"What the hell did I get myself into?" I sighed, staring at the quest floating in front of me.
[Quest Alert!]
Make a stand, or back down!
Leave the Kingdom of Imbale and escape capture!
OR
Dethrone [King Daurel] and Conquer the Kingdom of Imbale!
Rewards:
+100 to all stats!
+Increased [Infamy] with the Kingdom of Imbale!
OR
+500 to all stats!
+Increased [Reputation] and [Obedience] with the Kingdom of Imbale!
Time Limit:
1 Week
Failure:
Suffer imprisonment or death in the Kingdom of Imbale!
It had appeared immediately after I had defeated the guards, but I didn't have time to take it in right away, as the reaction from the fishermen had... well, it had been something else. Something that I wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing yet. I had seen the mix of awe, fear, and even a spark of rebellion in their eyes as they watched me easily dispatch the Royal Guards - they looked at me like I was a hero, and a savior sent to liberate them from their oppressive king! The whispers had started almost immediately, spreading through the docks like wildfire, and I could still perfectly remember all the "Arvel stood up to the guards!" "He's not afraid of King Daurel!" "Maybe he's the one who can change things around here!" that had been muttered.
I had tried to downplay it and to brush off their praise as I told them that I was just a simple fisherman who didn't want to go to prison for a crime I didn't commit, but they weren't very receptive of it. They had seen my strength, and it had ignited a hope in them that had long since been extinguished. A hope that the corrupt King they had to pay heavy taxes to could be knocked down a peg.
"I really am just a fisherman who didn't want to go to prison," I sighed, leaning back against a large tree as I sat by the docks, a drink in my hand, in the dead of the night. Right now, I needed to make a decision.
I took a long drink from my mug as I looked over the quest again. On the surface, it seemed like an easy choice, and a no-brainer - to conquer the kingdom would reward me with 500 stats to each attribute, which was weeks of fishing on the island - probably months now that I was in the North Blue - and it would get me the obedience and reputation with Imbale, as opposed to making this kingdom my enemy. But then I thought about the consequences - which, while not immediately shown on the quest, were much more concerning.
I'd make an enemy out of Germa, who I knew was allied with Imbale, and I'd possibly even make an enemy out of the World Government. I'd have to deal with everything that came with being the king of a kingdom, which would almost certainly take me away from exploring the world and from fishing. Even if I did just take down the king and put someone else in power before leaving, it wasn't like I could just pretend this never happened - the World Government would likely come and forcibly remove the usurper, and once they learned that I was the one who caused the rebellion, they'd come after me.
When I considered that, the other option - to leave Imbale and escape capture - looked much more appealing. That would give me 100 stats, and while it would also make me an enemy out of Imbale, it was actually the much safer option. I'd be free to continue my journey, to explore the world, and to fish without the burden of ruling a kingdom or of the World Government and Germa on my ass.
I sighed again, rubbing my temples as I tried to weigh the pros and cons of each option. The choice seemed obvious - I should just leave! The fishermen here might get some flak for my actions, but I barely even knew them, right? It wasn't my responsibility to look out for them! I could leave them here, go explore some other sea, and protect my own ass.
But, even as I thought that, I knew I couldn't do it. I knew I couldn't leave behind all the men who'd stuck up for me, and all the people who had accepted and looked out for me since I arrived here. I had to consider the people of Imbale. I had seen their suffering firsthand, and I knew that they needed someone to stand up for them. I could be that someone - I could be the one to bring change to this island, and to give them a better life. I was already being painted as a hero in their minds, and if I left now, I would be abandoning them.
But, I also knew that was just the guilt talking. I was no hero. I was just a man from another world, who had a system that gave me stats for eating fish. I had no business being a king, much less a revolutionary leader, and I knew that I didn't truly care about helping the people here. I just felt guilty for abandoning them with the problem I partially created. In the end, the people of Imbale were suffering, yes, but there were people suffering all over the world, and I couldn't save everyone. I had to think about myself, and about my own survival.
"I'll... do nothing," I finally decided, staring out into the dark, calm ocean that sat far ahead of me, "I'll just do nothing."
In the end, that was what I came to. Was it a good choice? No, even as I came to it, I knew it wasn't. It would've been optimal for me to make a choice, but as I was torn between helping the people here and looking out for my own life, I decided this was what I would do. I would do nothing - that is to say, I'd just continue to live as I had been. I'd fish at the docks, hang out in the bars, and continue to evade Germa's eyes for the duration of my chain-quest. Then, once that quest was complete, I'd start working towards the next one in line.
