Chapter 359: Major Issues Triggered by the Changing Era
A few days later.
Redline, Holy Land Marijoa.
In a spacious, well-lit room, heads of state from allied nations filed in, taking seats around a large round table.
Some kings' eyes glinted with unease.
Something unexpected was likely about to unfold.
The atmosphere was hushed. Even those unaware of the situation sensed something off.
They didn't dwell on it, whatever it was, the meeting would reveal all.
The past six months had brought unprecedented global upheaval, unlike anything in recorded history.
The era was shifting dramatically, with profound consequences.
Pirate numbers were surging. Though the Marine bolstered its forces, branches in the Four Seas struggled to keep up, making overall marine strength insufficient, a glaring problem.
Then there was the New World's territorial division.
The fearsome Extreme Evil Grand Fleet controlled swathes of territory, including several allied nations.
Those within their domain had to pay tribute.
For nations already burdened by the Heavenly Gold, this was an added strain.
Yet they dared not refuse.
The Extreme Evil Grand Fleet, under the tyrant Hisoka, had even executed Celestial Dragons.
Defying them was like an old man eating arsenic, courting death.
But this doubled the burden on those nations.
Some planned to use this Reverie to gauge the situation. If the issue went unresolved, certain allied nations were considering withdrawing from the World Government.
In the Extreme Evil Grand Fleet's domain, tribute was far less than the Heavenly Gold.
Plus, their pirate crews refrained from plundering tribute-paying kingdoms.
Nations flying their flag faced far fewer raids from rogue pirates.
And for a travel commission, the fleet's crews could be hired for support.
These policies, rumor had it, were spearheaded by Fisher Tiger, the Fishman Hero, one of the Seven Sins of the Extreme Evil Grand Fleet, backed by Crocodile, one of the Three Evil Generals, and Hisoka's tacit approval.
Thus, the system was enforced.
That Fishman even earned respect from some non-allied nations in their territory.
The contrast was stark.
Before Tiger joined, the fleet had ruled their lands with an iron fist, slaughtering towns and kingdoms at will.
Now, things have improved.
Under these circumstances, some allied nations in the New World territory grew restless. If the World Government couldn't address this, they'd have to secede.
Only then could their nations bear the load, paying both Heavenly Gold and fleet tribute was untenable.
Beyond the New World's allied nations, the South Blue had issues too.
The underground world there had been unified by the terrifying Dark Curtain organization.
After consolidating their structure, they had moved towards surface industries.
Small businesses and even allied nations' own enterprises couldn't compete.
Key figures defected abruptly, leaving South Blue nations struggling.
The sole upside was the organization's top-notch escort and transport services.
But if this behemoth kept expanding, these kingdoms' industrial shares would be squeezed dry.
Even resource-rich nations couldn't withstand the relentless price suppression on raw materials.
If the World Government didn't intervene, these nations feared being choked out by the Dark Curtain.
Beyond the South Blue, the North Blue demanded attention too.
The Donquixote Family, dominant in the North Blue's underworld, was aggressively absorbing territory and mediating between major factions.
They seemed poised to emulate the South Blue, forming an underworld coalition, rumors hinted at Dark Curtain's shadow behind them.
Beyond the underworld, Germa 66, a seafaring kingdom dubbed the "War House", was amassing power in the North Blue.
A hidden hand, allegedly the Dark Curtain, funded and collaborated with them on levels outsiders couldn't fathom.
Germa 66's growth alarmed many North Blue kingdoms.
Their ambition to dominate the North Blue was no secret, and others were wary.
King Vinsmoke Judge of Germa 66 didn't attend this Reverie. North Blue leaders present thought It was surely a sign of guilt.
In the West Blue, allied nations had concerns too.
The secretive Revolutionary Army was covertly growing among non-allied nations there.
Their ideology was vaguely known, and these nations feared a gun to their heads any day now.
Only the East Blue remained relatively stable, the Sea of Peace.
But with the era's chaos, even that peace was fraying.
Too many pirates set sail, overwhelming the East Blue Marine.
Peace bred complacency.
In calm times, many East Blue marines grew lax, their combat skills questionable.
Peace was a double-edged sword, well-managed, it brought prosperity; poorly handled, it fostered corruption. Some East Blue marines had clearly turned into parasites.
Beyond the Four Seas and New World, the Grand Line's allied nations faced issues too.
The non-allied Kingdom of Corti, in the Grand Line's first half, was dubbed a "land of miracles."
This reputation drew merchant interest.
The nation boasted martial strength, rumors claimed King Artoria wielded immense power, supported by formidable subordinates called Holy Knights.
Holy Knight Butterfly Wind Estelle had once showcased terrifying might, effortlessly shattering a meteor summoned by Vice Admiral Issho without harming the kingdom, an awe-inspiring feat.
Other Holy Knights had similarly displayed strength, purging troublesome pirates and lawbreakers.
The kingdom now boasted nine Holy Knights.
Not all had acted, but their potential power couldn't be dismissed.
Each had a role, rapidly developing the kingdom, even taking in refugees from nearby islands.
This trajectory fueled speculation about that old rumor.
This worried allied nations neighboring the Kingdom of Corti in the Grand Line's first half.
These were the primary issues the allied nations sought to address.
Beyond that, tensions between neighboring allied states, unrestricted news from Morgans spurring civilians to train and glorify personal strength (sparking frequent violence), rampant piracy disrupting trade, and fiscal and food shortages piled on.
This Reverie had no shortage of topics to tackle.
Tap, tap, tap.
As royals filed into the grand, solemn room and awaited the meeting's start, Marijoa faced its first true invasion.
( End of this Chapter )