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(A/N: If you want to see more chapters, go to my P@treon to see more chapters ahead. You can see more than 20 chapters ahead of everyone on my P@treon: [email protected]/VoyageToGlory
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The Royal Palace, Alabasta
Kael, crowned and draped in the modest royal cloak—a long-standing symbol of Alabasta's frugality—sat upon the throne, currently he is engaged in a meeting with an emissary from the World Government.
The envoy, a silver-haired man wearing a leather mask, stood below the dais. Kael recognized him immediately—Spandam, the man who would one day become the notorious chief of CP9, infamous for his role in the Enies Lobby incident two years from now.
As for whether Spandam had already joined CP9 or was still just a budding recruit remained unclear to Kael.
Standing solemnly at Kael's side were Chaka and Pell, their expressions stoic yet alert.
Spandam offered a shallow bow, his smile was thin and insincere: "Your Majesty..." He began slowly, but his tone was dripping with false courtesy: "Now that you are the legitimate King of Alabasta, the World Government formally acknowledges your status. However, the matter of former King Cobra being held hostage by your kingdom's rebel forces has greatly distressed the Five Elders. As a result, they have decided to deploy troops to assist in quelling the rebellion."
"To think they will make a move so soon..." Kael mused silently, his gaze calm and unreadable as he looked at Spandam.
Where was this so-called 'assistance' when the rebellion was at its peak? Now that the conflict is nearly resolved, they suddenly want to interfere.
It was clear to Kael that the World Government hadn't sent Spandam with good intentions.
Chaka and Pell exchanged brief glances, their eyes filled with disbelief and unease. The rebellion had exposed the true nature of the Warlords, and since the Warlords operated under the World Government's influence, neither man harbored any goodwill toward them.
Moreover, the deployment of foreign troops at this delicate time threatened to unravel the fragile peace they had fought so hard to establish. It would also jeopardize the River of Life project, a cornerstone of Alabasta's recovery.
"What is their real objective? Could they have learned about the hidden Poneglyph in the Royal Tomb? No... that shouldn't be possible." Kael wondered.
There were only four people in the world who knew about the existence of the Poneglyph hidden beneath the Royal Palace: Kael, Cobra, Crocodile, and Nico Robin.
While Robin was aware of its existence, she had no clue about its exact location. Moreover, none of the four would gain any benefit from revealing its secret to the World Government. Their interests were too deeply tied to keeping it hidden.
However, the sudden arrival of the World Government disturbed Kael. A faint unease settled over him as he wondered if their presence might interfere with his carefully laid plans.
Kael knew it wasn't the right time to openly oppose the World Government—not yet. Until a certain rubber boy caused enough chaos to divert their attention, Kael intended to keep a low profile and operate from the shadows.
But what Kael didn't know was that the World Government's interest in Alabasta had nothing to do with the Poneglyph. They had come for an entirely different reason, using the rebellion as a convenient cover.
Ordinarily, the World Government wouldn't bother intervening in internal conflicts like Alabasta's civil war unless pirates were directly involved. Such matters were considered domestic issues, to be resolved by the kingdom's own ruling family. The rebellion, by itself, was not enough to warrant their attention.
What had truly drawn the World Government to Alabasta was something far more unusual—the sudden rise of Mobile Phones.
These devices had appeared out of nowhere, and within just a few short months, over two million people had started using them. Their rapid spread and overwhelming popularity had not gone unnoticed.
In other words, they had come for Kael!
The source of the mobile phones wasn't a secret. Kael hadn't bothered to hide his involvement, knowing that secrecy would only attract more suspicion. After all, only those with dangerous ambitions concealed their identities. By staying visible, Kael projected an air of transparency and minimized potential threats.
However, even with this strategy, the mobile phones still drew attention—especially from the World Government.
Their experts had begun studying the devices around two months ago, shortly after Cobra had been taken hostage by the rebels. The deeper they delved into the phones' functions, the more astonishing their findings became.
The mobile phones weren't just advanced communication tools; they were unparalleled instruments capable of influencing public perception and manipulating the thoughts and behaviors of entire populations.
And that was something the World Government could never ignore.
Although the number of people using mobile phones in Alabasta was insignificant when compared to the population of the entire world, the World Government had already recognized their terrifying potential.
A tool capable of such widespread influence and control couldn't be left in the hands of someone outside their authority. How could they tolerate the existence of such a device when it was beyond their reach?
