One Piece : Rise of Thunder King

You can read the advance chapters here : patreon.com/Vigilante04

----------------

In the social square, the area where Arthur had caused damage earlier was now fully repaired. The buffet tables, which had been knocked over by the intense wind generated during Arthur's brief clash with Kizaru, were newly set with food and tableware.

Neptune approached Arthur cautiously, lowering his voice, "Mr. Arthur, are you okay?"

Most of the other kings kept their distance, still uneasy from the recent events. Arthur was in the middle of comforting Princess when he turned to respond, "Don't worry, everything's fine. I've already spoken with the Five Elders about the three issues. They've agreed, and it's pretty much settled. Whatever happens in the meeting now is just a formality."

Neptune's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? Mr. Arthur!" he whispered, clearly overjoyed. 

Nearby, Jinbe, the third prince, and Princess looked eagerly at Arthur, their eyes full of hope.

Arthur nodded with a smile. "Yes."

"Wonderful!" Neptune and the others cheered quietly, while Princess's huge eyes sparkled with joy, narrowing in happiness. Arthur couldn't help but chuckle at their excitement.

Originally, Arthur had intended to form an alliance with Princess as a political strategy, using her as a valuable card. But now, two years later, she had grown more beautiful, and he couldn't help but feel drawn to her.

Arthur thought to himself that if he let this chance slip away, he might regret it later. After all, she was only twelve now, but with time, she would only become more captivating.

Soon after, the World Summit officially began. All the kings moved through the grand corridor toward the conference hall. Upon entering, they saw a massive round table at the center, surrounded by fifty elegant, high-backed chairs.

This round table was a new addition for this year's summit. Previously, there had been a long table in its place, as Arthur remembered from past stories.

Because of the round table setup, there were no assigned seats, so Arthur and Neptune picked spots together and sat down. As he settled in, Arthur quickly spotted the king of Alabasta, Cobra. However, Princess Vivi was absent this time, likely caught up in her undercover mission with Baroque Works, searching for clues to save her country.

Arthur briefly considered speaking with Cobra, potentially forming an alliance, given Alabasta's historical significance as one of the founding kingdoms of the World Government.

Cobra's ancestors had been part of the original Twenty Kings, and Alabasta itself held many secrets, including those related to Pluton, one of the Ancient Weapons.

'Wait... Pluton! How could I forget that?' Arthur's thoughts suddenly shifted as he remembered the Pluton blueprints, which were currently hidden in Franky's possession.

'Once this summit is over, I need to head to Water 7 and retrieve those blueprints. With Pluton under my control, I'll have two of the three Ancient Weapons, save for the elusive Uranus,' Arthur thought to himself, feeling a surge of excitement. This realization lifted his spirits.

Just as Arthur's thoughts were racing, someone raised a question: "So, who's presiding over this meeting?"

Everyone glanced around the table until a man stood up. He wasn't particularly imposing, and his appearance was quite ordinary. "This time, it's my turn," he announced.

Except for Arthur and Neptune, who were new to the summit, most of the other kings exchanged knowing looks. Some even appeared a bit helpless.

'Why do they look so exasperated?' Arthur wondered, raising an eyebrow.

Over the next few days, Arthur discovered why. The chairman of the summit was painfully long-winded and spoke at a snail's pace, making every session drag on interminably. Arthur finally understood why, in the original story, the other kings had made remarks like, "If it's you, we're going to be here a while."

The person presiding over the World Summit was notorious for being long-winded, much to the frustration of the attendees. For four days, Arthur sat through discussions that seemed trivial to him, participating only in the occasional show of hands.

On the fifth day, someone finally addressed him directly. "King Arthur, your nation is a new member of the World Government, and its power is among the strongest. You yourself are recognized as one of the top fighters in the world. Don't you have anything to contribute to this meeting?"

At this, all eyes turned to Arthur. His country had been a topic of great interest recently, not just for its breathtaking "Sky Paradise," but also because of Arthur's battle with Kaido, which had ended in his favor.

Even without Arthur's direct involvement, his legions had triumphed against Kaido's forces, proving his country's immense military strength. Rumors had spread that the five legions sent were only half of Arthur's full force, and such overwhelming power had made other nations wary of his influence.

"Me?" Arthur raised an eyebrow at the question. Then, with a calm nod, he replied, "Since you've all asked, I'll share my thoughts. I was planning to save my comments for later, but let's discuss them now."

He straightened up and began, "It's been twenty years since Gold Roger became the Pirate King and declared the start of the Great Pirate Era upon his execution. Since then, the world has been in constant turmoil. The Marines, who are responsible for maintaining peace, are severely underfunded. This lack of resources forces them to hold back in many situations."

Arthur paused, scanning the faces around him, before continuing, "I propose we increase the funding for the Marines."

Many of the kings nodded in agreement, recognizing the truth in Arthur's words. However, the question of how to raise the funds remained. Although the tribute they paid to the World Government, known as the Heavenly Tribute, was substantial, increasing it would put additional pressure on their nations. Marine funding was traditionally covered by the Celestial Dragons, the highest authority in the World Government.

"It's not that we're opposed to funding the Marines," one king said cautiously. "But how much of an increase are we talking about?"

"One-tenth of the current tribute," Arthur suggested.

Immediately, there were murmurs of discontent.

"That's too much!"

"The Celestial Dragons won't agree to such a high increase!"

"One-twentieth would be more reasonable," another king proposed.

The suggestion quickly gained support, and the kings started to settle on the one-twentieth figure. 

Arthur, however, remained calm and calculated. "Then, how about one-fifteenth? It's a small increase compared to one-twentieth, but still manageable."

The room fell silent for a moment as the kings considered the new proposal. After some deliberation, they reluctantly agreed that one-fifteenth was acceptable.

"Very well," the chairman of the meeting declared. "It is decided. Starting this year, the Marines' funding will be increased by one-fifteenth."

With that settled, the chairman turned back to Arthur. "King Arthur, you mentioned there were other matters you wished to discuss?"

Arthur nodded. "Yes. Now, I'd like to talk about something more forward-thinking—international cooperation. There are many areas in which this world lags behind. I've observed that while we focus on local governance, there is a need for larger, global organizations to support our collective development."

He continued, "I propose we establish a series of international organizations. These would help strengthen our countries through shared resources, trade, and knowledge, ultimately making us all more prosperous."

The kings leaned in, intrigued. Arthur's reputation as a powerful warrior was already well known, but now it seemed he had ideas that could reshape the political landscape as well.

"What kind of organizations are you proposing?" a king asked, eager to hear more.

Arthur smiled slightly, pleased with the attention. "For example, a global maritime organization to ensure safe trade routes, a research and development council to share technological advancements, and a joint task force to deal with major threats that no single nation can handle alone."

His words sparked a flurry of interest. The idea of uniting their strengths appealed to many of the kings. While their nations often competed, the benefits of collective action were undeniable.

Arthur's thoughts raced as he gauged their reactions. If he could push these ideas forward, it would not only solidify his country's place on the world stage but also give him greater influence over the global order.

--------------------------

I'm excited to announce that I'll be launching a new One Piece fan fiction in just a few days! Join Luffy and the crew as they embark on a thrilling adventure filled with treasure hunting, new enemies, or unexpected allies. Get ready for epic battles, heartfelt moments, and surprises along the Grand Line!

I can't wait to share this journey with you all. Stay tuned for more updates!

Thank you for your support, and let's set sail together!