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Salo ignored every gaze directed at him, his expression calm.
At this moment, Rojen's words before departing echoed through his mind.
"Be tough. At the World Council, don't be afraid, no matter how much trouble you stir up, but you must do one thing!"
"That is: be tough! If anyone refuses to submit, crush them!"
"Crush them until they submit. If they still refuse, make sure they can't get back up from the ground!"
"Once they're lying down, then we can talk reason!"
A weak nation has no diplomacy; naturally, Salo understood this principle.
So, he cast a glance forward, and magic bloomed through his eyes.
The person who had spoken out instantly let out a scream, slipped from his chair, and collapsed onto the floor, leaving a mess of urine and feces behind.
With just one glance from Salo, he had lost control of his bowels and bladder.
His eyes were filled with terror, as though in that brief instant he had seen something unimaginably horrifying.
Seated calmly, Salo remained expressionless, utterly indifferent to the scene he had caused, and continued speaking evenly.
"Barut Kingdom believes that the people of Fish-Man Island should possess the rights that rightfully belong to them."
His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it carried clearly through the entire conference hall. This time, no one openly argued against him, though many kingdom representatives exchanged uncertain glances.
"Wizard Salo, using force in the conference chamber is not permitted."
The moderator's voice rang out in warning.
This was the most exalted venue in the world; all crude and uncivil behavior was forbidden. Salo's actions had already put the guards in the chamber on alert. They stared at him sharply, waiting only for the moderator's command before rushing forward to arrest him.
"Did I use force? Who saw it?"
Salo smiled faintly.
"I merely looked at him. Perhaps he remembered something unpleasant and lost his composure. Isn't that so?"
The moderator was left speechless by the retort.
He had to admit that Salo's words made sense, because the man truly hadn't lifted a finger.
Everyone seated in the chamber watched this scene with growing apprehension.
"So the legends are true, magic possesses strange powers comparable to Devil Fruits. Seeing it today, it truly is extraordinary!"
Those qualified to sit here were naturally well-informed individuals. Before arriving, they had thoroughly studied information on every nation. Of course they knew about the magical power of the Barut Kingdom. But witnessing it firsthand still deeply shocked them.
"That old man… is he Admiral-class combat power?"
The national representative who had openly voiced opposition earlier now avoided eye contact, not daring to look at him.
In this world, strength ultimately spoke louder than words. Whoever had the bigger fist held the truth.
"It is said that the Barut Kingdom has five wizards. Each wizard possesses Admiral-level combat strength and serves as the guild president of one of the five branches of magic. May I ask, Wizard Salo, which one are you?"
The moderator quickly regained his composure, smoothly brushing aside the earlier incident and asking with a smile.
He sounded casual, but every representative present understood, he was probing for information.
The Barut Kingdom had faded from the world's view for fifty years. What changes it had undergone during those fifty years was something everyone was curious about. Moreover, some people had investigated records from fifty years ago and discovered, to their surprise, that the Barut Kingdom was extremely mysterious. They rarely participated in the World Council and were usually little more than a name on paper.
"I am the president of Elemental Magic." Salo replied softly.
"Five Admiral-class combatants… truly frightening." The moderator nodded in admiration.
"You're mistaken." Salo corrected him calmly.
"Oh? Then I must ask Wizard Salo for some clarification."
"Wizards, our Barut Kingdom currently indeed has only five. But our powerful combat forces are definitely not limited to just five."
Salo's voice spread throughout the conference chamber, causing everyone present to narrow their eyes in surprise.
"Our king, Akatsuki, possesses combat power far beyond the five of us."
"Coming to participate in this World Council was also his decision. According to him, since the Barut Kingdom is ultimately a member of the world, how could we possibly refuse to contribute to such matters?"
Though forceful, Salo's words were delivered with considerable tact.
After all, he was old and had experienced much in life; he was highly skilled in handling situations like this, knowing exactly when to advance and when to retreat.
"Oh, hehe, for Your Majesty to have such intentions is the world's fortune. The world also welcomes the participation of the Barut Kingdom."
The moderator paused briefly before replying with a polite smile.
Internally, however, he grew much more cautious. Five Admirals, plus one powerhouse who might even surpass Admiral-level strength, meant this tiny Barut Kingdom of the West Blue actually possessed six top-tier combatants!
What a terrifyingly powerful nation!
The representatives of the various countries present were equally shaken.
Having studied history, they naturally understood that this vast world contained many extraordinary regions. Although most had become known and recorded, there were still mysterious places hidden away.
Within the Four Seas, history recorded the existence of so-called royal families! Take the Vinsmoke Family, which still exists to this day, it had once ruled an entire sea. Likewise, the Barut Kingdom had once been a supreme kingdom during a certain era of history. Only the passage of endless time had erased everything.
Possessing six top-tier combatants unquestionably proved the kingdom's strength, just as the legends of history claimed.
Salo naturally saw through the moderator's probing intentions, but he did not care.
Their decision to attend this World Council already represented the Barut Kingdom's intention to re-enter the world stage. In that case, letting the world witness the Barut Kingdom's strength was only natural.
Next, the agenda resumed. After the vote regarding Fish-Man Island ended in a tie, the previous conclusion was overturned and required further discussion.
One topic after another followed. Salo sat calmly in his seat. Ignoring the many covert glances directed at him, he occasionally voiced his opinions.
Speaking here required extreme caution, because every sentence represented the will of a nation, the thoughts of millions, or even tens of millions, of people.
By the end of that day's World Council session, everyone had formed a deep impression of the Barut Kingdom.
That burly old wizard with a cold expression, wearing a pointed hat and holding a crescent-shaped magic staff, had left an unforgettable image in their minds.
"In the West Blue, there is Barut!"
Those words quietly began to spread, becoming known throughout the world.
When the meeting adjourned, the thirty-six mage corps and seventy-two armored knights led by Salo likewise became the focus of everyone's attention.
At a glance, the imposing aura radiating from the 108 powerhouses was deeply shocking.
"With strength like that, they're probably no weaker than the famous great pirate crews of the New World!"
"The Barut Kingdom… so powerful!"
"Indeed, very powerful. I'm really curious what their king is like!"
People discussed in hushed voices, silently engraving the name 'Barut' into their memories.
(End Of This Chapter)