Upon hearing this, Enel, who had been floating in midair, drew back the lightning crackling around him and slowly descended. He looked at Ronan, his gaze growing complicated.
Over the past two years, he'd practically watched with his own eyes as Ronan grew at a terrifying pace. From being almost completely helpless under his hand at the start, to now forcing him to use a considerable portion of his power just to suppress him—Enel even felt that if Ronan were given a few more years, he might truly no longer be able to hold him down.
"Ronan-sama, your Observation Haki and Armament Haki are getting more and more refined," Enel commented matter-of-factly. If not for Ronan's precise predictions and targeted strikes, many of his attacks wouldn't have needed to be so troublesome.
"But I'm still not as good as you. Logia-type users are a pain," Ronan said frankly. Enel's Observation Haki, combined with the Mantra that came with his fruit, was even stronger on top of that, with an enormous range.
Hearing that, Enel couldn't help but laugh. "So what you're saying, Ronan-sama, is that you want to eat a Logia-type Devil Fruit?"
Ronan curled his lips. Logia fruits were rare to begin with, and he knew that by now all the really powerful Devil Fruits already had owners.
"Forget it. There aren't any Logia fruits left for me now anyway!"
By this time, as the two's bout came to an end, the people watching at the edge of the training ground finally walked over.
Beth and Alicia both had a hint of worry in their eyes. Having stayed by Ronan's side all this time, they knew better than anyone how much effort he'd put in to gain his current strength.
Teresa walked at the front. Her gaze swept across the wrecked training field before finally landing on Ronan, the corner of her lips lifting into a faint smile. "Looks like two years of 'electrotherapy' have paid off. Your toughness and reaction speed have improved quite a bit, Ronan-sama."
Hearing Teresa's teasing, Ronan could only give a helpless smile. Sparring with Enel meant being under high-voltage shocks at every moment; it was a brutal test of both his Haki consumption and his body's endurance. But it was precisely this kind of extreme pressure that had driven his rapid growth.
Following behind Teresa was a cool-tempered girl, eyes wide as she stared at Ronan in disbelief. It was Kuina!
Compared to the ragged little girl from two years ago, Kuina had changed tremendously. She was now dressed in a white training gi, noticeably taller, with the Great Grade blade Wado Ichimonji hanging at her waist.
Every time he saw that sword, Ronan couldn't help wondering whether, when Zoro set sail in the future, he'd end up with not a single famous blade left.
Kuina had just witnessed the entire fight between Ronan and Enel with her own eyes, and it had left her deeply shaken.
"So His Highness is already this strong?" Kuina murmured in her heart. She had always thought that, under Teresa-san and Beth-san's guidance, her swordsmanship and physical ability had improved greatly over the past two years. But now, compared to Ronan-sama, she was still far, far behind!
"It's not enough! I haven't worked hard enough! I have to get stronger—much stronger! My control over my power and my grasp of timing are still way off!"
Teresa seemed to sense Kuina's emotional turbulence. She tilted her head slightly to glance at the girl, the smile at the corner of her lips deepening. It seemed that Ronan-sama's bout had thoroughly ignited Kuina's fighting spirit.
Just then, a flustered attendant hurriedly ran up to Ronan.
"Heika," the attendant said, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tension, "World Government officials… are here again."
Ronan's expression shifted slightly before quickly returning to normal.
"Take them to the council chamber," Ronan said. With that, he headed there with Beth and Alicia, leaving Teresa and the others behind at the training grounds.
What had to come had finally come.
Ever since he had succeeded the throne of Lulusia Kingdom, aside from the first year—when the previous king had already paid and he didn't need to—he had not handed over a single Berry of Heavenly Tribute to Mary Geoise in the following two years.
He had been filing for extensions with the World Government under all sorts of pretexts. Perhaps wary of a powerful combatant like Teresa, the World Government had agreed at first. But as the delay grew longer and longer, they seemed to have lost their patience; recently they had been sending people again and again to press for payment of the Heavenly Tribute.
Clearly, as far as the World Government was concerned, they no longer believed Ronan's excuses. To be in arrears on Heavenly Tribute for a full two years—this was no longer just about money, but a blatant challenge to the World Government's authority! If every member nation followed Lulusia's example, the very foundation of their rule would be shaken.
Inside the council chamber, the atmosphere was heavy. The ones who had come were not ordinary CP Agency members, but three CP0 agents in white suits and white cloaks, strange masks covering their faces.
The leading CP0 agent merely inclined his head slightly when Ronan entered, then spoke directly. "Ronan-heika, by order of the World Government's highest authority—the Gorosei-sama—we are here to inquire into the matter of Lulusia Kingdom failing to pay its Heavenly Tribute for two consecutive years as required."
He had gone straight to the point, making it clear there was no room left to maneuver.
After Ronan sat down on the throne, he looked at the CP0 below and repeated his earlier excuse. "Special Envoy-sama, I have already said many times before that the kingdom truly is in difficulty…"
However, the CP0 agent cut him off bluntly. "The Gorosei-sama have already reviewed all the difficulties you have cited."
"The World Government understands that member nations may face temporary problems. However, the Heavenly Tribute is the foundation that sustains the World Government's operation and protects the rights of its member nations. Being in arrears for two consecutive years has already seriously violated the membership agreement and has had an extremely negative impact among the member nations!"
His tone grew heavier, carrying a sense of unquestionable finality. "The Gorosei-sama have ordered us to convey their final decision: Lulusia Kingdom must, within the specified deadline, pay in full all Heavenly Tribute owed for the past two years, along with the corresponding late fees. This is your last chance."
Ronan heard the subtext in his words. This was no longer a negotiation; it was a final ultimatum.
"There truly isn't any way to wait a little longer?" Ronan asked slowly.
The CP0 agent showed not the slightest courtesy to this king, his tone still icy. "According to the World Government Member Nation Covenant, any member nation that fails to pay its Heavenly Tribute in full and on time, and does not correct this after a final warning, may have its member status unilaterally revoked by the World Government, and be stripped of all privileges and protection enjoyed as a member nation."
Stripped of its status as a member nation!
(End of Chapter)
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