Twenty thousand men fallen.
This was by no means a figure one could simply gloss over. In this world, a single island often constituted an entire nation. Superpowers like Alabasta, which boasted a standing army of six hundred thousand, were rare anomalies on the global stage. For most smaller kingdoms, the total population barely reached a hundred thousand, if even that.
Once the news of twenty thousand casualties broke, it would inevitably become "Big News." Furthermore, the list of the fallen included several pirates with bounties exceeding a hundred million Berries.
The "Magic Ball Sorcerer" had his skull vaporized by Elus. The "Skull Hunter" had his neck snapped by Fran. The "Black Beast" Tadra had been reduced to a literal smear of meat. The "Strangler Ghost" Falugo had been taken prisoner. Only the "Ghost Sword" Venculla had enjoyed a stroke of luck, being released by Elus to carry a warning back to Umit.
There was, however, one more individual of particular status: His Majesty King Nebli IV of the Amento Kingdom. This puppet king, favored by Umit, did not share Venculla's fortune. Under Umit, he had at least maintained some semblance of royal treatment because he was still useful. Now that he had fallen into Elus's hands, his fate remained an enigma.
One thing was certain: there was no love lost between the Kingdom of Echemondo and the Kingdom of Amento.
"Nebli IV? That poor wretch is still alive?"
The Transponder Snail perfectly mimicked King Bovill's expression of genuine surprise.
"Indeed," Elus replied. He sat reclined on a sofa, holding the snail as he reported the battle's conclusion to his father back in the royal palace. "Father, should we take this opportunity to annex the Amento Kingdom?"
"Annex Amento? There's no need."
Inside the royal palace on Bikashi Island, the sixth King of Echemondo, Soccachio Bovill, sat in a plush chair within his study, leisurely exhaling a cloud of cigar smoke.
"Amento has nothing of value. Those few iron mines are worth a pittance, but unfortunately, the New World's steel production has been in a state of surplus since last year. Pig iron won't fetch a decent price these days."
"Why do you think the Nebli family was recruiting pirates to their cause? They were already planning to use foreign war as a vent for their domestic famine and looming rebellions. They simply didn't expect to fall into Umit's trap."
"In short, you can go have a look at Amento if you wish, but those godforsaken islands aren't worth occupying. There's little profit to be had and a mountain of trouble to inherit. It is simply not worth it."
"I see," Elus conceded.
He didn't doubt his father's vision. As a sovereign, Soccachio Bovill's insight and administrative capability were reliable. Though he had been prone to immaturity in his youth, he had been molded by Elus's grandfather into a highly competent King.
While Elus could easily overpower his father in a physical confrontation, he acknowledged that he still had much to learn regarding the nuances of kingship.
Besides, being a Prince was far more enjoyable than being a King.
Especially as a Crown Prince whose succession was guaranteed, Elus had no need to worry about patricide or his younger siblings staging a coup. Under such circumstances, he preferred the freedom of being a Prince to the drudgery of handling national affairs within the palace.
At the very least, until he grew weary of this freedom, Elus had no intention of taking over his father's job.
"By the way, I had a message sent to Umit. I told him that sooner or later, I would come for his head."
"…El, you…"
In the study, Bovill stopped smoking. He dropped his premium cigar—only half-finished—into the ashtray and began pacing the room. He circled the floor several times before he could finally soothe his throbbing temples.
Truth be told, even if Umit was plotting against Echemondo from the shadows, Bovill had no intention of instigating a direct conflict as long as the Shipping King didn't act openly. Umit was a titan of the Underworld. When comparing their respective strengths, the two hundred years of Echemondo's accumulated power might not necessarily be enough to contend with him.
But what could he do? He had fathered a son who loved nothing more than stirring up trouble.
Bovill sat back down and picked up the Transponder Snail. "El, are you truly certain you can handle Umit?"
He knew his eldest son had long surpassed him in martial prowess. However, precisely because Elus was stronger than him, Bovill could no longer accurately judge if his son could truly stand against a giant of the Underworld.
"You must understand, those hundred-million-man pirates were mere lapdogs to Umit. Regardless of how strong Umit himself is, he certainly has subordinates far more lethal than 'Ghost Sword' or 'Black Beast.' So, El, I ask you: do you truly have the confidence to face him?"
"I'm not certain how strong Umit is personally, but… so long as he doesn't possess the martial might of a Yonko or a Marine Admiral, I can probably beat him to death."
Elus spoke with absolute calm.
This confidence was rooted in a new reality. Though the Hogyoku had yet to return to its peak state, his tireless efforts over the past few years had restored some of its vitality. Most notably, the recent intake of twenty thousand fresh souls had allowed the gem's power to recover another fraction.
That small fraction, however, was enough to push Elus's strength into a new realm.
His Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit had finally reached its Awakening.
"If that is the case, then do as you wish," Bovill replied without further hesitation, giving Elus his full support. "This kingdom will belong to you eventually anyway. Do what you like. Even if you ends up squandering the family estate… there is nothing to be done. The ancestors conquer the world, and the descendants squander the estate—it is a tale as old as time."
On the sofa, Elus rolled his eyes.
[I am the possessor of the Hogyoku, the greatest treasure of a man who sat at the pinnacle of elegance and power. As long as I am given enough time and enough souls, I am the man destined to stand at the top of this world.]
"Leave it to me," Elus said simply.
He didn't offer a long-winded explanation. There was no need. A perfect result would be a far more powerful testament than words. The Soccachio family's two hundred years of hard work would not decline in his hands; on the contrary, he would lead them to a higher peak to witness a more magnificent view.
"Back to the point, then. What should be done with Nebli IV?" Elus asked.
"Hm? Naturally… we make the Amento Kingdom pay a ransom. It would be best if someone is willing to pay. If no one wants to buy that poor wretch back… then send him to where he belongs. No sense in wasting good grain on him."
Bovill spoke with total indifference.
Compared to the fact that Elus was preparing for a war with the Shipping King, the fate of a mere Nebli IV was of absolutely no importance.