Previously:
"I order you in the name of the deputy king! Absolutely no one can disturb this discussion between the third prince, Alibaba, and our present king!!" he ordered fiercely, shocking everyone in the room. "All of you, lower your spears now!!"
"De… Deputy king…!?" one of the royal guards said, shocked.
"What should we do now…!?" another asked, confused. They were all sweating nervously, unsure whose orders they should be following.
"This is… you bastards… so you teamed with the rebel…?" Ahbmad said darkly. "Sabhmad, this is your coup d'état!?" Sabhmad stood tall, determined not to back down.
Chapter 57: Rebellion and Alibaba's Answer
Morgiana finished beating the monkeys that still had some fight left in them. The rest either cowered away from her or cried over the body of Enshin. But Morgiana stood victorious.
'This is all I am able to do with my strength alone...' she thought, looking toward the palace. 'Please, somehow be able to accomplish what you came here for… Alibaba…'
"Morgiana!" Hope called from the other side of the inner gate.
"Hope-san?" Morgiana said, surprised.
"Are you doing alright in there?" Hope asked.
"Yes! The enemy has been defeated!"
"And you're okay?"
"Yes! What about you?"
"Well, I'm still alive! I think Alibaba should be in the throne room by now!"
—∞—
In the throne room, Alibaba stood before Ahbmad, helped by Barkak and Sahbmad.
"And so… you've really been siding with the rebels all along, huh? Sahbmad…" Ahbmad said bitterly. "All this while… you've been hiding and leaking information to that terrorist group, the 'Fog Troupe'… is that what you're trying to tell me!? Sahbmad!"
"That's right!" Sahbmad said, nodding his head in confirmation.
"Ha!! Have you gone mad!?" Ahbmad mocked him incredulously. "A member of the royalty rebelling against his own country!?"
"My mind is definitely sane. The madness is in your way of doing things," Sahbmad retorted. "And I decided to help the Fog Troupe because I thought so too. I've discussed everything with Alibaba… and now that Alibaba is here… Brother, I wanted to tell you that even if I was alone, the signing ceremony would not proceed..."
"What is this about?" Ahbmad asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Brother… Or rather, King Ahbmad… withdraw from the throne immediately!" Sahbmad said grimly.
"!?" Ahbmad gasped. The guards gasped too, taken aback by such an unexpected turn of events. They had never seen the deputy king like this before.
"As everyone here knows, this country has deteriorated beyond recovery… And so, the signing ceremony tomorrow would conclude the 'National Slavery Act' treaty… Before that can happen, I will have you, my brother, step down from the royal throne! For the sake of saving this country!" Sahbmad explained strongly.
"So this is your scheme… to replace me as king, huh? Sahbmad!" Ahbmad sneered.
"I… I… that wasn't what I had in mind..." Sahbmad said, starting to become timid again.
"Kill him!!" Ahbmad shouted at the guards. "This person is a rebel that plotted to assassinate the king! Bring me his head at once!" The guards closest to the king nodded nervously and moved to carry out the order.
"Hold it!" Alibaba said, getting in their way. "Please think carefully about what you should be doing! This is your last chance… Citizens that will be affected when the 'National Slavery Act' treaty is put into effect includes… every single one of you here!" The guards exchanged uneasy glances with each other. Ahbmad shook with rage.
"Lieutenant!!" the king shouted at their leader. "Soldiers of the 'National Armed Forces', submit to the orders of your king!!"
"…" The lieutenant didn't know how to respond. There was a heavy silence in the room. The guards knew it was their duty to follow the king's orders, but that same king was willing to sell them and their families into slavery… Considering that, they finally found their voices. "We will not submit ourselves to you anymore… The soldiers which were brutally killed by the monsters from the Kou Empire were my subordinates… my friends..."
"We'll definitely be the next ones..." another guard said, causing them to murmur among each other about how they were certain their own lives would be in danger if things continued on as they were. Another heavy silence followed.
"…." Ahbmad glanced around the room. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face. "What's wrong… Why have you all fallen silent…?"
"It's useless now, Brother," Sahbmad said. "When it was decided that the king would sell the people, everyone's hearts had already left you… Ahbmad, it has been over for a long time now..."
