Chapter 240: Requests and Misunderstandings
_______
"Don't agree so quickly. Let me show you something first."
Aoki's expression shifted, and his face changed back to its original appearance.
Alice froze, staring at him in disbelief. Then her eyes widened.
"You… you are…"
"It seems you've recognized me."
Aoki's tone was calm. "Then, my request is simple: I want to establish a base in Etania to build strength and prepare to eliminate the Celestial Dragons. Etania will need to provide cover and offer full support for this endeavor."
No matter how he looked at it, Aoki needed a base of operations.
He had considered different approaches to achieve this.
The first method was to seize a kingdom by force.
However, this came with numerous complications. Killing a king and taking control of a kingdom were entirely different tasks.
Assassination only required power, but ruling a kingdom required a system supported by a large network of people.
Aoki, Robin, and possibly Hancock made up a team of three at most. That wasn't enough to control an entire kingdom.
The manpower shortage was critical, and without a functioning kingdom, he couldn't quickly build up his forces. It was a vicious cycle.
Even after decades of effort, he might solve this problem, but by then, what would be the point?
Secondly, forcibly taking over a kingdom would undoubtedly provoke retaliation from the World Government.
The World Government already bore a deep grudge against him, with a murderous intent far exceeding what they held for the Pirate Emperors.
Even if they didn't eliminate him outright, his development would be significantly hindered.
Third, exposure of his identity would bring him under the radar of every pirate. Admiration, fear, terror, hatred—every emotion would come crashing down.
The entire New World could descend into chaos.
This method was far too risky, with the potential to spiral completely out of control—something Aoki wanted to avoid.
The second method he considered was quietly parasitizing an existing kingdom and developing his plans from within.
However, without sufficient support, progress would be agonizingly slow. And as his forces grew, they would inevitably draw the attention of the local government, creating conflicts.
The ideal solution was to find a kingdom willing to support him unconditionally.
But why would any kingdom risk destruction for his sake without any prior ties?
Meeting Alice was an unexpected yet golden opportunity.
Still, he had to lay the risks and rewards bare.
"Destroy the Celestial Dragons?"
Alice appeared stunned, unable to respond immediately.
Even though her kingdom had been ruined because of them, the idea of eliminating the Celestial Dragons had never crossed her mind.
"Now you understand how dangerous it is to ally yourself with me," Aoki said evenly. "Make your choice."
"I agree!" Alice declared, her voice unwavering.
Aoki raised a brow, surprised. "Are you sure? Don't you want to think it through?"
"There's no need!" Alice shook her head firmly. "Etania is already on the brink of destruction. Does it matter if it's dangerous?"
"It does," Aoki replied. "Right now, it's just a destroyed kingdom. But if the truth comes out, Etania could be wiped off the map entirely."
"I understand the difference between Destruction and annihilation," Alice said with a calm resolve. "But I'd rather bet on a good ending!"
"You're bold," Aoki remarked with a smile. "I'll try not to let you down."
"Courage is one of my few strengths," Alice said, placing her hands on her hips.
The two then delved into the details, their discussion lasting until late into the night. When they finally concluded, Alice stood to leave.
Returning to her camp, she couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
The initial shock of discovering that Aoki was the legendary "Dragon King" had worn off, replaced by exhilaration.
She had always known Aoki was strong, but she hadn't realized how strong.
After all, who was the Dragon King?
In this era, Aoki was the second most powerful person in the world, with the second-highest bounty to match.
The stronger Aoki was, the greater the hope for saving Etania and her father.
As for the potential dangers his identity might bring? That was a problem to worry about later.
Alice's thoughts weren't particularly sharp at the moment, but she knew one thing with certainty: Etania was in peril, and her father's life hung by a thread.
Extraordinary circumstances called for extraordinary measures.
She didn't have the luxury of contemplating long-term consequences. Right now, she was lucky just to have a chance to act in the present.
Huck observed Alice's excitement, sighing quietly to himself.
"General, are you staying because of Mr. Aoki?"
Alice flushed slightly, clearly embarrassed.
"Huck, you already figured it out?"
Huck nodded. He had seen it himself: Her Royal Highness, the princess, had entered the archaeologist's residence alone and didn't leave until late into the night.
In the middle of the night, a man and a woman in the same room—what else could it possibly mean?
At first, this had completely thrown him off and filled him with anger.
At a time like this, you're thinking about romance?
He had even considered storming in and dragging the princess away. But just as he took the first step, he hesitated.
In recent years, Her Highness had devoted herself entirely to training. Over the past two years, she had fought relentlessly for the kingdom and had never once thought about her own happiness.
Now that she had finally found someone she seemed to care for, could he really bring himself to ruin it?
Her Highness has worked tirelessly for years. Surely, she deserves at least a moment of happiness.
What's more, Her Highness would face tremendous pressure for many years to come. Perhaps this was her only chance at some semblance of joy.
Still, it was far too dangerous to linger here. Huck resolved to speak with Mr. Aoki directly the next day.
Alice, noticing Huck's serious expression, said, "Since you've already figured it out, there's no point in hiding it. Let's prepare quickly—we're leaving tomorrow!"
"Leave? So you've come to an agreement?"
Relief washed over Huck. It seemed they hadn't allowed emotions to cloud their judgment after all.
Alice nodded resolutely. "Aoki has agreed to help us. While the cost is significant, it's nothing compared to what Etania stands to gain!"
Huck blinked, caught off guard. "Help us with what?"
"To eliminate the pirates and save Etania, of course," Alice replied as if it were obvious.
"Wait… eliminate the pirates? Not love?"
Huck's expression froze. He realized, to his embarrassment, that he had made an utterly outrageous assumption.
But as his mind caught up, he recognized the far more pressing revelation in the princess's words.
"Your Highness, what's going on? Mr. Aoki wants to help us? How does he plan to do that?"
"Haven't you guessed it already?" Alice replied with a faint look of surprise but didn't dwell on Huck's confusion. She quickly outlined the agreement she and Aoki had reached.
"Mr. Aoki is actually the legendary 'Dragon King'?"
Huck's jaw dropped.
From an unassuming historian to the world's second-most-wanted criminal—wasn't the leap a little too absurd?
Then, his shock gave way to exhilaration.
Etania could be saved!
As for the price they'd have to pay? Huck's thoughts mirrored the princess's. Only by surviving would they have the right to consider the cost.
Right now, they stood on the brink of destruction.
No matter how high the price, it wouldn't feel like a loss.
_____
Patreon.com/Erovia
50+ Chapters