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Chapter 721: The Flevance Kingdom Incident!
July 1st was an unremarkable day in the world.
However, due to the upcoming ‘World Government Royal Conference’ scheduled for September 15th.
The seas had become exceptionally lively these past few months.
Numerous ships belonging to the member kings from the Four Blues, who held seats at the ‘World Conference’, continuously entered the ‘first half of the Grand Line’ via ‘Reverse Mountain’, escorted by fleets of Navy warships.
However.
After successfully descending ‘Reverse Mountain’, they still had to undergo inspection by the ‘Navy G-0 Branch’.
This caused the main harbor of the island once known as ‘Thriller Bark’ to be currently filled with docked ships of all sizes.
Among them were luxurious royal vessels, merchant ships laden with cargo, civilian cruise liners under the ‘Flamingo Company’, and even adventurer groups formed by some of the ‘Top 100 Powerhouses’.
These ‘Top 100 Powerhouses’, unwilling to be employed by various royal families, nobles, merchant guilds, or companies, directly relied on their own strength and reputation to gather followers and take on jobs similar to ‘Bounty Hunters’.
Eliminating pirates, fighting bandits, searching for treasure, escorting goods, serving as bodyguards, and so on.
Basically, they would accept any job as long as it wasn’t illegal.
As for illegal matters, they would decide whether to take them on secretly based on the potential profits.
However, despite the large number of ships and the diverse identities of the people aboard, everything was orderly arranged into four long queues under the coordination and maintenance of the Navy personnel.
A single glance gave the impression of countless masts like a forest and ships stretching as far as the eye could see.
It couldn't be helped.
After years of various live broadcasts, most people in the world had thoroughly witnessed the terrifying combat power and military strength possessed by the World Government.
Even other worlds, gathering all their strength, could not resist the iron heel of the World Government's conquest.
What did these mere individuals amount to in comparison?
This was the real reason why, despite the World Government repeatedly encroaching on the interests of various royal families and nobles over the years, no fool had ever stood up to oppose them.
Rebellion offered absolutely no glimmer of hope, so they could only endure.
"Caw—Caw—Caw—"
As the crews of the various ships, bored and waiting miserably in line, were chatting and boasting amongst themselves, a series of familiar bird calls echoed from overhead.
"News Coo?"
"Look! The News Coo is here!"
A young nobleman, dressed in rather luxurious and brightly colored attire, saw people on the surrounding ships shouting and starting to prepare coins. Smugly, he took a Den Den Mushi from his pocket.
"Hmph, this Baron is already accustomed to watching the news directly via Visual Den Den Mushi. Forget the newspaper; its contents hardly qualify as news..."
After speaking, he directly controlled the Den Den Mushi to project a virtual light screen in mid-air, then tuned it to the official channel exclusive to the ‘World News’ program.
This attracted the attention of many people.
After all, the price of a ‘Visual Den Den Mushi’ was indeed much higher than an ordinary Den Den Mushi capable only of calls.
Previously, whenever they wanted to watch various live broadcasts, they had to specifically go to the squares or parks designated by the ‘Government Compound’, because those places had large-screen Visual Den Den Mushi available for the public to watch for free.
Just as expected.
The ‘World News’ program channel was already displaying the latest official announcement.
[Notice Regarding the Flevance Kingdom Royal Family of the North Blue Concealing the Inheritable Toxicity of Amber Lead Mineral]
(Recent research by the two major departments, the Medical Academy and the Biochemical Research Institute, has discovered that the Amber Lead mineral, primarily sourced from the Flevance Kingdom in the North, causes toxins to slowly accumulate within the human body, leading to symptoms resembling heavy metal poisoning. This occurs whether one inhales dust generated during mining or touches products manufactured after processing.)
(Once this Amber Lead toxin accumulates to a certain level in the body, it causes large white patches to form on the skin's surface, while simultaneously damaging the hematopoietic system, digestive system, nervous system, and cardiovascular system...)
(Furthermore, the Amber Lead toxin can be genetically transmitted to the next generation via the Lineage Factor, resulting in the severe consequence of progressively shorter lifespans for the descendants of those afflicted.)
(However, we urge the general public to note that Amber Lead toxin is not contagious. There is no need for panic. If anyone experiences discomfort, please proceed to the nearest World Hospital for examination.)