"!?" Ahbmad froze, petrified by the revelation that he no longer held any authority. To him it was inconceivable. He stood with his head bowed, eyes cast in shadow. "Everyone here, what has gotten into you…" He raised his head, wearing a forced smile. "Being carried along with this person's cajolery! Calm yourselves down and think clearly! What happens after I withdraw from the throne? Are you telling me that this person can be your king?" he asked, pointing at Sahbmad.
"…" Sahbmad shifted uncomfortably. "Brother… That wasn't my motive… I don't meet the requirements…"
"Motive!? Requirements!?" Ahbmad said incredulously. "After causing this coup d'état, could you, as my royal little brother, think that there would be no responsibilities for you to handle!? Stand here. Try having a taste of what taking on responsibility as a member of the royal family is like from the throne."
"…?" Sahbmad was grabbed by his brother and pulled him up to stand in front of the throne. "!" Sahbmad gasped when he looked out on the rest of the throne room and saw everyone staring back at him. All those eyes, boring into him, watching his every move. Every breath.
"How is it? Everyone is waiting, expecting to follow orders from you. And it's not just these people here… If you take me down from the throne, even the citizens outside the palace will be expecting things from you!!" Ahbmad taunted him. "They'll be listening to every word and every sentence that you speak…" Sahbmad was shaking, looking absolutely terrified. "What's wrong? Try speaking with that loud voice as you have been doing since awhile back..." Sahbmad couldn't help it. All those eyes… He could hardly breathe, let alone speak. He was trembling, dripping in sweat. Tears welled up in his eyes. "Look! You can't do it!" Ahbmad said gleefully. "You're afraid of people and can't say a single word… Just a coward who can't do anything!!" he yelled.
"Stop it!" Sahbmad cried, sinking to his knees, hiding his face in his hands. Alibaba stepped up, placing himself between them.
"Sahbmad-oniisan is not a coward," Alibaba stated seriously with a calm expression. "He threw aside thoughts for his own safety and by himself, went to the Fog troupe's hideout to speak to me."
"The deputy king did…!!" one of the guards said, amazed.
"..." Sahbmad gripped his arm. "Thank you, Alibaba… but I really am a coward… even today, if you hadn't come here I wouldn't have been able to do anything…"
"What are you saying? That should be my line," Alibaba told him. "If I didn't have your help today, I don't know what would have happened. Though barging into the palace alone was crazy… somehow, to conclude in this time and manner… At that time, when you courageously strained your voice, wasn't it because everyone was thinking the same way?" Sahbmad stared up at him in amazement. "And that's why you are definitely not a coward," Alibaba said earnestly, grabbing him by the shoulders. "You're a man of courage!!" The tears in Sahbmad's eyes became tears of happiness. Now Ahbmad was the one shaking—with anger. He inched his way toward the nearest guard and grabbed the sword from his side.
"D… Do… Don't..." Ahbmad huffed through gritted teeth. "Don't you dare make fun of me, you pieces of trash!!" he roared furiously, drawing the sword and charging at them.
"!" Alibaba quickly turned and caught the sword between the palms of his hands. He yanked the sword away and raised his hand.
"Wha..." Ahbmad said with wide eyes. The sound of the slap echoed through the room as Alibaba delivered a harsh blow to the side of the king's face. The force from the impact sent him spinning to the ground. Ahbmad was shocked. Not even their father had dared to hit him like that.
"Ahbmad… It is true that during your reign, the Kou Empire's obstinacy in intervening with our country's politics hindered you from ruling the kingdom righteously… However, driving the country into a corner is the result of the person steering it. And so…" Alibaba said, stepping closer to stand over him. "Use this situation now… Step down from the throne." Ahbmad stared at him, holding his face, stupefied.
"Wha… What is this?" Abhmad said, staring up at his guards. What was with that look of contempt in their eyes? They all turned their backs on him and walked away to join the others who had already been persuaded by Alibaba. "Where, where are you going…? I'm the king!!" he cried. "The 23rd king of Balbadd, Ahb-Ahb-Ahbmad Saluja!!" He paled with shock at their abandonment of him, sweating nervously. "I am… I am…" he said weakly.
"..." Everyone stared at him.
"What exactly is this commotion about?" a young woman asked. They all turned and saw that they were being approached by the Kou princess and her entourage.
