"Punk Hazard Island is still too small. If you want to realize your idea, you'd need to expand the island at least fourfold," After hearing Otohime's description, Rosse said it directly.
He had to admit, Otohime's plan was ambitious.
But Punk Hazard was only about five times larger than Sabaody's Island No. 1, while Sabaody had as many as seventy-nine islands.
Not every one was as large as Island No. 1, but the others weren't small either, and together they could house a large population.
As for Punk Hazard now, most of the fish-men and merfolk still lived in the Underwater City. If they were all placed on land, there simply wouldn't be enough space.
"I know, so I wanted to ask for Saint Rosse's help," Otohime looked at Rosse, the corners of her lips unconsciously lifting into a faint smile.
No matter what it was, if she asked Rosse for help, the problem would be solved. This was the confidence Rosse gave her.
"I can find people with the right abilities, but even earth- and rock-type ability users filling in the sea will still need enough stone and soil. Otherwise, even if they work themselves to death, your plan won't be achievable," Rosse didn't mind helping. The entire Mermaid Kingdom counted as his subordinate force, and the better it developed, the greater his influence in the New World would become.
The sea was simply too vast, he couldn't possibly control every island and member nation.
But in the future, when he ruled the World Government, he would certainly need much stronger influence over all member nations. It couldn't be like it was now, with member nations merely paying tribute but receiving no real oversight.
Training agents in each region was one of Rosse's attempts toward this goal.
The mercenary guild from before was also one such attempt.
In each of the four seas, and in both halves of the Grand Line, he planned to train a powerful agent, using that proxy nation to exert regional influence.
From the places he had visited so far, he had already chosen three agents:
The Jaygar Administrative District in the South Blue.
Arabasta in the first half of the Grand Line.
The Mermaid Kingdom in the New World.
These were his tentative picks for now. Whether that would change in the future would depend on circumstances.
"Thank you for your help, Saint Rosse. If the Mermaid Kingdom is ever needed, please make sure to notify us," Otohime smiled as she replied. Compared to her earlier shyness, she now appeared completely at ease.
Before, she hadn't wanted to ask Rosse simply because she feared she'd seem useless.
But now, she no longer minded this kind of practical support.
Not only would she not reject Rosse's help, she would take the initiative to grow quickly, to the point where she could share his burdens.
During the recent Holy Land incident, Rosse may have come through without trouble, and even gained great achievements.
But when she'd heard the news back then, her heart had been clenched tight the whole time.
Rosse had done far too much for her. So much that even if she gave herself to him, she could never repay it.
Otohime didn't want to be powerless every time Rosse faced difficulties.
From now on, she wanted to stand by Rosse's side.
At the very least, like Sora, she wanted to help him strategize and plan from behind the scenes.
"Got it. I'll definitely come to you if anything comes up. I already told you, you're to be my family's representative, don't forget that," Rosse said with a smile.
He never feared when his own people made requests. What he feared was them acting on their own and doing it badly.
If there's a problem, solve the problem. What's wrong with that?
It was the fools who, even if they couldn't get it done, would still stubbornly do it themselves, and end up botching the whole thing. That was the kind of subordinate he hated most.
Public is public, private is private.
Rosse liked Otohime, but when it came to official matters, he wouldn't act recklessly just because of that.
For example, he never let Gion get involved in management affairs.
"I've always remembered. Once things here get on track, before the next World Government meeting starts, I'll slowly hand things over to Miss Zannie," Otohime nodded firmly, she had never forgotten this.
In fact, to make sure she wouldn't be flustered when the time came, she had already used her spare time to contact Zannie's side to learn more about Rosse's subordinate forces.
But since Zannie was indeed very busy, she spoke more often with Queen Titi instead.
"Alright, stop keeping that serious face. We've almost finished talking about official business, it's time to relax. Or are you so busy you don't have time to take a break?", Rosse smiled and stretched. Talking about faction development all the time wasn't really his style.
"Of course not. To welcome Saint Rosse, I've cleared the past few days. Nia and the others will help, there's nothing I need to personally take care of," Otohime quickly shook her head. Knowing Rosse was coming, she had begun preparations early on.
As long as nothing particularly major happened, she could spend these days peacefully at Rosse's side.
They no longer discussed the Mermaid Kingdom's development. Otohime simply led Rosse around to enjoy the scenery of Punk Hazard.
Before Otohime and the others came, Punk Hazard had just been an ordinary island.
But to make it suitable for merfolk, fish-men, and humans to live together, Otohime had carried out bold, sweeping changes.
With the physiques of fish-men and merfolk, they quickly dug several waterways running through the island to make travel easier for merfolk and fish-men.
The once semi-primitive island of Punk Hazard had gradually become a water city.
They strolled along leisurely, sometimes walking along land paths, sometimes taking a stretch along the waterways.
After eating the dinner Otohime had prepared, they arrived at the residence she had arranged.
For Rosse, Otohime had prepared a three-story home with a garden, located in the Royal Capital area at the island's center.
It wasn't that Otohime didn't want to give Rosse something better, this was simply already the finest residence in the entire Mermaid Kingdom.
At the same time, it was also Otohime's temporary home on land.
After they arrived, Rosse waited for Olvia to quietly tidy up, then gave her and Gion a glance.
With how well they knew each other, just one look was enough. Gion and Olvia understood immediately.
Gion merely glanced at Rosse in surprise, shot him a look of disdain, then left with Konpira in her arms.
She could be quite enthusiastic in certain areas, and didn't even mind bringing Olvia along. But if the partner was Otohime, then forget it.
After all, Otohime was still under thirty, and her fish tail hadn't yet turned into legs.
Olvia was even more reluctant to say anything, afraid she might be roped in too. So she grabbed a few history books and left with them.
"Saint Rosse, here's your tea," Otohime carried the tea over, swaying her fish tail as she came to Rosse's side, gently setting down the cup.
She had noticed Gion and the others leaving. Her cheeks merely flushed slightly, with no other reaction.
Some things were destined to be mutual from the very beginning.
She was only twenty-five now, still five full years away from turning thirty.
That was too long, too many uncertainties. She didn't want to wait.
It might not be the time yet, but that didn't mean she couldn't leave something behind with Rosse.
Today, it was her turn to help Rosse.
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