As an outsider, Zangy often felt pity for the people of Cocoyasi Village. They were still alive, but their lives no longer belonged to themselves.
"No one wants to live like the villagers of Cocoyasi Village, especially not the people of the Navia Kingdom. After all, the territory of the Arlong Pirates borders Navia Kingdom. The only reason they haven't been subjected to the same fate as the villagers of Cocoyasi is because someone is protecting them," Aramis said with a cold sneer. "The Arlong Pirates and the existence of Cocoyasi Village serve as a reminder to the people of Navia Kingdom not to take the peace of the past two years for granted. They should reflect on what they truly need in this chaotic era. Do they want a governor who is rumored to be a mere passerby from a foreign land, or a monarch who is one with the destiny of this nation? Would they rather have the throne occupied by a drunken fool described by newspapers as a religious fanatic, or a strong hero capable of ensuring the country's safety?"
"Is the governor planning to claim the throne?!" Zangy exclaimed in shock, immediately covering his mouth and glancing around. Only after confirming that no one was nearby did he relax.
"Why wouldn't he be qualified?" Aramis scoffed. "The people of this country are well aware of the kind of family currently sitting in the palace. In these turbulent times, doesn't the governor have more right to rule this nation than they do?"
…
"Sigh, how pitiful."
In a classroom at the Neustria Academy, classes had ended, but many diligent students remained to study.
Among these hardworking individuals was certainly not Ander, who was the son of a pirate. Having grown up yearning for the vast seas and the freedom of adventure, he found it impossible to muster any interest in dull theoretical knowledge. However, his roommate and close friend, Sabo, was among the studious crowd, and out of loyalty, Ander stayed to accompany him.
But forcing Ander to review notes or copy lectures was pure torture. Instead, he passed the time by reading newspapers. His earlier sigh came from reading a piece of news.
Sabo, both amused and exasperated, put down his pen. Ander claimed to stay in the classroom out of loyalty, yet his constant exclamations while reading the paper were more of a distraction than anything else. Sabo couldn't help but wonder if it was intentional.
"What's the matter?" Sabo decided to take a break and asked.
"I just found out how miserable life is for those living under the rule of the Arlong Pirates," Ander said with a sigh. "The paper says that adults have to pay 100,000 Beli every month, and children 50,000, or they'll be killed. It's practically a life of slavery."
"Could I borrow your newspaper?" someone suddenly asked from behind Ander and Sabo.
The two turned to see who it was, and Ander instinctively shrank back.
Even within the so-called ivory tower, as long as there were people, there would be social dynamics and cliques. Though perhaps less complex than the adult world, such structures still existed.
For instance, some individuals naturally stood out, always the center of attention, attracting admiration and envy alike. These figures seemed destined to be leaders, making others feel both inspired and discouraged from competing with them.
The students of Neustria Academy came from all over the East Blue, representing various social classes. Despite the short time since the semester began, three standout figures had already emerged.
One was Mitchy Malonco, a member of the Bearhand Tribe from a cannibalistic community. Another was Sabo, Ander's roommate and a noble from the Goa Kingdom. The last was Abram, who hailed from Tequila Wolf, the Bridge Kingdom.
Among them, Mitchy Malonco had a rebellious and violent personality. He excelled in physical combat but struggled with theoretical studies, often violating school rules and skating on the edge of expulsion. Though the oldest of the three, he didn't seem as promising as Sabo or Abram in terms of future prospects.
Sabo, on the other hand, was warm and generous, possessing the manners and grace of a noble upbringing. Yet, thanks to his time scavenging in the Gray Terminal with his sworn brother, Ace, he lacked the arrogance typical of nobles. His cheerful personality and exceptional talent made him popular among peers. Sabo was already among the top students in both physical combat and theoretical knowledge.
It's worth noting that after William implemented mandatory education reforms, Neustria Academy underwent significant changes, only admitting students aged twelve and above. At just thirteen, Sabo was undeniably one of the youngest students in the academy. Yet, even those much older than him were no match for his abilities.
Abram, however, was no less impressive than Sabo. In fact, he seemed to surpass Sabo in some aspects. Abram was the same age as Sabo, but unlike Sabo's cheerful demeanor, he was calm and reserved, displaying a maturity beyond his years.
While Ander wasn't sure if Abram's talent matched Sabo's, he knew one thing for certain: Abram was the most hardworking student in the entire academy.
Having grown up in the harsh conditions of Tequila Wolf, Abram understood suffering better than most and cherished the rare opportunity to study. His dedication was almost monk-like, intimidating his peers. No one knew if Abram had any hobbies; aside from eating and sleeping, he seemed to devote all his time to studying and training. When Abram once sought advice on drawing from a classmate, Ander, ever the gossip, spread the news as if it were a major event.
Neustria Academy was a four-year program, and its admission standards had become increasingly stringent. Many of the children from Tequila Wolf were dismissed due to age or academic performance and sent to local schools. Among those who remained, the most respected wasn't the older students but the relatively younger Abram.
Despite his reserved nature, Abram earned the trust of his peers, even if he wasn't as likable as Sabo. Ander, being naturally curious, loved digging up information. Recently, he had learned that Abram had formed a secretive group called the Honey Badger Party, which often held private meetings. Ander eagerly shared this discovery with Sabo, who could only laugh helplessly.
For some reason, students began to pit Sabo and Abram against each other as rivals, debating who would graduate as the top student. It seemed to be a subconscious behavior among young people to create an "enemy" for the sake of unity within their own group. This dynamic gave the impression that Sabo and Abram were avoiding each other, even though neither harbored any animosity.
Ander considered himself Sabo's best friend and staunch supporter, often badmouthing Abram in front of Sabo, expressing indignation on his behalf. Strangely, Sabo himself didn't even understand why Ander was so upset on his behalf.
Ander finally found an area where Sabo clearly outshone Abram: appearance. Abram had dark skin, a short stature, a prominent jawline, and sharply angled eyebrows that gave him an imposing aura but couldn't compare to Sabo's increasingly handsome features.
However, Ander only dared to criticize Abram behind his back. In Abram's presence, he lacked the courage, especially since the mention of slavery reminded him of Abram's background. He feared that Abram might misunderstand and become angry.
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