Just like the West Blue, where gangs flourish, and the East Blue, the weakest and most rural of the seas, the South Blue also has its own unique trait—here, mechanical creations are extremely popular.
Besides that future Supernova Kid, who ate the Magnet-Magnet Fruit and can create all kinds of mechanical beasts and railguns, the future Straw Hat member Franky also comes from the South Blue.
And aside from the two of them, there are plenty of craftsmen in the South Blue skilled in making all kinds of machines.
But the strange thing is… the weapons here aren't much better than those in the West Blue, perhaps even worse. Flintlock rifles remain the mainstay.
However, many pirates or bounty hunters skilled in mechanics often modify their weapons. Though they still look like outdated flintlocks, their performance far surpasses something like a Chicago.
As for daily life, one can also see all sorts of mechanical modifications. But, just like in other seas, the commoners in the South Blue are impoverished.
This means most of these mechanical facilities are cobbled together from scrap metal, giving the place a strong wasteland punk vibe.
Of course, where there is poverty, there is also wealth. Yet the wealthy royals and nobles often dismiss the mechanical technology developed by the commoners, treating it with disdain. In that sense, they are no different from the upper classes of other seas.
The few wealthy people who do use mechanical technology apply it only for luxury and comfort.
Also, although the South Blue is advanced in mechanics, that knowledge is rarely applied to shipbuilding.
Even pirates with mechanical expertise seldom think of modifying their ships. Instead, they focus on weapons… and themselves.
This is one of the reasons why Sherwin felt the South Blue carried that wasteland punk atmosphere.
Among the pirates here, cyborgs are not uncommon. But most of them just attach cheap-looking mechanical prosthetics. High-grade cyborgs like Franky or Queen—Sherwin hadn't seen any of those here yet.
It probably has to do with the limited resources and materials available in the South Blue.
Still, compared to the West Blue, where gangs run rampant, the mechanical industry in the South Blue is not nearly as widespread.
After all, even for commoners to tinker with machines, they still need scrap metal to salvage. But many islands in the South Blue have neither scrap metal to scavenge nor the time and effort to do so.
These islands are either trapped in long-standing wars or so poor that even passing pirates can't be bothered to give them a glance.
In that sense, it resembles the East Blue—some islands are thriving, some suffer in misery, but most lie somewhere in between. Not the worst, but far from good.
Scenes like this, Sherwin and his companions had already witnessed countless times in the East and West Blues.
It not that these kingdoms and towns don't want better development—it just that the annual Heavenly Tribute leaves them with no strength or resources to grow.
When the people encounter a decent ruler, life may not be prosperous, but at least it remains tolerable.
However, if they happen to fall under the rule of a foolish king, their island will quickly sink into the ranks of those suffering in misery.
It was precisely because Sherwin had seen such situations countless times that he gradually came to understand why this world produced so many pirates…
There are indeed many who become pirates for plunder, treasure hunting, or chasing dreams. But just as many set sail and resort to robbery simply to survive.
Some others, pushed too far or by accident offending nobles or royalty, are left with no choice but to flee to the sea and become pirates.
Among them, a few may still hold onto their conscience and avoid oppressing civilians. But most eventually fall in line with the rest, sinking into the same corruption.
The logic is the same as in ancient times—whenever disaster or war struck, countless bandits would appear. Many of them started out with no other choice.
But once they experienced the gains of "profit without cost" and realized they could commit such acts with little chance of punishment, how many could resist the temptation? How many would give up the easy path of indulgence to return to the bitter, starving life they once had?
And while Sherwin did feel sympathy for the oppressed common folk, he had no power to change their fate. Improving the economy of even a single village was beyond him.
Even if he somehow managed it, as long as the Heavenly Tribute wasn't abolished, pirates would still roam free, and honest, hard-working people would inevitably sink back into precarious poverty.
So, all Sherwin could do was follow the route planned by Haibara Meow—traveling along, sightseeing, buying local specialties, collecting material for his writing, taking down pirates they ran into along the way and cashing in their bounties, and of course, gathering any famous swords and Devil Fruits he could find…
(=ΦωΦ=)つ
After wiping out a pirate stronghold, Link Meow returned dragging the weapon of the defeated pirate leader and handed it over to Sherwin.
"Thanks for your hard work."Sherwin rubbed Link Meow furry head in gratitude before taking the spear he offered.
(=ω=)After nuzzling Sherwin for a moment, Link Meow then trotted off to join Seijuro Meow in cleaning up the battlefield…
Since this was an assault on a pirate base, there were quite a lot of enemies to cut down. For that reason, Sherwin didn't bring along Klee Meow or Haibara Meow.
Haibara Meow naturally had to stay behind to look after the two little ones (mainly Klee Meow).
As for Sanji Meow, there was no need to ask—wherever Haibara Meow went, he followed. So in the end, only Seijuro Meow and the newly joined Link Meow accompanied Sherwin.
Sherwin himself didn't help clean up the battlefield. Instead, he first took the time to carefully examine the so-called "famed blade" now in his hands.
The spear blade was very long, making up nearly a third of its total length, so at first glance it looked more like a sword with an extended handle.
At the base of the spearhead was also a crescent-shaped curved blade about thirty centimeters wide, giving the weapon a look somewhat reminiscent of a trident.
Although the design of this spear seemed rather strange, Sherwin didn't mind. Not only did he normally not use spears, but even if he really wanted to wield it, he wouldn't find it awkward.
After all, in the Monster Hunter world, the designs of their weapons were far more flashy and bizarre than this one.
What mattered most was… this weapon was without a doubt one of the genuine Excellent Grade Blades, and its name was "Astaroth."
This was one of the clearer pieces of information Morgans had passed to him, and it just so happened to lie along the route Sherwin and his group were taking.
According to Morgans' intel, this spear had originally been part of the royal collection of the Kingdom of Ziado, near this island. As for why it ended up in the hands of pirates…
It was because those pirates had once been soldiers of the Ziado Kingdom who betrayed their homeland.
Each year, they would send a portion of their loot back to the Ziado royal family in exchange for more weapons, equipment, and food.
Sherwin was just a passing bounty hunter, so there was no way he could know about such hidden matters.
He had only come because he was short on money, planning to earn a bit of bounty and, along the way, collect some "named blades."
While Sherwin and the Felynes were cleaning up the battlefield, Link Meow and Seijuro Meow twitched their ears at the same time, then looked toward the distant sky.
Following their gaze, Sherwin saw a figure wearing a tall top hat flying toward them. Strapped to his back was something resembling a jet pack—that was the reason he could fly in the air.
As the figure drew closer, he hovered in midair, then pulled out a strangely designed pistol and aimed it straight at Sherwin.
"What this guy deal?"
Sherwin scratched his head, then tilted it toward the little lynx beside him. "Link, shoot him down."
He couldn't quite understand why the newcomer would try to attack him right off the bat, but Sherwin was not the kind of person to just sit there and take it. Even though he had already recognized the man identity—
The Southern Army commander of the Revolutionary Army, a Mink who should belong to the feline race: Lindbergh.