Lu Jiu stood aside and watched with a smile as Ji Guoyuan teased the young Ace. It was not until the wedding host came to the stage that Lu Jiu led Ace away and returned to her own table.
Lu Jiu was invited to attend Cyrus' wedding, and all the teachers in the Naval Academy were also invited.
According to Cyrus, he was trying to save as much as possible on banquets. Although he was a vice admiral and his salary was much higher than that of ordinary sailors, Cyrus was a man of faith. He knew that the Sword of Dawn branch was currently in a period of rapid financial development.
All his salary was invested in the construction of the branch.
Cyrus's idea was very simple. He basically lived in the branch. Apart from occasionally treating his subordinates to meals and drinks, he had no need to spend money. Therefore, he never attached much importance to material things.
He really couldn't afford to spend money on such a grand wedding.
However, King Liku could not tolerate such a thing. His daughter's wedding should be a grand affair. If it is not even as good as an ordinary family's wedding, where will his face as a king be?
However, King Liku is not a spendthrift. He doesn't need fancy things, but he must hold a grand banquet to entertain relatives and friends.
Because of this, almost all the navy officers in the branch participated, and even the navy officers on duty today would receive a separate banquet after their shift.
King Liku was a very good person and gave Cyrus enough face.
Cyrus, who had been an orphan since childhood, was naturally very moved by this.
As the guests took their seats one after another, King Liku also left his seat.
The emcee walked up to the stage and coughed lightly, and the venue finally quieted down a little.
Cyrus' wedding finally officially began. After the master of ceremonies' speech, Cyrus, dressed in a suit, appeared in the center of the colorful gate in front of the open space. Amidst the applause of the people, he slowly walked to the front of the stage.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Cyrus was a little nervous, his body stood straight, and the muscles on his face were a little stiff.
A little later, Scarlett, wearing a slightly simple wedding dress, appeared at the entrance of the colorful gate holding King Liku's wrist. Then, amid the cheers of the people, she walked onto the red carpet and slowly walked towards Cyrus.
"Lieutenant General Cyrus really found a good wife!"
"Seeing her reminds me of Princess Otohime."
Jinbei hadn't seen Scarlett much, so his first impression of her was quite good. Scarlett's wedding dress wasn't adorned with any jewelry, and she only wore a few delicate silver ornaments on her head.
Such a dress is certainly a luxury for ordinary people, but for the Princess of Dressrosa, it can be considered simple.
It is obvious that both King Riku and Scarlett have similar values, and such a royal family is a good thing for the people.
"Um."
"Although they are together through love, this wedding will bring significant benefits to both our navy and Dressrosa."
Tiger nodded and said with a smile.
When Yixiao heard this, he couldn't help but complain: "Mr. Tiger, don't say such spoiling words on a day like this."
“Benefits or not.”
"As long as the two newlyweds can be happy."
"In a world like this, happiness is a luxury."
Yixiao's words made everyone at the table fall silent.
Ji Guoyuan picked up the teacup and gently blew away the foam on it. Just as he was about to "drink some tea to calm his nerves", his movements suddenly stopped.
At the same time, Yixiao also raised his head slightly, his face slightly gloomy.
"What's wrong, Mr. Yixiao?"
Tiger noticed the unusual smile beside him and couldn't help but turn his head and ask.
Yixiao did not answer, but turned his head slightly to look at Jigoku Yoshiichi.
"Yixiao, go to the port and take a look. Don't disturb Cyrus's wedding."
Ji Guoyuan lifted the teacup to his lips, took a sip of tea and said to Yixiao. Hearing this, Yixiao nodded slightly, stood up from his seat and walked out of the venue.
"What happened?"
Tiger and Jinbe's observation Haki was far inferior to that of Ichisho and Yoriichi Tsugaku. Seeing Ichisho leave the table, they looked at each other and asked Yoriichi Tsugaku.
"A strange guest has arrived."
Cyrus's wedding proceeded as usual, and at this time, in front of the naval port, a huge luxury cruise ship was slowly sailing towards Dressrosa.
The cruise ship was a more traditional sailing ship, with a huge world government logo in the center of the inflated sails.
When Yixiao arrived at the naval port, the navy's patrol ships had already surrounded the World Government ship. Under the guidance of the patrol ships, the cruise ship slowly entered the naval port and docked next to the dock.
At the harbor, the navy on duty saw Yixiao's figure and immediately found their backbone, and all gathered around Yixiao.
After the cruise ship stopped, Yixiao walked towards the dock.
A long wooden ladder was slowly lowered from the cruise ship. Not long after it was lowered, a young man in a white suit, leading a little boy, slowly walked down the ladder.
Shortly after he got off the boat, a group of CP9 members in black suits got off the boat one after another and formed a long queue on the dock.