(In light of the heinous criminal actions of the Flevance Kingdom's royal family in the North Blue, the World Government has decided to revoke their royal and noble statuses. The police are strictly ordered to immediately carry out arrests and transport them to Enies Lobby to face trial by the Supreme Court.)
(To facilitate the treatment and management of the citizens of the Flevance Kingdom, the World Government has decided to temporarily seal off entry and exit of personnel and dispatch medical teams into the region.)
As more and more people saw this notice.
Unconsciously, the originally noisy environment quieted down, leaving only the sound of waves continuously slapping against the hulls of the ships.
Among them, the young nobleman who had just been smugly showing off his Visual Den Den Mushi now had a deathly pale face as he looked down at a pure white ring on his right hand and a pure white necklace around his neck.
"Ahhhhh!"
The next second, he let out a terrified scream, frantically ripping the necklace off and throwing it overboard.
Then he hurriedly tried to remove the ring from his finger, only to find he seemed to have gained some weight recently, making it impossible to loosen no matter how hard he pulled.
"Damn it, damn it, come off!"
The young man was sweating profusely in his anxiety, terrified that wearing the ring for even one more second would cause him to contract the serious illness that could be passed down to his children.
At the same time.
On other ships, royals or nobles who possessed jewelry, or even tableware, made from Amber Lead, more or less, were also anxiously ordering their servants to throw these items into the sea.
Simultaneously, they continuously cursed the entire family and ancestors of the Flevance royal line.
And such scenes were unfolding in numerous kingdoms across the world; after all, the Flevance Kingdom had been selling Amber Lead for over a hundred years.
Nearly all nobles, wealthy merchants, and even World Government officials possessed large quantities of Amber Lead items.
For a moment.
A sense of chaotic uproar, as if the ‘world was in turmoil’, seemed to spread across the entire planet.
North Blue.
Within the royal palace of the Flevance Kingdom, the heart of the entire incident.
The current king sat slumped on the pure white throne, his face filled with despair, utterly silent, while the queen clung to his legs, tears streaming down her deathly pale face.
The two of them had been sitting numbly in this excessively white hall for the entire night.
Yet, they had no thought of packing treasures and fleeing the country with their people.
Because just last night, several men in black claiming to be from CIPHER POL-No. 4 had come to them, informing the King and Queen in advance of the World Government's decision to reveal the truth about the Amber Lead Syndrome and hold them accountable.
They were stunned on the spot.
However, the reasons for their shock differed slightly.
The Queen, who had married into the kingdom from another land, had no prior knowledge of the Amber Lead Syndrome, so she was shocked that Amber Lead could actually poison people.
But she immediately recalled the rule prohibiting any Amber Lead items within the palace.
This filled her with a sense of foreboding.
Meanwhile, the King, whose family had passed down the truth of the Amber Lead Syndrome for generations, couldn't understand why the World Government was doing this. Hadn't the two sides been cooperating on this matter for over a hundred years?
Think of how much money the successive generations of the Flevance royal family had paid to the World Government by selling Amber Lead, and that didn't even include the Heavenly Tribute submitted year after year!
This enraged the King to the extreme at that moment.
According to their family's historical records, over a hundred years ago, when the World Government's investigation team discovered the problem with Amber Lead, their ancestors assumed it would surely become a prohibited mineral and had considered halting its extraction.
Unexpectedly, the investigation team simply returned silently, and shortly after, they received orders from the World Government to continue mining but not to reveal the truth.
Therefore, the blame for this Amber Lead Syndrome.
In this King's view, the World Government was the main culprit, while their royal family could only be considered accomplices!
But now the World Government was actually planning to pin all the blame on them, washing themselves clean of any involvement?
How shameless!
However, the men in black merely listened silently to his furious cursing for a few minutes. Then, when he was gasping for breath, they expressionlessly stated that he had two choices.
One, their assassins were right outside and would slaughter the entire Flevance royal family tonight. It would be publicly announced as suicide out of guilt, and the blame would still be placed squarely on them.
Two, he and the Queen would willingly cooperate with the World Government, accept the trial, and publicly confess their guilt.
In that case, the World Government would spare their children and one adult royal relative—specifically, the King's younger brother, his two princes, and three princesses—and promised to provide them with relatively affluent living conditions.
After hearing this, the King and Queen were dumbfounded.
You call that a choice?
Yes.
It wasn't a choice. With ashen faces, they could only accept the reality, using their own lives to secure a chance of survival for their children.
