"The Goa Kingdom?"
Lancelot couldn't help but show a surprised expression, because he certainly knew about this kingdom.
It was located on Dawn Island in the East Blue and was one of the World Government's member nations.
The country was spotlessly clean, renowned as "the most beautiful nation in the East Blue."
This country, which prided itself on excluding "unnecessary" things, could be considered a successful, if sterile, example of an isolated society.
Windmill Village, the Gray Terminal, and Mt. Colubo were all part of this kingdom's territory.
In other words, it was the shared hometown of Luffy, Ace, and Sabo.
Lancelot mused that the bravest person in this kingdom was probably that mountain bandit leader, Higuma, who dared to challenge Shanks.
How could such a kingdom, obsessed with its own pristine image, dare to touch his merchant fleet? Were they seeking death?
Lancelot's eyes narrowed unconsciously, a cold, murderous intent already beginning to form.
Johnson then added from the Den Den Mushi.
"Rear Admiral Lancelot, my base here in Syrup Village has been completed. We've already recruited three hundred marines and have begun their training. I believe in another three or four months, they'll be combat-ready."
Lancelot nodded, pleased. "Good. I'll find an opportunity to promote your rank further, so your position as Base Commander will be properly justified."
Upon hearing this, Johnson was overjoyed.
"Thank you, Rear Admiral!"
Then he hesitated slightly. "Sir... it's been a long time since I last saw my mother. When you go to the Goa Kingdom, could you... perhaps... bring her along so we can reunite?"
"Your mother? Lise?"
Lancelot was momentarily taken aback.
The image of that mature, voluptuous figure immediately surfaced in his mind, and his eyes flickered slightly.
"Considering you've been quite competent in your duties... I'll bring her over."
"Thank you!" Johnson's lips curled into a faint, satisfied smile.
His mother was just an ordinary woman, not as formidable in character as his aunt Lina.
To maintain her... position... with a man like Lancelot, she needed to make her presence felt regularly.
Otherwise, she'd eventually be forgotten.
After all, a man like Lancelot would never be short of women.
Though Johnson lacked strength, he understood men's psychology perfectly.
Sure enough, had he not reminded him, Lancelot would have completely forgotten about this stunning woman from his past.
He now had Lina and Miss Valentine by his side, both peerless beauties.
Embracing them left and right every day, surrounded by sensual allure... how could he possibly remember one woman from the East Blue?
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Lancelot turned to Lina.
"Send your sister to Johnson's base in Syrup Village." He then added, "I'm going to the Goa Kingdom now. After handling matters there, I'll swing by Johnson's to pick her up."
Lina replied, "Yes, Master. I'll see to it right away!"
Immediately, Lancelot pushed off with his legs, soaring into the sky and using Geppo to swiftly head toward the Goa Kingdom.
...
In the Goa Kingdom's royal mourning hall, Princess Sarie Nantokanette wept bitterly, her face streaked with tears, overwhelmed with grief.
Because in this short period... first, her father and mother, the King and Queen, passed away.
This was followed by her eldest, second, and third brothers, all dying in succession.
Today, even her young nephews had met with tragic "accidents."
In just three short months, all her direct relatives were dead.
Standing silently behind Princess Sarie was her husband, Stelly.
At this moment, Stelly wore an extremely sinister, almost gleeful, expression.
Unfortunately, Sarie, with her back to him, didn't see it.
But who was Sarie Nantokanette? A princess of a kingdom.
Especially in a kingdom like Goa, obsessed with lineage and power, no prince or princess was truly naive.
If she hadn't been sure before, now that even her nephews were dead, she'd be an idiot not to know who was behind it all.
She turned her head slightly, just enough to glance at Stelly from the corner of her eye.
Stelly noticed her movement before she could complete it, and his sinister expression vanished instantly.
Replacing it was a look of fawning, husbandly pity.
Sarie turned her head back, and where Stelly couldn't see, a cold, hateful glint flashed in her eyes.
But it quickly faded, replaced by a mask of sorrow.
Because she understood that the situation was beyond repair.
The entire royal family was dead, leaving only her.
Most importantly, she had never involved herself in the affairs of state.
Great power had always been in the hands of her father and elder brothers.
After their deaths, all this authority fell into the hands of her husband.
Even the kingdom's military power ended up in the hands of Stelly's adoptive father, Outlock III.
Now, this father-son duo held both military and political control.
The entire kingdom was already under their command.
All they lacked was a legitimate reason and the right moment to ascend the throne.
Therefore, she had only one path to survive: to play the fool.
Then... slowly... plan her next move.
"Sarie..." Stelly approached with his fake, concerned smile and wrapped his arms around her.
Sarie's body stiffened completely at his touch before she quickly forced it to return to normal.
Turning her head with a sorrowful expression, she said, "Let me... let me stay here alone for a while."
Stelly replied, "But I should stay with you!"
Sarie subtly pushed his hand away. "I want to spend some time alone with my nephews. Stelly... you should go to bed first. It's already very late... You'll need to handle the funeral arrangements for the nephews tomorrow. You should conserve your energy..."
Hearing this, Stelly pretended to hesitate before saying, "Alright... You should return to your room early, too. Don't grieve too much."
Sarie didn't speak further, only nodding gently as she turned back to the small caskets.
Stelly left.
Only then did Sarie's composure completely break.
Her face turned terrifyingly gloomy, her eyes holding a cold, restrained emotion.
"It seems you haven't completely lost your wits," a sudden, deep voice rang out from the shadows of the hall.
"You've finally figured out where the problem lies."
This startled Sarie so much she jumped up from her kneeling position, a small scream escaping her lips.
She called out sharply, "Who's there!"
Simultaneously, she quickly scanned the entire, vast room.
Soon, she discovered a figure standing in the darkest corner of the hall.
This frightened her considerably.
But her reason told her the visitor likely meant no harm.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have spoken; they would have simply killed her.
Moreover, she detected a wealth of information in that single, calm statement.
It sparked a glimmer of desperate hope in her heart.
At that moment, the figure emerged from the corner.
His tall, handsome, and majestic appearance made her heart tremble.
If heroes love beauties, don't beauties likewise admire heroes? She was not only the princess of the Goa Kingdom but also one of the most celebrated beauties among its nobility.
Marrying Stelly had been a purely political alliance.
Otherwise, how could she have possibly considered him?
But soon, her gaze fell on the visitor's cloak.
She immediately recognized it as the Marine's "Justice" cloak.
His rank... it was actually a Rear Admiral.
In the entire East Blue, there were only three Commodores and she didn't recall this particular man.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up with realization, and she exclaimed.
"It's you..."
She remembered.
This was the legendary, newly appointed East Blue Governor-General, Rear Admiral Lancelot.
Because aside from those other three, he was the only other officer of with the highest rank in the entire East Blue.
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