Rosset Kingdom —
Outside the Royal Palace.
After roughly an hour on foot, Kai and Rob Lucci finally arrived at their destination and informed the gate guards of their purpose.
"King Rosset IV rules this country," Lucci offered in a clipped tone as they waited. "The line's about three centuries old… Two hundred years ago, Rosset joined the World Government, but it wasn't as wealthy as now. A century ago, Rosset III discovered a unique environmental advantage for cultivating special fruit—key to their famous wines. From there, the kingdom's economy took off."
"Rosset IV…" Kai narrowed his eyes, listening quietly.
Soon the gate guard returned. "Sirs, His Majesty will see you now."
The armored royal guard cast the two of them a doubtful look. The World Government and the Marines… sent two kids to meet the king? He didn't get it—but it wasn't his place to ask.
Led inside, they crossed into a palace steeped in opulence. Gold-trimmed columns, jeweled fixtures, immaculately polished floors, carefully manicured flowerbeds—everything screamed wealth. A sweet floral scent drifted through on the breeze.
After a short walk, the escort halted at a grand audience hall. "Please—the king has been waiting."
"Let's go," Lucci said, expression as blank as ever. He pushed open the doors himself, no trace of hesitation—if anything, a hint of hauteur. Kai followed, taking in the gilded surroundings with a quiet sigh. No wonder pirates targeted this place. A kingdom this rich, yet light on military strength, was a natural fat sheep for wolves at sea.
On the dais sat a middle-aged man in a splendid gold robe, a bit thick around the middle, features oozing the easy fullness of long prosperity.
King Rosset IV, Kai thought. He held his tongue. For this meeting, Lucci would do the talking; a four-year-old's words rarely carried weight in a throne room.
At the sight of their faces, Rosset IV's brows lifted. He couldn't keep the disbelief out of his voice. "You two… are the World Government's envoys for the urgent rescue?"
The World Government is joking, right? Two children? One of them barely out of the cradle?
He'd paid tribute for years—wine and gold, even offerings to the Celestial Dragons. Now his nobles and five hundred royal guards had been taken hostage by pirates, the kingdom itself under a knife… and the Government sends this? A thirteen-year-old and a four-year-old?
Anger flared beneath the king's composure. Do they think our tribute hasn't been rich enough? How greedy do they intend to be? He didn't dare say it aloud; an affiliate nation couldn't afford to offend the boss. But the sting remained.
"Your Majesty," Lucci said evenly, "we're here to coordinate the operation—how we'll conduct the rescue."
Rosset IV exhaled hard, smothering his temper. So it really was two kids. "And your plan is?"
"Withdraw all your men," Lucci replied without ornament. "From here on, leave the rescue of your nobles and soldiers to the two of us. Do not interfere. I don't want your troops caught in our crossfire. If your people simply don't get in the way, that will be the greatest help."
"What a tone," the king snorted softly, eyes cold as he studied the boy. He'd expected pleas for support, a request for the army to coordinate. Instead—this "envoy" came to warn him off?
Was this confidence… or arrogance?
Two brats, hair barely grown, talking about facing butchers with bounties in the tens of millions as though swatting flies—ridiculous. In his heart, Rosset IV dismissed it as a farce. They'll be the first to die.
In the end… we can rely only on ourselves, he thought darkly. The Government's leeches were never dependable.
Still, politics was politics. After a pause, the king nodded. "Very well. I'll order a full withdrawal immediately. The rescue will be in your hands."
He might not believe them, but he could keep up appearances. Backing these two was the World Government—no matter how small they looked, they were still imperial envoys. Even a king did not posture before that shadow.
"Then wait for good news," Lucci said, turning on his heel. "Within three days… the pirate problem will be solved."
Kai glanced once at the king—Yep, not buying it at all—then followed Lucci from the hall.
He didn't blame the man. A four-year-old and a thirteen-year-old promising to pry five hundred captives from a four-thousand-strong pirate band? On paper, it sounded insane.
Watching their backs recede, King Rosset IV's face darkened. Two snot-nosed kids to save my nobles? The World Government is playing me. He clenched his fists on the throne, eyes gloomy.
Let's see how long your bravado lasts…
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