However, because of Kael's identity and position, they couldn't approach the matter directly. Instead, they resorted to an alternative strategy—using the chaos of the rebellion as a cover to gain access to the mobile phone technology.
If they couldn't seize it outright, they would at least gather more intelligence on Kael: his political views, his ambitions, and, most importantly, whether he would submit to the World Government's authority like Cobra had—or if he harbored different intentions.
Kael's sharp gaze settled on Spandam, standing below the throne with that hollow, insincere smile. After a brief pause, Kael spoke, his voice was calm and resonant, but at the same it was carrying an undercurrent of authority: "I deeply appreciate the World Government's willingness to assist. However, deploying troops to Alabasta to suppress the rebellion would require a considerable force—at least 100,000 soldiers. The rebels currently number over 300,000, and even with such a large contingent, success wouldn't be guaranteed."
Spandam's smile twitched. One hundred thousand soldiers? The thought alone was absurd. Even Marineford, the heart of the Navy, rarely had that many troops stationed in one place at any given time. Furthermore, from what Spandam knew, most of the rebels were civilians with little to no combat experience.
Deploying such a massive force would be like using a sledgehammer to crack an egg—wasteful, inefficient, and an insult to their intelligence.
Suppressing his irritation, Spandam clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to lash out.
"This pompous king… Is he mocking me?" Spandam took a deep breath, then looked at Kael and said in a serious voice: "At most 10,000 soldiers!"
"But..." Kael continued, feigning a troubled expression: "10,000 soldiers would be too few to—"
"A single powerful individual with the strength of an Admiral." Spandam interrupted sharply with a confident voice. Straightening his posture, he continued: "The World Government will send someone of that caliber to assist you. Combined with 10,000 troops, the rebellion will be crushed swiftly and efficiently.
"All we require in return," Spandam's smile widened slightly: "Is a modest amount of economic support from your kingdom."
"Someone with the strength of an Admiral?" Kael mused silently, his curiosity piqued.
However, his face remained composed as he responded with a helpless tone, his voice laced with just the right amount of regret: "However, you must understand my kingdom's current situation. I've exhausted most of the royal treasury purchasing construction materials for the River of Life Project. I'm afraid I must disappoint the World Government's expectations. Our kingdom cannot afford the necessary supplies of food and water to support such a large force. We would have to rely entirely on the World Government's support for that."
Spandam's expression darkened instantly. Supplying food and resources for 10,000 soldiers was no trivial matter. Soldiers required not just sustenance but high-quality, nutrient-rich food to maintain peak performance. The logistics alone would be a nightmare, and the costs would be astronomical—easily around 200 million per month.
"Your Majesty." Spandam replied with a voice tinged with frustration: "Our intervention is for the benefit of your kingdom."
But Kael's polite indifference was unwavering.
Chaka and Pell exchanged knowing glances, their disdain for Spandam barely hidden. Under their cold, watchful eyes, Spandam's frustration boiled over.
Without offering the customary courtesies expected when departing from royal presence, he turned sharply on his heel and stormed out of the palace.
"What a greedy man." Pell muttered under his breath.
Watching Spandam's retreating figure, Chaka turned to Kael, his brow furrowed with concern: "Your Majesty… will this be a problem? This Spandam doesn't seem like a good person. I fear he might retaliate against us."
Kael, however, remained unfazed. A faint, confident smile curled at the corners of his lips. "There's no need to worry. He won't be a problem."
Kael's confidence didn't stem from arrogance but from a clear understanding of the political landscape. He believed firmly that the Five Elders themselves wouldn't allow Spandam—or anyone else—to create unnecessary trouble in Alabasta.
After all, Alabasta was a key member of the Alliance Nations. Without irrefutable evidence justifying an open move against the kingdom, even the Five Elders would be hesitant to act. The World Government thrived on control, not reckless destabilization, and Kael was well aware of the delicate balance they needed to maintain.
Moreover, Kael was confident in his strength. With the Ice-Ice Fruit ability, he was sure he could deal with anyone below Admiral level. After the number of phone users reached two million, the Phone-Phone Fruit underwent a partial evolution.
---
[Mobile Fruit Level: 5
Current User Count: 2 Million
Memory Capacity: 110GB/301GB
F eatures: 3G Network
Download Speed: 400KB/sec
Download Range: 10Km
New Feature: Bluetooth Transfer.]
