Elizabello I carefully considered the words of the World Government's emissary and found himself in reluctant agreement.
"A dead horse is a living horse doctor... If you refuse to seek aid from the World Government, then what alternative remains? The wealth of the sky is not in short supply this time."
After thorough deliberation, the ruling council of the Prodence Kingdom resolved to request assistance from the World Government. Simultaneously, they began mobilizing their military forces to resist the impending invasion of Caesar's army.
It did not take long before the World Government's commissioners—officials responsible for overseeing the affairs of allied nations—received their urgent call for aid. Without hesitation, Elizabello I reported the dire situation to the commissioner.
Upon hearing that Caesar was leading an invasion against a World Government member nation, the commissioner did not dare delay. He immediately escalated the matter to the Gorosei—the Five Elders, the highest authority within the World Government.
The Five Elders, burdened with a multitude of unresolved crises, grimaced at the news. Caesar had only recently seized control of the G-8 Marine base, and now he was making a move against another kingdom. The situation was spiraling out of control.
"This is a nightmare," one of the Elders muttered under his breath. "The path we chose... we must see it through, even if we must crawl to the end."
They exchanged glances, understanding all too well the gravity of their predicament. Caesar was proving to be an insurmountable thorn in their side. Worse still, they now fully grasped the bitter reality of being powerless despite their status.
After a brief but tense discussion, they reconnected with Elizabello I.
"We have assessed the situation," one of the Elders stated in a measured tone. "We will act accordingly."
"Then dispatch the Navy immediately! We need reinforcements!" Elizabello I pleaded.
At the mention of deploying the Navy, the Elders exchanged uneasy glances. They hesitated, unsure how to respond. The silence on both ends of the transponder snail was deafening.
The World Government maintained its global dominance largely through the allegiance of its member nations. The Celestial Dragons—the so-called nobles of the world—retained their status only because these nations recognized their authority. Yet now, the Middle Kingdom, led by Caesar, was directly challenging that system by attacking allied territories.
And the World Government could do nothing.
The Navy had largely withdrawn from the New World, leaving only eight major strongholds. Their forces were stretched to the limit, and reinforcements were not an option. One of these strongholds had already fallen to Caesar.
For a brief moment, the weight of their inaction hung heavy in the air.
Elizabello I, still waiting on the line, dared not press further. The men he was speaking to were the ultimate rulers of the world. Even in desperation, he knew better than to risk offending them. But his frustration was evident, his anxiety mirrored by the distorted expression on the transponder snail's face.
Caesar's forces were near, and the time to act was rapidly slipping away.
In the grand halls of Pangaea Castle, the Five Elders finally spoke.
"This matter is of grave importance," one of them declared. "We will deliberate further and contact you later."
"Wait, what? We don't have—"
The call was cut off.
A cold silence filled the cavernous room where the Five Elders sat. A suffocating sense of killing intent permeated the air.
If Caesar were standing before them now, they would have torn him apart without a second thought.
The situation was deteriorating rapidly. Caesar had become an uncontrollable force, wreaking havoc without restraint. If left unchecked, he could destabilize their entire rule.
"What do we do?" asked the Elder with golden hair and beard, his voice carrying a grave undertone.
"We're stuck between a rock and a hard place," the bald Elder with a scarred forehead replied, exhaling a plume of cigar smoke. Murderous intent flickered in his gaze. "The Navy's withdrawal has turned the New World into a lawless wasteland. Pirates are growing bolder by the day. Even if we wanted to send reinforcements, we don't have the manpower."
The long-haired Elder in white robes cursed under his breath. "That damned Caesar! He picked the perfect moment to strike."
Had the Navy still maintained a strong presence in the New World, this problem wouldn't have escalated to such an extent. But now, pirates were establishing their own domains, adopting a model of extortion and rule rather than mere plundering.
Reasserting control over the region would be nearly impossible.
"We have to act," said the Elder with a thick white mustache. "We cannot allow Caesar to run rampant. If we do nothing, our allies will lose faith in us."
"If we abandon one member nation, others will start questioning our protection," another Elder added. "The Middle Kingdom sits dangerously close to three World Government-aligned nations. If those fall, it will be a devastating blow to our authority."
If this news spread, it would not only shake the faith of the member nations but also embolden the major pirate crews of the New World. The World Government currently oversaw around 150 allied nations—losing over a dozen in quick succession would be catastrophic. Even the Celestial Dragons would feel the financial strain.
They had foreseen these consequences when they made the decision to withdraw the Navy from the New World. They had simply underestimated how quickly the situation would unravel.
"We must act now. We can't afford to let this situation spiral further."
"Then what's the plan?" asked the Elder with long white hair. "We don't have the resources for a full-scale operation."
The Elder in black robes leaned forward, gripping Caesar's wanted poster in frustration. "Damn that bastard. Every disaster lately traces back to him."
"We have no choice," another Elder admitted. "We will send an Army General. That should at least placate the allied nations."
The Five Elders reached a decision and relayed their verdict to Elizabello I: a single Army General and his forces would be dispatched to aid Prodence Kingdom.
Elizabello I felt a momentary relief, but it was swiftly replaced by dread.
He understood what this truly meant.
The World Government had abandoned him.
He knew Caesar's strength all too well. A single Army General would not be enough. Even three might not be enough.
The decision was made. The call ended. Orders were issued. A warship set sail for the Kingdom of Prodence.
---
The War Begins—Arrival of the Army General
In the grand palace of the Prodence Kingdom, Elizabello I and his ministers sat in grim silence. Their faces were pale.
They had been cast aside.
The World Government knew Caesar's might, yet they sent only a single General. It was not a military response—it was a political gesture.
As seasoned politicians, they recognized the true meaning behind this move.
But their hands were tied. All they could do now was pray that the arriving forces would be enough to prevent the fall of their kingdom.
Unbeknownst to them, their entire conversation had been overheard. Doyle, standing within a hidden dimensional space, had relayed every word to Caesar and the strategists of the Middle Kingdom.
"Your Majesty, I have news."
Caesar sat up, his eyes sharp. "Speak."
"Prodence has requested World Government aid. They are sending an Army General."
A smirk curled at the corner of Caesar's lips.
"Good. This battle just became interesting."
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters