A few days later, the World Conference officially commenced in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
That day, magnificent and elegant music filled the air of the Holy Land. It was as if countless pipe organs resounded together, their solemn and sacred melodies echoing between the pure white marble buildings, like the very heavens announcing the arrival of a momentous occasion.
After the devastation caused by the Holy Land Incident, Mary Geoise had been completely rebuilt within just a few months, now even grander and more majestic than before.
Yet while buildings could be reconstructed, the authority of the World Government had inevitably suffered. The fall of one of the Five Elders alone was enough to prove how brutal that battle had been.
To calm the unrest spreading across the four seas and restore the prestige of the World Government, this World Conference was of critical importance to the Celestial Dragons.
They had to show the world a renewed Holy Land and their unwavering resolve to maintain control over the world's order.
Thus, for once, nearly all the Celestial Dragons agreed to Rosse's proposal. This time, the Holy Land would be completely open to the public. Not only would reporters be allowed entry, a first in history, but the entire event would also be broadcast live across the world.
Throughout the four seas and both halves of the Grand Line, under the relentless publicity of the World Government, everyone knew about today's grand event.
Whether out of curiosity, excitement, or the desire to catch a glimpse of the Holy Land and its rulers, crowds gathered in every major city of the member nations, watching the proceedings unfold through countless massive screens.
["Dear viewers, the globally anticipated World Conference is now officially opening here in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise."]
A clear, bright female voice accompanied the unfolding live footage, it was Olvia's voice. Her task today was to host and narrate the entire broadcast.
To put it bluntly, aside from the "bug" that was Sora, no one in the Holy Land knew more about the background of the member nations or the histories of the Celestial Dragon families than Olvia.
She might not be the most entertaining commentator, but when it came to accuracy and professionalism, she was unmatched.
The camera slowly panned forward. The first thing that came into view was the towering structure of the World Government Headquarters.
In front of the building stretched a long, bright red carpet, running straight from the main doors to the wide avenue beyond, symbolizing honor and nobility.
Fleet Admiral Sakazuki stood at the entrance, his face stern and expression immovable. Clad in his impeccably tailored Marine uniform, he looked like an unbreakable statue, standing tall and unyielding before the seat of world authority.
On either side of the red carpet stood two rows of Marines in spotless white suits. Each bore the rank of Rear Admiral, without exception. Their gazes were sharp, their expressions solemn, like loyal guardians protecting the absolute dignity of the World Government.
["Today's security for the World Conference will be led by Fleet Admiral Sakazuki himself, alongside the Marine forces. Admiral Sakazuki is the fifty-second Fleet Admiral of the Marines, and also the youngest ever to hold the position."]
["He was born in the North Blue. As a child, he lost his family to pirates. Since then, he wore a cap marked with the word 'Justice' and fought against pirates even as a boy… Joined the Marines at the age of twenty-three…"]
Olvia narrated Sakazuki's life story with the ease of someone who knew every detail by heart. Recording the lives of legendary figures was, after all, the duty of a historian.
And as Fleet Admiral of the Marines, even if Sakazuki were to fall tomorrow, his name deserved to be recorded in history.
Olvia didn't dislike the feeling. In fact, she rather enjoyed it. Telling the story of the past, the present, and even the future to the world, this was what she wanted to do. Just like she was doing now.
As Olvia's calm narration continued, the camera slowly zoomed in on Sakazuki.
The broadcast's angle was perfect, it almost felt like the viewers were standing right beside him. The shot was so close it was nearly pressing up against his face.
But precisely because of this perfect angle, everyone could clearly see Sakazuki's stern, upright expression.
His tough, stoic image, paired with Olvia's narration, easily stirred admiration among the audience.
Especially when she mentioned his philosophy of "Absolute Justice," his merciless methods, and his refusal to allow even a trace of evil to exist, many people immediately idolized him.
Of course, when Olvia mentioned that he never hesitated to sacrifice hostages to eliminate evil and prevent greater harm to the innocent, a few viewers voiced their criticism.
But the sea had always been cruel. The chance of becoming a hostage was slim, being slaughtered or tortured by pirates was far more common. So, most people still supported Sakazuki's philosophy of eradicating evil completely.
It wasn't that "the justice of saving people" had no place in the world, but saving people often meant hesitation, and hesitation led to more casualties. At least for now, in this cruel era of the seas, no one could confidently claim they could always both save lives and defeat their enemies.
Just as Olvia's narration was coming to an end, the solemn ceremonial music abruptly stopped, and silence fell across the entire scene.
Then, a new melody began, a tune full of exotic, desert charm. Its winding, lively rhythm seemed to transport everyone to a vast, endless sea of sand, letting them feel that unique desert spirit.
"This is our Arabasta's melody!"
"Haha! That's the song we play on our national day!"
"Wow! We're the first ones to enter!"
"..."
In the distant Arabasta Kingdom on the other side of the Grand Line, the people burst into cheers the moment they heard their familiar desert song through the broadcast.
They waved their flags high, singing and dancing with excitement.
This was the World Conference, an event reserved only for the top fifty member nations.
And in this moment of global attention, the very first song to play, the first nation to be introduced, was Arabasta.
It was a grand display of national pride, elevating Arabasta's prestige before the entire world. Every citizen watching felt a deep sense of pride and honor.
As the desert melody played, a luxurious carriage drawn by an orange sand dragon slowly rolled down the wide avenue.
Bearing Arabasta's national emblem, the carriage came to a smooth stop before the red carpet.
With the help of her maids, Titi, dressed in full ceremonial attire, gracefully stepped down from the carriage.
Facing the lens of Olvia's broadcasting transponder snail, Titi smiled warmly and waved at the camera.
Immediately, Olvia's clear voice rose again, ["The first to arrive is the regent of Arabasta, Lady Titi. She is the wife of the former King of Arabasta, and currently serves as acting ruler of the kingdom's affairs. Arabasta is a desert nation, with a history tracing back over a thousand years…"]
["It's worth noting that Arabasta's royal family, the Nefertari family, was once among the founding families of the World Government. However, they voluntarily gave up their status as Celestial Dragons and chose to remain in their homeland."]
"..."
Olvia's explanation left many viewers stunned, Arabasta's former king had been one of the original Twenty Kings who founded the World Government?
Even many Arabastans themselves were learning this for the first time. People instinctively straightened their backs with pride.
It was almost amusing, their royal family wasn't just kind and benevolent; they had also been among the founders of the World Government.
By that logic, didn't that make them, more or less, world nobles too?
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