Chapter 13: White Fog
Before Nicholas, a Castle that resembled those in Western fantasy novels stood tall and erect. Surrounding the Castle was a massive wall, dozens of meters high. It was hard to imagine how such a small Island could have built such a gigantic Castle.
"This Castle should also have a history of thousands of years."
Just as Bell-lin was looking at this massive Castle filled with the aura of History, a loud booming sound rang out. Vistad then put away his Axe and revealed a simple smile to Nicholas. "Captain, the door is open."
"Then let's go in and see what exactly gave the King of this country such great confidence."
Following that, Nicholas took the lead and stepped into the cleaved-open Castle gate.
At this time, the inside of the Castle was deathly silent, as if the people inside had vanished into thin air before Nicholas and the others arrived.
Inside the Castle, huge candles were visible everywhere, illuminating the originally poorly lit interior of the Castle to be as bright as day.
In the empty hall inside the Castle, on both sides stood what seemed to be either armor models or real soldier guards. At the end of the hall was a high staircase, and above the staircase was a huge Throne. In front of the Throne, hundreds of guards in Armor were kneeling on one knee before the Throne, propping themselves up with Weapon.
And on that huge Throne, a massive figure was currently sitting. He was wearing heavy Armor, holding a Sword in both hands. It was Taji Boss, who had previously ordered his subordinates to kill the messenger sent by the Rocks Pirates to deliver Tribute, and also the sole King of this generation of the Taji Royal Family!
Nicholas walked step by step, reaching the hall, and gazed at the person sitting on the Throne.
The person above the Throne, seemingly because of Nicholas and the others' intrusion, Taji Boss also raised his head.
"Oh, Thunder God Nicholas, Captain of the Seventh Division of the Rocks Pirates. I didn't expect Rocks to send you. I originally thought that guy would at most just send some subordinate Pirates groups over."
Taji Boss said calmly, seemingly not surprised at all by Nicholas's arrival.
"You don't seem surprised at all?"
Nicholas looked at King Boss sitting on the Throne and spoke.
"Of course I'm not surprised. After all, it's just saving some intermediate steps. In the original plan, it was to first kill the messenger under Rocks, and then step by step lure out higher combat power from the Rocks Pirates."
King Boss paused as he spoke, then glanced at Nicholas and said, "It's just that I didn't expect it to be you who came, which makes me feel a little troubled."
"Actually, I didn't want to come either, but there's no way, that guy specifically asked me to make a trip. But I'm very curious, what exactly gave you such courage to provoke that Monster?"
Nicholas was genuinely curious. After all, Rocks's reputation in the New World for so many years was simply too great. And although he would make many Islands in the New World pay Tribute, it was still somewhat different compared to the Celestial Tribute to be handed over to the Celestial Dragons. Moreover, in the New World, as long as you paid Tribute to Rocks, you could get the protection of the Rocks Pirates.
This was also the survival method for many New World countries. By handing over money and supplies to some powerful Pirates groups in exchange for their protection. Just like the Whitebeard Pirates, maintaining the expenses of so many Pirates was destined to be a huge expenditure, so the protection fees collected within their territory were the bulk of it. On the contrary, what they obtained from plunder was just trivial.
Nicholas couldn't understand why the World Government would risk being retaliated against by Gibeck's Sword to enter the New World to punish these countries that did not hand over Celestial Tribute.
This kind of thing that was not harmful to his own country, why would King Boss risk being retaliated against by Rocks to do such a thing?
Hearing these words, a strange light flashed in King Boss's eyes, and then he said emotionlessly, "Hahaha, kid, have you underestimated the Strength of the World Government? As for resisting the Rocks Pirates, isn't it a very interesting thing!?"
As he spoke, King Boss stood up, and suddenly grabbed forward, clenching his Fist: "My soldiers, let them see your terror!"
Immediately, the hundreds of guards in Armor kneeling in front of King Boss all uniformly tapped their chests with their left hands and lowered their heads: "We pledge to defend the King's glory to the death!"
While Nicholas and the others were in the Castle, a White Fog suddenly filled the entire Taji Island, and this White Fog was rapidly spreading towards the entire Island, and it seemed that it would not be long before it enveloped the entire Island.
"Haha..."
In the alleyways of the Slums of Taji Island in the Fog, a little girl was running in panic, looking back in horror as she ran, as if something terrifying was chasing her.
Bang!
Because she didn't pay attention to her feet, she was directly tripped by a protruding Stone and involuntarily fell to the Ground.
However, seemingly not having time to consider the sharp pain coming from her body, the little girl only glanced at her body in panic, and after finding that there was no Blood, she couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
Suddenly, the sound of clattering footsteps leaping across rooftops came from behind her.
The little girl immediately looked terrified, and then looked at the Trash Can next to her, filled with all kinds of Trash and emitting a strong stench.
Without the slightest hesitation, she directly plunged into the Trash Can. As she dove headfirst into the Trash Can and kept moving inwards, soon the Trash emitting various smells covered her entire small body.
Clatter, clatter~
Just like an Animal's feet stepping on the Ground, accompanied by the approaching sound was also the sound of constantly twitching noses searching for scent.
"Ah~ qiu!"
Seemingly because the smell in the Trash Can was too strong, the 'person' who was trying to find the Target by scent couldn't help but sneeze several times in a row.
And Katie, hiding in the Trash Can, tightly covered her mouth with her small hands, desperately trying not to make a sound.
Clatter, clatter, clatter, as the footsteps moved away.
After a while, after there were no other sounds around, the little girl Katie cautiously poked her head out of the Trash Can, looked left and right, and after confirming that there was really no one, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Only then did she have a chance to take out the thing in her arms and take a look. It was a tattered Cloth Bag, containing a few pieces of slightly moldy Bread.
"Wait for me... I will definitely bring Food back."
Seemingly thinking of someone important, Katie kept cheering herself up.
After all, whether it was the thick Fog that was so dense that she could barely see beyond a meter, or the terrifying scene she had seen when looking for Food before, they all made her feel uneasy. She wanted to hurry home and bring Food to her family.
The little girl Katie looked at the slightly moldy Bread in front of her and swallowed her saliva.
"With this Food, everyone will definitely be able to survive. They must eat something, otherwise they will die."
Then she put away the tattered Cloth Bag and carefully tucked it into her arms.
Just as Katie climbed out of the Trash Can and planned to run towards home, suddenly a huge booming sound came from the direction of the Castle in the center of the Island, said to be the residence of King Boss, the King of the entire Island.
This sound made Katie's pace involuntarily slow down. She thought the Cannon Fire from the Island Port side earlier was just another group of Pirates. Taji Island had encountered Pirates before, but now even the safest place on the Island had battles, wouldn't that mean that this time the Pirates successfully broke through the Defense on the Wharf side.
Thinking of the various rumors she had heard about Pirates before, Katie became even more anxious. Although there was no Treasure in her home, facing bloodthirsty Pirates, her family would be in danger!
But at this time, Katie had no idea that even if she went back, facing the danger that her family could not cope with, what use would a child like her be?
(End of Chapter)