Chapter 56: Seeking Follow-up Reads! The Slave King's War Preparations!
Tutmos Kingdom, as mentioned before, is a desert nation. However, unlike Alabasta, it is located in the South Blue and experiences normal seasonal changes, with its most beautiful season being winter.
In winter, the entire Island is covered in falling snow, blanketing the golden Sand Sea with a layer of ice and snow. The scene of white and gold intermingling provides a visual aesthetic.
Although the entire Kingdom is a medium-sized Island, it only has one City called Shabak, or Sand City for short.
Vast land and sparse population, a desert Environment, and a single City – all these factors give the impression of weakness and poverty, to the point where even passing Pirate Ships are too lazy to waste time coming ashore.
But what the world doesn't know is that beneath Shabak, the apparent Capital City, lies an extremely vast Underground Space. Layer upon layer of buildings shimmer with bright yellow lights, and amidst the coming and going of people, shouts, Screams, wails, and cries mingled. It seems every corner of the air here is filled with despair and pain.
Soldiers wearing Green Collars, dressed in White Robes, and armed with whips, Battle Axes, Spears, or Muskets patrol and guard various areas. Each of their faces is expressionless, making them look extremely terrifying.
Looking into the distance, one can see the tallest and most striking Pyramid building, which is the true Royal Palace of the Tutmos Kingdom.
Just recently, the 'Slave King', King Taklamakan, a name well-known in the Underworld, received News that a Marine Headquarters Fleet was coming to capture him.
However, sitting on the Golden Throne, he showed no Reaction, and his High-Level Subordinates below could not discern the King's Expression.
This was because King Taklamakan wore a Golden Mask on his face, and his attire was in the typical Pharaoh Style: a white robe, a wide neckpiece, and a Golden Scepter held in his hand.
In the Main Hall built with massive stones, stood four High-Ranking Officials dressed in white robes. On either side stood Royal Guard Warriors who were Young and Strong Males.
"Your Majesty, do we need to prepare for evacuation?" one of them hesitated before being the first to ask.
King Taklamakan, seated on the Throne, countered with a question.
"How many people, how much Treasure, and how many Ships can be evacuated in about two hours?"
"This..." The Official hesitated, then asked, "Should we notify the Slave Catchers outside to return for Support?"
"No."
King Taklamakan seemed to have his own thoughts and immediately refused him.
"The total number of Slave Catchers is only about ten thousand. There are less than two thousand in the South Blue, and even fewer can return in a short time. Their arrival is meaningless. Even if all ten thousand could return, what good would it do? They are not personnel meant for combat."
"Then what is Your Majesty's intention?" the Official asked, puzzled.
"My intention is that evacuation is definitely necessary. Since we have been exposed, we must find a way to return to the Darkness!"
King Taklamakan, adorned in gold, stood up from the Throne. This clearly revealed his two-meter-tall, muscular physique. The cold Mask looked down at the four people below.
"But now the first batch of the Marine Fleet has arrived at our doorstep. To preserve most of our Strength, we must first defeat them, and then, before the second, stronger Fleet arrives, disappear into the Darkness!"
Upon hearing this, the four Officials suddenly understood and grasped His Majesty the King's idea.
"Two hours are enough for us to prepare for War. At the same time, prepare the Ships. After defeating the Marine Fleet, immediately transfer the main Troops and all necessary Supplies and Treasure!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"However, should we bring those Slaves with us?" another Official asked, as Slaves were the primary source of income for their Tutmos Kingdom.
"Bring fifty thousand of the most valuable Slaves. The rest will sleep beneath this Desert. It can be considered a decent burial ground," King Taklamakan made the decision without hesitation.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Officials responded in unison again. No one spoke a word for the abandoned Slaves, because if they dared to speak up, they would immediately become one of them.
"Have you found the Data/Files on Rear Admiral Dragon and Rear Admiral Aven?" King Taklamakan asked.
"Your Majesty, regarding Rear Admiral Aven, according to Intelligence from the Slave Catchers in the Grand Line, he is a quite excellent Sword Master, but there is nothing else particularly noteworthy about him. On the contrary, Rear Admiral Dragon requires your attention."
"Oh, is he an Ability User?"
"No, the Intelligence found by the Slave Catchers indicates he is a Non-Ability User, but his Identity is very special."
"Tell me about it."
"Yes, Rear Admiral Dragon, full name Monkey D. Dragon, is the Son of Marine Hero Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp. It is said this is his first time leading a large Military Mission as the Commanding Officer."
Hearing Garp's Name, King Taklamakan's Gaze beneath the Golden Mask became solemn. As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss, but as the Slave King of the Underworld, he knew many things that ordinary people could not access.
Most Civilians believed that the reason Garp was called the Marine Hero was because he had pursued the Roger Pirates for a long time, cornering them multiple times, and finally personally arresting them and sending them to the Execution Platform.
But the King knew clearly that this was not the case, or rather, it was not the main reason. According to his speculation, the strength of Vice Admiral Garp might even surpass that of the Marine Admiral known as 'Sengoku the Buddha'.
"Have you found out where Vice Admiral Garp is currently?"
The Minister responsible for Intelligence respectfully replied, "The Slave Catchers did not find his specific location. It is said that Vice Admiral Garp has always been a lone wolf, a person at Marine Headquarters who goes wherever he pleases. However, they say there are rumors that Vice Admiral Garp recently returned to his Hometown in the East Blue."
"Is that so..."
King Taklamakan sighed in relief. At the same time, he thought that he should try to spare Dragon's life during the upcoming battle. There was no need to completely provoke Garp over this.
If Garp could relentlessly pursue Roger for over a decade, he could probably also chase him for over a decade to avenge his Son.
He did not want to provoke a mad dog with the World's Highest Combat Power!
"Alright, everyone go and prepare!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Soon, in the Underground City of the Tutmos Kingdom, the over thirty thousand strong Slave Guard Legion began to make significant movements. They brought out Guns and Ammunition, and even Cannons, in large quantities, and then transported them through the Underground Passage to the Nearshore Area, beginning to establish layered Defense Lines and Traps.
The Foundation built over decades by the Slave King was fully activated at this moment.
Simultaneously, batches of Young and Strong Males were pulled out of the Prison Cells. Under the guard of Soldiers on both sides, they lined up and walked towards the large Pyramid. No one knew what King Taklamakan intended to do...
In short, everyone knew that this was a War, a War involving tens of thousands of participants on both sides!
Out on the Great Sea, Dragon's Fleet had also rendezvoused with the Fleets from the 194th Branch, 242nd Branch, and 289th Branch of the South Blue. At this moment, the scale of the Marine Fleet was exceptionally large.
Five Headquarters-Grade Large Warships, each fully loaded with a thousand Headquarters Marines, two Cannon Decks, and three Triple-Barreled Anti-Aircraft Turrets, totaling thirty-three Large-Caliber Cannons.
Eighteen Branch-Grade Small Warships, each with one Cannon Deck, totaling twelve Medium-Caliber Cannons. Among these, eight Warships from the 194th Branch were fully loaded with five hundred people, while the remaining ten were the standard three hundred people.
The Total Military Strength across all Ships was twelve thousand!
Although it seemed inferior to the Tutmos Kingdom's thirty thousand strong force, Dragon believed that their side was stronger in both Combat Power and Firepower.
One Rear Admiral, fifty Marine Headquarters Officers of various ranks proficient in Six Powers, and some who had even eaten Devil Fruits, were enough to suppress the Soldiers who spent their days guarding Slaves.
As for King Taklamakan, he would naturally deal with him.
Although the Intelligence indicated that the Slave King's strength surpassed his own in all aspects, Dragon did not feel the slightest fear because of this.
Thinking of saving hundreds of thousands of Civilians by defeating the opponent, the hot blood in his body began to boil. This was the War of Justice he had always dreamed of!
"Target, Tutmos Kingdom!!"
Dragon, accompanied by a Green Whirlwind, flew in the air and issued the Order to the massive Marine Fleet below, which consisted of twenty-three large and small Warships.
"Depart!"
(End of this chapter)