Lynn flew back to his bedchamber inside the Royal Palace.
His body was lightly perspiring, and his physical stamina was slightly depleted—it felt much like having jogged four hundred meters.
To have consumed so little stamina while using the Truth-Seeking Ball to instantly annihilate thousands of people left Lynn thoroughly satisfied.
Shortly after.
Under the arrangements of Fugaku and the others who had hurried back, Lynn enjoyed a comfortable hot bath, changed into his pajamas, and went to rest.
Early the next morning.
All across the world, ordinary citizens, nobles, faction leaders, and pirates were eating breakfast while reading the morning papers dropped by News Coo.
At the summit of the Red Line.
Inside the Conference Room of the Five Elders.
"To abolish the nobility system right within their own borders! Could this young king of the Sypher Kingdom be a puppet propped up by the Revolutionary Army?! Scum!"
Topman Valkyrie, the Justice Warrior with a pair of ox horns and a white beard, was absolutely furious, slamming the morning paper in his hand onto the table with a loud bang.
The headline on the newspaper was remarkably eye-catching:
[East Blue's Small Nation, Sypher, Swallows World Government Affiliated Nation Goa Kingdom Overnight!]
[Old King Withdraws from Affiliation, New King Abolishes the Nobility System!]
Nearby, Marcus Mars, the Environment Warrior with a slender physique, parted his lips hidden beneath a white goatee and said in a deep voice:
"The impact caused by this Sypher Kingdom is far too egregious. Have the Marines investigated clearly? If not, there's no need to investigate further. Issue a proclamation confirming that the Sypher Kingdom, backed by the Revolutionary Army, has subverted the regime of the affiliated Goa Kingdom, and order Marine Headquarters to immediately dispatch forces to eradicate this ideology and help restore the Goa Kingdom!"
In the room.
A swordsman elder in a white robe opened his wise eyes.
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the Finance Warrior, said with a stern expression:
"I agree. Eradicate them as quickly as possible and step up our efforts to hunt down these rebel remnants of the Revolutionary Army; otherwise, another Sypher Kingdom will emerge."
Clearly, the Five Elders attributed Lynn's act of slapping the World Government in the face to operations behind the scenes by the Revolutionary Army.
They resolved to dispatch Marine forces to deal with the present Sypher Kingdom.
Inside the Marine Headquarters Conference Room.
The morning meeting was underway.
The three Admirals, along with numerous Vice Admirals, each held a copy of the morning paper and conversed among themselves.
When Sengoku walked in with a stern expression, the conference room instantly fell silent.
"I presume you are already aware of the egregious fallout caused by the Sypher Kingdom! The World Government has just issued a proclamation confirming that the Sypher Kingdom is under the influence of the Revolutionary Army, and has ordered Marine Headquarters to dispatch forces to hunt down the Revolutionary Army remnants and help the Goa Kingdom reclaim its regime... Aokiji, you will serve as the overall commander of the operation, alongside Vice Admirals Onigumo, Doberman, Momonga, Tokikuni, and Gion," Marshal Sengoku commanded.
When everyone heard such a lineup, astonishment filled their eyes, and they instinctively looked toward Sengoku.
One Marine Admiral and five Headquarters Vice Admirals—this was without a doubt a Buster Call configuration.
...
East Blue, Oykot Kingdom.
Arlong Park.
"Boss Arlong! Big news! We're going to be rich! Hahahahaha!"
An octopus fish-man wearing a stylish T-shirt and shorts ran excitedly toward a throne, holding a newspaper in his hand.
On the throne, a dark-blue-skinned great white shark fish-man was leisurely toying with the many weak humans locked inside an iron cage.
His serrated long snout and mouth full of sharp fangs made him appear incomparably bloody and cruel.
"Rich? Look at how you act like you've never seen the world, Octy! My Arlong Pirates are already the rulers of the Oykot Kingdom and the surrounding seas! Ordinary treasure can no longer pique my interest," Arlong said arrogantly.
Octy excitedly unfolded the newspaper in his hand and said:
"Boss! This Goa Kingdom used to be a World Government Affiliated Nation. Today's newspaper says they've withdrawn, and what's more, they've been swallowed up by a small nation called Sypher! That Goa Kingdom is an absolute goldmine! Wealth, humans, and even human nobles! There are so many of them!"
