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Chapter 64 - Buggy and Usopp, Calmly Governing the World

During his stay in Foosha Village, Hailan met the village chief, the young girl Makino, who aspired to open a tavern and heard about a fierce female bandit named Dadan.

Regarding Dadan, Hailan found it quite amusing.

Although she and her gang called themselves bandits, they were actually just a group of mountain-dwelling vagrants.

They neither stole nor robbed, living by hunting and fishing. Sometimes, they even helped villagers resist pirates.

In another world, these people would undoubtedly be regarded as famous "hunters." Unfortunately, here, they called themselves "bandits," much like some adventurers at sea who preferred to be called "pirates."

Hailan even suspected that people in this world had some misunderstanding about the term "thief."

Makino later confided in Hailan that the Dadan family did indeed do many bad things in the past but had since reformed, which was why Dadan particularly feared Garp and the navy.

Hailan then understood that it wasn't that people in this world had a skewed sense of morality but that everyone had unknown stories.

Nothing is as simple as it seems on the surface.

Due to this, Dadan never appeared in front of Garp and Hailan.

Hailan, not interested in bothering a bandit with past misdemeanors, spent these days having Garp teach him the techniques of "Finger Pistol" and "Life Return."

Time flew by like an unleashed husky.

Relaxing times always pass quickly.

After finishing his business in the East Blue, Hailan returned to the headquarters with Kuro, Buggy, Wagner, and over twenty navy soldiers.

The world is vast, and the navy's reach is extensive.

The drawback of having such a large territory is the difficulty of managing it. Therefore, Hailan didn't develop East Blue into his personal military base but only promoted his reputation there.

If, in the future, Hailan couldn't overthrow the Navy Headquarters and used East Blue's branch navy to challenge the headquarters, how would he be any different from Dragon's revolutionary forces?

If he could seize power at the headquarters, with the reputation he built in the East Blue, a single call to arms would naturally rally support from there.

Thus, the real focus remained on the Grand Line's headquarters.

On the warship's return to headquarters, Kuro asked Hailan, "Sir, there's something I don't understand.

Since this world has the technology of the 'Mobile Propeller,' why doesn't the headquarters promote it? Why not replace all ships with mechanically powered warships?

If we had been on a steamship or an oil ship instead of a sailing ship in that storm, we wouldn't have had to turn back because the mast broke."

Like many soldiers, Kuro was knocked out by Dragon's Conqueror's Haki.

Although they didn't know how Hailan managed to survive against such a powerful opponent, it only added to the mystery of his abilities.

"I once asked Major General Kongming the same question."

That was before Hailan turned ten: "Kongming explained that to prevent pirates from learning the technology, the navy had to abandon using mechanical ships.

Sea Prism Stone resources are tightly controlled by the World Government, so only warships using Sea Prism Stone to ward off Sea Kings can safely cross the Calm Belt.

If mechanical ship technology were widely used, even without Sea Prism Stone, many pirates would use mechanical power to force their way through the Calm Belt.

Especially for the West Blue and North Blue, which are only separated from the New World by the Calm Belt.

For the big pirates of the New World, Sea Kings are just another dish on their table.

If the New World's big pirates mastered mechanical ship technology, the West Blue and North Blue might become pirate havens.

Therefore, the navy would never actively destroy the natural barrier of the Calm Belt."

Kuro adjusted his glasses. "I understand."

With Kuro's intellect, he couldn't think of many things, but he could quickly comprehend and apply them with a simple explanation.

Not only to guard against pirates, but all World Government members and non-member countries are also targets of the government's vigilance.

Without mechanical ships, people must take official World Government passenger ships to cross the Calm Belt.

It's not just about earning a fee; it represents the World Government's control over various countries.

To become wealthy, one must build roads first.

Much like on modern Earth, without the internet, rural folks wouldn't know the city's complexities, and city dwellers wouldn't see the countryside's roads were slippery.

A technological blockade is essentially a blockade of intelligence.

In a corner of the deck, Buggy, Cabaji, and Mohji, dressed in sailor uniforms, whispered to each other.

"Captain..."

"Idiot, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Corporal Buggy!"

"Ba... Corporal Buggy... don't you really plan to escape? The last time in the Kingdom of Victoria was a once-in-a-lifetime chance..."

Buggy rubbed his chin. "Escape? Why would I escape? Being in a navy is excellent! You earn money without living in fear!

My dream isn't to be a pirate but to amass more wealth!

Don't bring up escaping again!"

"Hey, what are you talking about!"

"Sergeant Wagner?" Cabaji and Mohji were startled.

Buggy chuckled and told a joke.

Wagner raised an eyebrow. "Commander Hailan is looking for you about that recent incident in the Kingdom of Victoria."

"Got it!"

Buggy was delighted, thinking he had another chance to earn merit.

After Kuro left Hailan's office, Buggy tiptoed in.

Hailan couldn't help but laugh. "Why do you still act like a thief? Can't you change that habit?"

Buggy straightened up. "I'll pay attention, I'll pay attention!"

Hailan flipped through the photos in his hand while speaking to Buggy. "You've got quite a skill. I didn't expect you to capture such extreme shots."

In Hailan's hand were photos, some even capturing Dragon's figure and a bizarre person with a big face and heavy makeup, looking significant.

Though Hailan was intercepted by Dragon halfway, Buggy had already infiltrated the rebel forces in the Kingdom of Victoria.

Buggy grinned. "I'm quick on my feet!"

"I see you've got quite some luck."

Buggy flattered him smoothly. "But it's useless when I meet you, sir."

Wagner, Kuro, and Buggy each had their strengths. Hailan was pleased with his harvest from the East Blue trip: "Looks like I'll have to redefine your role in the future."

— — —

Volume Two: The Path of a Soldier

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Justice, what a grand and righteous word!

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