"Lieutenant General Yixiao!"
"I didn't expect you to pick me up in person at the dock. I'm truly honored!"
The young man in a white suit was about thirty years old, wearing a white hat and a pair of monocles. He had a handsome face, was about 190cm tall, and had a thin body.
The little boy following behind him, about ten years old, wearing a black suit, followed the young man off the boat and looked at him with an indifferent smile.
When greeting Yixiao, the young man reached out, grabbed his hat, and bowed slightly to Yixiao, behaving very politely.
"Who are you?"
The other party was polite and thoughtful. Yixiao asked, leaning on his cane in one hand. He had come to the port precisely because he sensed the powerful aura of the man before him. From the navy's report, Yixiao knew that the luxury cruise ship docked at the pier belonged to the World Government.
However, Yixiao didn't know the identity of the person in front of him.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Ulysses Guderian, the highest-ranking officer of CP0!"
After hearing the visitor's self-introduction, the sailors behind Yixiao all looked at Ulysses Guderian strangely.
CP0: some people are hearing it for the first time, while others have heard of it before. Those who are hearing it for the first time are curious, while those who have heard of it before are even more puzzled.
Although the Navy has relatively little contact with the CP organization, the Navy who know CP0 is very clear that any information about CP0 is secret.
Now this guy doesn't even wear a mask and is actually a CP0. This is what the navy finds strange.
"CP0?"
"What are you doing in Dressrosa?"
After learning the other party's identity, he smiled and asked without changing his tone.
"Hehehe, we just happened to be carrying out some missions in the nearby waters, and it just so happened that the higher-ups learned that Vice Admiral Cyrus was going to marry Princess Scarlet of Dressrosa."
"We were specially sent here to congratulate King Liku, Her Royal Highness Princess Scarlett, and Lieutenant General Cyrus."
"Look, we also brought some gifts."
Ulysses Guderian beckoned to the CP9 behind him. At his signal, a CP9 brought a golden box and handed it to Ulysses Guderian.
This is a small box about 30cm long and nearly 20cm high.
The entire box is made of pure gold. The surface of the box is covered with exquisite and gorgeous patterns. At the keyhole of the box, there is a special seal pattern similar to a badge, independent of other patterns.
If King Riku were here, he would probably be able to recognize what this emblem represents.
This is the family crest of Don Quixote's family.
Ulysses Guderian held the golden box in both hands and explained to Yixiao with a smile:
"Lieutenant General Yixiao."
"What I'm holding in my hand right now is a gift for Her Royal Highness Princess Scarlett."
"Dressrosa is a member of the World Government. Hundreds of years ago, the Donquixote clan that ruled Dressrosa became one of the twenty clans that created the world."
"Left Dressrosa and headed for the Holy Land."
"But, after all, this is the homeland of Don Quixote's family."
"The Celestial Dragons are also very happy that King Riku has governed Dressrosa so well!"
"Mr. Yixiao, would it be convenient for me to present this gift to Her Highness Scarlett in person?"
"Besides this matter, we also have important matters to discuss with King Riku."
Ulysses Guderian spoke in a calm and gentle tone, and was very humble during his conversation with Yixiao, without any of the arrogance that ordinary CP agents possessed.
After hearing this, he hesitated for a moment and said:
"I'm not the owner here, so it's not convenient for me to make decisions on my own."
"We need to ask King Riku or Princess Scarlet for their opinion."
"Would you mind waiting here for a moment?"
When it comes to polite people, even if the other party is CP0 of the World Government, Yixiao's tone can't help but soften.
Yixiao is a person who hates evil, but he is always kind to ordinary people.
"Then thank you for your help."
Ulysses Guderian nodded and responded with a smile.
He smiled and signaled his subordinates to go and report, while he himself stood by the port with Ulysses Guderian.
The weather in Dressrosa in February is not cold.
The sea breeze blows on people's bodies, like soft catkins brushing against the skin.
“It really is a beautiful country!”
“It would be wonderful if all the countries in the world could be like this!”
"Only countries under the protection of the World Government can enjoy such harmony and peace. Isn't that right, Lieutenant General Yixiao?"
Ulysses Guderian handed the golden box in his hand to the boy beside him, then walked to the coast, looked at the sea, stretched comfortably, and asked Yi Xiaoxiao with emotion.
"You're right."
"If every country had a strong and upright navy like Vice Admiral Cyrus, and a wise royal leader like King Liku, then all countries would be able to enjoy such harmony and peace."
"But this world is so cruel and unfair."
“Not all countries have wise royal families, and not all countries have righteous and powerful navies.”
He answered Ulysses Guderian's question with a smile.