As for whether they believed the World Government.
Again.
Did they have a choice?
They could only pray that the World Government would keep its promise and treat their children well. Besides, think of how much money the Flevance royal family had earned for the World Government branches everywhere over the past century!
Considering all that money, surely the World Government wouldn't be too ruthless.
And that very night, certain nobles and military officers in the country who knew, to varying degrees, the true history of the Amber Lead Syndrome, all died tragically in their homes under the cover of darkness.
Perhaps some among them were innocent.
But Cipher Pol chose the path of 'better to kill the innocent than let the guilty escape,' eliminating anyone under suspicion—this too was an order from above.
Inside the city.
This prosperous kingdom, filled everywhere with white houses, white bridges, white fountains, white statues, and even white roads.
Now also began to be permeated by an atmosphere of panic.
Previously, the men and women here all wore nearly identical serene smiles, their every action and gesture perfectly embodying the essence of gentlemen and ladies.
They possessed more aristocratic flair than the nobles of many other kingdoms.
Now, however, they cast aside all the Amber Lead jewelry that had once made them proud and smug. With ferocious expressions, they urged their servants to load their treasures onto carriages, then desperately fled towards the city outskirts.
"Brother, what's wrong with them?"
In front of the iron gates of an entirely white hospital, a small, brown-haired girl looked quizzically at the convoys rushing down the street and the panicked crowds.
"Lami, don't go out, it's dangerous!"
A little boy wearing a spotted white hat and a small yellow suit nervously grabbed the girl's arm, pulling her back into the courtyard.
"Well done, Law! Keep a close eye on your sister. Something unbelievably terrible is happening in this country right now. You absolutely must not go outside!"
Just then, a man in a white coat and glasses ran over quickly, his expression grave. While speaking, he swiftly closed the two large iron gates and immediately locked them.
Following behind him was a woman, also in a white coat, with the same hair color as the girl but styled in braids.
"Mama!"
Little Lami ran over and hugged the woman's right leg, looking up fearfully. "Those uncles and aunties outside have become so strange. What's wrong with them?"
"It's alright, it's alright..."
The woman crouched down and gently pulled her into an embrace, her eyes full of worry.
They were the most renowned physician couple in the country's largest hospital, so naturally, they had seen the World Government's public announcement regarding the Amber Lead Syndrome at the earliest opportunity.
Although they hadn't yet shown any symptoms of Amber Lead Syndrome, they knew in their hearts it was only a matter of time.
Over the years, the hospital had treated many patients with ‘White Patch Disease,’ but to date, there hadn't been a single successful cure, leading it to be regarded as an untreatable terminal illness.
Previously, some hospital directors and physicians had sensed the problem lay with Amber Lead.
But every time they submitted a report upwards, it was like a stone sinking into the ocean. After some time, they would be transferred away from the hospital for various reasons, never to return.
This led many clever directors and physicians to choose silence.
Although they didn't know why the royal family ignored the Amber Lead Syndrome, or even deliberately concealed it, keeping quiet ensured peace, so they let it be.
The man walked over and hugged Law, who, despite being only six, managed to feign calmness. Then he looked at his wife and offered comfort.
"Don't worry. Didn't the official announcement say they'll send a team from the Medical Academy? They must have a solution. You know, the current dean of the Medical Academy is none other than Doctor Kureha from the Drum Kingdom!"
But despite saying this, he didn't hold much hope in his heart.
As an excellent doctor himself, he knew very well that with the current level of medical science in the world, there was simply no way to cure heavy metal poisoning like Amber Lead, which could affect a person's Lineage Factor.
Elsewhere.
At several major transportation routes leading from the Flevance Kingdom to neighboring countries, crowds of people and carriages were now packed together. The atmosphere was extremely tense and chaotic.
"Get out of the way! Let us out!"
"Yeah! Who are you people? Scram! I want to leave this place!"
"I'm begging you, please let my family go! How about I give you a million Berries?"
But no matter how these people cursed or even pleaded, the police officers clad in extremely smart, strict, and detailed waist-cinched green uniforms remained unmoved.
They all watched them expressionlessly, showing no intention of opening the barricades for them.
"Hey, Tanjiro, isn't this getting bad? What if they try to rush through later? Are we supposed to take action then? We have to, right? But how? We can't possibly draw our swords, can we? They're civilians..."
