Chapter 220: Suzaku Mansion!
"What 'Lady Rem'!" the young man said in a low, mysterious voice.
He leaned forward, looking left and right as if sharing the most guarded secret in the world.
"I heard it directly from the Mink Tribe lords stationed here! From now on, we won't be just some ownerless island floating in the middle of nowhere anymore!"
"Oh? What is it then?" Everyone leaned in curiously.
The clinking of wooden bowls and iron spoons paused as all eyes fixed on the young worker.
The young man puffed out his chest, his face filling with an incomparable pride and an honor he had never known in his entire life.
He took a deep breath, speaking word by word to ensure the weight of his statement was felt by everyone.
"I heard from the Mink Tribe lords that Lord Suzaku is establishing a brand new country!
Our Purple Bamboo Island is no longer just a mere territory! We will also become direct subjects of this new country!
We are... citizens of the Vermilion Bird Kingdom!"
"Vermilion Bird Kingdom..."
Simon murmured the magnificent name, his heart pounding uncontrollably against his ribs.
The words tasted foreign but incredibly sweet on his tongue, carrying a weight that completely erased the decades of humiliation they had suffered.
"That's right!" Old Man Shuzo slapped his thigh, his weathered face flushed with a fiery, youthful excitement.
Tears of disbelief and overwhelming joy glistened in the corners of his wrinkled eyes.
"Who would dare to bully us in the future? Who would dare demand tribute from us now?
Standing behind us is Lord Suzaku, the supreme powerhouse who completely defeated the invincible Beasts Pirates!"
"I heard that once the great pier is fully built, real, massive merchant ship routes will finally open up for us!
When that time comes, the purple bamboo ware from our island can be sold all over the four seas!"
"My goodness, how much money would that make! We might actually become rich!"
The construction site was instantly filled with a cheerful, boisterous atmosphere that bordered on a festival.
The fatigue of hauling heavy stones and massive timber vanished, replaced by an endless spring of motivation.
Simon slowly wiped the sweat from his brow and looked up at a newly erected flagpole next to the half-finished pier.
That massive flag, with a deep crimson background and a golden Suzaku spreading its wings, fluttered loudly in the salty sea breeze.
Once upon a time, seeing a pirate flag of any kind would only fill him with a bone-deep, paralyzing fear.
A pirate flag meant plunder, death, starvation, and the tearing apart of families.
But now, when his eyes traced the elegant curves of the golden bird, what surged in his heart was an unprecedented sense of absolute peace and brilliant hope.
That flag wasn't a symbol of terror; it was an unbreakable shield protecting their future.
These miraculous experiences, all happening in such an incredibly short span of time, made him fully realize the truth.
It made all the traumatized islanders realize that a steady, prosperous, and peaceful new era had finally arrived on their shores!
...
Meanwhile, far across the newly formed sky archipelago, the mainland of Wano Country had officially been renamed the Vermilion Bird Kingdom!
On this ancient land, once heavily suppressed by the Iron Blood, toxic pollution, and brute force of Kaido and Orochi, a brand new capital rose like a phoenix from the ashes of the old era.
The Flower Capital had been entirely replanned and massively expanded outward.
The once simple, cramped wooden houses had now integrated a fantasy-like, grand architectural style.
Towering walls made of perfectly cut, reinforced white stone replaced the fragile wooden fences.
Wide, meticulously paved streets designed to accommodate massive influxes of trade and military movement stretched out like arteries.
Under Suzaku's direct proposal and visionary planning, this new capital possessed an Eastern classical charm while simultaneously exuding the unique, overwhelming allure of a world-conquering empire.
At the very center of this breathtaking new capital, a majestic, imposing mansion stood proudly on the highest elevation.
It was a fortress of absolute authority, casting a protective yet intimidating shadow over the bustling city below.
Above its grand, towering lintel hung a massive plaque carved from the finest, most expensive agarwood in the world.
On the dark, polished wood, three massive characters were carved in a flowing, dominant script—Suzaku Mansion!
The brushwork was vigorous, wild, and incredibly grand.
It looked as if every single stroke contained an extreme, piercing cold that could instantly freeze all things in creation.
Simultaneously, the calligraphy possessed a terrifying sharpness that felt as though it could cut through the very heavens, making anyone who looked up at it feel a profound, awe-struck reverence.
It was written by General Esdeath herself, using her ice abilities as the brush.
Every stroke, every curve, and every sharp edge completely revealed her unique, tyrannical Haki and her bloodthirsty ferocity.
At this moment, inside the main hall of the Suzaku Mansion, the atmosphere was incredibly serene.
The hall was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate a thousand people, decorated with magnificent, gold-inlaid reliefs depicting scenes of conquest.
However, right now, it seemed a bit empty, highlighting the sheer scale of the supreme ruler's domain.
Lord Suzaku was sitting in the main seat, a position that elevated him above all others.
He was leaning lazily back in a massive, imposing throne carved entirely from a single piece of high-grade, pitch-black obsidian.
His posture was relaxed, his powerful presence restrained, and his fingertips were tapping the cold armrest nonchalantly.
