"I'm surprised you already have experience with Hornigold." The King was then Interjected immediately by Leroy "Yeah, sent a Bounty Hunter after me." He said with his arms crossed, Shrugging his shoulders. The Monarch laughed softly "Well then, you know just how dangerous of an Individual this man is."
"To tell you the whole truth now; Everything I've said is true. Rackham did deploy a coup d'etat. Ewu and Mau tried their best to combat the Chyros Shipping Companies Agents. But their strength was overwhelming. It left them both close to death. Only recently have they been able to recuperate in full." There were moments of hesitation before he continued
"Then after the citizens were moved out of the Captial during the takeover, those that were left behind were forced into servitude. The Supplies he'd been bringing in for ages were truthfully only stepping stones to set up a gigantic mining operation in the capital of Aluba..."
"All those people...Left behind. Forced to mine away at the capital." He shook his head as tears nearly overflowed in his eyesThere were myths for centuries that the capital of Arabasta was built atop the biggest deposit of gold in the country. It was why so much gold had seeped into the sands of the desert. Made us so wealthy...and also allowed our culture to prosper. Now being sapped away from us. Gold is so important to us. Symbolizes our Passion, and our togetherness. Connection." Moment by moment, the King began to shake more and more
"Those damned machines...Mining away at our country. The Smoke and Fumes caused smog to stay over the capital for miles around. Constantly being pumped into the air..." He muttered under his voice. His emotions couldn't take it any more With tears finally releasing and streaming down his face. The King looked dead into Leroy's silver eyes. "In the coming days, over a quarter of a million people will march to the Captial. Either to Victory or to Death. It doesn't matter. I can stand by and allow my failures as their leader to go without action."
"We need to try...."
He had a look of utter resolve and determination that told the crew he was utterly serious. He was going to do this, and that's when he stood from his throne and kneeled in front of the Crew. His head against the floor as he spoke. "And That's why...I beg you...I beg you all, as the King of Arabasta...To Please help me Save My Country!" His daughter was shocked, yet had a smile on her face as her father put aside his bravado to ask for help. Geeves smiled as well.
Ewu and Mau were shocked yet remained steadfast to see what happened next Leroy simply smiled. Looking to the main pleading before him. It was exactly all he needed to hear. Standing to his feet, he spoke aloud
"Alright! We'll do it!" The only thing the King saw as he looked up from the pirates' sandals and Redsash with tears was that smile. That bright warm, cocky smile. Standing to his full towering height, he too, wore a warm smile.
"Thank you!"
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Ring Ring Ring
Ring Ring Ring
Ring Ring Ring
Click
"Hornigold! What the Hell is happening over there! You said that you'd be giving us updates on the process of the gold mine! Are you forgetting what your duties are to us and the Government?!" The voice that came from the other end sounded subdued yet furious. On the brink of a spitting rage. It was the Leaders of World Government. They had been trying to Call Hornigold for the past two days. But the only response the listeners on the other end got was a dry flat laugh. It carried an ominous tone yet one of utter confidence. "Ah-haha haha..." Hornigold had a cigar between his teeth as he spoke.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"I don't need you anymore. I had a sneaking suspicion that something more was hidden beneath this Captial. Even all the Gold in the Desert, every vein thats beneath my feet. All of it pales in comparison to that Weapon..."
"And once it's within my Grasp. I'll become the most Powerful Pirate this world has ever seen!" His tone suddenly shifted from cool and collected to outright shouting confidently as he held the receiver in one massive hand! The Dry laugh came back out, but this time loud enough, it filled the room! The Voice on the Other end finally snapped
"Hornigold Rackham! You are hereby relinquished of your Title as Royal Marshal Privateer! Your Bounty will be unfrozen, and you will be seized immediately!" The voice could barely be heard over the laughter of the now former Marshal "Just come and get me! AH-HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Hornigold then slammed the receiver down onto the den den mushi that had the World Government emblem on its shell as he spun, coat flapping as he walked out of the way.
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Soon after The Redsash Pirates agreed to help the King directly, the crew was placed around a table with a large map of Arabasta being unfurled onto its surface. The King traced his hand across the parchment before tapping at the bottom-most corner of the Islands Map. "This is where we are. In the City of Serket." The king then looked around to the crew as he continued "This is where the Refugees of Aluba were all Exodused to after the Coup."
He then traced his hand back from the drawing of Serket to the edge of the Island "You all will need to Set Sail from the Docks-" He then traced his finger out in a circle and tapped at the mouth of what looked to be a river that cut through the middle of the Country "And enter into the Nile here at the Mouth." "Why not just Walk through the Desert Unseen?" Spoke Jeanne. Ramze nodded as he spoke "It may be a good idea. But the difference in time from going by boat is days worth. Even if you traveled on foot from here. You wouldn't reach the river by Dawn tomorrow. And then the River itself is Kilometers across. Hard to wade across without a vessel."
"By boat, you could reach there in under an hour. You're practically cutting the Distance in half by going Directly to the Nile's mouth instead of traversing the Desert. And in this heat and the Chill of the Night, you'd need to take many breaks." "Once you're at the mouth of the Nile-" Ramze traced his finger up the river and to the middle part. "You'll come across Arid Town, where Arid Base is located. This is where the Revolting Force of Arabasta is located and waiting to launch their attack-" He traced his finger across the map to a large castle drawing "Here at Aluba Capital, Now known as Chyros but-" He smiled "Not for long."