Koza stared at Pell’s departing figure, a strange and suffocating pressure settling over him.
After a moment, he turned to look at the paper that had been carried away by the wind.
“Only a fool would believe this,” he muttered.
Before he realized it, Cobra was already standing beside him.
“I suggest you pick it up,” Cobra said.
Koza scoffed.
“You really believe that piece of paper is worth one hundred billion Berries?”
Cobra watched the drifting letter with a faint smile.
“Do you know why I felt at ease handing the throne over to him?”
Koza said nothing.
“In just one month, my son earned two billion Berries.
His exceptional ability in commerce gave me hope that Alabasta could rise again.”
Even Nair himself might not have realized that this was the true reason Cobra placed so much faith in him.
Koza fell silent.
After a brief hesitation, he clicked his tongue, turned, and ran into the desert.
It took him considerable effort, but he eventually found the paper half buried in the sand.
He carefully folded it and placed it inside his pocket.
“You had better hope this is real,” Koza said through clenched teeth as he glanced back at Cobra, whose expression carried a quiet confidence.
As expected, two days later, a large convoy arrived in Yuba.
The entire Rebel Army was thrown into turmoil.
Faced with overwhelming resources and decisive action, even the most stubborn rebels found themselves wavering.
These were the very things they had been fighting for.
The news spread rapidly.
Though the process of acceptance was slow and complicated, many began to regain faith in the Alabasta royal family.
Having already lost so much, continuing a hopeless struggle held little appeal.
In comparison, choosing to believe once more in the country did not seem so difficult, especially when backed by five billion Berries.
At the same time, Nair, the new king who initiated all of this, began to build a powerful reputation among the rebels.
His decisiveness, authority, and above all, his immense financial strength reshaped their perception of the royal family.
For many who had long lost their respect, this display of power forced them to reconsider.
In the end, Koza made his decision.
He would personally travel to the Alabasta Royal Palace, negotiate with the new king, and, if successful, return Cobra.
Two days later, Koza arrived at the palace and was led by Pell into the royal garden.
It was, without question, the most vibrant place in all of Alabasta.
Greenery spread in every direction, wildflowers bloomed freely, and evergreen plants thrived across the land.
It was less a formal garden and more a natural sanctuary filled with life.
In a kingdom where green was so scarce, even a single blade of grass was cherished.
That was why this place, slightly wild and untamed, was preserved as it was.
Koza stepped forward and soon saw Nair.
The young king stood among the flowers, gently brushing his fingers across a blooming plant.
His frame was not imposing, still that of a fifteen-year-old boy, yet the presence he carried made it difficult to see him as anything less than a ruler.
This was someone who could, in a sense, reshape the entire kingdom through sheer wealth alone.
Nair turned and looked directly at him.
“Koza, what are your demands?”
The directness caught Koza slightly off guard.
After a brief pause, he spoke.
“Your Majesty, I still cannot fully trust you.
Until your promises are fulfilled, the Rebel Army will not disband.”
“I accept that,” Nair replied without hesitation.
“Anything else?”
Koza nodded.
“The civilians who were influenced by me to join the Rebel Army should not be punished.”
“The innocent can be pardoned,” Nair said evenly.
“But those who committed crimes will face judgment.”
Koza frowned slightly.
“And who decides who is guilty?”
Nair’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.
The expression carried a quiet confidence that made Koza feel both uneasy and impressed.
“You already know the answer,” Nair said.