Chapter 184: Bill's Surrender
At the Goa Empire's banquet, Kael had already completed the simple yet solemn enfeoffment ceremony for everyone. Heavenly Fall Duke, Vlad the Impaler, and Fist Slayer Duke, the Three Dukes, were officially introduced. Kael was very satisfied with the combat performance of all the Barons, and under everyone's eager gazes, he made a decision that went against ancestral tradition: the participating Barons would be promoted to Imperial Viscounts, on par with pirates with bounties over 100,000,000 Berries.
Of course, Kael was the progenitor of this Hereditary Title system. All interpretation rights were in his hands. Being able to jointly fight New World elite Captains with bounties over 200,000,000 Berries, the strength of the Barons had already received Kael's approval. It seemed that their training in two-color Haki, physical combat, and swordsmanship on the Exile Emperor had not disappointed Kael.
"Don't disappoint me, Viscounts, I have high expectations for all of you."
Kael was full of confidence in these characters who had names and roles in the original work. If they didn't even have this much strength and potential, then they should go back to the Four Seas and plant sweet potatoes.
When Desire received her Viscount medal from Kael, she immediately shed tears of excitement. She knew she was the weakest Baron here, and she shouldn't have received this medal. To be worthy of this Viscount medal, she swore to become stronger! Burgess and Eldoraggo, on the other hand, all felt that they were worthy of this Viscount medal. Bartolomeo and Bege, relying on the hard power of their Devil Fruits, had single-handedly defeated elite Captains in the New World. Their Viscount medals were well-deserved.
After Nico Robin received the information from the Flower-Flower Fruit abilities, she smiled and walked towards Kael, whispering.
"Your Majesty, Silver Bill seems ready to pledge allegiance to the Goa Empire." "Those guys have even started giving Bill a title." "Bill wants to become a Marquis of the Goa Empire..."
Robin quickly reported the situation in the Silver Mine to Kael.
"Scared him, huh..."
Kael's mouth curved slightly, but it had to be said, Aramaki and Ace's Logia-type wood-fire war, with its exaggerated Thousand-Hand Giant and mini-sun, truly could scare Bill, a conceited guy who had been making a living in the early part of the New World, into a broken heart, making him recognize reality. At the end of this banquet, the members of the Silver Alliance, led by Bill, nervously walked out of the mine to surrender to Kael.
"Emperor Kael, since you have already planted your flag on Silver Island, can our Silver Alliance pledge allegiance to you?"
Bill and the others had completely forgotten their previous plan to set a trap against the Goa Empire. In any case, their trap hadn't worked, and they hadn't been exposed, so it was as if it never happened. They were now pledging allegiance to the Goa Empire without any grudges. Logically, Kael should not refuse them.
"Emperor Kael, our boss is very powerful; he has defeated a great pirate with a bounty of over 300,000,000 Berries." "Our boss is not even afraid of great pirates with bounties over 500,000,000 Berries."
To help their boss quickly become an Imperial Earl of the Goa Empire, the members of the Silver Alliance began to boast about their boss's formidable strength. Kael stroked the Seven Stars Dragon Emperor, not bothering to expose Bill's past actions. After all, Kael had the Seven Star Sword Spirit to enhance loyalty.
"Welcome to the Goa Empire!"
Kael generously accepted the Silver Alliance's allegiance.
"I've heard a bit about the title of Silver Bill." "However, if you want to become an Imperial Earl, you only need to accept challenges from the Viscounts."
Kael wanted this 'little Akainu' to give these new Viscounts some special training again. And also to let everyone see Bill's strength.
"No problem, as long as Your Majesty and the Three Dukes don't make a move."
Silver Bill immediately agreed to Kael's 'test'. As long as he defeated those obscure guys, he could rise to the top and become an Imperial Earl, standing above these guys.
"If you can't win, then you can only start as an Imperial Viscount."
Kael spoke again, wanting to see if Bill could find a way to defeat Bartolomeo, the Paramecia Barrier-Barrier Fruit user who was evenly matched.
"Alright!"