---
Since his Phone-Phone Fruit reached level 5, Kael's memory capacity had remained fixed at 301GB. Even after the number of phone users surpassed two million, there was no change in capacity, which left Kael feeling both depressed and anxious.
However, after the partial evolution, he finally understood the reason. In the beginning, each additional user provided him with 1MB of memory. After reaching level 4, this amount decreased to 0.15MB per user. But upon reaching level 5, the rules changed subtly—a restriction had been placed on memory expansion.
Now, his memory capacity would only increase after doubling the number of users. Once that threshold was met, the 0.15MB per additional user rule would apply again. This meant that his memory capacity would start increasing once more when the number of users reached four million.
As for whether this rule would remain the same after another partial evolution or change entirely, Kael wasn't certain. However, he was no longer anxious about it. The current memory capacity of 301GB was more than sufficient for this stage of his plans.
What truly lifted his spirits was the latest feature unlocked by the partial evolution: Bluetooth Transfer. This feature was so remarkable that it instantly washed away any lingering feelings of frustration or disappointment.
Bluetooth Transfer allowed Kael to transfer some of his abilities to his subordinates within a few meters' radius. Additionally, it enabled him to view their total memory capacity.
This single feature had the potential to transform Alabasta from a relatively weak kingdom into a powerhouse filled with formidable warriors and experts wielding a wide range of powerful skills. The implications were vast, and Kael's mind raced with the possibilities.
As Kael's gaze shifted toward Pell and Chaka, their basic attributes immediately appeared before him:
---
[Pell
Memory Capacity: 12GB/60GB]
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[Chaka
Memory Capacity: 11GB/50GB]
---
In fact, the "Memory Capacity" could be considered a representation of an individual's potential. From this, Kael deduced that Pell had slightly higher growth potential than Chaka, though both were ultimately limited.
What frustrated Kael was that, despite possessing the ability to grant them powers equal to that of a Vice Admiral by sharing Kuzan's Ice-Ice Fruit ability, their low potential made it impossible. Their bodies and minds simply couldn't handle such overwhelming power without breaking down.
However, through the newly unlocked feature, Bluetooth Transfer, not only Kael but even his subordinates could wield two different Devil Fruit abilities simultaneously, effectively making them weakened versions of Blackbeard.
This revelation opened up new strategic possibilities—Kael could strengthen his most loyal followers in ways the World Government had never anticipated.
Although it was only Spandam who entered the Royal Palace, Kael's Phone-Phone Fruit allowed him to detect another presence lurking just outside the palace gates. A quick scan revealed something intriguing:
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[Detected Abilities for Download:
Zoan-Type: Leopard-Leopard Fruit (Advanced Level) – 20GB
Rokushiki (Advanced Level) – 20GB
---
Kael instantly recognized the owner of these abilities—Rob Lucci of CP9.
Before the events at Enies Lobby, Rob Lucci was already infamous for his lethal mastery of Rokushiki, the six-style martial techniques that made CP9 operatives so formidable. His skill set included rapid movement techniques like Soru and Geppo, iron-body defense through Tekkai, and devastating attacks like Rankyaku and Shigan.
Additionally, his exceptional stamina and rapid recovery abilities—often referred to as "Life Return"—allowed him to continue fighting even after sustaining severe injuries. Despite lacking Haki, his strength was undeniable.
---
For several days, Spandam continued to press Kael for military intervention, presenting the World Government's proposal with the persistence of a man desperate to fulfill his orders.
Kael, however, entertained him with polite hospitality, all while skillfully evading any firm commitments. His responses were diplomatic, yet vague—never outright rejecting the proposal, but never agreeing either.
Then, three nights later, a shadowy figure slipped into the palace under the cover of darkness.
Navigating through the labyrinthine corridors with ease born from rigorous training, the figure eventually reached a brightly lit hall—the private residence of the new king. His mission was clear: gather intelligence on the mobile phones and uncover the secrets behind their production.
Though Rob Lucci neither liked nor disliked such covert operations, he harbored a particular disdain for Spandam, whose incompetence he found both irritating and pathetic.
As for the new king, Kael, whom he had observed briefly from afar, Lucci couldn't help but feel a reluctant sense of admiration. From the information he'd gathered outside the palace, it was evident that Kael worked tirelessly for the betterment of his people—a rare quality among kings.
But admiration had no place in Lucci's world. Orders were orders, and no one disobeyed the World Government.