Now, I was leaving Imbale up to fate. If King Daurel didn't make a move against me before I completed the quest, then I wouldn't make one against him. If the next quest required me to leave Imbale, then I would. But, if Daurel came after me before that time came?
Then, I'd do what I'd been doing so far: I'd defend myself, consequences be damned. Whatever happened, happened.
"Thinking too hard is bad for you anyway," I hummed, leaning back fully into the tree as I placed down the drink next to me, and stared at the bright stars overhead, "This world is meant for fun and adventure, not for stressing over some shit like this. Whatever happens, I won't complain."
That night, I fell asleep at peace with my decision.
Little did I know that my decision to stay in Imbale would change my life in this world forever.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You're Arvel, aren't you?"
"I am. What of it?"
"You're to come with us. Under the authority of King Daurel, you are hereby charged with the destruction of a Germa 66 patrol boat, the assault of royal soldiers, and high treason against the crown of Imbale. Come quietly."
"I think I'll stay here. If Daurel has a problem with me, he can come and say it to my face."
"Insolence! You dare speak of the King in such a manner? Seize him!"
"I said no. So, go ahead, and try to seize me," I hummed, smirking widely as the men behind me shifted nervously, and no one wanted to be the first to step forward, "What? You're here to arrest me, right? Make a move, or get the hell off my dock so I can fish."
I sat perched on the edge of the weathered wooden planks, my fishing line casually cast into the blue water in front of me. The morning sun was in the process of baking my shoulders, and there was the familiar scent of fish in the air. Around me, a semi-circle of the King's soldiers had formed, though they were clearly nervous after hearing about what had happened yesterday, and they kept their spears pointed my way even as I didn't spare them a glance. A dozen more stood on the path leading from the town, acting as reinforcements for a confrontation they clearly didn't want.
"Think long and hard before ya make your next move, alright?" Borin called out from a few feet away, as to the soldiers' side, littering the docks around us like an audience, were various fishermen. Most of them were tense as they threw an occasional jeer at the soldiers, only working to make the armored men more nervous as the fishermen stood ready to fight at the drop of a hat.
The lead guard, a man with a perpetually flushed face and a thick mustache, puffed out his chest as he stepped forward and jutted his spear at me, "This is your final warning, fisherman! Do not force our hands! You are outnumbered and surrounded!"
I didn't even turn my head, as my gaze was fixed on my fishing line. The line tensed, becoming taunt, and I felt a small, almost unnoticeable pressure on it. I clicked my tongue in annoyance as I did, knowing that any fish that weak was bound to just be another F-Rank.
"Outnumbered by who?" I finally asked, my voice flat and bored, "If one of me is worth a thousand of you, then you're the ones outnumbered, aren't you? I told your captain yesterday what would happen, so I'll tell you the same thing. Unless King Daurel himself wants to come down here and speak with me, you can all turn around and go tell him to fuck off."
A murmur went through the fishermen who had gathered at my words, and the red-faced guard looked around nervously. Nero stood near the front, only a few feet from the soldier, with his arms crossed over his chest. The tension on the dock became a physical feeling, and it was obvious that a fight was about to break out.
"Get him!" The flushed-faced guard finally grunted, though his order sounded rather weak.
The guards nervously glanced between each other, and then only two of them actually lunged to follow his orders, their spears levelled at the back of my head. I didn't move from my spot - hell, I didn't even stand. I just raised my left hand, palm out, and shoved backwards. As the spears shot towards me, my palm shot forward to meet them, but instead of a fountain of blood as they made contact, there was just a dull thud. I didn't budge an inch as the spears and the men holding them simply stopped, their forward momentum stopped by an immovable object. Then, I squeezed my hand shut, and the metallic tips of the spears shattered before the force of my squeeze continued backwards - shattering the wooden handles of their spears as well.
The two guards stared at their now-empty hands, the splintered remains of their spears clattering to the dock, and their eyes were wide with disbelief. Then, as I glanced at them, they stumbled backwards, looking at me fearfully.
"Y-You..." The red-faced soldier stammered, but before he could say anything else, I casually yanked the line of my fishing rod. Of course, it was casual to me, but it contained more force than any normal man could hope to muster.
