For safety during the journey, Michion was escorted by high-ranking Navy officers and the kingdom’s fleet.
Of course, the Navy didn’t escort Michion because he had such significant influence. The Kingdom of Ishtar also transported a grain batch to the Navy Headquarters.
Michion was essentially “hitching” a ride with the Navy on this journey.
Yokimura was responsible for escorting Michion and his entourage to the Kingdom of Alabasta. After delivering the grain to the headquarters, he would return to Alabasta to regroup with Michion and the others before returning to the North Sea.
Because the combined forces of the Navy and the escort fleet formed a large fleet, any pirates they encountered along the way were mostly decimated by the concentrated cannon fire.
The journey was uneventful, leaving Michion with little to do.
Michion, dressed in luxurious attire and wearing a black cloak, looked like a nobleman. No one would guess that this refined-looking person also held the position of a naval officer.
Due to his training, Michion had grown to about 170 cm tall. He was quite satisfied with his height, considering he was only eleven. Luffy was around 174 cm, and Michion knew he would continue to grow.
His mature demeanour often made people overlook his actual age.
At that moment, he was chatting with Yokimura on the deck.
Michion was quite grateful to Yokimura. If it hadn’t been for Yokimura’s rescue, he wouldn’t have had the chance to end up on the Boin Archipelago, and the subsequent events wouldn’t have happened. Michion’s journey after crossing over would have been entirely different.
He might have become an enslaved person who was sold to the Celestial Dragons and waited for Fisher Tiger to save him.
He is currently discussing the trip to Jaya Island with Yokimura. The reason for the visit is to conduct combat training. Yokimura had no objections to this.
In the North Sea, Yokimura had already seen Michion’s strength. Although he took credit for defeating the pirates to protect Michion, he knew that Michion had already made a name for himself in the North Sea.
Some even called him the strongest child in the Navy in 800 years (humorously).
On the other hand, the sand was the main theme. The scorching sun hung high in the sky, and the wind carried the unique dry smell of the desert, making one’s lips parched.
Despite being a country full of deserts, Alabasta was remarkably peaceful, thanks to a beloved king who cared deeply for his people. The citizens revered their king, who tirelessly worked for their happiness, a fortune for Alabasta.
The palace in Alubarna, the capital of Alabasta and the royal residence, wasn’t luxurious but exuded a simple desert charm.
Compared to the opulent palaces of tyrants, this desert palace had a unique grandeur.
“I heard the heir of Gaius is personally coming?” asked Nefertari Cobra’s companion, not Vivi’s late mother.
“Yes, this visit is not just a trade deal but also an opportunity to deepen our friendship. I’ve already instructed Igaram to prepare the welcome arrangements, with the Karoo Duck Squad leading the reception,” Cobra replied.
“Our country is full of deserts and the land isn’t fertile. Establishing friendly relations or even an alliance with the grain-rich Kingdom of Ishtar would be very beneficial for our nation and people. But I’m concerned the prince might be too young…”
Nefertari Titi didn’t finish her sentence, but her concern was clear.
Building a friendly relationship with a grain-rich nation like Ishtar would greatly benefit Alabasta, allowing the exchange of much-needed goods. This trade would boost both economies significantly.
Especially for Alabasta, which required large quantities of grain, trading unique desert products for grain could help them through difficult times.
Ishtar, located in the North Sea, could ensure the safety of trade routes when transporting grain with the Navy. While the trade seemed mutually beneficial, Alabasta could have been more disadvantaged.
For Alabasta, grain was crucial and irreplaceable, but for Ishtar, Alabasta’s unique products were merely economic “soft power.”
As a queen, Titi saw this clearly and worried that a young or arrogant prince might ruin this important diplomatic mission.
Given the imbalance in trade, these concerns were valid, especially since this trade deal originated from the camaraderie between the two kings at the World Conference.
If a senior minister had been sent, there would be less worry. But they were sending a prince.
Although sending a prince signified King Gaius’s importance to the matter, Titi had seen too many arrogant royal heirs fueling her concerns.
Given Alabasta’s location in the first half of the Grand Line, they had to bolster their defences against the rampant pirates from the Four Seas, reducing their grain reserves.
Selling grain to any nation was the same for Ishtar; it was a casual decision. But for Alabasta, this trade was a lifeline.
Such circumstances left Titi deeply concerned about encountering an arrogant heir.
“Hahaha, my queen, you’re overthinking it. This trade was initiated by the prince himself. Without him, it would have been just another trade deal,” Cobra laughed.
“Oh? It seems there are deeds of this heir that I’m unaware of?” Titi felt relieved and curious about the prince responsible for the trade.
“Indeed, ever since Gaius found his child, he hasn’t stopped bragging about him.” Cobra laughed as he shared what he had heard from Gaius with Titi.
So why did a simple trade turn into a diplomatic mission?
The answer lay in Michion’s efforts. This was the only opportunity in two years, so Michion valued it immensely.
Besides carrying out his plans, this diplomatic mission was crucial.
To be continued…
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