Arceus's Pirate Journey

Chapter 199: Chapter 198: Yamato’s Lesson on Ideology and Plans for Sky Island

Nearly four hundred years ago, when Gaya Island was still complete, Shandora had not yet arrived at the Sky Island.

At that time, the North Sea navigator Montblanc Norland, in an attempt to escape a storm, accidentally arrived at Gaya Island, saving the Shandia tribe from the ”Tree Heat Disease” and made great contributions to Gaya Island.

He also formed a deep friendship with the great warrior Kalgara of that time.

However, due to the felling of the trees in which the Shandia believed their ancestors’ souls resided, a conflict arose between them. By the time Kalgara realized that those trees were the cause of their illness, it was already too late.

Norland’s ship had already set sail on the sea.

Kalgara vowed to ring the Golden Grand Clock every day to guide Norland’s direction with the sound of the bell.

The Shandia people also forged a dedicated commemorative statue for Norland.

”Because of the sea current, we ended up on the Sky Island. Those Skypieans even took our land. It’s been hundreds of years, and we still haven’t reclaimed our land, still haven’t rung the Golden Bell again...”

The chieftain was still telling the history of the Shandia people, but Yamato’s thoughts were elsewhere.

”Norland... Norland... I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere.... Where exactly...?”

”It’s a North Sea fairy tale, about the great liar Norland. Mother used to read us the storybook.”

Maria reminded Yamato, the fairy tale known throughout the North Sea has naturally been found by the Hundred Beasts Pirates, and the children had also heard similar stories.

But this sounded different in the chieftain’s ears.

”A great liar? How could Norland be a great liar?”

And when he heard Maria and Yamato briefly summarize the story from the Blue Sea, tears welled up in his eyes.

”Could it be... is this how it is? Because of our ineptitude, we’ve allowed our benefactor to endure such great injustice....”

...

”Foster Father, should we help them...?”

”Why do that?”

”Because... I feel they are so pitiful, not even able to protect their own home...”

”Yamato, do you understand? Hundreds of years have passed, and those on the Sky Island now also consider it their home. What we’re doing would be taking away their home, do you understand that?”

Yamato seemed to have reached a limit in her understanding. Initially, she thought the Shandia people were pitiful, but now things seemed strange again.

”Even for Wano Kuni, we are outsiders too. Even if we can make that country better, we can’t cover up that fact. The people might not care, because they can benefit from it.

But for those in power, we are invaders, usurpers, enemies.”

”Foster Father... I don’t understand...”

”You will understand in the future. Now you must realize that this is a cruel world. Without strength, everything is just empty talk. Only the strong can help the weak as they see fit.

The things you mentioned previously, wanting to help us, require strength. So Yamato, you must learn to become strong, understand?”

Taking this opportunity, he began educating Yamato. She was too naive now, and while she might not remember these words immediately, the seed would gradually influence her.

Before training with Kaidou began, he needed Yamato to develop the desire to become strong on her own accord.

”Understood, I must become strong.”

However, in the end, Arceus decided to help the Shandia regain Apayado, but his reasons were not as simple as Yamato’s; it wasn’t out of seeing them as good people.

Firstly, the Shandia indeed kept something for him for hundreds of years, honoring their promise from long ago, and his recent display of power caused quite a stir, so this was a bit of compensation.

On the other hand, he was interested in the shells of the Sky Island. The various effects of these shells were widely used in daily life and weaponry. With these shells, the primitive Shandia surprisingly DIY-ed themselves handcrafted rocket launchers.

These shells have high strategic value. Helping the Shandia reclaim territory is one aspect; on another, he plans to plant the flag of the Hundred Beasts here.

The flag serves to deter other outsider pirates. Essentially, they wouldn’t intervene in the management there, leaving everything to the Shandia to handle themselves, only needing them to supply some shells every period.