As a result, the fish that was on the end of my line, which I confirmed was an F-Rank as a 'fish caught' notification appeared, went flying out of the water in a silver blur. It soared through the air, and I didn't even have to look to know where it was going. I heard a loud thud, a strangled yelp, and then a loud splash as it slammed into the guard with enough force to break through a brick wall. I glanced over my shoulder, and sure enough, the red-faced guard was nowhere to be seen. The only evidence of him was a splash of water in the spot behind where he had just been standing, and a small, silver-scaled fish flopping around on the dock.
"Armor's heavy and hard to swim in," I said, turning back to the rest of the soldiers with a lazy grin, "You should probably help him. It'd be a shame if he drowned before he could tell King Daurel how much of a coward he is for me, right?"
The remaining soldiers looked at each other, their faces pale, and then they rushed to the edge of the dock, their spears forgotten as they leaned over to try and fish their commander out of the water. They struggled for a moment, their armor making it difficult for them to move, but they finally managed to pull him out. He was sputtering and coughing, his face even redder than before, and he was soaking wet. He was also on the verge of unconsciousness, which made it even more difficult for the other soldiers to carry him away.
They finally managed to get him onto the dock, and then they practically scurried away with him in their arms, their backs turned to me as they fled the scene. A couple glanced back at me, clearly feeling like they should be doing something besides running away, but none of them had the balls - or, in this case, the stupidity - to try after what they had just seen. The fishermen who had gathered let out a loud cheer, and Borin clapped me on the back, a wide grin on his face.
"That's what I'm talking about, lad!" He laughed loudly, "That's how you deal with those bastards! They won't be bothering you again anytime soon!"
"Hah. I give it a day," I shrugged, chuckling with him even as I denied his words, "Maybe not even that long. They might be back by nightfall."
I had faced down the King's guards, and I had defended myself. Just as I had planned, I had done what I wanted to, and when they had come for me, I had made my choice. And, with that choice, I was ready to face the consequences.
But for now, I was just a fisherman, enjoying the simple pleasure of a day on the water.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"How much more money of mine are you bastards going to steal, huh?! Do you know how hard we work, just for you, stuck-up, arrogant bastards to take all of it? What's your salary, huh? You know you're taking my money, don't you?"
"It was my son's birthday last week, and I can't afford to get him anything! Do you have any children, guard? Do you know what it's like to have to tell your son that you can't even get him a simple gift because the greedy king wants more gold for his parties?"
"Do you even know why we're here? Do you bastards even care?! You already tax us into the ground, and now you're doing this to us?! We're here because of Arvel! That fisherman has given us more than you ever have, and now you're trying to take him away from us, too? What kind of bullshit is that? What did he even do?!"
I was watching this all unfold from a short distance away, a conflicted look on my face as I stood with Goran, leaning against the side of 'Sal's Salty Nut' while I watched the chaos unfold. Nearby, at the large wall that separated the North and South sides of Imbale and which was visible from nearly anywhere on the island, there was a massive crowd. A massive, very angry crowd.
The south-side citizens were angry as a long line of soldiers stood in front of the gate in the middle, their expressions nervous as the citizens hurled insults and accusations at the soldiers. Their faces were red with anger, their fists clenched, and their eyes burned with a resentment that was decades in the making. For years, they had suffered under the King's oppressive rule, their voices silenced and their complaints ignored. But now, they had a symbol. They had a cause. They had me.
And I had to admit, it was a strange feeling. I had never been a leader, nor had I ever wanted to be. I was a loner by nature, content to live in my own little world, and I had never been one for grand speeches or inspiring rallies. But, as I watched the crowd, I felt a small sense of pride. These people were fighting for me.
"See? This is your doing, Arvel," Goran said, a wide grin on his face as he nudged me with his elbow, "You've lit a fire under these people's asses. They're not gonna take this shit anymore."
"I didn't do anything," I said, shaking my head as I sighed, "They're just tired of being treated like dirt."
"Bullshit," Goran laughed loudly, clamping an arm on my shoulder, "You stood up to the guards, and you showed them that we don't have to be afraid! You gave them hope."
"I just didn't want to go to prison for a crime I didn't commit," I shrugged, a bit uncomfortable with the way the people here were putting me on a pedestal, "Anyone else would feel the same."
"They would, but there isn't anyone else who could even outrun the Royal Army, much less kick their asses whenever they come lookin' for you," Goran grinned widely, "You should be proud, but you don't look all that happy."
"People are going to get hurt doing this," I replied dryly, watching as a man chucked a rotten fish at one of the guards, who raised his spear threateningly in response, "If anyone dies because of this, it's kind of my fault, y'know?"
