Marika is the Imperial Chef of the Deep Forest Kingdom, possessing the power to transform simple ingredients into exquisite flavors.
If she wanted wealth, she would of course stay in the Deep Forest Kingdom, where taxes wouldn't bother her. Even the King wouldn't ask her for taxes because of her skills.
But she still came here.
People who are driven to the Shallow Sand Kingdom also have to pay money, besides the rent. Upon arrival, they have nothing, and they aren't even allowed to bring tools.
To survive in this place, tools are indispensable, but it's too barren here, with nothing but sand.
However, if you want to use tools, you have to pay money to borrow them from the Deep Forest Kingdom...
No, not buying, still borrowing.
And the rent in the Shallow Sand Kingdom is a kind of protection fee. This portion of money is paid by their families within the kingdom, which is less than the taxes, but in total, it's also quite a lot.
If they use anything else, then this portion of money becomes too high, so people here build houses with sand and use natural stones and shells as tools.
They barely sustain their lives without taking anything from the Deep Forest Kingdom.
But in such a barren place, even having a meal is a problem. Not everyone can find food here, and not everyone possesses the skill to turn such coarse ingredients into delicious food.
Before Marika came, people here couldn't hold out until they could reach the Bridge Kingdom; many starved to death.
Even if they wanted to go, the Deep Forest Kingdom wouldn't allow it because as long as people stayed here, they could receive a rent...
This part of the money must be obtained, even if people died!
After Marika arrived, the situation here started to improve, and at least people began to get enough food.
"No matter how harsh the conditions are, people have the right to eat well and be full. I have always believed this. If taxes prevent people from being able to be full... such a world is just too sad,"
She looked at the people in the heavy rain, her words were seemingly calm but carried an extremely determined will. "Everyone has the right to be full, and what I do is to make sure people are full!"
She couldn't change the kingdom's decisions, but she could exert her small effort to ensure that people here could have a full meal before their final fate arrived.
"So, I am very grateful for your invitation, but I..."
"Leave, Lady Marika!"
Before she finished speaking, others interrupted her, a woman said, "Lady Marika, we have no other choice, but you do. You can leave!"
"Lady Marika, we're destined to head to the Bridge Kingdom. You've been dragging for two years, and it's enough. If this continues, you'll head there too, and those who have gone to the Bridge Kingdom... none have returned."
"Lady Marika, set out to sea! We've been like this, and can't afford to drag you down anymore. In these two years, we've barely survived and tasted many delicious foods thanks to you, and that's enough."
A group of people spoke up, whether holding children or weak elders, though their expressions showed reluctance, but even more so, a firm determination.
An elder stepped forward, steadfastly saying, "It's been enough. Lady Marika, we ultimately can't escape the fate of heading to the Bridge Kingdom, so..."
"In that case, let's rob the King."
A voice interrupted him, people looked over to see Sage rubbing his chin, gazing at the jungle beyond the beach, "Collecting such varying taxes, he must be rich... worth robbing."
"But Captain, it's impossible. The kingdom has numerous troops, and we don't even have tools..."
The elder glanced at the soldiers lying on the ground, thinking for a moment, then added, "Even if we actually succeed, the subsequent retaliation is something we cannot afford."
"Oh, that sort of thing isn't my concern anyway, I'm not doing it for you guys."
Sage faced Marika, saying, "Two options: first, I take you away and then rob the King. Second, you become my subordinate, and I'll help you kill the King and break into the kingdom, allowing these people back in."
"This Captain is indeed overbearing," Marika said in astonishment.
Sage chuckled, "Of course, I'm a Pirate. Whatever I want, I just take."
Since becoming a Pirate, he's always been accurate about his position.
Hasn't he robbed a kingdom before? And the King's wealth is even greater, why not rob it?
Can the Heavenly Celestial Dragons rob? So can he?
He's even better than the Heavenly Celestial Dragons; at least he doesn't rob from the poor!
Marika stared intently at Sage for a while and said, "I seem to have no other choice."
She could feel that even if she refused, it wouldn't help. This guy seemed to have means that made even death unattainable.
"That's not the case. If you decide to fiercely resist me, with no grudge between us, I might throw you into the sea, or perhaps let you go, as I dislike disobedient people. But..."
Sage walked forward, stepping over the fallen soldiers, kicking a head on the beach away, "After all, it's about choosing a place to live, why not try my way? Instead of idling in one place, it's better to see more of the world, which leads to more choices. After all, Pirates are a very free kind."
Marika was startled, murmuring, "Freedom..."
She had never considered this issue; she just wanted people to be full. Those ships that came before only sought to take these people to the Bridge Kingdom, and nobody had ever said such things.
"Little ones, let's rob!"
Sage laughed loudly, "That kingdom has many treasures, rob them!"
"Oh!!"
A dozen Pirates raised their weapons, cheering and following after Sage, heading toward the jungle beyond the beach.
Are they really going to rob?
Marika blankly watched the Pirates; she didn't think this was mere bravado. That bounty of seventy million, the man is definitely capable.
Then...
Why not give it a try?
Escape the kingdom, seeking a way that everyone can be full without being limited by the environment!
If that's the case, everyone would have abundant food, allowing them to research better cuisine, and great food... can soothe people's souls!
"If you can do that..."
Marika took a deep breath, her eyes filled with determination and followed up, "Please come with me, I know the way to the Royal City!"
As Marika moved, the remaining people exchanged looks, showing signs of struggle.
They can bear the bitter fruits themselves and choose not to burden Lady Marika, but directly confronting the kingdom, that truly counts as rebellion...
The consequences of that are indeed too much for them to bear.
Yet...
The crowd glance at the Shallow Sand being submerged by the tide and the very small area they stand on...
"One must rely on themselves."
Lily suddenly turned around, coldly addressed them, "If you do not resist, then you deserve to be oppressed. Your families, your descendants will never escape this fate."
Saying that, she turned around, closely followed Sage leaving.
"Fight it!"
A fisherman threw his net mightily and ran toward Sage's group, yelling, "I don't want to become a slave in the Bridge Kingdom, I don't want to starve here! The outcome is no different, let the King see our determination!"
With his words, as if igniting a fuse, the remaining people's eyes darkened, revealing firm determination, following up.
It's come to this already, then... fight it out!
Even if they fail, it would mean just an early enslavement, nothing too big!
...
The Royal City of Deep Forest Kingdom, located in a densely wooded area, is a lush and verdant big town.
"It's going to rain... such big rain clouds are coming."
The guards on the city wall looked up at the slowly approaching dark clouds, sighed, "Really, the repairs on my house haven't been completed, and it's raining at this time."
"I'm even worse. I don't know what to do with the children's taxes; even eating has become a problem."
Another guard sighed, "Miss the days when Lady Marika was around, back then everyone could be full; even the scraps of ingredients she could make into very delicious dishes."
"Yes, Lady Marika... Lady Marika!"
The guard was about to say, suddenly froze, seeing Marika outside the city wall, appearing with a very familiar gentle smile.
Boom!!
Then, a cannonball shot from behind exploded directly on the city gate, blowing a hole in it.
"Yes!"
Renedia turned the cannon barrel into a hammer, clenched her small fists, "Captain, it's blown open!"
"Well done."
Sage stepped into the hole, looked at the wide street, and at the end of the street, that stone-built, relic-like Royal City, grimly smiled, "Let's have a good robbery!"