"Ah…!!" Sahbmad gasped, alarmed. "That is…!!" Kougyoku stopped, looking imperiously at them. "What should we do, Alibaba? That woman is probably Brother's…"
"..." Alibaba furrowed his brow slightly. 'It's here. The time where I have to do what I really came here to do!' he thought with determination.
—∞—
"Nii-san, there sure is quite a commotion in the royal palace, huh?" M Nando said as he and his brothers sneaked through the city with their loot.
"Don't worry about it," S Nando told him. "We've already got our treasure, so we should leave before we get caught up in that big mess!"
"..." L Nando stared at the fine jewelry and weapons in they were carrying. "But is it really okay? This is Sinbad's stuff… If this is a 'Metal Vessel' wouldn't he need it?"
"..." S Nando stoped and stared down at the necklaces and sword in his hands. Beads of sweat formed on his brow. He knew his little brother was right, but…
"Nii-san! What is that…" M Nando asked, pointing.
"!?" S Nando followed the direction of his finger. "What is that…?" There were two pillars of light—one from their hideout, and another that looked like it was coming from part of the palace.
—∞—
"Rukh!?" Faith said, startled when they seemed to shoot up into a tower around Aladdin, recognizing the little bird-like lights.
"What exactly is wrong with Aladdin!?" Ja'far asked, concerned, shielding his face from the brilliant brightness.
"I don't know! The only time I've seen something like this was when Aladdin did some magic or used his magoi, or whatever it's called—but I don't think he's doing this…." she replied, squinting and brushing her bangs out of her eyes. The rukh were swirling around him with such force that they were creating a wind in the room.
"The Rukh… They've gathered so much to the point that we can see it..." Ja'far said, amazed, while Masrur squinted too. "This is…!?"
"This is what!?" Faith asked, staring down at the sleeping Aladdin, furrowing her brow with concern as she watched the lights dance around him.
—∞—
Meanwhile, the other magi was lying in a similar condition.
"There's something wrong with the oracle!" The doctor said, sweating nervously as he gazed at the rukh swarming around his patient. "Call for the princess and 'Banker'!" he told the guards they had left with Judar.
"It's impossible! Everyone's away!" one of them answered nervously as they kept their distance, shielding their eyes.
—∞—
That same Banker's eyes were shifting around in his head, as though looking for something.
"It seems like there are a lot of things happening around here..." Markkio said, nodding his head. "But, as with us… it's the crossroads of history..." He looked back at the princess, who stood facing Alibaba, Sahbmad, Barkak, and Ahbmad.
"We came here upon hearing the commotion," she said. "I am the eighth imperial princess of the Kou Empire, Ren Kyougoku, king Ahbmad's betrothed."
"As I thought, Brother's fiancée…!" Sahbmad said nervously.
"..." Alibaba stared at her. He recognized her from the other night.
"My apologies, but I haven't seen his face even once. Exactly which of you is the king of this country?" Kyougoku asked politely.
"That would be me!!" Ahbmad said loudly, with an ugly expression, holding his cheek, which had swollen from Alibaba's slap. Kyougoku was appalled.
"…. I see..." she said after a long pause, doing her best to keep a straight face, even though she really didn't like what she saw.
"Well, you see… Princess…" Markkio said. "We don't know who… the king of this country is..."
"!?" everyone gasped.
"Only just now, the third prince and the deputy king caused a coup d'etat and king Ahbmad is to step down..." the Banker explained. "The next king of this country is yet to be decided..."
"Ba… Banker…. You!!" Ahbmad said incredulously, pointing a finger that was shaking with anger and indignation at him. How dare he betray him too!
'Step down from the throne? What does this mean?' Kyougoku wondered. 'Does that mean that it has become unnecessary for me to marry this man…? No, wait, I must calm down. In any case, I must complete the mission which I was sent to do!' She stood up straighter. "Whoever it is, I don't really care."
"…?" Everyone else said.
"The order I was given from my country was to 'marry the king of Balbadd' in order to conclude the treaty. It doesn't matter who the king is," she explained coldly. "And so, please choose your new king quickly."
"…!" The guards were uneasy. Even after all this, they were still going to be sold into slavery?
"Certainly… we have to choose a new king soon," Barkak said.
"I already said I was the king!" Ahbmad squawked indignantly. Two of the guards used their spears to restrain him.