"Your fault my ass," Goran simply shook his head at my words, "They're doing this because they want to. Anyone who dies has no one to blame but themselves. Besides, you're not just going to watch, right?"
Goran gestured forward as the annoyed guard, whose face was dripping with fish blood, stomped towards the man who threw the fish with his spear raised. As I watched, I knew I had no obligation to move. I didn't tell these people to riot in my defense, nor did I tell that man to throw the fish. If he were imprisoned, or even killed, right now, then it wasn't my fault.
"Damn it. You know me too well," I sighed, stepping forward as Goran chuckled.
Even if it wasn't my fault, I was too much of a softie. They were here to riot because the king tried to imprison me, and I wouldn't let them die on my behalf. I walked to the altercation as the guard approached him, covering the couple of dozen feet pretty quickly, and blocked his path.
The guard glared at me as I blocked his way, but I saw a bit of fear in his eyes. He knew as well as any other soldier here did what I had done to every guard that tried to arrest me, and he knew that he didn't stand a chance. But, he also couldn't step aside without looking like a coward in front of the other guards, and in front of the crowd, so he just had to stand there and stare at me as he raised his spear with shaking hands.
"What are you doing, peasant?" The guard grunted, trying to make his voice sound intimidating as he glared at me, "This is a matter of the King's law. Move out of the way."
"I'm not going to let you arrest him for a rotten fish," I said dryly, looking down at the guard, who was at least a few inches shorter than me, "If you want to arrest him, then you'll have to arrest me too. Got it?"
"This is your last chance to move," The guard shouted this time, though his voice cracked a bit as he spoke, "By stopping me from upholding the King's justice, you're committing treason!"
"Hah, I've committed a damn lot of treason over the past two days," I grinned widely, making the man flinch at my carefree attitude, "One more charge isn't going to hurt. You're welcome to try and arrest me, though."
I let my words hang in the air as the guard's face paled, and he realized I wasn't bluffing. He wanted to arrest the man who threw the fish to make an example of him, and to show the crowd that he and the other guards weren't to be trifled with. But, to challenge me? That wouldn't end well for him, and he knew it.
"I-I… W-What…" The guard stammered as I reached out and casually grabbed the shaft of his spear. He flinched as I did, but didn't have a chance to pull away as I twisted the spear out of his grip.
I took the spear from him, and then I casually raised it up, before slamming it down and snapping it in half over my knee with a loud crack that echoed across the area. The crowd erupted in a loud cheer as I tossed the broken pieces of the spear to the ground, and then I gave the guard a bored look.
"Get out of here," I said, my voice flat as I stared at the guard, "Go back to your king, and tell him that the people aren't happy with the tax rates anymore."
The guard stared at me for a long moment, his face pale and his hands trembling. Then, he turned and ran, stumbling over the broken pieces of the spear as he fled back to the safety of the wall. The crowd cheered even louder as the guard fled, and I turned to face the man who had thrown the fish.
"Are you alright?" I asked him, and he nodded, a wide grin on his face.
"I'm alright! Thank you, Arvel!" He said, and then he turned to the crowd, raising a fist in the air, "Did you all see that? He's not afraid of the King! He's not afraid of the guards! We have Arvel on our side!"
The crowd erupted in another loud cheer, and I couldn't help but chuckle. I felt proud in that moment, as the people here were standing up for themselves, and I was the one who empowered them to do it. Even if it would be risky, and even if I had to risk my life for it, I had made my decision - I was in too deep now. The Germa quest was only a day away from completion, but even if I did finish it, I wasn't going to leave Imbale.
King Daurel was going to be ripped down from his throne, and I would do it with my two bare hands.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Fisherman Arvel, please come with me."
"You came alone this time?" I dryly glanced over my shoulder at the first guard I'd ever defeated, Rayon, who stood behind me. As I looked at him, he raised his hands in a placating manner. He was still in his standard armor, but his spear was missing, and the confident sneer on his face was gone as well, replaced by a look of nervousness.
"I'm not here to fight you," He said quickly, as if he was scared I would attack him at any moment, "I'm here on the King's orders."
"The King's orders?" I raised an eyebrow at him, and I casually pulled back my fishing rod and slung it over my shoulder, "In that case, why are you alone? Last I checked, I was a traitor. Shouldn't you have brought an army with you?"
"The King just wants to see you," Rayon said, swallowing nervously, "He's summoned you to the palace for a conference."
"A conference?" I repeated, my lips curving into an amused grin, "After everything that's happened, he wants to have a little chat with me? Did he finally realize that he can't send guards to arrest me without them getting their asses kicked?"
