At this time, the town had just passed breakfast. Everything looked normal on the surface, and the citizens were starting a new day. Yet every face was covered by a lingering shadow of unease. Even though people still moved through the streets, the entire town was wrapped in a heavy, stifling atmosphere.
Collapsed houses, scorched scars left by shelling, and bloodstains that had not yet dried all silently told the story of what the Zephyr Kingdom had suffered.
The legion commander died a heroic death. The kingdom's army took massive losses. The King was murdered.
That chain of blows was almost the same as national destruction. Everyone's hearts were filled with despair, unable to see even the faintest hint of hope.
In a world where pirates ran rampant, if they lost the protection of their country, how were they supposed to survive?
"Emergency notice! All citizens, please listen! Please head to the plaza in front of the palace immediately. Roy-sama has important matters to announce!"
"Repeat! All citizens, please listen! Please head to the plaza in front of the palace immediately! Roy-sama has important matters to announce!"
"Important notice! All citizens must pay attention! Gather at the plaza in front of the palace at once! Roy-sama has something important to declare!"
Suddenly, the serious, resolute voice of the messenger rang out from the loudspeaker Den Den Mushi positioned throughout the town, shattering the oppressive silence.
"Did Roy-sama's injuries heal?"
"Thank goodness, Roy-sama is safe. That's wonderful!"
"But at a time like this, what could Roy-sama possibly be announcing?"
"I don't know. I just hope it isn't bad news."
"Sigh"
The citizens stopped what they were doing. In small groups, they whispered and argued, anxiety spreading between them. Then, one after another, they began moving toward the plaza in front of the palace.
At the same time, some pirates and other outsiders still lingering in the Zephyr Kingdom also followed with interest. They wanted to see what the Zephyr Kingdom could possibly do in a moment like this.
Soon, the plaza filled with a dense crowd. Noisy discussions rose and fell in waves.
"Roy-sama has arrived!"
Suddenly, someone shouted. The entire plaza fell silent.
Everyone looked toward the high platform at the front. White Fang stood on one side, and the young maid Cici, looking slightly tense, stood on the other. Between them, Roy stepped out, calm and steady.
Behind them came a unit of the kingdom's army. Leading them was Stanley, wearing the legion commander's uniform. They were escorting the three ministers toward the platform.
Along the way, the Interior Minister and the Finance Minister kept shouting and struggling, while the Defense Minister was unusually composed. In his eyes, there was even a trace of relief.
Seeing this, the crowd in the plaza immediately exploded into commotion. People whispered and argued, completely unable to understand what was happening.
Soon, the three ministers were forced down by the soldiers, kneeling and facing the plaza.
Roy stood quietly at the side. His eyes swept over the packed crowd below. With an unhurried expression, he took the Den Den Mushi that Cici handed him and began to speak.
And his first sentence made everyone in the plaza freeze in shock.
"Now, carry out the execution of traitors."
"Traitors are being executed? What is this supposed to mean?"
"What? Those three ministers are traitors?"
"What happened?"
The plaza erupted instantly. People stared at Roy on the platform in disbelief, cries of shock ringing out everywhere.
Among the crowd, pirates and other suspicious outsiders simply watched like they were enjoying a show.
On the platform, Roy remained calm, holding the Den Den Mushi as he continued.
"Many of you may find this hard to believe, but it's the truth. This morning, people from the Gambino family barged into the palace. You all know what kind of organization the Gambino family is. That's right, the mafia that brutally murdered our legion commander and our King, and nearly pushed the Zephyr Kingdom to destruction."
"And our three so called respected ministers tried to use bribes, using the women of the Zephyr Kingdom as bargaining chips, in exchange for a chance to submit to the Gambino family. More than that, they coveted the throne itself. What is this? This is betrayal. This is outright treason!"
Roy's voice echoed over the plaza and reached every ear. In an instant, fury ignited among the citizens.
"Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting!"
"So these are the ministers? I spit on them! Traitors should die!"
"Traitors must be punished!"
The citizens were enraged. The Interior Minister and Finance Minister turned deathly pale. They finally began to feel real fear.
But the Defense Minister suddenly closed his eyes and said calmly, "Roy-sama, are you confident you can defeat the Gambino family?"
Roy glanced back at him.
The Defense Minister opened his eyes. There was no fear, no anger, only calm. "I know what I did before was indeed betraying the Zephyr Kingdom. But if I said everything I did was for the Zephyr Kingdom, would you believe me?"
Roy's brows drew together slightly, then relaxed. He nodded. "I believe you."
"But so what?"
Before the Defense Minister could even look relieved, Roy stared at him without emotion and continued.
"Why you did it, what your purpose was, it has nothing to do with me. All I know is you dared lay hands on my country. You were the first. Next will be the Gambino family. One by one, I will wipe them all out."
"Oh? Is that so?"
The Defense Minister froze, then slowly closed his eyes again, falling silent.
Roy shifted his gaze back to the furious citizens, satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
With this, the prestige of those three ministers would be completely destroyed, and the Zephyr Kingdom's power would firmly fall into his hands.
"Begin the execution."
Roy said no more. He gave the order directly through the Den Den Mushi, then looked toward Stanley, who had been promoted to legion commander.
"Do it!" Stanley answered quickly.
The Interior Minister and Finance Minister immediately screamed in terror, but the six soldiers showed no hesitation. In pairs, they stepped behind the three ministers, and their bayonets drove forward into their bodies.
The plaza went silent in an instant, leaving only the dull sound of three corpses collapsing to the ground.
(End of Chapter)
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