"If we proceed by the ranks, you will be the next king… Deputy King!" Barkak continued on as if he had never been interrupted.
"… I… will not become the king," Sahbmad replied solemnly. "I don't fit the requirements. I didn't stop my brother's evil acts until today. I bear the same weight of sins as him… However, there is someone who has tried to stop it multiple times… someone other than me..."
"!" Barkak and the guards gasped, turning to look at Alibaba, who stood there calmly.
'Isn't that right? Alibaba! You have done so much to save this country! You're really an amazing man!' Sahbmad thought. 'Neither I nor my brother can do it… As I thought… you…!'
"You will be… the new king of Balbadd…?" Kyougoku asked Alibaba.
"… I..." Alibaba said. "Will not become the king of this country." Kyougoku frowned slightly and Sahbmad flinched in shock as everyone else gasped.
"!?"
"Sahbmad, even I do not have the right to become king," Alibaba said calmly. "I only accepted the invitation from our original king into the palace, shortly after which he passed on. Moreover, I irresponsibly threw away my country and escaped. It wouldn't be good for me to rule the country."
"… So how should this be settled? The decision will be made by tomorrow's signing ceremony, right?" Kyougoku said.
"I have something to say about the signing ceremony tomorrow," Alibaba told her.
"… Who… are you…?" she asked him.
"The third prince, Alibaba Saluja."
"I see. And what do you have to say?"
"I have a request to make of you, the representative of the Kou Empire. For the 'National Slavery Act' pact that is supposed to conclude tomorrow… I want you to destroy it," Alibaba stated seriously.
"!?" Kyougoku was completely taken aback.
"The treaty was what the former king, Ahbmad, decided on, but now he has stepped down. The people in the country do not wish for something such as a 'National Slavery Act'."
"… So it seems," Kyougoku agreed, glancing at the hostile expressions on the guards' faces. "But I cannot destroy the treaty! The treaty is what both our countries agreed on together. No matter who becomes the next king, there's no connection to it," she said, holding her ground. "I will marry the person who is to be chosen to be king tomorrow."
"That is… impossible," Alibaba told her.
"I will carry out the signing ceremony with you."
"That is also… impossible."
"What are you saying!?" she demanded, starting to lose her patience.
"Because no one will be the next king," Alibaba replied.
"…!?" Kyougoku frowned and furrowed her brow. "What do you mean…!?"
"Today we will… put an end to 'monarchy' in Balbadd!" he stated firmly.
"!!?" Kyougoku and everyone else gasped.
—∞—
Outside, the crowd was growing restless.
"What is with Prince Alibaba..." one man said.
"He said that he would change the country, but..." said another.
"What will become of this country?" another asked.
"I don't know..." said a mother holding her baby. "All I want is to live happily with my family without starving..."
—∞—
"What the citizens want isn't a king, but to live happily," Alibaba said. "If there isn't a king, the people will be able to live well. I've seen countries like this as I travelled through the desert." He was sure that is what Hope had been trying to remind him of before. She and the caravan she was in with Aladdin and Faith would have passed through them as well. "In those countries, people gathered their strength, chose representatives, and lived according to the way they agreed upon—forming each of their own self-governed city-states. They were peaceful. That is what I want to make happen in Balbadd."
"You fool!! Quit joking!!" Ahbmad yelled. "Are you trying to destroy the royal family of Balbadd that has been around for twenty-three generations already!?"
"..." Alibaba furrowed his brow. "If things continue as they are, no matter who becomes king, this country will perish!! Since all the citizens are already under threat of national slavery, continuing the monarchy is the worst that could happen! No matter who becomes king, the national slavery will not be stopped. Balbadd's monarchy has already been horribly corrupted!! We'll rid the people of a tyrannical ulcer. And after that, the royal family and nobles' superior status will be completely removed from them. The country's land, rights, and property will be returned to the people. The citizens will elect their own representatives, create their own government and then make up a parliament. From there, the course of the country will be decided by the people themselves. And if… it be permitted, I will also help in creating this country. I want to devote my existence to Balbadd…!" Sahbmad and the guards stared at him in awe. "To make Balbadd and outstanding republic citizen state! That is what I've come here to do!!"
"To put an end... to monarchy…!?" some of the guards exclaimed.
"…!" Barkak was speechless. "I… I never thought about it before… but it may just work. Many of those type of countries exist in the west…!"
