"There's one more thing…"
Just when the citizens thought everything had come to an end, Arthur spoke again.
The crowd looked up in confusion.
A gray-haired man, his face covered in blood, was dragged onto the platform by a soldier as he struggled violently.
"This man," Arthur said calmly, glancing at him, "is a member of the Gambino Family."
That single sentence was like a spark tossed into a powder keg.
The square erupted instantly.
Even the pirates and various outsiders present changed expressions, realizing that today's events might be far more serious than they had imagined.
On the platform, Arthur walked up to Erik, who was still struggling.
Holding the Transponder Snail, he said coldly,
"The Gambino Family invaded our Kingdom of Zephir. They slaughtered our citizens. They murdered our former legion commander and our King. And now, they dare demand that Zephir submit to them."
His voice sharpened.
"This is a naked provocation."
"This is a declaration of war against the Kingdom of Zephir!"
Slash!
At some point, a kunai had appeared in his hand.
Without hesitation, Arthur thrust it straight into Erik's throat.
Blood splattered across Arthur's face. Beside him, Elia's complexion turned pale.
It was the first time Arthur had personally killed someone.
Yet strangely—
He felt no discomfort at all.
"Ahhh!"
The crowd gasped in shock, staring in disbelief.
With a dull thud, Erik's body collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
Arthur slowly turned around.
Blood streaked across his face. A cold smile curved at his lips as he raised his voice.
"I, the Prince of the Kingdom of Zephir, hereby formally declare—"
"The Kingdom of Zephir is officially at war with the Gambino Family!"
"The Gambino Family… will fall!"
He deliberately raised his volume.
But instead of stirring excitement, his words filled the citizens with fear.
Panic and unease spread across their faces.
"So that's how they see it," Arthur thought to himself, a trace of disappointment flashing in his eyes.
They believed Zephir was throwing itself against a stone wall.
Suicidal.
His original plan had been simple—use the execution of the three ministers to solidify his authority, and then use the declaration of war to boost national prestige.
Once the National Prestige function unlocked, he would need vast amounts of prestige points for Exclusive Lottery draws.
But clearly—
He had miscalculated.
"Fine. Once I destroy the Gambino Family, prestige will follow naturally."
Shaking his head lightly, Arthur ended the execution ceremony.
The citizens dispersed uneasily, dread lingering in their hearts, afraid the Gambino Family would soon retaliate.
As for the pirates and outsiders, they eagerly spread the news of Zephir's "reckless challenge" far and wide.
Before long, neighboring nations and forces learned of it.
The reaction was unanimous.
No one believed Zephir possessed either the courage or the strength to challenge the Gambino Family.
In their eyes, it was pure suicide.
…
Inside the palace, within the resplendent throne hall—
Arthur sat calmly upon the King's throne, gazing down at the empty hall below. A faint sense of reflection stirred in his heart.
"No wonder so many throughout history have coveted the throne," he muttered to himself. "This feeling… isn't bad at all."
Zephir was merely a small kingdom.
Unlike vast empires, it had no tangled aristocratic system or bloated bureaucracy. Only three ministers had assisted the royal family.
Now—
The royal bloodline consisted of him alone.
The three ministers were dead.
The Kingdom's army answered to him.
The entire nation was under his control.
"Once I eliminate the Gambino Family and raise my domestic prestige, I'll officially ascend the throne. Then I can unlock the National Level and Prestige systems… Though the exact standards for leveling up remain unclear."
He rested his chin on one hand, thinking aloud.
Beside him, Elia watched his calm expression. Though worry lingered in her heart, she gathered the courage to speak.
"Your Highness… is the Gambino Family truly nothing to fear? They are one of the three great mafia families of the West Blue. And we…"
She trailed off.
Arthur understood immediately.
"Relax. The Gambino Family may be strong," he said confidently, smiling faintly. "But my ANBU are stronger."
Elia's cheeks flushed at his confident smile.
She stole a glance at White Fang standing silently at his side. Her admiration for Arthur deepened even further.
At that moment—
Rapid footsteps echoed through the hall.
Stanley hurried in. The moment he saw Arthur seated upon the throne, he dropped to one knee respectfully.
"Your Highness."
"Mm."
Arthur tapped the armrest lightly and looked down at him.
"Pass down the order. Prepare the fleet. We sail immediately for the Gambino Family's headquarters. We must arrive before dawn tomorrow."
Stanley's eyes widened in shock.
He swallowed nervously.
"Your Highness… are we truly going to war with the Gambino Family?"
"War?"
A faint smile tugged at Arthur's lips.
"No."
"This won't be war."
"It will be a one-sided slaughter."
"Slaughter…"
Stanley's expression grew complicated.
He wanted to speak frankly—to point out that Zephir's current military strength was insignificant before true power.
But the words died in his throat.
The prince before him was no longer the same man.
Once, Arthur had been ordinary—just a prince in name, overshadowed and largely forgotten.
If not for his near-fatal injury on the battlefield weeks ago, many might not even remember him.
But now—
He was shrouded in mystery.
The decisiveness with which he killed.
The unknown elite force he had secretly cultivated.
All of it proved one thing—
Arthur was no longer the weak prince manipulated by ministers.
"Dismissed," Arthur said calmly. "And bring me the Gambino Family's exact location and all intelligence we have on them."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Stanley bowed and withdrew.
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