"I-I don't know," Rayon stammered, shrugging unhelpfully, "He just sent me to get you, alright? He said he wanted to talk to you alone."
"Alone?" I deadpanned back at Rayon, "Right. He wants to talk to me alone in his palace, where he has hundreds of guards. If that's not a trap, then I don't know what is."
"I'm not trying to trick you, I swear!" He insisted, holding his hands up in a surrendering motion again, "He really does just want to talk to you! He said he has a proposition for you."
"A proposition?" I replied dryly again, "What kind of proposition could he possibly have for me?"
"I don't know the details!" Rayon huffed, shaking his head quickly, "He just told me to get you and bring you to him! I'm just following orders, alright? And, if I come back without you, he'll have my head!"
I paused, looking at the man's serious and fearful gaze for a moment, and then sighed.
"Whatever. I'll hear him out," I shrugged, rising to my feet as I fully faced Rayon.
"Wait, you're not actually thinking of going, are you?" Nero, who was standing at his usual fishing spot a few feet away, spoke up, looking at me with a worried expression, "This is obviously a trap, Arvel. He's just trying to get you into the palace so he can lock you up."
"I know," I said simply, just smirking lightly as I looked at the nervous guard, "But this is the first bit of actual progress we've made so far, right? He's actually summoning me, and not just chucking guards at me over and over again. I can spare him a few minutes."
This was, quite obviously, a trap - why else would Daurel summon me? He sent guards after me numerous times over the past 2 days, and now, out of nowhere, he just decides to summon me for a chat? More than likely, he wanted me isolated in the palace, and then he'd try to lock me up. By falling into this trap, I was being an idiot.
"Arvel..." Nero trailed off, looking at me uncertainly, but I waved him off dismissively.
"I'll be fine, Nero," I said as I stepped towards Rayon, "I can handle myself. If it is a trap, then I'll just have to fight my way out."
But, while I was being an idiot, I was being a very strong idiot. I was confident that I could take down the guards no problem, especially after effortlessly taking down so many over the past few days, so I wasn't all that worried. If this really was a trap, then I'd just defeat the guards, rip Daurel off his throne, and this rebellion would be a success. This was the best option, as it'd prevent any unnecessary death for the citizens of Imbale, and Daurel was offering me this opportunity on a silver platter.
"You're serious about this?" Nero asked, and I just nodded, giving him a small grin.
"Of course," I said, "I'm not scared of Daurel. If he wants to talk, then I'll talk. But, if he tries anything... then he'll regret it."
I turned back to Rayon, who was still standing there, looking nervously at me.
"Lead the way," I said simply, and he let out a small sigh of relief as he nodded.
"Thank you," He said, and then he turned and started to walk away, with me following close behind him. The fishermen on the dock watched us go, their expressions looking a bit worried, and I could hear them whispering among themselves as we walked away.
We walked through the south side of Imbale, and I couldn't help but notice the way the people looked at me as we passed. They looked at me with a mix of worry and respect as I walked beside Rayon, but I could see the hope in their eyes. They saw me as their savior, as the one who could finally bring change to their island, and I felt the weight of their expectations on my shoulders. I had never asked for this, but I was the one who had to deal with it now.
As we approached the wall that separated the north and south sides of the island, there were two guards standing in front of the gate, their spears held at the ready. They looked nervous as we approached, their eyes darting from me to Rayon, and then back again. They clearly knew about what had happened to the other guards who had tried to arrest me, and they were clearly not eager to suffer the same fate. Rayon gave them a nod, and they quickly pulled open the heavy wooden gate, allowing us to pass through without any trouble.
As soon as I stepped through the gate, the change in atmosphere was immediate. The air was cleaner, the streets were wider and well-maintained, and the buildings were a rich contrast to the cramped huts of the south. We walked past a row of large, extravagant mansions, which had well-maintained lawns and sparkling pools that were a testament to the wealth of their owners. The streets were lined with street lights, and the people we passed were dressed in fine clothes. They looked at me with both curiosity and disdain as I walked by, their eyes narrowing as they took in my simple, worn-out clothes. I was a fisherman from the south, and in their eyes, I was nothing more than a peasant. I ignored them, my focus on the palace that loomed in the distance.