Each tap echoed softly in the vast hall, sounding like the steady ticking of a clock dictating the fate of the world.
Standing perfectly straight before him were the two twin maids, Rem and Ram.
They stood respectfully, their heads slightly bowed, preparing to report the final results of their recent, world-altering 'moving' efforts.
"Lord Suzaku," Rem spoke first, breaking the silence.
Her crisp, pleasant voice echoed beautifully, and her bright blue eyes flickered with the utter seriousness and deep joy of successfully completing a task for her master.
"Rem has meticulously followed your grand instructions.
I have moved all the islands that originally belonged to the Beasts Pirates' sphere of influence.
Using the awakened power of the Float-Float Fruit, I have carefully arranged them in a massive, defensive circular pattern around the mainland of the Vermilion Bird Kingdom."
She detailed the grueling, mind-bending process of lifting entire landmasses into the sky and navigating them across the treacherous New World climate.
"During the relocation process, Rem also unexpectedly discovered several previously unrecorded, resource-rich uninhabited islands.
Without hesitation, I incorporated them into the expanding territory of the Vermilion Bird Kingdom."
She paused, taking a small breath as her tone became a bit more excited, clearly eager to report her combat achievements.
"Just as Lord Suzaku perfectly expected, your foresight was flawless.
Several of the furthest islands encountered violent pirate attacks from opportunistic crews during the relocation phase.
However, they were all completely resolved in time by Rem and my sister, Ram!"
She puffed out her chest slightly, her maid uniform shifting with the movement.
"We eradicated the trash without causing much loss to the islands' infrastructure or the civilian populations!"
Hearing this detailed, victorious report, a faint, genuinely pleased smile appeared on Suzaku's handsome face.
He knew perfectly well that with the overwhelming strength of Rem and Ram, ordinary New World pirates would naturally not be their match.
The twin maids were walking natural disasters in their own right.
Not to mention, he had cautiously arranged for the terrifying Espada, Ulquiorra Cifer, to follow along in the shadows as the ultimate, fail-safe trump card!
He rose slowly from the obsidian throne, his every movement exuding the natural grace and heavy authority of a true emperor.
He walked slowly down the short steps, closing the distance to the blue-haired maid.
His tall, broad-shouldered figure cast a warm shadow over the petite, delicate Rem.
Yet, instead of feeling oppressed by his immense power, the shadow brought her an inexplicable, overwhelming sense of absolute security.
He reached out his hand and, with a rare, incredibly intimate touch of gentleness, placed his palm on her head.
He lightly, affectionately stroked the top of Rem's soft, sky-blue hair.
Rem relaxed instantly, leaning into the touch like an affectionate, pampered cat being stroked by its beloved owner.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, fluttering shut as she fully immersed herself in enjoying that unique, intoxicating warmth.
To receive this direct, physical recognition from the man she worshipped was the ultimate reward.
All her intense physical fatigue, the immense mental strain of controlling massive islands with her Devil Fruit, and the exhaustion of hard work vanished into thin air at that exact moment.
"Well done, Rem. You worked incredibly hard."
Suzaku's low, magnetic praise was like a sweet, healing rain nourishing the deepest parts of Rem's heart.
To her devoted soul, these simple words of affirmation from Suzaku were vastly more precious than any mountain of gold or worldly honor.
Beside her, Ram stood quietly, maintaining her usual composed and slightly aloof demeanor.
Although Ram did not show her emotions as openly and fiercely as her twin sister, a fleeting flash of deep, genuine relief passed through her pink eyes.
Seeing her sister being praised and treated with such tender affection by the Lord they both served brought a quiet peace to Ram's heart.
Immediately, she regained her calm, highly analytical demeanor.
The strategic question that had been lingering in her sharp mind throughout the entire mission was finally raised.
"Lord Suzaku, if I may be so bold to ask."
Ram spoke clearly, her voice lacking Rem's infatuation but carrying a profound respect.
"Since we have already provided the desperate people of these outer islands with stable work building piers and infrastructure...
Why do we still allow the islanders to trade on their own, spontaneously and without strict regulation?
With our military might and logistical control, we could completely monopolize the entire trade system.
We could dictate the prices, gain vastly greater profits for the Kingdom, and save ourselves a lot of management trouble."
As soon as these pragmatic words were spoken, the temperature in the grand hall plummeted unnaturally.
Albedo, the Overseer of the Guardians, who had been standing silently nearby like a pristine goddess in her pure white dress, instantly furrowed her delicate brows.
A dark, terrifyingly abyssal pressure erupted violently from her perfect body.
The sheer density of her demonic killing intent made the intricate stone patterns on the floor seem to groan and tremble under the invisible weight.
Her beautiful, golden heterochromatic eyes widened, narrowing into predatory slits as she glared at the pink-haired maid.
She shouted sternly, her voice echoing with the wrath of a supreme demon lord defending her creator's honor.
"Insolent fool! You are nothing more than a servant; you only need to blindly follow Lord Suzaku's divine orders!
