Boom!
A pirate ship, in the midst of plundering a merchant vessel, suddenly erupted with a massive explosion from its hull.
The terrifying blast shattered the pirate ship into countless fragments.
Seizing the moment, the merchant ship swiftly hoisted its sails and sped away to safety.
Hidden beneath the waves, the Nautilus had no intention of surfacing. Silently, it sailed off into the distance, leaving behind no trace of its heroic deed.
Five hours later.
In Sugarcane Town on Rum Island.
Noah and his crew, cleverly disguised as trading company staff, stepped ashore in Sugarcane Town.
Their main reason for coming ashore was the need for human interaction after months without contact. Life at sea can be incredibly monotonous, and it's essential to unwind and prevent cabin fever from setting in.
Inside a bustling restaurant.
Several waiters hurriedly brought out dishes, yet the spread on the table remained modest.
Uncle Joseph cradled a bottle of locally produced rum, savoring its flavor with great appreciation.
Vic was demonstrating his astonishing feat of devouring an entire pig in just three bites, while Lilian pondered how to recreate the restaurant's delightful cuisine.
Leaning back in his chair, Noah quietly observed the passersby on the street outside.
This was a small island nation thriving on its rum and sugar industries. Especially with the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, rum had become an indispensable commodity for sea voyages, fueling the island's growing prosperity.
However, Noah noticed that many of the pedestrians showed no signs of sharing in this wealth.
Many were gaunt, with sallow complexions, their clothes patched and worn.
Noah beckoned a waiter over.
Placing a silver coin into the waiter's hand, the middle-aged waitress beamed with a wide smile. "What can I do for you, sir?"
"I'm a merchant from the Kingdom of Goa, new to these parts and unfamiliar with Rum Island. Could you tell me a bit about the situation here?"
The waitress glanced around cautiously before leaning in to whisper, "Sir, to do business on Rum Island, you need approval from Minister Powell. I've heard you have to pay a hefty sum to purchase rum and sugar here."
Noah nodded thoughtfully and continued, "Are those people outside locals?"
The waitress looked at the individuals he indicated and whispered again, "Those folks are Atoners. They've broken the law but can't afford the atonement fees, so they have to work off their debt through labor assigned by the kingdom."
"Your country's laws must be quite strict!"
"Sir, please don't say such things openly. If the Penitent Knights hear you, you'll be fined."
"Do you have a copy of Rum Kingdom's law book here?" Noah asked, sliding another silver coin her way.
The waitress nodded. "Our boss has one. I can borrow it for you, but please don't take it away or damage it."
"That won't be a problem."
Before long, the waitress discreetly handed him a thick tome.
Just then, Anthony, sporting gold-rimmed glasses, and Vic entered the restaurant.
Taking a sip of coffee, Anthony leaned in and whispered, "Boss, here's the local business investigation report."
Noah accepted the booklet and skimmed through it rapidly.
After reading, he finally grasped the situation in Rum Kingdom. The plethora of taxes and the draconian penalties seemed designed to squeeze every last coin from the common people.
From what he knew, among the more than 170 member nations of the World Government, they were categorized into three tiers, each with different amounts of the annual Heavenly Tribute:
• First Tier: 50 billion Berries annually.
• Second Tier: 30 billion Berries annually.
• Third Tier: 10 billion Berries annually.
A small country like Rum Kingdom typically fell into the third tier, needing to pay only 10 billion Berries or equivalent treasures each year.
With a population of 200,000, each person would need to contribute an average of 50,000 Berries annually, which wasn't excessively burdensome.
After all, the Arlong Pirates in Cocoyasi Village demanded a monthly tribute of 100,000 Berries per adult and 50,000 per child just to stay alive.
Rum Kingdom's prosperity far exceeded that of Cocoyasi Village.
From the investigation, the annual revenue of Rum Kingdom was no less than 100 billion Berries—almost ten times the amount of the Heavenly Tribute. Why, then, were they draining the well dry?
Noah fell into deep contemplation.
Unable to figure it out, he drew out his Tarot Cards.
Soon, the cards revealed a cryptic prophecy:
"A False Balance, the Sin of Greed."
Noah's Observation Haki focused on the pedestrians outside. Though they were working, their expressions were numb, filled with pain and despair.
He called Mary over and whispered a few instructions in her ear.
Mary casually went across the street to a fruit shop to buy some produce.
When she returned to the restaurant, her face was troubled.
"Boss, those people's hearts are filled with suffering. If they don't work, their entire families might starve."
"Is it the same for all of them?"
"Yes, all those so-called Atoners are in the same situation."
Combining the Tarot prophecy, Noah felt he was starting to piece together the puzzle.
After a satisfying meal, the group checked into a nearby upscale hotel.
As night enveloped the town.
Three shadows silently slipped out of Sugarcane Town.
Rum Island had four towns in total: the open Sugarcane Town in the south; Cane Town on the southeastern plains; Mackerel Town on the northwest coast; and Rum City on the central plateau—the capital of Rum Kingdom.
Activating their Observation Haki, Noah, Mary, and Lilith skillfully avoided the kingdom's patrols.
In less than an hour, the trio traversed over eighty kilometers, arriving at the outskirts of Rum City.
"Big brother, the concentration of Atoners here is even higher than in Sugarcane Town," Mary said, her emotion-sensing Observation Haki making her uneasy. This was the same type of Haki that led the Red Count to distrust others—a constant influx of others' emotions could easily drive someone mad.
Fortunately, Mary had the support of her family and rigorous training, allowing her to control her Haki effectively.
If someone like the Red Count awakened this kind of Haki from birth, combined with unfortunate experiences in childhood, it could result in a twisted mind and profound loneliness from seeing through people's hearts.
"Let's pay a visit to Minister Powell's residence."
Lilith altered her body's microstructure, seamlessly blending into the surroundings.
Mary refracted light around her, becoming invisible.
Noah, relying on his Observation Haki to anticipate his surroundings, boldly walked into Powell's mansion.
The corpulent Powell was in the midst of indulging in carnal pleasures.
Suddenly, the five people in the room felt an overwhelming drowsiness. Before Powell could react, they collapsed like felled trees.
Donning a gas mask, Noah pushed open the door, wrapped Powell in a quilt to restrain him, and took out a Den Den Mushi (Transponder Snail).
"Allie, come pick me up," he said.
A faint glow emanated from the gemstone badge on the inside of Noah's vest.
Instantly, a circular portal opened in the air before him. Noah carried Powell through the wormhole, arriving in a secluded cave in the blink of an eye.