The Deso Duchy is a country located in the North Sea near the Calm Belt, situated among archipelagos, spreading outward from the central large island.
This country boasts itself as the most tranquil and elegant nation. People in the Royal City, whether nobles or citizens, strive for elegance in their food, clothing, and usage, even those who undertake the lowest jobs in the Royal Palace try to dress properly after paying taxes.
As for those who can't afford to pay taxes...
What does the elegance of the Royal City have to do with the slums of the archipelago?
Those who can't afford to pay taxes are not considered citizens of the Deso Duchy, they do not acknowledge them.
Only when they repay the owed taxes can they continue to be recognized as citizens of the Deso Royal Palace.
But those who have lost their place to live, driven to the marginalized islands, struggle just to survive, let alone pay taxes. Gradually, the islands in the archipelago have become genuine slums.
The population of the Deso Duchy is not large, but it's estimated that around thirty thousand people are scattered among the surrounding islands.
The current Duke is currently worried about this group of destitutes.
"The Heavenly Celestial Dragons are about to descend here for inspection, yet those destitutes refuse to leave? If the Celestial Dragons find us lacking in elegance, it'll be a huge disgrace!"
A group of subjects remained silent below him.
There's really no solution.
Even if they wanted to burn it all down, there are so many islands, it's impossible to burn them all in time. Although they drive people away, it's not the same as killing them all.
Cannot drive them away, cannot kill them, now everyone is distressed.
If only some Sea Kings came over and attacked those islands...
"Leave it to me!"
Suddenly, an eerie voice sounded from outside the palace.
A Navy officer, with a few slim mustaches, resembling a rat and a cat, walked in, first saluting the Duke, then said with a smile: "I happen to have an idea..."
"Navy? Who let you in!"
A nearby minister said displeased: "The affairs of our country are not for you to meddle in."
"Apologies, I was merely too anxious to offer assistance to my station. I also wish to be as elegant as the Duke and do not want those people to sully my station."
The Navy bowed deeply, not straightening up, but looking up instead, said: "One hundred million Belly... For just one hundred million Belly, our Navy will transport those people away and ensure the Duke does not bear a bad reputation."
"Transport... To where? No, that's not important, can you really get rid of them?" The Duke's eyes lit up, "What method will you use?"
"By issuing orders to search and identify hidden criminals..."
"No, it cannot negatively impact my country." The Duke waved his hand, "If that's all, then don't bother saying it."
His place is known as the 'Nation of Tranquility and Elegance,' and they cannot destroy this reputation.
In this country, they wouldn't have criminals; that would be so inelegant!
"Mm... not elegant enough? In that case, it requires more effort. Okay, I'll use the name of the World Government to recruit them, but I'm taking a great risk as well."
The Navy smiled and extended five fingers, "Five hundred million Belly, leave it to me."
"Too expensive."
The Duke shook his head, "Just one hundred million Belly, handle this matter; if not, then forget it."
To spend five hundred million Belly for a bunch of destitutes?
He'd rather get robbed by a Pirate!
"Deal."
The Navy straightened up, "Just one hundred million Belly, leave it to me."
This left the Duke taken aback, so straightforward?
He originally intended to negotiate further, maybe two to three hundred million to relocate all the destitutes and preserve the beautiful landscape; it wouldn't be unacceptable.
The Navy agreed for just one hundred million Belly?
The Navy maintained a smile while inwardly beaming with joy.
A net gain of one hundred million.
This matter was an order given from above, requiring no payment at all, and could even earn more from above, so any amount received from this Duke was pure profit.
One hundred million Belly is a huge sum!
Besides, those who have been driven away no longer count as citizens of the Adhering Countries and have no rights.
Such actions occur in the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line across Adhering Countries. Anyone unable to pay the Celestial Gold and thus forced out are all approached by the Navy or Government officials.
Anywhere from a few thousand to twenty or thirty thousand people, all transported away.
And from these people, local Kings or Dukes earn a fortune. While not all pay as much as the Deso Duchy for both face and substance, spending over tens of millions of Belly is quite profitable.
As for how the migration is carried out...
They're brought onto ships under the pretense of identifying criminals, sometimes even outright seizing, later claiming Pirate attacks; it's fine so long as the burdens are taken away.
Some Navy officers refuse to act this way, but immediately new Navy officers take over the task.
Certainly, there are just Navy officers, but many follow orders, and those hoping to profit from the situation, whether Navy or Government officials, are mixed in.
They don't know why they need these people, but orders are orders: put them on the ship and carry out the handover.
Aside from the World Government, the Revolutionary Army is doing the same.
The Cork Kingdom, located somewhere in the New World, has just been attacked by Pirates, and why just now...
Because a woman wearing only a red long-sleeved vest, showing off her fiery figure, with purple short hair, came waving a flag and shouting, making those terrified of the Pirates suddenly burst with strength, driving away the Pirates.
"People of the Cork Kingdom, look at you, without a single complete garment, subjected to harsh oppression, why not try somewhere else!"
Belo Betty, biting on a lady's cigarette, shouted loudly.
Her way of speaking is just this straightforward, often calling people trash or scum, but these insults are merely to stir their fighting spirit.
After all, even though just influenced by the Cheer-Cheer Fruit's powers, most performed poorly, with only a few leaders doing fairly well.
A person who had calmed down nearby raised their hand weakly: "Uh, you don't have a complete garment either..."
Betty: "..."
"Anyway, our Revolutionary Army is recruiting brave individuals to combat this world ruled by Celestial Dragons! As for others, we don't intend to give up, if this country treats you poorly, can you trust the Revolutionary Army? If so, then come with me, I'll take you somewhere else to live!"
Compared to the World Government, places found by the Revolutionary Army are far worse; this country struggles even to pay taxes, with people often facing hunger and sometimes enduring attacks by bold Pirates.
Even Adhering Countries are sometimes unable to avoid this situation.
And in this environment, people have an even harder time.
However, even so...
There aren't many willing to leave.
Here is at least an Adhering Country, mostly free from Pirate disturbances, and... those not from the Adhering Countries have no rights.
By staying here, no matter the darkness, openly, they're considered persons with rights.
Once out to sea, things become uncertain.
This also makes it difficult for the Revolutionary Army to smoothly implement its plan to improve the lives of some who cannot survive by placing them in O'hara.
Citizens in the jurisdiction of the Revolutionary Army are scarce; those who join are typically headed for the battlefield.
Before, they rescued people, or after leading a revolution, recruited those inclined towards the Revolutionary Army.
Doing such tasks of taking everyone away is practically the first...
Some difficulty.
However, although challenging, the numbers are vast!
Countries and islands like these, in the sea, its number is unknown, even includes people from Non-Adhering Countries who cannot survive; some have been rescued by the Revolutionary Army before, others forced with no choice but to believe in the Revolutionary Army, boarding the ships.
World Government ships, Revolutionary Army ships, ultimately continuously sail toward the New World, converging at the port of O'hara.
No matter the starting point, in this moment...
No difference.