Chapter 161: The Trial of the Royal Family of Goa (1)
Before leaving, Eric shouted loudly, "I've found Spandam! He's here!"
From a distance, a voice echoed, "Someone found Spandam? It seems like he's in that direction!"
"Let's go check!"
Spandam, feeling despondent, immediately snapped to attention and rushed to escape.
"Damn Eric! Not only did you ruin my plan, but now I'm wanted. I'll make you regret this!"
Suddenly, a man appeared atop a building and pointed at Spandam, shouting, "Spandam has been found! He's over there!"
"Damn it! Damn it all!" Spandam cursed as he ran across Ship Graveyard Island, eventually disappearing into Water 7…
Meanwhile, Eric and his group were sitting in the Eagle ship, heading toward the East Blue.
Kurumi couldn't help but ask, "Can't we just kill that guy? He seems like he's going to cause us a lot of trouble."
"What kind of trouble could someone that weak cause us?"
"Just killing him would be too easy. We should at least let him feel the weight of being falsely accused and see what kind of reaction that brings. If he survives, we should ask him about it…"
Eric picked up a newspaper and handed it to the group. "Also, according to this, Esdeath and the others have successfully breached the Goa Royal Palace."
On the front page of the newspaper, there was a headline that read, "Dawn Pirates Break Into the Royal Palace of Goa Kingdom!"
"Last year's Trash Mountain Fire Truth Revealed!"
"The Goa Kingdom, which appears clean and beautiful, is actually filthy inside!"
The article mentioned: "The truth behind the Trash Mountain fire is that the royal family and nobles, to deal with the visiting inspection team, burned all the trash in Trash Mountain, including the poor people living there."
"The Dawn Pirates, seeking the truth, revealed the facts to the public and heroically stormed the Goa Royal Palace, publicly trying the nobles and royals of the High Town. A large number of royals and nobles admitted to burning the Trash Mountain in the live broadcast."
"That guy Morgans actually wrote a good piece, looks like the threats worked," Eric muttered. "Though, I still haven't watched the live stream, I only saw the news in the paper. The TV coverage here is terrible…"
…
Time rewound two days earlier when Eric and his crew had set out.
The Invincible Ship anchored in the waters near the Goa Kingdom, and the coastline could be faintly seen.
Esdeath was holding a telescope, looking toward the Goa Kingdom's harbor.
"It's such a clean country. I wonder if it will still be 'clean' like this after today…"
"Don't go on a killing spree here," Akemi, standing next to her, cautioned. "Eric told us we should only deal with the royals and nobles."
"I know full well," Esdeath said. While she had a thirst for blood, she was always friendly to ordinary citizens and never accepted bribes. In the Empire, she had many fans. "But the interrogation of those royals is my responsibility."
"No problem," Akemi responded. She didn't have a particular fondness for interrogation.
From the control room, Chiron shouted, "Esdeath, Akemi, come here. We're about to start the operation meeting."
"Esdeath, freeze the entire wall of High Town so no royal or noble can escape. Perona, use your ghosts to search for the royals and nobles in High Town, and guide Esdeath, Akemi, and Scáthach ."
"...The Carlakana sisters are in the control room, operating the cannons to sink the escaping ships. Kureike will drive a small boat and bring Esdeath, Scáthach , and Akemi to shore."
"Esdeath, take the phone bug and send the interrogation footage to Morgans. The operation starts now!"
Porche raised his hand. "Chiron-sensei, what about me?"
"You?" Chiron thought for a moment. "Put on the cheerleader uniform and cheer them on!"
"…"
…
"Stop right there, you two little punks! How dare you eat for free in my restaurant!" A chef with a big ladle was desperately chasing after two children running away.
"Luffy, this way!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Ace, with his mouth full, was being dragged along by Luffy, who was also stuffing his face, trying to swallow while holding his mouth with both hands.
They turned a corner and ran straight into three women.
"Watch out!"
"Bang! Bang!" The two of them slammed into a solid ice wall.
"Ugh…" They both felt dizzy from the impact.
"I've finally caught you two!" The chef grabbed Ace and Luffy by the collars and lifted them up.
Luffy was flailing his limbs and struggling, "Let go of me!"
"You ate my food and didn't pay?! I'm taking you to the police and sending you to jail!" The chef angrily declared, about to hand them over to the local sheriff.
"Wait a minute," Esdeath interrupted. "I'll pay for their food."
"Huh?" The chef turned around and sized her up. "Are you their guardian? You should discipline them! These two little brats ate over 500,000 Berries worth of food!"
Slap Esdeath tossed a stack of money at the chef's face. "That's one million Berries. No change needed. Also, I'm not their guardian. If you say one more word, you'll die."
The chef, frozen by Esdeath's cold gaze, couldn't say another word. He hurriedly picked up the scattered Berries and scampered away.
Ace stood up and immediately bowed. "Thank you for your help today."
Luffy, standing by, grumbled, "But Ace, if it weren't for them, we wouldn't have been caught…"
"Shut up, learn from me, and bow to Esdeath to thank her."
"Oh… Thank you for your help today," Luffy mimicked, bowing.
Akemi nodded. "Hmm, that's polite."
Ace looked up, curiously asking, "Aren't you supposed to be leaving? Why are you back in Goa Kingdom? Is that scammer here too?"
"If you call Eric a scammer again, I'll make you regret it," Esdeath glared at Ace fiercely.
Ace immediately stiffened, then bowed again. "I'm sorry!"
Esdeath casually replied, "From now on, don't eat for free again, and don't bully ordinary people. If you want to torture someone, it should be the high-ranking royals and nobles."
"I understand."
"Hmph, only by challenging the strong can you grow stronger."
"Thank you for your guidance, I will definitely eat less…"
"Huh?"
"I will definitely not eat for free again!" Ace mentally added, 'If I eat and then run off, that's not called eating for free, it's just skipping out on the bill.'
Ace happily asked, "By the way, Esdeath-, Scáthach -, and Akemi-nee, what are you doing here? Can you continue to teach us training this time?"
"We might not have time to teach you," Esdeath replied. "We have something important to do."
Ace and Luffy looked at each other. "Important business?"
"We're going to storm the royal palace, capture the royals and nobles, and conduct a trial. Would you like to join us?"
Ace and Luffy's eyes widened. "A trial of the royals and nobles…"
Ace nodded seriously. "Please, let me join!"
(END CHAPTER)
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