How dare you? How can you presume to question the profound, infallible instructions of the great Lord Suzaku?!"
The pressure Albedo emitted was so dense it felt as though the oxygen had been forcibly sucked out of the room.
Ram's eyes widened slightly, her body instinctively tensing as she felt the very real, suffocating threat of death washing over her skin.
However, before the violent conflict could escalate any further, Suzaku moved.
He merely raised his hand in a simple, effortless gesture to stop Albedo's terrifying outburst.
"Albedo, control your temper."
Suzaku's voice was not loud, nor was it laced with Haki, but it carried an absolute, unquestionable authority that pierced straight through the demonic pressure.
"Ram meant no disrespect, nor did she harbor any ill intent; she just raised her own logical doubt regarding our policies."
He lowered his hand, his gaze meeting Albedo's golden eyes to ensure she understood his stance.
"Everyone standing in this hall is my trusted companion.
Any doubts about our direction can and should be raised openly; this mutual understanding is the very basis of our teamwork."
Hearing his calm reprimand, Albedo immediately restrained her boiling anger.
The suffocating demonic aura vanished as quickly as it had appeared, returning the hall to its peaceful state.
She bowed her head deeply and respectfully, her dark wings folding tightly against her back.
Though a faint hint of lingering dissatisfaction with Ram's perceived audacity still flickered in her eyes, her loyalty to Suzaku's command was absolute.
"This subordinate was overly emotional and wrong, Lord Suzaku. Please forgive my outburst."
Suzaku nodded in acceptance and then turned his attention back to Ram.
A hint of genuine encouragement sparkled in his deep eyes.
"Ram's question is actually very good. It shows you are thinking about the long-term prosperity of our territory. Let me explain the deeper reasoning."
He stepped away from the throne and paced slowly to the center of the vast hall.
He clasped his hands loosely behind his back, his posture radiating the steady, farsighted wisdom of a seasoned emperor.
"The massive labor work on the pier is just a necessary, transitional measure for the early stage of our occupation.
It solved the most basic, desperate survival problems for the people.
By guaranteeing them food and wages, we liberated them from the constant terror and gnawing hunger they suffered under Kaido.
It forcefully stabilized the region and made them feel actual hope for the first time in decades."
He stopped pacing, his gaze sweeping over his gathered executives.
"But, as the old saying goes, it's better to teach a man to fish than to simply give him a fish every day.
If we just hand out food forever, we will breed a nation of dependents, not strong citizens."
Suzaku's voice grew more passionate, resonating with a visionary power.
"Before our arrival, the physical distances between these islands in the New World were far too great.
The surrounding seas were filled with brutal storms and pirate blockades, making transportation costs impossibly high.
This resulted in vital resources being entirely unable to flow between communities.
Many people could only sit and starve in their homes while holding onto massive piles of their unique local specialties that they couldn't eat or sell."
Suzaku paused for a moment to let the harsh reality of the past sink in.
He raised his hand gracefully, pointing toward the towering floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the hazy, beautiful sea of clouds outside the hall.
"And now, we have fundamentally changed the geography of this world.
We used the awakened power of the Float-Float Fruit to pull these scattered islands extremely close together.
By doing so, we are deliberately allowing them to conduct small-scale, unregulated free trade amongst themselves.
This seemingly chaotic approach has three very specific, long-term purposes."
He raised a single finger, his tone becoming analytical and sharp.
"First, it can maximize the immediate improvement of their daily lives.
By trading freely, we are allowing them to obtain better supplies, tools, and food with their own two hands.
This lets them personally, tangibly experience the massive benefits and wealth brought by our new order, securing their absolute loyalty without us having to force it."
He raised a second finger, his eyes locking onto Ram's attentive gaze.
"Second, and vastly more importantly for our future, it acts as a massive educational trial.
It allows our new people, especially those isolated fishermen and rural farmers who have never been in contact with formal trade networks, to become familiar with basic business models.
It teaches them the fundamental laws of market operations, supply, and demand.
This real-world experience is laying an incredibly solid, unshakeable foundation for our future plans.
When we finally open our massive merchant ships to trade on a much larger, global scale with the outside world, our citizens will be ready to participate and thrive."
Finally, Suzaku raised his third finger, his eyes sparkling with an incredibly profound, calculating wisdom that left the maids in awe.
"Third, when this spontaneous, grassroots trading model inevitably matures and forms a massive, interconnected economic scale...
We can then naturally and smoothly step in to collect reasonable commercial taxes.
By then, the people will have already tasted the sweetness of wealth."
He lowered his hand, a confident, imperial smile gracing his lips.
"In this way, our national treasury will become increasingly full without the need for violent extortion.
The people will become genuinely wealthy because of the booming trade, and because they see the value of our protection, they will not resist our taxation.
This is a healthy, self-sustaining positive cycle.
It is an economic foundation that can guarantee the Vermilion Bird Kingdom will continue to prosper for centuries to come.
It is the very foundation of civilization itself, and it is the key to distinguishing us from other Pirate Crews and truly establishing a nation."
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