One Piece Devouring Fruit - Chapter 45
The Kingdom of Ishtar.
This country primarily relies on agriculture and livestock farming in the North Blue.
However, this doesn’t mean that its technology and development are backward.
On the contrary, their genetics and biology research are highly advanced. They use scientific planning to improve crop yields and mechanized harvesting for farming and livestock. People simply need to operate the machinery, and raising livestock only requires more effort.
In this country, even the poorest households won’t go hungry if willing to work diligently.
Besides being known as the agricultural and livestock kingdom, it also holds the title of the Gourmet Island.
Due to the abundance of ingredients, people freely explore culinary creativity, making it a hub for new culinary innovations. Over time, it became renowned for new recipe development.
This makes it one of the happiest countries in the North Blue and even across all four seas. Under the king’s leadership, the people live satisfying lives.
Ishtar didn’t use its near-black-tech knowledge for nefarious purposes like the Vinsmoke family but applied it to improve civilian life, earning the royal family immense love and respect.
Moreover, the royal family places great emphasis on national defense. Heirs are traditionally trained in the military to protect the people.
In such an environment, citizens willingly join the army to defend their homeland from pirates, often taking pride in their military service.
At the onset of the Great Pirate Era, the Kingdom of Ishtar only seemed to tighten its security slightly without suffering pirate invasions, showcasing its strength.
On this day, a naval ship flew the Marine flag as it slowly approached the harbor of Ishtar.
“Ohhh~~~!! This is the Kingdom of Ishtar? Michion is a prince here??” Bored from the ship’s journey, Sola couldn’t contain her excitement and, dragging Tina, leaped onto the dock.
“Sola, keep it down.” Exasperated by Sola’s energetic nature, Tina nevertheless had a good relationship with her.
“Ara ara, how does it feel to be home, Michion?” Kuzan’s teasing voice reached Michion, who stood at the ship’s bow, wearing a complex expression.
“Honestly, it’s all too sudden. I wasn’t mentally prepared. Imagine someone suddenly telling you that you’re the prince of a country; you’d be at a loss too.”
Michion sighed, looking at the excited Adolf, unsure how to face this pivotal figure in his story.
Truthfully, Michion still hadn’t fully grasped how to deal with this revelation. His plans were always based on personal strength and knowledge of future events.
But now, with parents and royalty suddenly in the picture, he felt pretty overwhelmed. Michion had never aspired to be a pampered child of doting parents.
Additionally, this disrupted his previous plans. However, it couldn’t be denied that this country held significant influence and status, both in the North Blue and within the Marines, which would benefit Michion greatly.
The country was wealthy, the king was beloved by his people, and technology was advanced. Even the Marine branch in this country was composed of the king’s soldiers, who merely changed uniforms between royal and Marine duties.
This meant the country’s strength and influence were highly advantageous to Michion.
Moreover, the Marines wouldn’t treat him as an ordinary officer since he was also a royal heir.
However, this also brought limitations, such as protecting the country from enemies and maintaining its image and influence.
Matters like harboring enslaved people or engaging in activities contrary to the World Government had to be handled carefully, as his actions could now impact the entire country.
In essence, it was a trade-off but primarily beneficial.
For instance, his future crew members could be nominally listed under the local Marine branch, effectively remaining his soldiers.
Due to their close cooperation, both the Marines and the World Government tacitly agreed to this arrangement. It was convenient, especially since the king had military experience and was considered one of their own.
This cooperative arrangement suited both parties, providing face-saving and practical benefits, such as resource allocation.
The Marine branch here was manned by locals, making the Marines’ presence somewhat redundant. People preferred their king’s army over the Marines.
One primary reason was the Marines’ restriction against participating in inter-country wars.
The North Blue had always been tumultuous, with neighboring invasions. Unable to protect their homeland, people naturally leaned towards joining the king’s forces.
They deeply loved their country and were proud of their wise ruler.
In this setup, local Marines were mainly used for logistics and support rather than active duty, making the king’s forces more appealing.
The royal family and Marines had a close relationship, with the king holding a Marine title, so the Marines appreciated the cooperation.
It saved the workforce for combating North Blue pirates, creating a win-win situation.
However, an official Marine presence was still maintained for significant operations, using the base as a rest and supply point for North Blue and Grand Line missions.
Adolf had proudly explained the Kingdom of Ishtar to Michion, highlighting its advanced infrastructure and civilian care.
Considering the constant turmoil in this world, Ishtar’s stability was a source of pride for its citizens.
A king who could protect his people and ensure their well-being was rare.
And now, Abraham Michion was the heir to this kingdom!
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