Zenitsu Agatsuma, now eighteen and recently transferred from the Swordmaster Hall to the Public Security Division, having become a lowly Third-Level Police Officer.
Looking at the crowd before him—some fierce, some angry, some weeping—he instantly showed a frightened expression, hiding behind Tanjiro and rambling incoherently.
"Idiot Zenitsu! We just need to follow orders! Why are you thinking so much?"
Inosuke Hashibira, still wearing his boar's head mask but no longer bare-chested, now dressed in a police uniform, saw Zenitsu's cowardly state and scolded him displeasedly.
Zenitsu Agatsuma shouted, "But the mission orders say if rioters try to force their way through, we're authorized to use force for arrest! Can you really draw your sword against them? They aren't demons, they're people!"
"Tch, you should just go back to Wano Country and sleep." Inosuke Hashibira turned his head away disdainfully.
Beside them, Tanjiro also seemed unsure what to do, merely looking with pity at the crowd on the other side of the barricade.
"Keeping them here is to help treat the Amber Lead toxin in their bodies. If someone really tries to break through later, let's try our best not to hurt them. Just knock them unconscious."
"Because right now... they're just scared."
Meanwhile, before the utterly luxurious main hall of the Flevance Royal Palace.
With a muffled 'thump,' the Royal Army soldiers guarding the area felt as though, in the blink of an eye, a tall and imposing figure had appeared in the open space.
This person was nearly seven meters tall, with an extremely broad and muscular upper body.
He wore a trapezoidal white hat with brown spots on its surface and rimless white spectacles.
A black and green police officer's uniform, paired with a dark green trench coat that billowed in the swirling air currents, gave him an indescribably intense and oppressive aura.
"I am Bartholomew Kuma, Director of the Public Security Division under the World Government's Police Affairs Department. Here is my officer's identification."
He first took out a small black identification booklet from his right breast pocket, opened it, and showed it to the Royal Army commander in front of him, who hadn't yet reacted.
After confirming the commander's eyes had registered the contents of the ID, he put it away, took out a document, and said, "I have come to arrest the King and Queen of the Flevance Kingdom. This is the arrest warrant. Please step aside."
"We need to request instructions first."
The Royal Army commander said, frowning as he gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.
"Unnecessary. The arrest warrant is here. No one is permitted to obstruct law enforcement, or they will be charged with obstruction of official duties. This is the final warning. Step aside."
Bartholomew Kuma spoke calmly, but his gaze wasn't on these 'little people'; it was fixed on the two presences inside the main hall.
When he learned the 'truth' that the Flevance royal family, for their own selfish desires, had concealed the Amber Lead Syndrome for over a century, causing the deaths of countless citizens, uncontrollable anger surged within him.
This was also the reason he had decided to come personally.
"No! I must report to the King first! Only with his permission can I let you enter!"
The Royal Army commander refused coldly, even drawing the long sword from his waist and aiming the blade at Kuma. "Please wait here for a moment."
"In that case, the charge of obstruction of official duties stands. Someone from Enies Lobby will come for you."
As soon as his voice fell, Bartholomew Kuma acted, slapping the commander with unbelievably fast hand speed, causing the man to vanish instantly from the spot.
This scene terrified the other Royal Army soldiers, who could only watch in horror as Kuma ascended the steps, one by one.
At a location by the sea.
A World Government ship, flying a flag with a five-ringed cross emblem, was docked by the shore.
This brought an instant smile to the face of Duke Cruz, who was accompanied by his elder brother's two sons and three daughters.
"As expected of the World Government! They truly keep their promises!"
This younger brother of the Flevance King assumed the ship was there to pick them up.
He excitedly looked at the few men in black who had escorted him all the way here, praising them repeatedly.
"Please relay to the esteemed figures in the World Government that we now only seek a modest, comfortable life and will absolutely never appear before the world again. Please assure them they have nothing to worry about!"
But just as he finished speaking, he saw one of the men in black—one with long pink hair and handsome features—shake his head and smile.
"That won't be necessary."
"Hmm?"
Duke Cruz looked at the man in confusion, only to see with horror that the man's right arm was transforming into a purplish-white gas, which then surged towards him and the children.
"Because the higher-ups have their own way of ensuring complete peace of mind."
The next moment.
Under the broad daylight, screams rose and fell, only to be forcefully drowned out by the crashing sound of the waves...
