The transformation of character always requires a process and a catalyst; a person cannot suddenly change for no reason.
Even Kuzan, the shift from Burning Justice to Lazy Justice was a long journey.
This was a very complex experience in Kuzan's life, from youth to middle age, from full of passion to confusion about the outside world.
Children's ideals are often simple: doctors can save lives, firefighters can put out fires, and scientists lead technological development, benefiting humanity.
But as people grow older, they gradually realize that what they learned and what they need to do in society are two completely different things.
Mandfeish did not want his daughter to follow his old path. He was not Kaidou, and despite external labels like "Kaidou II" or "Little Kaidou", Mandfeish's personality was quite the opposite of Kaidou's.
Kaidou had a strict demand for Yamato to become strong, with no upper limit to her strength. Mandfeish, on the other hand, hoped his daughter would lead an ordinary life.
Just those two words are something many people dream of and aspire to.
Tomorrow and the unexpected, no one knows which will come first. War, disease, bankruptcy, emotional breakdowns; many things happen in an instant, especially in this turbulent Sea.
The peace of villages and towns can be disrupted at any moment by various sudden factors: pirate attacks, the whims of the Heavenly Celestial Dragons, the oppression of royalty.
Taxes, increased wantonly for pleasure, can become the final straw that breaks someone's mental defenses at any time.
To live an ordinary life has already become something many people pursue.
Mandfeish understood well that he had no noble bloodline, no renowned ancestors; to be precise, he didn't even know who his ancestors were.
He grew up on an island in the Grand Line, eagerly ventured out upon hearing Kaidou's name. Thanks to his good swimming skills and speed, he smoothly joined the Scout Squad and, with a bit of luck, became a High-Level Official.
Having struggled for so long, if he were to have his child follow his own old path, he would feel like a failure.
The Hundred Beasts were currently at their peak; his good-natured personality left many connections, providing Melo with the chance to pursue an ordinary life.
This was the capital he accumulated over decades of struggle, and therefore, he wasn't too strict with his daughter.
However, in this world, complete tranquility isn't feasible, unless he always kept his daughter by his side. Otherwise, she must be self-sufficient, able to at least escape or call for support even if she couldn't win a fight.
On normal days, Melo attended classes like any ordinary child and then trained her physical fitness under the guidance of Mandfeish or Rushaka.
Though Rushaka appeared delicate, her swimming speed was unmatched on the island, a talent of the Mermaid Race.
Melo's half-mermaid lineage allowed her to breathe underwater and made her far more agile than ordinary people.
A few days ago, he went swimming with his daughter; however, facts showed that his daughter truly enjoyed the feeling of heavy firepower roaring, which made him feel a bit like a failed father for not fully understanding his own daughter's preferences.
"Let me think, who usually interacts with Melo?
Jinbe, Sharley, Hachi... it shouldn't be them, they're not the combative types."
Mandfeish began to trace back, planning to find out where the source of the issue lay.
At this time, Hachi single-handedly managed a cannon crew's work. This was the advantage of an octopus fish-man: great strength, multiple arms, coordinating with himself without issues. But he was more like playing with children rather than being a guide.
Ah Long was indeed combative and in contact with Melo, but now he was like a retired old man, whose biggest hobby each day was acting as a gatekeeper at the amusement park. Even he couldn't use such "advanced" methods.
In Ah Long's understanding, guns were ineffective against fish-men, so he was more of a close-combat brute. With only a handful of skills, he could only bully in the Four Seas and couldn't possibly influence Melo this way.
"Maybe it was after returning from Ghost Island; after that, she even became enthusiastic about her least favorite subject, mathematics."
"Could it be that little Jack did something behind the scenes again..."
Mathematics, a fundamental discipline that all science and engineering courses touch upon, was equally essential during warfare. Skilled gunners often excelled in mental calculations; a simple function could determine the optimal angle for cannon fire.
Melo originally disliked mathematics. Her sudden interest in it, combined with her recent behavior, seemed to hint at some things.
Last time on Ghost Island, Jack intentionally let Melo knock him down with one punch to amuse her. If he did something else, it wouldn't be surprising.
"That also doesn't add up. Even if that kid demonstrates, it would relate to a close-combat scenario."
No matter how a fight began, Jack's battle usually ended with bringing the ships alongside for a boarding battle. In the end, one of the two ships would sink, unless he had no intention to fight from the start.
Mandfeish wasn't clear about who influenced his daughter and planned to ask her after this battle concluded. Judging by the situation at sea, it wouldn't be long before everything ended.
The shore defense cannon built on the island, whether in caliber or range, far surpassed those on ships. Ship firepower had to consider deck tolerance, the impact of recoil on the ship's stability, and various other factors, but shore defense artillery didn't have these concerns.
The island's heavy gun turrets weren't effective against individual strong combatants but were still formidable against pirate ships. Under their firepower, the invading pirate ships were sunk, but amid the barrage, a small boat veered at an exaggerated speed towards the island.
Bang! Bang!
Cannonballs hit the sea, splashing enormous water blooms, yet the small boat evaded the firepower coverage with agility, cutting a white path on the waves as it charged for the island.
"Interesting, the newcomers this year seem to have some potential."
Mandfeish flexed his wrists, ready to act, but wanted to see what choice Melo would make. If she truly liked this kind of thing, pursuing a position as a gun group commander in the future wasn't out of the question.
Aside from the duels between powerful officials, the battles of ordinary members could indirectly sway the conflict's outcome. If a major battle ends in becoming a commander without any subordinates, the force couldn't expand.
"Dad, can you focus the other cannons on fire?"
Melo could have Hachi help her operate one cannon, but she couldn't command the entire gun group; such a thing was too childish. To issue that command, Mandfeish had to intervene.
However, developments moved faster than Mandfeish anticipated. Before he could even respond, a huge Red Gyarados had already appeared in the Sea.
The Hyper Beam evaporated the enemies on the sea, and it answered Mandfeish's previous question. The star-like shimmer in Melo's eyes had already provided the answer....