Arlong snatched the newspaper away, gazing greedily at the report upon it, and then burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahahahahaha! Indeed, it's a massive goldmine! Since they've lost their status as a World Government Affiliated Nation, then let's go on an unbridled rampage! Octy, gather all the fish-men and board the ships! Go capture human nobles! Go seize territory! Hahahahahahaha~" Arlong ordered.
"Understood!"
...
East Blue, Shimotsuki Village Dojo.
A group of youths wielding wooden swords were practicing their skills.
Not far away, a green-haired boy was challenging a young girl.
Beneath the dojo's corridor, Shimotsuki Koushirou sipped his tea, ate his breakfast, and read the newspaper.
When he saw the contents of the article, he spat out his breakfast directly.
He adjusted his glasses with a finger and muttered in shock:
"What is going on? Didn't Dragon and his people leave East Blue right after taking supplies from me? Is this Sypher Kingdom something they propped up?"
A disciple ran up before Koushirou and shouted in panic:
"Teacher, Zoro has been defeated by Senior Sister Kuina again, and his forehead is bleeding! Please go take a look!"
...
In a certain sea area of East Blue, upon the ocean's surface.
A supply ship disguised as a merchant vessel carried a cluster of figures draped in dark green cloaks, who had gathered around to read the morning paper.
"Why is the style of this Sypher Kingdom so much like ours? Boss Dragon, are you pulling the strings behind the scenes?" asked a guy with a gigantic head, whose face was enormous and caked with heavy, flamboyant makeup.
"Haven't I been with you this entire time? Besides, according to intelligence, the Sypher Kingdom was extremely weak, a mere dependency of the Goa Kingdom with a population of under one hundred thousand... To think they've caused such a massive commotion—it's unbelievable," a rugged, imposing man said in a deep voice.
Suddenly, he realized something, his brow furrowing tightly.
With the overthrow of a long-standing World Government Affiliated Nation, the World Government would undoubtedly assume that they, this band of revolutionaries, were responsible!
If they continued to travel leisurely through East Blue, they would surely become targets of a massive Marine search and hunt!
"Pass on my command! Full speed ahead toward the Grand Line!" Dragon ordered.
"Understood!"
...
Sypher Kingdom Palace Great Hall.
Upon the throne, Lynn wore a crown, draped in a red velvet cloak over a well-fitted, upright, military-style black royal uniform.
On both sides of the great hall, a group of Uchiha Jonins stood in rank on the left.
On the right stood a group of cowering former Goa Kingdom ministers, second-in-commands of various departments, deputies, and similar figures whom Lynn had promoted.
After all, running an entire country could hardly rely on the Uchiha Clan alone.
Naturally, these individuals had all undergone the Uchiha Clan's temperament assessments and could only be entrusted with tasks after passing.
Just then, Uchiha Fugaku, the head of the Uchiha Clan, stepped forward and reported:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, everything in the kingdom is normal today. Because taxation has been abolished, the populace is extremely supportive of you. Various infrastructures, free medical care, compulsory education, and the like have all been laid out, and representatives of all industries are actively cooperating."
Behind Fugaku, Uchiha Tekka likewise stepped forward and reported:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your banquet with Shanks is already under preparation. In addition, the wealth confiscated from all the nobles of the Goa Kingdom has been fully tallied, totaling ten billion Berries. It has been deposited into the national treasury to be used for the kingdom's various infrastructure projects, as well as your daily expenses."
Lynn, sitting upon the throne, nodded slightly, then commanded:
"Fugaku, from now on, the daily operations of the kingdom will be coordinated and managed by you through the Uchiha Clan."
"Understood, Your Majesty!"
At that moment—
*Whoosh!*
A figure instantly materialized within the great hall.
It was Shisui.
Shisui dropped to one knee, his brow furrowed as he reported:
"Reporting to Your Majesty! Outside the national port, pirates are making a clamor. There are fifty-five ships, numbering over five thousand people. Their leader calls himself the East Blue Overlord, [Governor Krieg!] They have already caused widespread panic among the residents in the coastal areas."