End of Chapter
July 1st was an unremarkable day in the world.
However, due to the upcoming ‘World Government Royal Conference’ scheduled for September 15th.
The seas had become exceptionally lively these past few months.
Numerous ships belonging to the member kings from the Four Blues, who held seats at the ‘World Conference’, continuously entered the ‘first half of the Grand Line’ via ‘Reverse Mountain’, escorted by fleets of Navy warships.
However.
After successfully descending ‘Reverse Mountain’, they still had to undergo inspection by the ‘Navy G-0 Branch’.
This caused the main harbor of the island once known as ‘Thriller Bark’ to be currently filled with docked ships of all sizes.
Among them were luxurious royal vessels, merchant ships laden with cargo, civilian cruise liners under the ‘Flamingo Company’, and even adventurer groups formed by some of the ‘Top 100 Powerhouses’.
These ‘Top 100 Powerhouses’, unwilling to be employed by various royal families, nobles, merchant guilds, or companies, directly relied on their own strength and reputation to gather followers and take on jobs similar to ‘Bounty Hunters’.
Eliminating pirates, fighting bandits, searching for treasure, escorting goods, serving as bodyguards, and so on.
Basically, they would accept any job as long as it wasn’t illegal.
As for illegal matters, they would decide whether to take them on secretly based on the potential profits.
However, despite the large number of ships and the diverse identities of the people aboard, everything was orderly arranged into four long queues under the coordination and maintenance of the Navy personnel.
A single glance gave the impression of countless masts like a forest and ships stretching as far as the eye could see.
It couldn't be helped.
After years of various live broadcasts, most people in the world had thoroughly witnessed the terrifying combat power and military strength possessed by the World Government.
Even other worlds, gathering all their strength, could not resist the iron heel of the World Government's conquest.
What did these mere individuals amount to in comparison?
This was the real reason why, despite the World Government repeatedly encroaching on the interests of various royal families and nobles over the years, no fool had ever stood up to oppose them.
Rebellion offered absolutely no glimmer of hope, so they could only endure.
"Caw—Caw—Caw—"
As the crews of the various ships, bored and waiting miserably in line, were chatting and boasting amongst themselves, a series of familiar bird calls echoed from overhead.
"News Coo?"
"Look! The News Coo is here!"
A young nobleman, dressed in rather luxurious and brightly colored attire, saw people on the surrounding ships shouting and starting to prepare coins. Smugly, he took a Den Den Mushi from his pocket.
"Hmph, this Baron is already accustomed to watching the news directly via Visual Den Den Mushi. Forget the newspaper; its contents hardly qualify as news..."
After speaking, he directly controlled the Den Den Mushi to project a virtual light screen in mid-air, then tuned it to the official channel exclusive to the ‘World News’ program.
This attracted the attention of many people.
After all, the price of a ‘Visual Den Den Mushi’ was indeed much higher than an ordinary Den Den Mushi capable only of calls.
Previously, whenever they wanted to watch various live broadcasts, they had to specifically go to the squares or parks designated by the ‘Government Compound’, because those places had large-screen Visual Den Den Mushi available for the public to watch for free.
Just as expected.
The ‘World News’ program channel was already displaying the latest official announcement.
[Notice Regarding the Flevance Kingdom Royal Family of the North Blue Concealing the Inheritable Toxicity of Amber Lead Mineral]
(Recent research by the two major departments, the Medical Academy and the Biochemical Research Institute, has discovered that the Amber Lead mineral, primarily sourced from the Flevance Kingdom in the North, causes toxins to slowly accumulate within the human body, leading to symptoms resembling heavy metal poisoning. This occurs whether one inhales dust generated during mining or touches products manufactured after processing.)
(Once this Amber Lead toxin accumulates to a certain level in the body, it causes large white patches to form on the skin's surface, while simultaneously damaging the hematopoietic system, digestive system, nervous system, and cardiovascular system...)
(Furthermore, the Amber Lead toxin can be genetically transmitted to the next generation via the Lineage Factor, resulting in the severe consequence of progressively shorter lifespans for the descendants of those afflicted.)
(However, we urge the general public to note that Amber Lead toxin is not contagious. There is no need for panic. If anyone experiences discomfort, please proceed to the nearest World Hospital for examination.)
