Chapter 141: Soul Space
Feeling Rhodes's cold and indifferent gaze, the nobles felt their hearts sink. Who could possibly withstand this pressure?
Who would dare object?
Perhaps Rhodes wouldn't publicly execute King Charles due to World Government oversight, but these nobles had no such protection. At worst, the World Government might issue a reprimand afterward—a minor inconvenience.
With this reality in mind, the nobles collectively took a half-step backward, demonstrating their stance through silence.
"They don't seem to have any objections."
Rhodes said, looking at Charles with a faint, knowing smile.
Meanwhile,
led by Gates, several ministers and Revolutionary Army agents emerged to formally impeach Charles with documented evidence of corruption and abuse of power.
"What benefit does this bring you?"
Charles muttered through gritted teeth, sweat dripping from his forehead.
"Benefit? I'm simply doing what I want."
Rhodes replied with an easy smile.
"You're interfering in the internal affairs of a World Government member nation. The World Government won't tolerate such brazen intervention!"
Charles said coldly, casting a desperate, hopeful glance at a particular official in the room.
This person was the World Government's ambassador stationed in the Kano Country's capital, specifically responsible for liaison between the kingdom and the World Government.
Unexpectedly, the ambassador lowered his head slightly and spoke with clear helplessness:
"Just two hours ago, Rhodes—the Dragon Slayer—officially replaced Crocodile as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"Charles, you should accept your fate gracefully. It's your daughter taking the throne anyway, so the crown remains in your bloodline."
His words echoed through the hall, and absolute silence fell.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea were a formidable force in the world, standing alongside Marine Headquarters and the Four Emperors as one of the Three Great Powers maintaining balance across the seas.
While they might not seem particularly impressive to those in the New World, they represented overwhelming authority in the first half of the Grand Line—not to mention in the comparatively weaker Four Blues.
"The Dragon Slayer actually became a Warlord!"
"Perhaps the youngest Warlord in history."
"Incredible!"
The crowd whispered among themselves, their gazes toward Charles now tinged with sympathy rather than support.
Given the power and political immunity granted to the Warlords, the World Government wouldn't intervene in something as minor as a throne succession—especially when Rhodes wasn't claiming it for himself.
As expected,
the reluctant nobles in the room suddenly changed their attitudes the moment Rhodes's Warlord status was revealed.
"Sir Rhodes, we unanimously elect Princess Yuffie as Queen of the Kano Country! Please bear witness!"
someone shouted first.
"We unanimously elect Princess Yuffie as Queen of the Kano Country! Please witness this historic moment, Sir Rhodes!"
The nobles quickly echoed the declaration, bowing deeply to Yuffie—though in reality, they were bowing to Rhodes.
Shunai stood among the crowd, gazing at Rhodes with an expression veiled by complicated emotions.
Just days ago, Yuffie had been merely an ordinary princess in the royal family—given away as a political gift simply because she'd met Rhodes by chance.
But now, mere days later, she was ascending to the throne to rule the entire Kano Country, while Shunai—formerly a revered Crown Prince—had become essentially nobody.
And all of this was caused by one man: Rhodes.
"Huh?"
Yuffie, who'd been stunned into silence until this moment, was finally brought back to her senses by the overwhelming chorus of voices—but she still couldn't quite believe what was happening.
She had never imagined she would become queen. This was the Queen of the Kano Country—the most powerful nation in the West Blue! Her words would carry immense weight throughout the kingdom, and a single command would shake half the West Blue.
Under her authority would be tens of thousands of troops, wielding overwhelming power.
Panic seized her, and she glanced at Rhodes uncertainly.
He smiled faintly. "From now on, your fate belongs to you."
"Don't be afraid. I'll support you."
Yuffie's eyes flickered with emotion. Finally, she glanced around at the assembled crowd and smiled with newfound confidence.
"Very well. I accept the position of Queen of the Kano Country."
Yuffie's usual personality would never have driven her to seek such attention or responsibility.
She knew she was just an ordinary person despite her beauty and noble birth.
She couldn't match Crown Prince Shunai in either martial cultivation or political acumen.
This so-called throne was merely a figurehead position—she didn't truly possess the strength to bear the weight of the crown alone.
"But you shine too brilliantly. If I don't stand on higher ground, I'll eventually be left behind and forgotten,"
Yuffie whispered to herself, steeling her resolve.
This forced abdication didn't cause significant unrest due to the consensus among the upper echelons.
Economically, with the wealthy merchant Gates providing financial expertise, and militarily, with Rhodes's overwhelming prestige as deterrent, the country quickly stabilized. Even the disturbances caused by Don Chinjao's death and the navy's heavy losses were swiftly resolved.
Meanwhile, Revolutionary Army forces operating covertly throughout the kingdom took coordinated action—gathering evidence, thoroughly reforming the Kano Country's corrupt political landscape, and eliminating the most stubborn reactionary elements.
Thanks to this unique support structure, Queen Yuffie's authority grew rapidly, overpowering the traditional nobility and granting her genuine power over important state matters. She enacted numerous progressive laws that directly benefited common citizens.
Outside the royal capital,
"This reform has been remarkably successful. The Kano Country has undergone fundamental transformation. I'll report everything to Supreme Commander Dragon personally."
West Army Commander Morley said with a satisfied smile. "Don't worry about Queen Yuffie's safety. I'll leave sufficient forces to protect her, and we may even establish a permanent Revolutionary Army base in the Kano Country eventually."
Rhodes nodded, considering this a natural development.
"With this achievement under your belt, you should be eligible for a senior officer position when you next return to headquarters. Congratulations in advance."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Morley took his leave. He needed to return to the West Army's main base, having already spent considerable time in the Kano Country.
Watching the Revolutionary Army forces slowly depart, Rhodes's mind drifted, and his consciousness suddenly shifted.
A void-like space appeared before his awareness.
A complex, ornate tome floated at the center of this space. From the surrounding emptiness, faint golden pinpricks of light continuously drifted inward and merged with it.
"It's been over ten days, and the advancement still hasn't completed?"
Rhodes frowned slightly at this sight.
Since January 1st—when the World Government announced the new Warlord appointments—these pinpricks of light had been gathering constantly. Their source and purpose remained mysterious. Sometimes they appeared numerous, sometimes sparse, with no discernible pattern.
"Luck? Emotion? Faith? Some form of world energy?"
With so little information available, Rhodes couldn't determine the answer.
Gazing at this seemingly unreal, unfathomable soul space before him, Rhodes's expression suddenly shifted with realization.
Previously, he'd only been able to access aspects of the conscious mind—
like a swordsman perceiving the Breath of All Things for cutting steel, or deliberately closing off his thoughts when guarding against someone with exceptionally powerful Observation Haki like Katakuri.
He'd never been able to reach the deeper realm of the soul itself.
But Conqueror's Haki seemed to transcend mere consciousness and touch upon the soul—perhaps offering an entirely different perspective.
"Worth trying."
Rhodes released his Conqueror's Haki deliberately, his focus locked firmly on the Thunder Tome floating within this strange space.
Almost immediately, as his Conqueror's Haki spread across the Thunder Tome's surface,
Rhodes's vision blurred dramatically, and he suddenly found himself standing within a unique inner world.
"What...?"
He felt momentarily startled. Looking down at himself, he discovered his form was shimmering with faint, intangible light—almost translucent.
Is this my soul?
Then this place...
Rhodes looked up and, as expected, saw a massive tome floating slowly before him—as if it were the only absolute existence in this realm, radiating an indescribable mysterious aura.
(End of Chapter)
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