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At this moment, it would take at least three hours of sailing for other Marine warships to reach Momonga's location.
Through the Den Den Mushi, they couldn't fully grasp what had transpired.
Initially, the group on the other end laughed, but after hearing Momonga's serious and angry tone, they fell into deep thought.
It wasn't that they doubted him after all, Momonga was a seasoned Vice Admiral with a reputation for being reliable.
Moreover, the fleet of ten Marine warships he commanded was a force to be reckoned with, each carrying skilled officers.
However, the idea that the relatively unknown Tru Kingdom could pose such a threat was difficult to comprehend.
"How dangerous can a small kingdom in the South Blue be?" one of them muttered.
After an angry outburst at the Den Den Mushi, Momonga abruptly ended the call. His original mission in the South Blue wasn't the Tru Kingdom but rather the missing CP2 agents and, more specifically, the search for a Golden Den Den Mushi.
As a Vice Admiral, Momonga knew how to prioritize objectives. Yet, the humiliation he suffered in the Tru Kingdom lingered. His expression betrayed his frustration he had no intention of letting it go.
Even after their departure, Momonga sat rigidly on the deck, his gaze locked on the direction of the now-distant Tru Kingdom.
The crew, including his adjutant, avoided approaching him, fearful of his simmering anger.
The duel between Momonga and Abona had been witnessed by all. The Vice Admiral's pride in his swordsmanship had been shattered by Abona in a matter of moments.
The atmosphere aboard the ship was tense; the crew members busied themselves with menial tasks, careful not to provoke their commander.
Meanwhile, Abona and Zen led their group back to the palace. Zen, full of energy, kept chattering as if possessed by a talking spirit.
"Abona, that sword strike of yours at the start was incredible! I never knew you were a swordsman of such calibre!" Zen exclaimed enthusiastically.
Abona, however, seemed uninterested, walking silently and deep in thought.
"Zen," Abona finally broke his silence, "His Majesty didn't leave the palace, did he?"
Zen paused, startled by the unexpected question.
"No, Abona, His Majesty hasn't left the palace at all. Why do you ask?"
"Just thinking aloud," Abona replied, his voice calm but contemplative.
Abona couldn't shake the thought of the king's abilities. If His Majesty truly communicated with them from over ten kilometres away, then his Haki, particularly his Observation Haki, must be on an unimaginable level.
Back in the palace, Anos sat in the hall with a faint smile. He had anticipated the arrival of the Marine warships and understood their true purpose: i
Investigating the disappearance of CP2 agents and retrieving the Golden Den Den Mushi.
It had been so long that even Anos had forgotten how the Golden Den Den Mushi was handled.
The last he recalled, it had been entrusted to Daiki. Whatever Daiki had done with it was now a mystery.
"Your Majesty, I've brought the documents you requested," Suzu announced as she entered the hall, carrying a stack of papers.
"Is this all there is?" Anos asked, his tone neutral.
"This is the compiled land registry for the entire country. Additional information is still being organized," Suzu replied.
"Not enough. Bring the rest to the main hall, and notify the Council of Ministers to convene tomorrow. Also, order a full census of the entire kingdom," Anos instructed.
"Your Majesty, why are you personally involved in this? Shouldn't specialized officials handle such tasks?" Suzu asked curiously.
"Do what I've instructed. I'll handle the rest with the Senate," Anos replied firmly.
The Senate of the Tru Kingdom was a unique institution, functioning as the country's central administrative body.
With a membership of around 100, the Senate had an average age of 40, making it a well-respected and experienced council.
Established two years prior by Anos, the Senate had significantly eased the burden on the king by managing civil and legislative matters.
However, Anos retained direct control over the kingdom's elite military forces, including the 20,000-strong palace and national guard units.
The remaining four to five million troops were under the jurisdiction of the Council of Ministers.
Despite sharing power with these institutions, Anos maintained a delicate balance that ensured the kingdom's stability.
This system, while unconventional, had proven effective, allowing the Tru Kingdom to thrive under its king's watchful eye.
However, as the Marines regrouped and assessed their next move, it was clear that this confrontation was only the beginning.
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