(In light of the heinous criminal actions of the Flevance Kingdom's royal family in the North Blue, the World Government has decided to revoke their royal and noble statuses. The police are strictly ordered to immediately carry out arrests and transport them to Enies Lobby to face trial by the Supreme Court.)
(To facilitate the treatment and management of the citizens of the Flevance Kingdom, the World Government has decided to temporarily seal off entry and exit of personnel and dispatch medical teams into the region.)
As more and more people saw this notice.
Unconsciously, the originally noisy environment quieted down, leaving only the sound of waves continuously slapping against the hulls of the ships.
Among them, the young nobleman who had just been smugly showing off his Visual Den Den Mushi now had a deathly pale face as he looked down at a pure white ring on his right hand and a pure white necklace around his neck.
"Ahhhhh!"
The next second, he let out a terrified scream, frantically ripping the necklace off and throwing it overboard.
Then he hurriedly tried to remove the ring from his finger, only to find he seemed to have gained some weight recently, making it impossible to loosen no matter how hard he pulled.
"Damn it, damn it, come off!"
The young man was sweating profusely in his anxiety, terrified that wearing the ring for even one more second would cause him to contract the serious illness that could be passed down to his children.
At the same time.
On other ships, royals or nobles who possessed jewelry, or even tableware, made from Amber Lead, more or less, were also anxiously ordering their servants to throw these items into the sea.
Simultaneously, they continuously cursed the entire family and ancestors of the Flevance royal line.
And such scenes were unfolding in numerous kingdoms across the world; after all, the Flevance Kingdom had been selling Amber Lead for over a hundred years.
Nearly all nobles, wealthy merchants, and even World Government officials possessed large quantities of Amber Lead items.
For a moment.
A sense of chaotic uproar, as if the ‘world was in turmoil’, seemed to spread across the entire planet.
North Blue.
Within the royal palace of the Flevance Kingdom, the heart of the entire incident.
The current king sat slumped on the pure white throne, his face filled with despair, utterly silent, while the queen clung to his legs, tears streaming down her deathly pale face.
The two of them had been sitting numbly in this excessively white hall for the entire night.
Yet, they had no thought of packing treasures and fleeing the country with their people.
Because just last night, several men in black claiming to be from CIPHER POL-No. 4 had come to them, informing the King and Queen in advance of the World Government's decision to reveal the truth about the Amber Lead Syndrome and hold them accountable.
They were stunned on the spot.
However, the reasons for their shock differed slightly.
The Queen, who had married into the kingdom from another land, had no prior knowledge of the Amber Lead Syndrome, so she was shocked that Amber Lead could actually poison people.
But she immediately recalled the rule prohibiting any Amber Lead items within the palace.
This filled her with a sense of foreboding.
Meanwhile, the King, whose family had passed down the truth of the Amber Lead Syndrome for generations, couldn't understand why the World Government was doing this. Hadn't the two sides been cooperating on this matter for over a hundred years?
Think of how much money the successive generations of the Flevance royal family had paid to the World Government by selling Amber Lead, and that didn't even include the Heavenly Tribute submitted year after year!
This enraged the King to the extreme at that moment.
According to their family's historical records, over a hundred years ago, when the World Government's investigation team discovered the problem with Amber Lead, their ancestors assumed it would surely become a prohibited mineral and had considered halting its extraction.
Unexpectedly, the investigation team simply returned silently, and shortly after, they received orders from the World Government to continue mining but not to reveal the truth.
Therefore, the blame for this Amber Lead Syndrome.
In this King's view, the World Government was the main culprit, while their royal family could only be considered accomplices!
But now the World Government was actually planning to pin all the blame on them, washing themselves clean of any involvement?
How shameless!
However, the men in black merely listened silently to his furious cursing for a few minutes. Then, when he was gasping for breath, they expressionlessly stated that he had two choices.
One, their assassins were right outside and would slaughter the entire Flevance royal family tonight. It would be publicly announced as suicide out of guilt, and the blame would still be placed squarely on them.
Two, he and the Queen would willingly cooperate with the World Government, accept the trial, and publicly confess their guilt.
In that case, the World Government would spare their children and one adult royal relative—specifically, the King's younger brother, his two princes, and three princesses—and promised to provide them with relatively affluent living conditions.
After hearing this, the King and Queen were dumbfounded.
You call that a choice?
Yes.
It wasn't a choice. With ashen faces, they could only accept the reality, using their own lives to secure a chance of survival for their children.