Finally, after a few minutes of walking, we arrived at the palace gates. The gates were made of metal, and they were at least a hundred feet high - yes, a hundred, which was far too high for any damn gate! Did the king think a giant was going to try to break into here?! - with sharp, pointed spikes at the top. Two guards stood on either side of the gate, their armor looking a bit fancier than the guards I had fought at the dock. But, as we approached them, they hurriedly turned to pull open the gate. Considering how massive the gate was, it took them a few minutes, and I watched dryly as they shoved against it, slowly opening it inch by inch. I finally stepped forward, giving the gate a shove, which made it fling open and give us access to the interior. I casually walked past the two gawking guards, ignoring their reactions.
Once we were inside the gate, we walked up a long, winding path that led to the palace itself, and I couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer size of the building. It was a massive structure, with towering white walls, a series of domed roofs, and a grand entrance with a pair of towering double doors that seemed to be just as tall as the gate itself - something that only emphasized to me just how greedy this king was. I could've excused a ten-foot-tall door if he wanted to be fancy, but a one-hundred-foot-tall door?! One that towered so high upwards, that it could've passed for a multi-story tall building on its own? Not to mention that the huge doors were made of a dark wood, which meant they were probably more expensive to make than a hundred homes on the south side!
Rayon led me up the grand staircase that led to the entrance, which had to circle numerous times to get up the large hill the main building was sitting on, and then he pushed open one of the massive double doors, holding it open for me to step inside - something that made him strain, as he was shoving against the massive door with a red face. As I stepped into the palace, my eyes widened as I took in the extravagance of the building. The entrance hall was a massive, long space, with a ceiling that was so high that I could barely believe I was inside a building. The walls were covered with fancy paintings, the floor was made of polished marble, and a grand staircase was in the center of the room that led to the next floor. A series of expensive-looking chandeliers hung from the ceiling, which had crystal lights that made the room look like a disco party as light shone through the massive windows on each side of the walls.
Around the hall, dozens of guards stood at attention along the walls, their spears held at the ready and their faces hidden behind their helmets. They stood perfectly still, their gazes fixed forward, as if they were statues carved from stone, though I could see them tense as I entered. They were clearly Imbale's more elite soldiers, and I could feel the tension in the room as I walked in, and all of them were looking at me from their peripheries.
But, as intimidating as this was supposed to be, I couldn't even bring myself to pretend to be scared. I had faced down Sea Kings, I had fought Germa soldiers, and I had taken down his own Royal Guards with ease. This display of power was nothing to me.
"He's, ahem, in the throne room," Rayon said, clearing his throat as he gestured towards a pair of large doors at the far end of the entrance hall, "Just go in. He's waiting for you."
I gave him a small nod, and then I walked towards the doors, my footsteps echoing through the massive hall. The guards along the walls watched me go, their hands tightening on their spears as I passed, but none of them made a move to stop me. I could feel their nervousness and their fear, and I knew that they were just as intimidated by me as I was supposed to be by them. I reached the doors, and I paused for a moment, taking a deep breath as I prepared myself for what was on the other side. I knew this was a trap, but I was ready for it. I had made my choice, and I was ready to face the consequences.
Then, I pushed open the doors, and I stepped into the throne room. The sight that greeted me was one of pure, unashamed greed. The entire room was massive, with a high ceiling overhead - one that was even higher than the one-hundred-plus-foot height of the entrance hall - that was painted with a series of elaborate paintings, and the walls were covered in literal gold. The floor was made of a polished black material, which was so reflective that I could see my own face in it, and a long, red carpet ran from the entrance to the throne at the far end of the room.
And at the end of the room, sitting on a throne that was almost comically large, was a man. A man who was so large that he practically spilled over the sides of the throne - which was made of solid gold, by the way - and was wearing a long, velvet robe that was a dark purple color. On his head, he wore a large, extravagant crown that somehow managed to look small on his large, fatty head. He had a double chin that was so large that it made him look like a blob, and his face was round and doughy. He held a piece of paper in one hand and a fancy-looking pen in the other, as he didn't even look up as I entered.
"You must be King Daurel," I called out, my voice echoing through the massive room. The man didn't respond, his eyes still focused on the paper in his lap, and I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes. This was the great and terrible king who had sent his guards to arrest me? This was the man who ruled over the island with an iron fist? He looked like a blob - as if someone had turned a bowling ball into a human, then mushed it up a bit.
"Ah, yes," The king finally said, his voice sounding so lazy and bored that it almost pissed me off, "You must be the fisherman - the dirty one who my advisors have been complaining about."
"Rude," I countered dryly, "And you must be King Daurel, the dumbass who keeps chucking soldiers at me."
