The Birth of the Middle Kingdom
"From today onward, Gilmanda Island shall be officially renamed Central Island!"
"The Kingdom of Gilmanda has been renamed the Middle Kingdom!"
"The Caesar Family will now be the new royal family, and I, Alexander Caesar, shall be its first king!"
For a moment, the citizens of the capital stood in stunned silence, processing the declaration.
Then, an overwhelming wave of cheers erupted.
They cheered for their new country, for their new king—Caesar—and for the bright future that awaited them.
"Heavenly King! Heavenly King!"
Voices roared in unison across the kingdom, their excitement and gratitude pouring out.
Though the people celebrated in different ways—some embraced loved ones, others gazed at the sky with tears in their eyes, and some held their children close, silently weeping with hope—their emotions were the same.
This moment marked a true rebirth.
From distributing food to the hungry to storming the palace and executing the corrupt king and his nobles, the revolution had reached its final stage. With the kingdom's name changed and Caesar crowned, the people had finally arrived at their long-awaited moment of liberation.
The old kingdom was gone, and with it, its tainted royal lineage. Everything was now filled with renewed hope.
Just yesterday, Caesar had won the hearts of all the common folk. Now, the people of this nation stood firmly behind him.
After declaring his rule, Caesar immediately turned his attention to the kingdom's reconstruction.
The rot within the old regime ran deep—it was not just the nobles' actions but also the oppressive and exploitative policies of the previous king that had kept the people in chains.
"Starting today, the Middle Kingdom will no longer be affiliated with the World Government!"
The announcement sent shockwaves through the crowd.
Yet, the reasoning behind it was not difficult to grasp.
"In addition, we will reform the kingdom's taxation system."
"Unjust taxes and arbitrary levies shall be abolished immediately!"
At these words, the citizens held their breath, eager to hear what would come next.
"As our kingdom is newly founded and must rebuild, all taxes—except for commercial levies—will be suspended for the next three years!"
"After that period, taxation policies will be adjusted based on the nation's condition!"
The impact of this decision was monumental.
For a moment, the people could scarcely believe it.
Taxes were a fundamental part of any kingdom. The people had long accepted them as an unavoidable burden.
But a tax exemption? For three whole years?
Such a decree was unheard of.
A wave of realization washed over them—Caesar truly intended to prioritize the well-being of his people.
For the first time in their lives, they felt secure about their future. As long as they worked hard, they could finally build a prosperous life for themselves.
"This is incredible! The real dawn has arrived—our future finally has hope!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty! My family can finally live without fear!"
Throughout the kingdom, men, women, and children alike gazed at the image of their new ruler with unshakable reverence.
At this moment, Caesar was not just a king. He was the leader they would pledge their loyalty to for the rest of their lives.
---
A Pragmatic King
Caesar's vision was simple.
The transition from the old regime to the new was a turbulent one. Stability was fragile. If the people were given time and resources to rebuild their lives, the nation itself would thrive.
Increased prosperity would lead to higher birth rates, strengthening the kingdom in both numbers and economy.
A nation's power was not measured by land alone—especially in a world where individual strength could determine the fate of entire countries.
His policy was not just for the people. It was a strategy to fortify the Middle Kingdom against future threats.
As the cheers of his citizens echoed throughout the capital, Caesar smiled and continued his speech.
"Our kingdom has a strong presence in trade, particularly in luxury goods."
"Effective immediately, a luxury tax will be introduced. At the same time, the Middle Kingdom welcomes investors!"
"All merchants willing to invest here will receive preferential treatment, including reduced or even tax-free incentives!"
"Furthermore, I personally guarantee the safety of all foreign investors who conduct business in the Middle Kingdom!"
His voice grew sharper as he declared:
"From now on, any ships passing through or docking near Central Island must adhere to strict regulations—no smuggling, no troublemaking!"
"Any individual or group that endangers the Middle Kingdom or its people will be crushed by the Caesar Pirates!"
This final statement was not just for his citizens.
It was a message to the entire world.
The Middle Kingdom was open for trade and diplomacy.
But any who sought to exploit it would pay the price.
A heavy silence fell across the kingdom for a few seconds.
Then, a thunderous wave of cheers erupted once more.
The people were overwhelmed—not just by Caesar's authority, but by the reassurance that, for the first time in their lives, they had a ruler who would protect them.
This island, this kingdom, and its people had been reborn.
---
A Global Shockwave
Caesar's declaration sent ripples across the seas.
Few rulers dared to challenge the World Government so openly.
Fewer still were pirates.
When word of the Middle Kingdom's secession spread, most assumed Gilmanda Island had simply traded one tyrant for another.
After all, a kingdom ruled by pirates had little reason to be trusted.
Even the infamous Totto Land, ruled by Charlotte Linlin, was nothing more than a utopia built on fear.
Yet, as details of Caesar's policies emerged, the world was forced to reconsider.
Could this pirate-ruled nation truly prosper?
The first to react were the merchants.
Many from neighboring countries, intrigued by the tax incentives, began considering investments.
However, Caesar's past as a pirate made them wary.
No one wanted to be the first to take the risk.
Meanwhile, the World Government wasted no time in issuing an official response.
Not long after Caesar's announcement, a notice was sent out to the entire world:
"The World Government hereby declares the Middle Kingdom to be an illegal nation!"
"Its so-called 'king,' Caesar, is nothing more than a violent pirate who has seized a country by force!"
"Neither the World Government nor its member nations will recognize his sovereignty!"
Accompanying this statement was an update to Caesar's bounty.
Previously set at 4.5 billion berries, his bounty skyrocketed to 5.5 billion berries overnight—an unprecedented leap of nearly a billion.
With this, he became the only pirate to hold a bounty exceeding five billion, securing his place as one of the most wanted men in the world.
---
Reactions Across the Seas
In Totto Land, Charlotte Linlin cackled as she read the news.
"Well, well, well! Looks like Caesar's going to be an obstacle to my dream after all!"
Her sharp gaze glinted with cold amusement.
"It seems we'll have to cross paths sooner or later!"
Meanwhile, Golden Lion Shiki sneered.
"Hmph, how pathetic. A pirate, choosing to be a mere king?"
He scoffed, unimpressed.
"He's lost his ambition. This is nothing but a disgrace to true piracy!"
Onboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard chuckled.
"Gurarara! Caesar, a king? That's something I didn't expect!"
Beside him, Oden took a swig of sake, puzzled.
"Does he really plan to settle down?"
Meanwhile, aboard the Oro Jackson, Roger grinned.
"Now that's a pirate fit to be a king!"
Rayleigh, closing his book, sighed.
"I can't tell if he's truly stopped or if he's just playing a longer game."
Whatever Caesar's true motives were, one thing was certain:
The world was watching.
And the Middle Kingdom's rise had only just begun.
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