As for whether they believed the World Government.
Again.
Did they have a choice?
They could only pray that the World Government would keep its promise and treat their children well. Besides, think of how much money the Flevance royal family had earned for the World Government branches everywhere over the past century!
Considering all that money, surely the World Government wouldn't be too ruthless.
And that very night, certain nobles and military officers in the country who knew, to varying degrees, the true history of the Amber Lead Syndrome, all died tragically in their homes under the cover of darkness.
Perhaps some among them were innocent.
But Cipher Pol chose the path of 'better to kill the innocent than let the guilty escape,' eliminating anyone under suspicion—this too was an order from above.
Inside the city.
This prosperous kingdom, filled everywhere with white houses, white bridges, white fountains, white statues, and even white roads.
Now also began to be permeated by an atmosphere of panic.
Previously, the men and women here all wore nearly identical serene smiles, their every action and gesture perfectly embodying the essence of gentlemen and ladies.
They possessed more aristocratic flair than the nobles of many other kingdoms.
Now, however, they cast aside all the Amber Lead jewelry that had once made them proud and smug. With ferocious expressions, they urged their servants to load their treasures onto carriages, then desperately fled towards the city outskirts.
"Brother, what's wrong with them?"
In front of the iron gates of an entirely white hospital, a small, brown-haired girl looked quizzically at the convoys rushing down the street and the panicked crowds.
"Lami, don't go out, it's dangerous!"
A little boy wearing a spotted white hat and a small yellow suit nervously grabbed the girl's arm, pulling her back into the courtyard.
"Well done, Law! Keep a close eye on your sister. Something unbelievably terrible is happening in this country right now. You absolutely must not go outside!"
Just then, a man in a white coat and glasses ran over quickly, his expression grave. While speaking, he swiftly closed the two large iron gates and immediately locked them.
Following behind him was a woman, also in a white coat, with the same hair color as the girl but styled in braids.
"Mama!"
Little Lami ran over and hugged the woman's right leg, looking up fearfully. "Those uncles and aunties outside have become so strange. What's wrong with them?"
"It's alright, it's alright..."
The woman crouched down and gently pulled her into an embrace, her eyes full of worry.
They were the most renowned physician couple in the country's largest hospital, so naturally, they had seen the World Government's public announcement regarding the Amber Lead Syndrome at the earliest opportunity.
Although they hadn't yet shown any symptoms of Amber Lead Syndrome, they knew in their hearts it was only a matter of time.
Over the years, the hospital had treated many patients with ‘White Patch Disease,’ but to date, there hadn't been a single successful cure, leading it to be regarded as an untreatable terminal illness.
Previously, some hospital directors and physicians had sensed the problem lay with Amber Lead.
But every time they submitted a report upwards, it was like a stone sinking into the ocean. After some time, they would be transferred away from the hospital for various reasons, never to return.
This led many clever directors and physicians to choose silence.
Although they didn't know why the royal family ignored the Amber Lead Syndrome, or even deliberately concealed it, keeping quiet ensured peace, so they let it be.
The man walked over and hugged Law, who, despite being only six, managed to feign calmness. Then he looked at his wife and offered comfort.
"Don't worry. Didn't the official announcement say they'll send a team from the Medical Academy? They must have a solution. You know, the current dean of the Medical Academy is none other than Doctor Kureha from the Drum Kingdom!"
But despite saying this, he didn't hold much hope in his heart.
As an excellent doctor himself, he knew very well that with the current level of medical science in the world, there was simply no way to cure heavy metal poisoning like Amber Lead, which could affect a person's Lineage Factor.
Elsewhere.
At several major transportation routes leading from the Flevance Kingdom to neighboring countries, crowds of people and carriages were now packed together. The atmosphere was extremely tense and chaotic.
"Get out of the way! Let us out!"
"Yeah! Who are you people? Scram! I want to leave this place!"
"I'm begging you, please let my family go! How about I give you a million Berries?"
But no matter how these people cursed or even pleaded, the police officers clad in extremely smart, strict, and detailed waist-cinched green uniforms remained unmoved.
They all watched them expressionlessly, showing no intention of opening the barricades for them.
"Hey, Tanjiro, isn't this getting bad? What if they try to rush through later? Are we supposed to take action then? We have to, right? But how? We can't possibly draw our swords, can we? They're civilians..."