Hearing this, Ulysses Guderian paused, slowly turned around, and said in a slightly lower voice:
"A wise royal family is not the basis for peace."
"The status of a member of the World Government and the protection of the World Government are the prerequisites for the prosperity and peace of Dressrosa."
"Lieutenant General Yixiao, did you misunderstand something?!"
"The Navy is an indispensable force for the World Government!"
"Non-member states will not be protected by the navy!"
Yixiao heard this, shook his head slowly, and chuckled:
"Justice will protect every innocent person to the best of its ability."
"We, the Navy, bear the weight of justice."
Listening to the conversation between Yixiao and Ulysses Guderian, the sailors who were originally standing behind Yixiao couldn't help but straighten their chests.
Not far away, the boy in a small suit couldn't help but look at the blind sailor a few more times.
"Lieutenant General Yixiao does have his own understanding of 'justice'."
"Having a subordinate like you, General Tsugikoku Yoshiichi, I'm sure it's a headache for him, right?"
Ulysses Guderian asked with a smile, hinting at something. Yixiao nodded with a smile upon hearing this.
"A blind man like me would probably be a headache for any superior, right?"
Ulysses Guderian did not hear the answer he wanted to hear from Yixiao, so he fell silent.
The atmosphere was a little awkward for a moment, and just at this moment, the Marine who was in charge of communications had hurried back and whispered a few words in Yixiao's ear.
He smiled and said to Ulysses Guderian and the others:
"King Riku invites you to Princess Scarlet's wedding."
As he spoke, under the guidance of Yixiao, Ulysses Guderian and a group of CP9 were led into the wedding venue.
At this time, the ceremony in the venue has come to an end, and on the stage, local actors from Dressrosa are performing a circus.
The guests in the venue were eating while watching the performance on the stage.
Not long after, Yixiao returned to his seat, and Ulysses Guderian, accompanied by a little boy, also took his seat at the invitation of King Riku after paying his respects to King Riku.
During the banquet, Ulysses Guderian presented King Liku with a gift and a golden key.
King Riku, who accepted the gifts on behalf of Cyrus and his wife, was very happy and then had a warm conversation with Ulysses Guderian.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who was sitting at the same table, didn't deliberately want to listen to what they were talking about.
However, the conversation between the two still "passively" entered Yuichiro's ears.
The two of them were not discussing anything important, it was just about the "gold in the sky".
What is heavenly gold?
All member states of the World Government need to pay Heavenly Gold to the World Government and the Celestial Dragons in order to obtain the status of a member state.
So what is the use of membership?
The member states will be protected by the World Government, and their citizens will become third-class citizens of the world, below the Celestial Dragons and the Kingdom's nobles.
If you don’t have the identity of a citizen of a country, then you are not even a human being, at best you are a “humanoid animal”.
As animals, they naturally do not have human rights, and people from non-member countries will be captured at will and enslaved.
The Celestial Dragons would also demonstrate their "strength" from time to time through non-member countries.
You can understand Tianshangjin as protection money.
Of course, even if they paid protection fees, second-class citizens were always second-class citizens. In the eyes of the "gods" in the Holy Land, there was no essential difference between them and lower-class slaves.
The way every country calculates its gold is through population.
The more people there are, the more Heavenly Gold you need to pay, and this amount is not small. Even for countries with prosperous national strength and stable industries, like Dressrosa, this is a considerable expense.
For those countries that have no core industries, no developed trade, or low-end agriculture, Tianshangjin will be fatal.
If the celestial gold system is run properly, there is no problem. The problem lies in the stratification of human status and the huge amount of money involved.
For example, if a country produces 10,000 tons of grain a year, and you collect tens of billions of berries from the gold in the sky, but all the grain sold by that country cannot pay for the gold in the sky, then what should those people do?
Will you become a slave to be hunted at will? Or will you muster up the courage to go out to sea?
You don’t have to think about what he will do.
Why were the future Four Emperors able to establish such a huge force in the New World?
In places like those protected by Shanks, Whitebeard, and even Big Mom, people's lives seem to be at a medium level, far more prosperous than those towns in the member states of the East China Sea.
Is it because the Four Emperors don't need supplies?
Yes, but not entirely.
The main reason is that the members of these royal groups do not live a luxurious life. They do not have excessive material pursuits, and their biggest expenditure is at most food and drink.
However, these expenditures are far from enough to drain and kill the people in the territories they protect.
However, the desires of the Celestial Dragons are far from being satisfied by just the appetite.
As Jiguo Yuanyi listened to the conversation between Ulysses Guderian and King Riku, many things came to his mind.
"The people's support is not to make the scum stronger so they can continue to exploit the people."
Ji Guoyuan smiled slightly and said in his heart.
(End of this chapter)
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