The school on Delta Island operates on a semi-military model. Although it teaches ordinary academic subjects, it also includes a great deal of physical training. Anyone who graduates from here can be considered a qualified soldier.
Moreover, because of their respective experiences and pasts, the overall atmosphere on the island was filled with hostility toward the World Government, especially among the younger generation.
The parents’ generation all suffered persecution at the hands of the World Government, and in their eyes the Marines were nothing more than its accomplices. Under such circumstances, there is naturally no goodwill toward the World Government.
For Nereus, this kind of atmosphere also makes the island an excellent source of soldiers.
To put it in an inappropriate way, anyone who can be sold as a slave these days usually has something special about them.
Bloodline, Devil Fruit abilities, talent in some areas, outstanding looks, and so on. There is always something that makes them desirable.
Before long, Nereus found Ginny.
“I see you applied for all kinds of Den Den Mushi?”
“Yes, Mr. Nereus. I think I’m fairly talented in this area and should be able to help you. The news about God Valley was spread by me back then.
If the equipment on that transport ship hadn’t been so poor, I could have spread the information even farther.”
“Standard Den Den Mushi are easy, I can get those for you anytime. Black and White Den Den Mushi will take a bit more time.”
Den Den Mushi are very mysterious creatures. They themselves are a type of sentient being, and with the help of the equipment attached to them, they can function as special telephones.
The main reason they are willing to be used by humans as phones is that they are very lazy.
With humans feeding and taking care of them, they actually live more comfortably.
Standard Den Den Mushi mainly rely on equipment. You need to find larger, sturdier Den Den Mushi so the signal can be transmitted over long distances. That’s the simplest method.
“Black Den Den Mushi can wait for now. It’s best to prioritize White Den Den Mushi; otherwise it’s hard to carry out the work. Without White Den Den Mushi, it’s easy to expose the signal’s location.”
Den Den Mushi have their own unique communication network. To them, humans making phone calls is just casual chatting.
Black Den Den Mushi enjoy eavesdropping on other people’s conversations, like to exchange information with their own kind, and spread it around, which makes them suitable for wiretapping.
White Den Den Mushi can emit special wavelengths to block this, making them useful for anti-eavesdropping.
The exchange of information goes both ways. Without White Den Den Mushi to prevent surveillance, it’s easy to reveal your position.
“I understand. Fishman Island only has one set of White Den Den Mushi right now. Once we get a second set, I’ll send it to you. Do you need anything else?”
“Well… intelligence work requires a more private residence, so…”
“I understand what you mean. I’ll arrange a house for you. If you want Kuma to move in with you, there’s no need to submit an application.”
Children on the island without parents all live together in dormitories, which are separated by gender. Ginny had lived in the same church as Kuma for several months before and had gotten used to it, so she made this request along the way.
What Ginny didn’t expect, however, was that while everything on her side was settled, there was a problem on Kuma’s side.
“You don’t want to move out?”
“You’re a girl. Back when we were in the Sorbet Kingdom there was no other choice, but now that we’re still living together… it’s not very appropriate, is it?”
“That house isn’t just one room. I’ve been to see it, it’s pretty big.”
“But I’ve already agreed with my roommates to go to the library at night… Let’s wait a while. Honestly, I think dorm life right now is pretty nice.”
In the end, Kuma decided to continue living in the dormitory. Being among a group of boys around the same age gave him a kind of happiness he had never experienced before.
Ginny, however, was very unhappy. She kicked Kuma and stormed off in a huff, leaving Kuma standing there in confusion, seemingly unable to understand why Ginny was upset.
Click—
The sound of a camera shutter came from nearby. It was one of Kuma’s roommates, whose hobby was photography, and the camera in his hands had been obtained by trading academic credits.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just taking a photo. I’ll give it to you when you get married in the future. Your expression is perfect, it’ll definitely be interesting then.”
“Married? Ginny and I just go way back. We’re friends. She looks fierce, but actually..”
“Alright, no need to explain. I get it. Just trust my eye.”
Kuma still didn’t quite understand, but at times like this, smiling was enough. Watching them bicker like that, Kuma felt genuinely happy too.
At the same time, the construction of the subsidiary islands of the Ryugu Kingdom was basically completed, and the school had begun to take shape. Recruitment for related personnel also started.
For example, masters skilled in Fish-Man Karate or Merfolk Karate. [TN: Don’t know if it’s different from Merman Combat]
The two styles of unarmed combat share the same origin, but the Fish-Man race places greater emphasis on brute strength, so there are still some differences in practical application.
There was no shortage of such powerful fighters under Nereus’s command. He himself was proficient in Fish-Man Karate and Fish-Man Jujutsu, and people like Sebastian were likewise among the best.
What he lacked, however, were instructors who could lay the foundations for ordinary children. This round of recruitment wasn’t about who was stronger, but about who could teach better.
The concept of “school” was unfamiliar to the people of the Fish-Man District. Traditionally, the Fish-Man District operated on a system where the older taught the younger. Many people grew up tagging along with Fish-Man delinquents to make a living, and in the end became the next generation of delinquents themselves.
Now Nereus had reorganized and incorporated them. Under his authority, all the children of the Fish-Man District, including Jinbe, were given new paths, and residents living within Fishman Island also received enrollment notices.
However, compared to issues with the school, Nereus now had to face another problem on the business front.
A merchant who frequently traveled to and from Fishman Island reported a situation to them.
It wasn’t an issue of the head tax. The head tax targeted pirates. Commercial ships traveling to and from Fishman Island could apply for a business license there. With a license, merchants only needed to pay the regular commercial tax when traveling.
Although obtaining a license also required paying some fees, for merchants this was still more cost-effective.
“So you’re saying someone is raiding you in the deep sea?”
“Yes, Lord Nereus. I have always abided by the rules you set, and within Fishman Island’s sphere I have never harmed any of its people.
I have already obtained Fishman Island’s trade license. Now that this has happened, shouldn’t Fishman Island provide us with protection?”
“Are you certain the ones who did this were Fish-Men?”
“Yes. That ship was the Flying Dutchman. The captain called himself Vander Decken VIII. My crew and I saw it with our own eyes. Those people could move underwater without using any protection.”
For ordinary pirates, Nereus truly wouldn’t interfere. The chaos on the surface had nothing to do with Fishman Island.
But this case was different in nature.
“You will stay on Fishman Island for a few days. Fishman Island will recover the lost goods for you.”
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