Zenitsu Agatsuma, now eighteen and recently transferred from the Swordmaster Hall to the Public Security Division, having become a lowly Third-Level Police Officer.
Looking at the crowd before him—some fierce, some angry, some weeping—he instantly showed a frightened expression, hiding behind Tanjiro and rambling incoherently.
"Idiot Zenitsu! We just need to follow orders! Why are you thinking so much?"
Inosuke Hashibira, still wearing his boar's head mask but no longer bare-chested, now dressed in a police uniform, saw Zenitsu's cowardly state and scolded him displeasedly.
Zenitsu Agatsuma shouted, "But the mission orders say if rioters try to force their way through, we're authorized to use force for arrest! Can you really draw your sword against them? They aren't demons, they're people!"
"Tch, you should just go back to Wano Country and sleep." Inosuke Hashibira turned his head away disdainfully.
Beside them, Tanjiro also seemed unsure what to do, merely looking with pity at the crowd on the other side of the barricade.
"Keeping them here is to help treat the Amber Lead toxin in their bodies. If someone really tries to break through later, let's try our best not to hurt them. Just knock them unconscious."
"Because right now... they're just scared."
Meanwhile, before the utterly luxurious main hall of the Flevance Royal Palace.
With a muffled 'thump,' the Royal Army soldiers guarding the area felt as though, in the blink of an eye, a tall and imposing figure had appeared in the open space.
This person was nearly seven meters tall, with an extremely broad and muscular upper body.
He wore a trapezoidal white hat with brown spots on its surface and rimless white spectacles.
A black and green police officer's uniform, paired with a dark green trench coat that billowed in the swirling air currents, gave him an indescribably intense and oppressive aura.
"I am Bartholomew Kuma, Director of the Public Security Division under the World Government's Police Affairs Department. Here is my officer's identification."
He first took out a small black identification booklet from his right breast pocket, opened it, and showed it to the Royal Army commander in front of him, who hadn't yet reacted.
After confirming the commander's eyes had registered the contents of the ID, he put it away, took out a document, and said, "I have come to arrest the King and Queen of the Flevance Kingdom. This is the arrest warrant. Please step aside."
"We need to request instructions first."
The Royal Army commander said, frowning as he gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.
"Unnecessary. The arrest warrant is here. No one is permitted to obstruct law enforcement, or they will be charged with obstruction of official duties. This is the final warning. Step aside."
Bartholomew Kuma spoke calmly, but his gaze wasn't on these 'little people'; it was fixed on the two presences inside the main hall.
When he learned the 'truth' that the Flevance royal family, for their own selfish desires, had concealed the Amber Lead Syndrome for over a century, causing the deaths of countless citizens, uncontrollable anger surged within him.
This was also the reason he had decided to come personally.
"No! I must report to the King first! Only with his permission can I let you enter!"
The Royal Army commander refused coldly, even drawing the long sword from his waist and aiming the blade at Kuma. "Please wait here for a moment."
"In that case, the charge of obstruction of official duties stands. Someone from Enies Lobby will come for you."
As soon as his voice fell, Bartholomew Kuma acted, slapping the commander with unbelievably fast hand speed, causing the man to vanish instantly from the spot.
This scene terrified the other Royal Army soldiers, who could only watch in horror as Kuma ascended the steps, one by one.
At a location by the sea.
A World Government ship, flying a flag with a five-ringed cross emblem, was docked by the shore.
This brought an instant smile to the face of Duke Cruz, who was accompanied by his elder brother's two sons and three daughters.
"As expected of the World Government! They truly keep their promises!"
This younger brother of the Flevance King assumed the ship was there to pick them up.
He excitedly looked at the few men in black who had escorted him all the way here, praising them repeatedly.
"Please relay to the esteemed figures in the World Government that we now only seek a modest, comfortable life and will absolutely never appear before the world again. Please assure them they have nothing to worry about!"
But just as he finished speaking, he saw one of the men in black—one with long pink hair and handsome features—shake his head and smile.
"That won't be necessary."
"Hmm?"
Duke Cruz looked at the man in confusion, only to see with horror that the man's right arm was transforming into a purplish-white gas, which then surged towards him and the children.
"Because the higher-ups have their own way of ensuring complete peace of mind."
The next moment.
Under the broad daylight, screams rose and fell, only to be forcefully drowned out by the crashing sound of the waves...
End of Chapter