'A… Alibaba…!!' Sahbmad thought, amazed. 'You were actually thinking of something like that…!!'
'Is he saying that there won't be a king? That means, I really have no idea what to do for tomorrow's wedding or signing ceremony,' Kyougoku thought. 'What… exactly is this boy saying!?'
"My, My… So that is your answer? Alibaba!" Sinbad said as he stepped fully into the throne room, alerting them to his presence.
"Ah! Sinbad!!" Alibaba said. 'And… who is that…!?' he wondered, looking at the different people behind him. There was a man with white hair and tan skin, a woman with blonde hair, and a ridiculously huge man with blue hair that towered over all of them. Kyougoku blushed as she looked at the King of Sindria, suddenly feeling very nervous. She quickly schooled her expression into something more cool and aloof. 'Really… exactly what is going on?' she wondered nervously on the inside. She looked at Alibaba. 'This boy says he wanted to end the monarchy… then the wedding with the supposed King Ahbmad… cannot proceed, and then that person comes...' She looked at Sinbad. 'And above that, he brings dangerous looking friends along...' They were clearly important people from his Seven Seas Alliance.
"I understand that I am interrupting a matter of great importance to the country, please excuse me," Sinbad said. "I have arrived late. No, you didn't need our help in the first place, Alibaba."
"King Sinbad… and, who are they…!?" Barkak said.
"They are diplomatic leaders from three different countries from the alliance that I am directing," Sinbad replied, gesturing to them with his bandaged hand. He was only able to gather delegates from those three countries on such short notice.
"Alliance…!?" one of the guards asked.
"… The 'Alliance of the Seven Seas'..." Barkak said.
"The Alliance of the Seven Seas!!!" the other guards exclaimed.
"The alliance of seven countries that King Sinbad created…! Whichever country it is, each has their own great hidden strength…" Barkak explained. He looked at the man with white hair and tan skin. "The country of Heliohapt." He looked at the blonde woman. "The country of Artremyra." He looked at the large, blue-haired man. "The country of Imuchakk. Why are the diplomatic chiefs of these countries… why are they here all at once…!!?"
"To recommend Prince Alibaba Saluja… as the king of Balbadd," all three of them answered.
"I thought that… to save Balbadd, it would be best if you were king, and so I called them over," Sinbad explained. "But it seems you came up with a completely different answer."
"… Sinbad… I'm sorry for doing things my own way. I thought about what you said—to become the king… but to this country, they've decided, that a king brings poverty and strife. Then, Hope asked me 'Does there need to be a king?' And I've realized there doesn't," Alibaba said seriously. He probably would have got there on his own eventually, but she helped him find the answer sooner. "And that's why… For Balbadd to be reborn, the nonexistence of a king is key. That is my answer!" Sinbad stared at him. He could see Alibaba's resolve. He was surprised to hear that Hope had influenced him that way.
"Please hold on for a moment," Kyougoku said. "Being reborn to become a republic… It's as if you're leaving Balbadd to free reign? But you, aren't you forgetting something? Balbadd's… trading rights, marine rights, air, land, and every other right, all of it! The collateral debts for these will be transferred to our Kou Empire!?"
"That means..." Barkak said, sweating nervously.
"Everything that is needed in Balbadd belongs to the Kou Empire," Kyougoku confirmed. "And there isn't anything you can do about it…?"
'That's right, this country doesn't have anything! Changing the structure of the country doesn't solve anything…!' Barkak thought, gritting his teeth.
"I understand that well..." Alibaba said. "But the transfer of rights, all of it… Please take it as if it didn't happen!"
"..." Kyougoku stared at him, stunned. "!!??" she exclaimed incredulously when it sank in that he was being completely serious. The palace guards seemed just as startled. "Wha…!?"
"Please think about it," Alibaba said earnestly. "King Ahbmad, whom you've exchanged those agreements with has been taken from the throne. The country of Balbadd which you are referring to has already been destroyed and is a country that no longer exists! What is constructed from now on is a completely new country!! Therefore, the arrangements we had with the Kou Empire shouldn't continue to be in effect! Am I wrong!?" Kyougoku gritted her teeth and took a step back.
'… Hmph, this is...' Ka Kobun thought, standing behind her.
'This is...' Alibaba thought.
