Chapter 201: My Foolish...
"Personally, I think Vegapunk's attitude toward the World Government is quite strange. He doesn't trust them, and he clearly intends to use their funding. But at the same time... he doesn't harbor much hostility toward them either. He seems to view the World Government from a neutral standpoint."
"That is perfectly normal. The environment he grew up in is different from ours. If he were a Lunarian, he would naturally hold an unquenchable hatred for the World Government.
"It is just like those who worship the Giant Warrior Pirates and view them as heroic warriors; they all live in nations that have never been plundered by Giants.
"You can maintain some contact with him. We still need his assistance for certain technologies. However, do not rely on him too much, and there is no need to tell him everything."
Many things are dictated by a nation's environment. In many slave-owning countries, some slaves themselves accept the system by default. What they resent is not the institution of slavery, but the fact that they are the slaves.
The environment of numerous islands and vast seas results in each island being relatively isolated. Even with the Reverie acting as a channel, communication is infrequent. This breeds a diverse array of cultures and unique characteristics, but it also generates many conflicts.
Vegapunk relies on the World Government to complete his research, even secretly conducting research forbidden by them. But since he operates under their banner, it is predestined that some of his creations will become tools for the World Government to exploit.
Warships that can cross the Calm Belt, Seraphim, Pacifistas, the Mother Flame...
Whether it aligns with his true intentions or not, the outcome is set. This is a double-edged sword; different ways of wielding it will lead to entirely different results.
"Your accommodations have already been prepared. Fish-Man Island has changed a lot over these years. Take your time to adapt, and enjoy this final period of peace. It won't be long before this sea falls into turmoil once again."
Although the entire crew gathered for the welcome party, it did not last very long. There was no days-long, night-and-day banquet.
Those who had work to attend to gradually departed.
After all, they were no longer wandering pirates, but civil servants with proper national duties. Because they were veterans, many of them held quite crucial positions. After leaving their posts for a while, they naturally had to return to work.
Those without urgent matters, like Sunbell, took Wobbegong out to familiarize him with the brand-new Fish-Man Island.
"These changes are truly massive. Even though I grew up here, I feel like I'm going to get lost."
"The Fish-Man District has been demolished. It's now a garrison for the Neptune Army, though a section of the old architecture was preserved. If you're interested, you can go take a look. Is Zeo going to attend school? I'm in charge of the academy, and it happens to be enrollment season."
Sunbell's primary occupation was Head Instructor. Logically, he should have been strictly a military officer, but he also concurrently handled some civilian administrative work.
"No need. I am well aware of the educational standards on Fish-Man Island. It would only be a waste of time for this child to learn those things. I'll just take him to the laboratory and teach him myself."
It wasn't that Wobbegong was being arrogant. What he had to deal with wasn't a standardized test. If they were only considering paper scores, Wobbegong might not actually excel. For subjects like literature and reading comprehension, even if you brought in the original author, they might not score high.
But from a purely practical standpoint, teaching Zeo himself was indeed far more effective.
"Suit yourself. However, I personally suggest that he should still attend school. At the very least, he can make some friends.
"Here are the current laws of Fish-Man Island. There's nothing overly complicated, but you should take a look and be mindful. It will save Big Bro from being put in a difficult position later."
While introducing the changes to Fish-Man Island, Sunbell also explained some of the rules. In a world possessing extraordinary martial power, a nation's system is intimately tied to the thoughts of its strongest individual.
The sheer strength of many individuals grants them the ability to act outside the rules. However, on Fish-Man Island, the one who established the rules was the strongest of them all.
These were the veterans who had followed Nereus from the start, and they were naturally granted high benefits and privileges. If they were to violate certain regulations, even if the common folk didn't dare say anything, they would inevitably harbor grievances in their hearts.
Therefore, alongside their high treatment, Nereus also placed high demands upon them. This was exactly what Sunbell was emphasizing right now.
Wobbegong didn't swim quickly, seemingly reminiscing about the feeling of his hometown. And upon this homeland of Fish-Men and Merfolk, many others were also embarking on their new lives.
"Arlong, Sawshark Fish-Man, sixteen years old. Is that correct?"
"Yeah."
"Congratulations, you passed. Here is your ID. Report to the Fish-Man District base in one week."
Although the Neptune Army hadn't undergone massive conscription and expansion like they did during their initial reconstruction years, their numbers were still slowly growing. Some retired soldiers were also returning to the reserves to assist ordinary citizens in mastering basic combat skills.
Youngsters like Arlong began looking for a career path after finishing their short stint at the academy. Joining the exploration teams operating in the outer seas or enlisting in the Neptune Army were incredibly popular choices in the eyes of these youths.
Compared to ordinary Fish-Men, Arlong was considered an outstanding talent. Though he fell far short of those true monsters, he was still an excellent graduate.
It was just that those who were even more exceptional had graduated early and been specially recruited long ago. Arlong was merely the cream of the crop among ordinary folks, completing the standard stages of life step by step.
Having passed the physical examination and assessment, he had officially become a new recruit. He would soon begin a period of closed-door training; this final week was their last holiday.
It wasn't that Arlong didn't have family; he simply had zero emotional attachment to the father who had sired him but never raised him. As for his half-sister, Shyarly...
Arlong wasn't entirely devoid of familial affection for her either. If a fellow Fish-Man encountered hardship and sought his help, Arlong would more or less lend a hand and not ignore them. He was well aware of the Neptune Army's training protocols, so he planned to go tell Shyarly.
Back then, unable to raise her himself, Arlong had sent Shyarly to the orphanage to be cared for. He visited her every now and then, so Shyarly wasn't a stranger to this older brother of hers.
However, when Arlong laid eyes on Shyarly, a bizarre feeling suddenly swelled in his heart...
[This girl... seems to be doing way better than me?]
At this moment, Shyarly was situated in Gyoncorde Plaza, having set up her own fortune-telling stall with a crystal ball. And the people seeking her divinations were practically endless, forming a massive queue.
Arlong waited on the sidelines for half the day before Shyarly finally had a moment of free time.
"I'm heading off to serve in the Neptune Army. I leave in a week. If anyone..."
"If anyone gives you trouble, just give me a call. I know quite a few people in the Neptune Army."
Before Arlong could finish his sentence, Shyarly packed away her crystal ball and effortlessly delivered the line that was originally supposed to be his. The words stopped Arlong dead in his tracks, leaving him completely and utterly dumbfounded as to how to respond...
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you