*WHOOSH!*
Before the finance minister could continue speaking, a chilling aura of killing intent surged from Baruch.
A mere noble of a small kingdom daring to question the will of a Celestial Dragon—this was treason of the highest order.
As Romantis' shield, Baruch would never allow such disrespect in his presence. Had Romantis not given any indication otherwise, he would have slain the finance minister on the spot.
Under the weight of Baruch's murderous intent, the finance minister felt as if he were being stared down by an ancient beast. His legs lost all strength, and he collapsed onto the ground.
An ordinary noble had no chance of withstanding the killing intent of the Celestial Dragon's shield.
Even the other nobles found it hard to breathe under the immense pressure, with one exception—Army Minister Azor.
It was clear that Azor possessed some level of strength. After all, a fully established nation could not survive without strong individuals to defend it.
Without them, even with the presence of the Marines, the kingdom would have long since fallen into the hands of pirates. As Baruch's killing intent bore down upon them, the nobles of Heim crumpled to their knees one after another.
Seeing that all his peers had yielded, even Azor hesitated for a few seconds before ultimately choosing to kneel as well.
"St. Romantis, the finance minister did not intend to offend you. Please, for the sake of the Heim Kingdom's loyal tribute to the World Nobles, grant him mercy!"
Audrey, the princess of Heim, stepped forward to plead on the finance minister's behalf.
She understood well—he was her greatest supporter. Regardless of how futile it may be, she had to stand up for him, even at the risk of angering the Celestial Dragon.
During the war against Germa, her father, as well as her brothers, had all been killed. The nobles and soldiers most loyal to the royal family had been wiped out.
Among the surviving nobles, the finance minister was the only one with no strong backing, having risen to power purely due to her father's favor. He had no choice but to align himself with Audrey. The rest of the great nobles, however, had their own ambitions.
Otherwise, Germa would never have allowed them to survive.
If the finance minister were to be executed, she would lose all hope of maintaining the royal family's position. And she knew better than anyone what that would mean for her.
Romantis gazed at Audrey, his interest piqued.
The famed "Rose Princess"—in person, she was even more stunning than in her portraits.
Long crimson hair cascaded down her back, her features seemingly sculpted by the gods themselves. Her eyes, brimming with depth and mystery, held a captivating allure.
The curves of her figure exuded an intoxicating charm, while her elegant gown only further enhanced her noble bearing.
And those lips—deep red, inviting. Tempting.
Without acknowledging the gathered crowd, Romantis turned and made his way back to the World Government's warship, Baruch following closely behind.
The Celestial Dragon's guards maintained their watch, ensuring that none dared to approach.
Only after a long silence did the nobles finally rise to their feet. Army Minister Azor and Commerce Minister Fort exchanged a glance, their expressions knowing.
They had both grasped a crucial fact—the princess and the finance minister were now as good as dead.
Romantis had left without giving them so much as a second glance. That alone was enough to seal their fate.
With the princess and the finance minister eliminated from contention, Azor and Fort now saw each other as their only true rival for the throne. Their struggle was inevitable.
Without hesitation, they departed with their own factions, taking nearly half of the nobles with them.
The remaining nobles cast wary glances at the kneeling princess and her last supporter before also choosing to leave.
In moments like these, taking sides was a matter of life and death. Choose wisely, and one could rise in status. Choose poorly, and one's entire family could be wiped out.
It was unclear how much time had passed. The majority of the nobles had left, and the commoners had long since dispersed.
Only those truly loyal to the royal family—or those too deeply entangled to escape—remained.
Audrey slowly rose to her feet. Glancing at the finance minister, who was still collapsed on the ground, she signaled two younger nobles to help him up.
With nothing else to be done, they made their way back to the palace.
........
The world of pirates was composed of a single landmass—the Red Line, controlled by the World Government. Every other nation was built upon islands scattered across the vast seas.
Thus, every country in this world was an island nation. Most followed a similar pattern—a central mountain range surrounded by coastal plains and ports. These ports were the primary hubs of human civilization.
Heim Kingdom was no exception. Its capital was located at the largest port, so the journey back to the palace was a short one.
........
"Baruch, what are the nobles of Heim up to?"
"Lord Romantis, according to our reports, the Commerce Minister has already contacted the wealthiest merchants in the kingdom, securing a loan of three billion Berries.
Combined with his personal fortune of two billion, he intends to offer you five billion Berries in tribute—to secure the throne for himself."
"Five billion Berries, huh? That's quite the deal."
A major kingdom was certainly worth far more than five billion. But after enduring a devastating war and being plundered by Germa, Heim was on the brink of collapse.
That the Commerce Minister could even gather this sum was impressive.
Any nation considered a "kingdom" had a minimum population of 100,000. Larger nations could have populations exceeding ten million. The disparity was immense.
With over a million citizens, Heim Kingdom ranked in the upper-middle tier among the 175 member nations of the World Government.
Its advantageous location in the heart of the North Blue, positioned along key trade routes, ensured a steady stream of commerce. Prosperous ports and significant tax revenues allowed the kingdom to maintain a respectable standing.
Within the World Government's 175 allied nations, kingdoms were classified into four tiers:
1. Small Kingdoms – Under 1,000 square kilometers.
- Example: Dressrosa, a tiny yet densely populated island of 100,000 people.
- For such a small island to sustain a kingdom, it had to be strategically located in calm waters and vital trade routes. Otherwise, a single storm could wipe it out.
2. Medium Kingdoms – Between 1,000 and 10,000 square kilometers.
- The most common type of nation in the world.
- Heim Kingdom belonged to this category.
3. Large Kingdoms – Between 10,000 and 100,000 square kilometers.
- These nations typically had populations exceeding one million.
- Considered regional powers.
Heim Kingdom spanned 21,000 square kilometers, consisting of a 13,000-square-kilometer main island, three smaller subsidiary islands, and sixteen tiny islets.
The kingdom's capital housed three major cities, while the rest of the land was dotted with villages.
With a population just over a million, Heim's population density was relatively low for its size. This was largely due to its turbulent history—its location made it a prime target for pirates and rival nations.
Without its powerful military, Heim would have long since been wiped from the map.
Before the Germa invasion, Heim had maintained an army of 80,000 troops and a Royal Guard led by a commander with vice-admiral-level strength.
Now, it was little more than a shadow of its former self.