begged me to keep! Hahaha, how amusing," Patterson cackled, a gleeful look on his ugly face. "I will make you understand who the true king of this nation is. I will make the Michael Kingdom as beautiful as Goa, a nation worthy of the World Nobles approval!" He glared down at Buck's bowed head.
"Now, continue to increase the taxes. My treasury is not yet full!"
"Your Majesty!" A desperate look returned to Buck's face. "The treasury is nearly full. It will be complete soon even without another increase. The people have no more money to give!"
"No money? Then they can get out! The Michael Kingdom has no need for them. Of course," he added with a cruel smile, "if they are willing to become slaves, I would be happy to let their families stay. I am, after all, the benevolent King. Now remember your place and go collect my taxes."
The word "benevolent" spoken by this demon filled Buck's heart with rage. He couldn't bear it any longer. He had failed King Russ completely. 'I'm sorry, my king!'
Just as he was about to stand and unleash his fury on the fool before him, a royal guard burst into the room. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
"Insolence!" Patterson snapped, his pleasant mood ruined. "You are my personal guard. Calm yourself." He waited for the guard to catch his breath. "Now, what is it? Have the pirates returned? Or those greedy Marines?"
"No, Your Majesty!" the guard gasped. "It's the destitute... they..."
"What about them? Did they finally agree to become slaves?"
"No! They're leaving! They're leaving the Michael Kingdom!"
Patterson stared at him in confusion. Buck, his anger momentarily forgotten, looked up as well. Leaving? Where could they possibly go?
"Speak plainly!" Patterson demanded.
"A group of people arrived to recruit laborers, Your Majesty," the guard explained quickly. "All of the homeless have gone with them. And many of the commoners from within the city walls are following!"
"Recruiting laborers?" Patterson stood up, his face red with fury. "Who dares come to my kingdom to poach my subjects? And those fools are just following? Have the guards not driven them away?"
"We cannot, Your Majesty! The one leading them... it is King Russ!"
The name hung in the air. Before Buck could even process it, Patterson let out a loud laugh. "Russ? I heard he was captured by pirates and sold as a slave. Even if he has returned, so what? Drive him out! No, capture him! I will give my foolish older brother a very warm welcome!"
"We can't capture him!"
"And why not? Don't tell me you plan to welcome him back as king!"
"No, Your Majesty, my loyalty is to you! It's just..." The guard's face was pale. "King Russ... he's working for one of the Shichibukai now. As long as a Warlord doesn't plunder a Member Nation, we can't act against them. Not even the Marines can touch them." He took a shaky breath, his expression complicated. "Your Majesty, people are pouring out of the capital to join him. They say he is offering work and wages, a life where they won't starve."
"Damn him! Is he trying to destroy my kingdom?" Patterson roared, whirling to face Buck. "Stop them! Don't let a single person leave! Tell them if they agree to become slaves, I, the benevolent King Patterson, will allow their families to remain for another year! Go! Hurry!"
"Yes!" Buck replied, a subtle glint in his eye. "I will see to it at once."
With that, he turned and rushed from the room before Patterson could say another word. The king watched him go, a flicker of surprise on his face that quickly turned to satisfaction.
"Hmph. For a commoner, he is at least loyal to the kingdom."
A moment later, however, another guard ran in, even more frantic than the first.
"Your Majesty!" the guard shouted, breathless. "Lord Buck... he rode straight out of the city and joined Russ! And... and he took the entire town with him!"
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