Daurel continued to stare down at the paper on his lap, writing a few more words, before finally sighing as he looked up at me.
"What was that you said- ah, whatever, I don't care. You've been causing quite a ruckus, fisherman," He finally said, still sounding bored, "My guards tell me you've been uncooperative."
"I've been defending myself," I countered simply, "You're the one who's been causing a ruckus by sending your guards after me. I'm just a fisherman trying to make a living."
"Yes, yes, fisherman, living, uncooperative, whatever," Daurel sighed, waving a dismissive hand in the air as if he was just trying to get through this as quickly as possible, "Listen, I'm a busy man, alright? I have a kingdom to run, and I don't have time to deal with every little peasant who decides to throw a temper tantrum. Right now, you're taking away my time from writing to my future wife! Ah, she's a big shot in the New World, you know? So beautiful, too! But, whatever, a peasant like you wouldn't know about stuff like this anyway. I bet you can't even write, hah!"
Wait, then what Goran said about him sending love letters with some New World pirate was real? What kind of idiot would be interested in this blob of a man? The only one I could think of was Big Mom, but she was making alliances with powerful pirate crews, and people like Germa. Why would she be interested in a little, albeit rather wealthy, island like Imbale? But, before I could respond, he boredly interrupted me, not even giving me a chance to be offended.
"Look, I'm a reasonable man," He said, though he didn't look or sound particularly reasonable right now, "My advisors are annoying me about you all the time, and for some reason, all the soldiers are useless and won't arrest you. So, I'll give you a house over here on the north side. You like to fish, right? Then, I'll give you one by the water, you can go back to your fishing, and we can all pretend this never happened."
I stared at him, blinking at his abrupt offer, and then my eyes narrowed as I realized what kind of man Daurel was. Goran was right, as he was a lazy, fat bastard who barely knew what was going on in his kingdom, and was just trying to buy my silence. He wasn't evil, not in the way that a true tyrant was, - instead, he was just... apathetic. He didn't care about his people, he didn't care about justice, and he didn't even care about ruling. He just wanted to be left alone to indulge in his own greed, and he was willing to throw a bit of money at the problem to make it go away.
He really thought this was a solution.
"I decline," I said simply, my voice flat as I stared at the blob of a man, who blinked as he looked at me confusedly.
"What? Why?" He asked, genuinely looking confused as he stared at me, "I'm offering you a home on the north side! Do you know how many peasants would kill for this opportunity?"
"I don't need a house," I said, shrugging unhelpfully as I crossed my arms over my chest, "And I'm not someone you can just bribe. I'm here for the people of the south, who you've been oppressing for years. If you want to stop them from rioting, then you'll need to do more than just offer me a house."
"Oppressing?" Daurel repeated the word as if it were a foreign concept, and then he let out a short, dismissive snort, "I'm not oppressing anyone! I'm just maintaining order! The south side is full of dirty, uneducated peasants! Someone has to keep them in line!"
"By taxing them even deeper into poverty?" I asked dryly, "By taking most of their hard-earned money so you can throw parties and build a ridiculously huge palace? That's not maintaining order, that's just being a greedy bastard."
"Oh, here we go," Daurel sighed, rolling his eyes as he waved a dismissive hand in the air, "I've heard this all before from my advisors. They're always going on and on about how the tax rates are too high, and how the people are suffering. I'm the king! I know what's best for this island! And what's best is that I have enough money to throw parties, and that the peasants are kept in their place!"
"Then, you're not going to get what you want," I countered easily, "If you want me to back off, then you can start by cutting the tax rate in half. That's not nearly enough, but if you do it, I'll at least consider working with you, and not just taking that throne for myself."
As I finished, a long, awkward silence fell over the throne room. Daurel stared at me, his eyes wide, as if he couldn't believe what I was saying. He was so used to everyone around him bowing and trying to please him that the thought of someone standing up to him was completely foreign. For a moment, he just sat there, his mouth hanging open, as he tried to process what I had just said. Then, he let out a loud, booming laugh.
"Hah! Hahaha! You're a funny one, fisherman!" He roared with laughter, his whole body shaking as he slapped his knee, "I didn't know peasants could be so humorous! You have a career in being a jester ahead of you! Me, cutting the tax rate in half? A-And, you! You, taking my throne?! HAH!"