'Meaningless quibble' they both concluded.
'About the replacement of political structure and Balbadd being Balbadd. There isn't a reason why the arrangements should be cancelled formally because of the relation to the country...' Ka Kobun thought.
'I know that… this is a forced argument, but…' Alibaba thought. "In any case, the truth is there isn't a marriage partner for you tomorrow, Princess. Once all the arrangements have been cancelled, won't you return to his majesty, the emperor's side?" he asked.
"Meaningless…" Kyougoku said with her eyes cast in shadow.
'Yes, yes, it would be good if you return the argument now,' Ka Kobun thought, nodding his head in approval.
"… And, if I return, what makes you think my father won't just brush me aside?" Kyougoku questioned Alibaba. Sinbad, Alibaba, and Ka Kobun all looked at her.
'!?' Ka Kobun thought, startled. 'If I return!? What are you saying, Princess!?'
'As I thought… this person… her authority isn't that great,' Alibaba thought. 'At that time, she had already known it was inevitable… politically speaking, the 'eighth imperial princess' probably doesn't have a particularly large amount of right to decide things. And also, it doesn't seem that she wants to be involved in this political marriage! It's all or nothing. I'll go with that!' The crease in his brow deepened. "I cannot fulfill your motive of coming here to be married! Please return!"
"The Kou Empire wants to acquire this land untarnished. However, if that cannot be accomplished, my father may have to deploy his troops here," she threatened.
"I also ask you to turn a blind eye on that!!" Alibaba said urgently.
"How impudent you are!!" she snapped back.
"Of course, I'm not asking it for free!" Alibaba said. "When you finally do annex this country, it will be when we've grown to become a formidable economic power! My country will repay you with its maritime trade! Balbadd is the marine trading hub of the southeast region… It is your choice to… wage war now and make it a barren wasteland, or show kindness now and reap the profits in the future… If you want your respected empire to not rely on a military force for politics, but also to prosper under a prudent emperor, which would you choose? Princess!"
'No!! Princess!! Please say that you won't go with it!!' Ka Kobun pleaded silently.
"… I won't go along with that, that kind of reasoning!" Kyougoku said through gritted teeth. Ka Kobun smirked.
"I believe that his majesty wouldn't send his troops here," Sinbad said.
"?" Kyougoku looked at him.
"That's because the peaceful kingdom of Balbadd is under the Alliance of the Seven Seas," Sinbad explained. "What we, the Seven Seas Alliance, have in mind is for you not to raid this country. And we can leave his majesty alone without even a glance."
"Eh… However, will the Alliance of the Seven Seas go to the extent of including Balbadd?" Kyougoku asked. "Is it really true that you'll go to that end…?"
"It's true! At least for some time, we had that arrangement," Alibaba said. "From the previous king, Balbadd and Sindria have had very deep and close ties! Oh, did you not know…?"
"… Was that so, Ka Kobun?" Kyougoku asked.
"That is… true, but, that matter and this matter are unrelated," Ka Kobun said earnestly. Kyougoku sighed.
"I think… leaving this case to his majesty to settle would be for the best..." she decided. Ka Kobun was staggered. "But we will have conditions for our withdrawal," she said, pointing at Sinbad. "For the case of Balbadd being truly included into the Alliance of the Seven Seas, you king of Sindria, must personally come to the emperor. And show us proof!" Sinbad nodded.
"I will definitely pay a visit!" he promised.
"That will be all!" Kyougoku said. With that, she turned on her heel and left.
"P… Please wait! Princess…!?" Ka Kobun called as he and the rest of her entourage followed. Kyougoku sighed again.
'What a relief, such a big situation is washed from my hands,' she thought as she continued to walk. 'And also...' she glanced back at Ahbmad. 'I would rather die than marry that pig…!!'
"Were… were we saved…!?" one of the palace guards asked, amazed.
'Alibaba...' Sinbad thought, also impressed as he watched everyone around him brightening with relief. 'From the time that I heard that you infiltrated the royal palace alone, I thought it wouldn't amount to anything… But what would you know, he really did clear up so much of this mess. Against the Kou Empire, not wavering at all… Alibaba, maybe you… will be able to become a great person.' From the back of the room, Markkio watched the touching scene. A sinister smile stretched across his face as some black rukh fluttered around his staff.