In the capital of the Goa Kingdom, the entire city displayed a fervent enthusiasm for the arrival of the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, seemingly forgetting the recent fire that consumed the Gray Terminal outside the city.
The king of the Goa Kingdom personally escorted the representatives of the World Government to the royal palace. Along the way, they walked on a specially constructed high platform, covered with a brand-new carpet that stretched from the palace to the docks, adorned with freshly picked flowers from the morning.
The inspection team from the World Government was led by several officials in black suits, with a squad of guards in peculiar armor bringing up the rear. The Celestial Dragon representative, Saint Jalmack, was positioned in the middle of the group.
Saint Jalmack, already quite corpulent, appeared even more bloated in the distinctive attire of the Celestial Dragons, complete with a special hood.
However, what truly drew curiosity and surprise was not Saint Jalmack's strange outfit, but rather the fact that he rode on the back of a person throughout the journey. He held two chains in his hands, which were attached to two emaciated, bare-chested men.
Among the crowd below the platform was Anna, a reporter for the East Blue News.
Anna was originally a maid in the household of Count Rielde, the Minister of Finance in the Navia Kingdom. After helping William by providing information and following Rielde's removal, she requested to join the East Blue News as a special correspondent.
Due to her upbringing over the past decade, Anna initially felt a sense of excitement, much like the other commoners around her, at the prospect of seeing the grandeur of the Celestial Dragons in person.
But upon actually seeing the Celestial Dragons, Anna found herself disappointed that they did not match her imagined vision of elegance and transcendence. In fact, their appearance seemed somewhat sordid.
Anna compared the Celestial Dragons before her to the high-ranking officials she had seen in the Navia Kingdom. They couldn't hold a candle to the likes of the striking William, Dampier, Aramis, and Sherlock. Even those not known for their looks, such as Harden and Selkirk, far outshone the Celestial Dragons in terms of presence and image.
Pouting slightly, Anna snapped a few photos with her camera and let her gaze wander. As the Celestial Dragons' procession passed by on the platform, Anna's keen eyes fell upon the face of the slave being ridden by Saint Jalmack—a man with a bare chest, head bowed, silently crawling along the ground.
Anna was taken aback, as if under a spell, her gaze fixed on the slave's figure even after the inspection team had left. She continued to stare in the direction they had departed.
What kind of expression was that?
During their brief eye contact, Anna had discerned the slave's expression and gaze. Contrary to her expectations, there was no sign of humiliation or anger on the slave's face—only numbness and mechanical obedience.
Reflecting on this, Anna realized that perhaps such a demeanor was normal. If a slave retained any shred of rationality or emotion, the torment of such a humiliating life would drive them mad, leading to either frenzy or suicide. Only by discarding all excess emotions, save for basic survival, could they endure the life of a slave, crawling like livestock under the gaze of thousands, ridden by another person on a red carpet.
They had lost the dignity of being "human."
Anna, having grown up in the slums, had faced many scornful looks and experienced the harassment of noble privileges before William's appearance in Kalmar City. Yet, she had never endured the kind of public humiliation faced by the slaves of the Celestial Dragons.
Anna's background allowed her to empathize deeply with the plight of the Celestial Dragons' slaves, filling her with sympathy.
However, she remembered her duties. After a moment of reflection, she composed herself and left. She had bribed several people to allow her to infiltrate the upcoming banquet in disguise.
Aside from covering news about the Celestial Dragons, Anna had another important task: investigating the true circumstances behind the Gray Terminal fire.
Indeed, many locals in the capital of the Goa Kingdom were puzzled by the fire at the Gray Terminal. These residents knew the garbage mountain as well as William's investigation team. Over the years, fires had occurred at the Gray Terminal, but never had one been as bizarre as this, seemingly erupting without warning. Few believed it wasn't arson.
Rumors circulated that pirates or bandits nearby had set the fire to hinder the World Government inspection team, even suspecting the mountain bandits led by the Dadan family at Mt. Colubo.
Yet Anna felt that the situation wasn't so simple. The rationale that bandits or pirates would ignite the garbage mountain to obstruct the World Government inspection team seemed shaky. Since the commoners were unaware, she decided to venture into High Town to see if the nobles were privy to the truth.
…
That evening, in Kalmar City, at the offices of the East Blue News, an editor with thick glasses knocked on the door of Gesseta's office. "Chief Editor, Anna has sent back some news."
Gesseta, who was working overtime voluntarily, looked up from his desk at the editor. "Is it about the Gray Terminal?"
The editor nodded. "The king of the Goa Kingdom orchestrated the arson. Capital officials colluded with local criminal gangs at the Gray Terminal, placing incendiary devices provided by the army at key points, then set the garbage mountain ablaze in one fell swoop. All this was to leave a good impression on the World Government inspection team when they arrived. Almost all the nobles in High Town know about it and are indifferent. Anna, disguised at a banquet, picked up most of the truth from their loose tongues."
Gesseta scratched his messy hair, lit a cigarette, and contemplated for a moment. He keenly sensed several key pieces of information that William would definitely be interested in, so he said, "Organize the information, then come with me to see the Regent."
The editor was initially stunned but then responded excitedly. Everyone in the news industry knew that the kingdom's first regent, William, was the undisputed power behind the throne. If one could earn his favor, it truly meant rising to the top in this nation.
The chief editor, the newly minted star of the East Blue news scene, Gesseta, had reached his current status precisely because he was favored and promoted by William.
Soon, the excited editor carefully organized the information Anna had sent back, cradling it in his arms as he followed Gesseta to William's estate.
At that time, William was holding a research meeting with Edmond, Aramis, Kuro, Dampier, and others skilled in swordsmanship and combat techniques, studying the Six Powers notes brought back by Gin and collectively refining their swordsmanship curriculum.
William had held similar research meetings countless times recently. Often, the attendees varied due to work commitments, but whenever possible, William would convene a meeting, exchanging ideas with his subordinates, and frequently engaging in sparring to validate theories through practical combat.
After all, combat is a skill that requires summarization and refinement. Whether it's Koushirou's Isshin Style or the Marines' Six Powers and Life Return, they are techniques distilled through systematic analysis. Practical combat and training, as well as intellectual exchange and summarization, are all crucial.
The editor, observing this assembly of high-ranking officials, felt nervous and repeatedly adjusted his glasses. Gesseta, however, was accustomed to the scene. Knowing that William despised procrastination, he promptly handed the documents to William at the desk and began his report.
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