He continued to laugh, and then he started to cough, his face turning red as he heaved. He clutched at his chest, gasping for breath as he coughed and sputtered. A thin line of drool trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he started to choke on his own saliva. I watched him with a deadpan as he gasped for air, his laughter turning into a series of choking sounds. He finally managed to catch his breath, and he sat there for a moment, panting heavily as he wiped the drool from his chin. He finally caught his breath and then slumped back in the throne, wiping a final tear from his eyes.
"That was a good joke, but what is it you really want?" He asked, still breathing a bit heavily from his laughing/choking fit, "A pool? Or, wait, you're a fisherman! So, you want me to throw in a boat with the house, don't you?"
"Nope. You can start by cutting the tax rate in half," I said, my voice still flat, "And we can go from there."
"Huh?" Daurel blinked, looking at me in disbelief as his eyes went wide, "Wait, you were serious? Are you insane? That would cut my income in half! How am I supposed to throw my parties? How am I supposed to buy my fancy clothes? How am I supposed to pay to make my palace bigger?!"
Why the hell would this comically large palace need to be any bigger?!
"If you won't compromise, then I won't push you futher," I shot back, my lips curving into a grin, "For your sake, I suggest you call in your guards right now. If you don't..."
I took a step forward, my eyes locked with Daurel's, and he flinched at my movement.
"You'll die."
Daurel stared at me for a long, silent moment, and I could see the fear in his eyes. He was a greedy, lazy man, but he wasn't a complete idiot. He knew that I was a threat, and he knew that I was capable of carrying out my threat. He had seen what I had done to his guards, and he knew that I was not someone to be trifled with. But, he was also a king, and he was not used to being threatened. His pride, and his arrogance, would not allow him to back down.
"You..." He stammered, and then he let out a frustrated sigh, "This is such a waste of my time! I have better things to do than to deal with a single fisherman! Guard!"
He yelled out, and the heavy doors to the throne room were immediately thrown open as a guard scurried inside. The man was panting, as if he had run all the way here, and he looked terrified as he looked from me to Daurel.
"Y-Yes, your majesty?" The guard stammered, his eyes darting nervously between the two of us.
"Go and get our guest!" Daurel snapped, his patience clearly worn thin, "I don't have the time to deal with this... fisherman! Our guest will handle him! It seems it wasn't a waste to call him in after all! For once, my stupid advisors were right."
I blinked, confused by Daurel's words. A guest? What the hell was he talking about?
"Your majesty..." The guard started, his voice trembling as he looked at me with wide, fearful eyes, "Are you sure that's a good idea? He… will he even fit in here? The throne room is massive, but even then, he's barely going to fit..."
"It'll be fine!" Daurel bellowed, slamming a fat fist on the arm of his throne, "The World Government will pay for any damages! Now, go get him! And tell him to make it quick! I have letters to write!"
The guard flinched at Daurel's outburst, and then he scrambled out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the long hall. I stared at the huge doorway, my mind racing as I tried to figure out who this guest could be. A guest that was so big that he wouldn't fit in this ridiculously massive throne room? A guest that was so powerful that Daurel was willing to let him destroy his own palace just to deal with me? Who the hell could he be talking about?
Then, a massive shadow cast over the entrance of the throne room, and my eyes widened as I saw a figure emerge from behind the door. A figure that was so large that even the massive, hundred-foot-tall door looked regular compared to him. A figure that was so massive that he made the already huge throne room feel cramped and small.
"It'll be fine," A deep, booming voice echoed through the throne room, and the sound seemed to shake the very walls, "I'll be sure to reimburse the Kingdom for any damages. The World Government has deep pockets, after all."
I turned around slowly, my heart pounding in my chest as I stared up at the man in front of me. He was a giant, a literal, actual giant, and he was so tall that the comically large room looked regular by comparison. He was dressed in a supersized outfit, with a large hat on his head, and an even larger, thick marine jacket around his shoulders. He had a stern face that was so high up I could barely see it, and a rough gaze as he looked down at me.
"Vice-Admiral! Handle this stupid fisherman for me!" Daurel huffed, gesturing towards me, but I barely heard him as I stared up at the giant in front of me.
I had been expecting nothing more than a crowd of soldiers to oppose me today, but right now, I felt like I had gotten myself into something that I truly couldn't handle. Towering above me, staring down at me as his frame cast a shadow across the entire massive room, was a man who had once clashed with Whitebeard himself.
In front of me was Vice-Admiral John Giant.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AN: Thank you for reading! The next chapter will be posted in 1-2 weeks!
But, as always, this story and all my stories are updated twice as often on Patreon! Up to chapter 10 is available there for the Early Bird tier!