One day later.
On the main island of the Clover Kingdom.
At this moment, the royal capital was engulfed in smoke. The flag of the Clover Kingdom had been taken down and replaced by that of the Goa Kingdom.
Goa's royal guards, nobles, and officials were spreading the news that the Clover Kingdom had been officially annexed into the Goa Kingdom.
Nearly the entire royal family and nobility of the Clover Kingdom had been captured by Noah.
King Sloke of the Clover Kingdom was caught completely off guard by the sudden invasion.
When he realized that the enemy invading his kingdom was none other than the neighboring Goa Kingdom, he was too stunned to react.
Just recently, he had even sent gifts to celebrate Princess Sarie and Noah's wedding and Noah's coronation ceremony.
How could this new king dare to invade the Clover Kingdom?
Even though the Clover Kingdom wasn't one of the fifty nations participating in the World Council, it was still a recognized member nation.
"I'll give you two choices. First, peacefully integrate into the Goa Kingdom. I'll even grant you the title of Duke."
"Second, you all disappear."
Noah sat atop the throne of the Clover Kingdom, expressionless as he stared at the cowardly royal family before him.
"Impossible! I am the king of the Clover Kingdom!"
"I'll report you to the World Government! I'll bring this to the Five Elders!!"
King Sloke roared in fury, while the kneeling nobles behind him wept in despair and rage.
"Then you've chosen the second option. I won't kill you. I sentence all of you to exile."
Before everyone's eyes, Noah exiled the entire Sloke royal bloodline into a void dimension.
As for how long they'd stay there—who could say?
Maybe Noah would execute them when the time was right. Maybe he'd keep them there for decades until no one remembered who they were.
As they watched over a dozen royals vanish into thin air, the nobles and officials of the Clover Kingdom broke into panic.
Terrified, they begged for mercy and pledged loyalty to Goa, desperate to avoid disappearing themselves.
This was the first time Eric and Van Augur, the mercenaries, had witnessed Noah's power in action. Both of them were stunned, cold sweat running down their backs.
They had no idea what had just happened. The royal family had vanished before their eyes like ghosts.
On their way here, they had heard whispers from the guards about Noah single-handedly slaughtering 500 soldiers.
Only now did Eric realize how dangerous this king really was.
Just earlier, Eric had displayed the power of his Scythe-Scythe Fruit, cutting down a number of the Clover Kingdom's soldiers. He had assumed it would be enough to scare the soft-faced king.
But it turned out Noah's strength might be on par with his own.
Van Augur looked at Noah, eyes flickering with uncertainty as he observed the man's eerie power.
He had originally planned to leave the East Blue and try his luck on the Grand Line as a bounty hunter or pirate.
But now… things might change.
He could sense Noah's intense desire for control.
He suspected he might not be able to escape Noah's grasp.
Noah then ordered the young nobles and officials of the Goa Kingdom to take full control of the Clover Kingdom and begin the integration process.
They would report to the World Government that the Clover Kingdom was now officially a part of the Goa Kingdom, renamed as the Clover Archipelago under its domain.
Sarie hadn't expected Noah to conquer an entire kingdom in just two days.
It was almost too easy.
Back in the Goa Kingdom, the news had stirred the entire nation. The nobles were thrilled and active, fighting for roles in the takeover of the new territory.
The glory of the empire was now theirs to share.
But Noah's eyes were already on his next target: the Marine 153rd Branch located in Shells Town within the Clover Archipelago.
Three Goa Kingdom warships set sail again.
They headed straight toward the marine base now located within Goa's newly claimed territory.
"My lord… are we really going to arrest Captain Morgan?"
"Even if we're a member nation, attacking the Navy… it's madness!"
Even Eric and Van Augur were stunned by Noah's audacity. He wasn't just attacking another nation—he was aiming at a marine branch!
Even the nobles, officials, and guards under his command felt like they were losing their minds.
What kind of king does something like this?
He actually intended to capture a Marine branch commander!
"Captain Morgan of the 153rd Branch has been colluding with pirates, faking pirate deaths to gain promotions, and oppressing civilians."
"If the Marine Headquarters won't handle it, then I will."
"Besides, the Clover Kingdom is now part of Goa, so the 153rd Branch falls under my jurisdiction."
With a wave of his hand, Noah finalized his decision. He would use the crimes of Morgan and the pirate Kuro as a perfect excuse to shake up the Navy.
It would also serve to justify his conquest of the Clover Kingdom.
While the World Government might not care about conflicts between member nations, it was still necessary to offer a reason, a justification—just enough to save face.
Morgan and Kuro were now his convenient enemies.
"Once Morgan is captured, we'll head to Syrup Village in the neighboring Moonlight Kingdom and arrest Kuro for colluding with Morgan."
Noah didn't care about the details between Morgan and Kuro.
He just needed a reason to act against them. And if it meant dragging the Moonlight Kingdom into the fray, all the better.
He had already marked these two small kingdoms as his next meal.
Van Augur, Eric, and all the Goa Kingdom officials and guards were speechless at Noah's iron-handed approach. Was this mad king really planning to conquer multiple kingdoms in just a few days?
A few hours later.
They reached Shells Town, a small island that housed the Marine 153rd Branch, having sailed directly from the royal capital of the Clover Kingdom.
The sudden arrival of the Goa warships startled the local marines, who nearly mistook them for pirate ships.
Fortunately, the Goa Kingdom's flag was well known across the East Blue.
The marines allowed the ships to dock without resistance.
Even the now cruel and tyrannical Captain Morgan came out, accompanied by Lieutenant Commander Ripper, Ensign Rokkaku, and a number of marines, to welcome the King of Goa.
What happened next, however, was entirely unexpected.
"Morgan, you conspired with Kuro, helping him fake his death to escape justice. You used his 'corpse' to gain promotion!"
"You are a tyrant who's been oppressing the people of Shells Town. As King of the Goa Kingdom, I'm placing you under arrest."
"Oh, and by the way, the Clover Kingdom is now part of my realm. That means Shells Town is my territory now."
"All marines, stand aside."
Standing atop the warship, Noah delivered his judgment to Morgan and the marines below.
"What? Kuro faked his death?"
Ripper was shocked, staring at Morgan in disbelief.
"The Clover Kingdom was annexed? When did this happen?" Rokkaku and the other marines were in a commotion. Why were they the last to know?
"Bastard! I'm a Marine Captain and the commanding officer of the 153rd Branch! Who do you think you are to judge me?"
Morgan's face turned pale with rage. His mind swirled with chaotic memories of Kuro, and he grew increasingly agitated.
The next moment, blades of wind shot directly toward Morgan.
The marines of the 153rd Branch couldn't believe what they were seeing—Goa Kingdom forces were actually attacking the Navy!
"You dare strike the Navy? You're all criminals! Fire! Wipe them out!"
Morgan roared, swinging his axe and ordering his men to attack. He tried to deflect the wind blades.
But in an instant, bloody gashes appeared across his body.
Right after Eric's attack, Van Augur joined in, landing three shots on Morgan—two to his legs and one to his shoulder.
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