"Tsk! What a crude excuse. Hard to believe they could even come up with that. So basically, even if we monitor the amber-lead jewelry, we won't detect much toxin?", Rosse raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Correct. If the content isn't high enough, the toxicity won't show up significantly. So no matter how we publish the results, they can still set us up," Sora nodded lightly.
If they say it's harmless, the other side will definitely present evidence that it's harmful.
If they say it's harmful, the other side will argue that the toxin level isn't high enough to matter.
Even if they say both sides need to conduct joint tests to confirm, the other side can claim our testing capability is weak and needs to be redone.
Anyway, as long as they take action, the other side will always find an angle.
Spreading rumors doesn't require cost or proof, and even people like Saint Garling don't need to personally get involved.
"Right… why did they choose Flevance?", Rosse asked casually. It was something he was rather curious about.
There were plenty of member nations with issues, but if Saint Garling specifically chose Flevance, there must be something special about it.
Something that happened there was probably related to his family in some way.
"I've already looked into that," Sora explained softly, nodding, "A hundred years ago, when the amber-lead mine was discovered, it was our ancestor who signed the agreement with the Flevance royal family. If they want to play by the rules, they can claim ignorance, but we definitely knew the true situation of the mine."
"So this mess is connected to the family after all."
Rosse chuckled, "That said… why do they think I'm some kind of good guy?"
"Maybe your actions in standing up for the common people gave them the wrong impression?", Sora said uncertainly.
To be fair, Rosse had made undeniable contribution. Freeing slaves, improving living standards, and advocating for civilians.
But it shouldn't be forgotten that Rosse had personally killed more than a million people.
According to the World Government's official records, Rosse ranked among the top thousand for most kills in history.
Among living monsters today, only Vanessa and Saint Garling had killed more, and both had destroyed nations multiple times.
Perhaps because those two had killed more than Rosse, Saint Garling figured that made Rosse a "good guy"?
"Heh! Never thought I'd see the day I was mistaken for a good person. Luckily, I'm not one," The corner of Rosse's mouth curved slightly. At this moment, they were just walking out of the World Government building, the vast Holy Land stretching before them.
"Since they want to stir things up, let's stir together. Spread the word: we found ancestral records confirming that amber-lead is indeed toxic, and repeated exposure embeds it into one's genes, affecting future generations."
"That might affect our plans," Sora said with a flicker of worry.
Rosse's grand plan was to unite the World Government as one, then raise productivity to strengthen the entire world collectively.
His motivation tied back to the concept of fate.
Rosse wanted to see if, by developing the world's full potential, the destiny, or fortune, embodied by the World Government would change, and how much that could amplify a person's power.
He didn't need it right now, but if he wanted to break into SSS level one day, he might require fortune, so he was preparing early.
As his strength grew, his Observation Haki had become ever keener; Rosse could faintly sense it now.
The reason the system grew stronger by killing or defeating opponents… was because it stripped away their fortune.
Some people were born gifted at swordsmanship, some with a talent for history, some with powerful physiques, others with affinity for certain Devil Fruits.
Each kill or victory was essentially robbing those condensed fortunes, turning them into nourishment for himself.
And to go even further, he'd need even greater fortune to fuel the way forward.
Rosse had a premonition that breaking into SSS rank would likely require other special conditions as well.
But whether it was to grow stronger or to control the world for his own amusement, unifying the World Government and its member nations was absolutely necessary.
If anyone stood in his way, he'd crush them.
"Sora, if we want to achieve true rule, reputation alone won't cut it. Since some people don't want to behave, let's wake them up," Rosse's gaze was cold.
He was only SS– right now, two levels away from SS+.
And since a nice experience pack had just delivered itself to his door, he wasn't about to be polite.
———
After leaving the World Government building, Rosse returned to the family's palace complex.
"Saint Rosse!"
Shamrock stiffened the instant he saw Rosse, subconsciously taking a step back.
Feeling his own fear, he was instantly overcome with shame.
But when Rosse's eyes swept over him, he stopped in place and fell silent, not daring to talk back.
"What's the test result?"
Rosse didn't even glance at Shamrock. His gaze lingered for only a second on Queen Maureen of Flevance.
From her tense expression, she clearly knew quite a bit.
But it didn't matter. He didn't need proof to act.
"Queen Maureen and the princesses show no signs of poisoning. Their health is good, no diseases. All three princesses are still maidens. However, the amber-lead jewelry is toxic and transmissible to humans. It's just that the toxin is weak, so unless someone's frail, it poses little harm to ordinary people," Stella walked up beside Rosse and reported softly.
"So you're saying this amber-lead bracelet is poisonous, but not enough to harm the body?", Rosse asked playfully.
"Saint Rosse, may we leave now?", Before he finished his question, the eldest princess, Edith, burst out impatiently.
Being ordered around like this was unbearable. Especially for someone used to lording it over others.
No matter how handsome or strong Rosse was, she couldn't stand being humiliated.
"Did I say you could speak?", Rosse cast a brief glance at her, long legs, full chest, haughty expression.
But that single casual glance seemed to carry an irresistible, crushing force.
Edith's pupils shrank violently as though an invisible hand had gripped her throat.
She collapsed to the floor in terror, her face deathly pale, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably.
"Saint Rosse, this isn't according to the rules," Shamrock said angrily, frowning as he stepped in front of Rosse.
Saint Garling had told him not to clash with Rosse if possible, but seeing Rosse completely ignore him made Shamrock's blood boil.
"Out at sea, the Celestial Dragons are the rules. But here, in the Holy Land, I am the rule!"
Rosse's steps didn't pause for even an instant; he moved forward calmly, unhurriedly.
Under the terrified, despairing gazes of Queen Maureen and her daughters, Rosse reached out casually, like grabbing a chick, and clamped his hand over Shamrock's head.
"AAAH!"
Shamrock struggled desperately, face twisting in pain and rage, summoning every ounce of his power to resist Rosse's overwhelming force.
But even someone as powerful as Saint Garling had momentarily blacked out under Rosse's Conqueror's Haki and been forced to the ground.
Compared to his father, Shamrock was nothing.
BOOM!
Rosse's eyes were cold, utterly devoid of mercy.
He pressed Shamrock's head down, hard, smashing it into the floor of polished white jade with a brutal, domineering motion that brooked no refusal.
The hard jade tiles caved in from the impact, forming a deep crater.
Shamrock's head was buried like a stake driven into the earth, shards of white stone flying in every direction.
Bright red blood gushed out like a broken dam, streaming down his face, turning what was once a handsome countenance into something monstrously hideous.