Bill was full of confidence in his strength, but according to his information, the Goa Empire seemed to only have one meritorious Viscount, right? Had some new Viscounts been promoted after the battle earlier today?
"Hey, hey, what Three Marquises? From now on, call us Dukes!" "Remember, I am Vlad the Impaler Aramaki."
After Kael and Bill finished their conversation, Aramaki immediately came out to correct Bill's address. Bill and the others didn't know just now, so Aramaki didn't bother with them. Now that Aramaki had introduced himself, if anyone got it wrong next time, he would let these guys experience the majesty of Vlad the Impaler.
"Yes, Duke Aramaki!"
Bill respectfully addressed Aramaki, seemingly confirming that his few subordinates' analysis was correct: Aramaki and Issho had indeed been promoted to the rank of Duke. He looked at Spartan, wondering if this Fist Killing Marquis had also been promoted, since he hadn't defeated Jack.
"Don't look, Spartan is also a Duke."
Aramaki continued, in his eyes, if it weren't for His Majesty wanting the title of the Three Dukes, Spartan would not have been strong enough to be on par with him and Issho. However, as the head of the Three Dukes, he indeed needed Spartan, the tail of the Three Dukes, to highlight his own strength.
"Yes! Duke Spartan, and Duke Issho."
Bill didn't expect Spartan, who had fought Jack to a draw, to also be promoted to Duke. His idea of One Emperor, Two Dukes, Two Marquises was now ruined; he couldn't piggyback on their fame anymore.
...
"Let's have a post-dinner exhibition match." "Those who want to challenge Bill, show your true abilities." "Otherwise, Bill will be an Imperial Earl, one rank higher than you."
Kael spoke calmly, letting these unconvinced new Viscounts get a good look at the strength of the Silver Alliance's boss.
"Bill is a Paramecia Melt-Melt Fruit user; he can use his body as a furnace, devouring ores and melting them into high-temperature magma and liquid metal, with terrifying destructive power."
Nico Robin reminded the new Viscounts to avoid being caught off guard and overwhelmed.
"Magma, huh? That's really terrifying."
Whirlwind Erick was a bit scared, taking a step back and shielding everyone in front of him, choosing to silently support them. This Silver Bill had defeated a powerful pirate with a bounty of 300,000,000 Berries and possessed the bearing of an Earl. He even claimed not to fear great pirates with bounties of 500,000,000 Berries. This was even stronger than those elite Captains in the New World; Erick had no confidence in fighting such a formidable person.
"Let me!"
The reckless Burgess and Eldoraggo both spoke, wanting to see what Bill was made of.
"That's right, I'm the Furnace Man who ate the Melt-Melt Fruit; my body is a super-hot furnace." "You all better be careful."
Bill smiled confidently, his entire chest and abdomen began to glow, emitting an orange light and high-temperature aura. Bill directly picked up a piece of ore, opened his mouth wide, swallowed it, and his chest became a bit stronger.
"High temperature!" "This is like Iron Bear's high-temperature steel."
Burgess was the first to charge out, his massive fist smashing towards Bill. He had fought Iron Bear before and had some experience.
"High-temperature slag!"
Bill spat a mouthful of high-temperature magma from his mouth, shooting it towards the charging Burgess. Almost no one without Armament Haki dared to block his high-temperature magma. This brute probably couldn't even compare to those Supernovas.
"He can even spit magma!"
Burgess quickly dodged; Iron Bear could only make his steel body high-temperature, but this Bill could actually spit dangerous stuff like magma.
"Without Armament Haki, you're not qualified to be my opponent!" "Furnace Giant Fist!"
Bill's entire body emitted a high-temperature aura, as if he had transformed into a high-temperature furnace, even his fists glowing with scorching heat. Some Paramecia abilities, from the outset, could overpower people without Haki. That's just how unreasonable it was.
"So hot, so painful!!"
Burgess was sent flying by Bill's punch, his massive fist directly scalded. This temperature was several levels higher than Iron Bear's. No wonder Bill could thrive in the New World, while Iron Bear could only manage in the Four Seas.
...
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