Chapter 52 Mark the 18 year old miner,
Not too far from Fish-Man Island lies the Marine Headquarters, Marineford
"Didn't Jinbe handle things remarkably well? "
Fleet Admiral Kong chuckled, "Fish-Man Island should have faced tougher challenges long ago. This development will consequently ease the pressures we face in the New World. "
"Let us not be overly optimistic, Kong,"
At that moment, the sole Marine Admiral, Sengoku, remarked nonchalantly, "There is no connection route linking Fishman Island to Paradise or the New World. At best, it will assist us in dealing with a few pirates. "
"Our genuine adversaries are the powerful forces entrenched in the New World. "
The pirate crews of Whitebeard, Beast, and Big Mom—and their powerful leaders—present the true challenges for the Navy.
Even now, the Red-Haired Pirate poses a threat. Despite his return from the East blue Sea with an injury, his strength is advancing rapidly. It is likely not long before he rivals those three Powerful foes.
Kong rolled his eyes, "It's truly disheartening, Sengoku. It's no surprise that you have difficulty finding a partner. "
"I am merely offering you a reminder, and—"
A vein pulsed on Sengoku's forehead, "Who do you think is responsible? Your negligence keeps me preoccupied with relentless tasks. . . "
As if a peculiar lever had been pulled, the mouth of the Marine Headquarters Admiral began to fire off complaints.
"And that old fool Garp as well. He's unlikely to be promoted as he prioritizes his own freedom! He spends his time running outside! "
"That foolish Zephyr has also chosen to flee. For countless years, he has devoted himself solely to instructing students, neglecting everything else! I am the sole Admiral, you fool! Do you comprehend what that entails? "
"I am left to bear the responsibilities of the three Admirals! My hair has already gone gray! "
Kong cleared his throat. Although the backbone forces of the current Navy comprises of three individuals, only Sengoku truly functions as a Admiral.
"Regardless, it is nearly resolved. The higher-ups have approved my application. Subsequently, you will oversee the Navy, Sengoku. When the time arrives, simply delegate tasks to the others. "
"Do you believe I am like you? "
With disdain, Sengoku huffed at Kong.
"Nonetheless, we should first send a letter to commend Jinbei. No matter the circumstances, he has fulfilled his obligations as a Warlord."
Kong redirected the conversation, "Additionally, arrange for someone to visit Fish-Man Island for an assessment. "
"Jinbe's actions seemed somewhat unusual. Wasn't his demeanor rather steadfast previously? "
The Navy has been compelled to ascertain the whereabouts of the fishman who went missing alongside the warship, yet recently, it has grown remarkably quiet.
The irritated Sengoku paused momentarily before responding, "Understood. "
Fishman Island, Fishman Street.
On this particular day, Mark arose quite early, consumed a light meal, subsequently cleared away the trash that had accumulated from the previous night, and unsteadily exited through the door.
Numerous fishmen greeted him as he made his way down the path.
Mark acknowledged them with a smile.
It is widely known that Brett is the newly appointed leader of Fishman Street and as a close associate of Brett, everyone showed him some respect.
Nevertheless, despite his friendship with Brett, Mark's circumstances have not undergone significant alteration.
He did attempt to participate in the military selection process of the Immigration and Entry Administration, but regrettably, he was unsuccessful.
Brett had specified the need for robust individuals.
While Mark possesses some connections to a gang, he is not particularly skilled in combat.
However, this holds little importance; it feels gratifying to be regarded with respect in this manner.
Mark's daily routine entails socializing on Fishman Street with a few companions. If he finds himself in need of money, he seeks opportunities to fish for income. Engaging in theft or abduction is largely impractical in Fishman Street, as everyone faces similar economic challenges.
Today, however, an unusual event occurred on Fishman Street.
"Brother Brett wishes to address the crowd! ! "
Fishmen gathered were disseminating the news with urgency.
Mark followed along.
In a plaza on Fishman Street, the densely packed fishmen filled the area and adjacent streets to capacity.
Mark endeavored to push his way forward, and the fishmen graciously allowed him passage by parting in his direction.
In the heart of the plaza, above a floating sea beast adorned with a floating ring, Brett had commenced his speech.
"The Fishman Island Mining Company will officially start operations from today. As previously stated, Neptune and I have established an agreement which ensures that residents of Fishman Street will be prioritized for employment. "
Mark gazed up at Brett, who was commanding the attention of all present. He truly did not foresee that the gangster who had grown up alongside him and was merely a year his junior would rise to such prominence.
"So Brother Brett, are you suggesting that we work for that guy, Neptune? "
Mark overheard a fishman express his frustration. He recognized that the residents of Fishman Street were largely displeased with Neptune.
The dissatisfaction stemmed from the inaction of Dragon Palace, which had transformed Fishman Street, once a haven, into its current state.
Brett replied, "This is not for Neptune, nor for Dragon Palace, but for this island and for your own benefit. "
"All profits generated by the Fish-Man Island Mining Company, aside from the miners' wages and necessary development expenses, will be allocated to the enhancement of Fish-Man Island. "
"We must establish our own industries, manufacture our own products, and eliminate our reliance on humans. "
"Similar to the Immigration initiative, this is where our transformation begins! "
The residents of Fishman Island may not fully comprehend the implications, yet they grasped one crucial aspect: their labor appeared to carry significant importance.
They began to converse among themselves.
Mark coughed gently, then lifted his head and loudly declared, "Brother Brett, we are all in agreement with you. You founded the Entry-Exit Administration Bureau in your commitment to safeguard Fish-Man Island. Over the past few days, you have addressed numerous individuals intent on causing disturbances. If you assert it to be true, then it certainly is! "
"There is only one matter of importance to us! That is, can we actually generate profit? "
Before finishing his statement, Mark glanced at Brett and winked.
Brett returned the smile.
He couldn't help but recall the previous night when a person arrived at his door with beverages and food seeking assistance. Ultimately, the promise of a dinner invitation was fulfilled.
"Absolutely! "
Brett's voice reverberated throughout Fishman Street, "The reason I prioritize hiring people from Fishman Street is my understanding that it is the most impoverished area of Fishman Island, and everyone is concerned about financial stability. "
"As a member of this community, it is my intention to help everyone achieve wealth. "
It was time to act.
Mark clenched his right fist and then waved fervently, "That's not a problem! Count me in! ! Boss Brett! ! "
Soon he heard voices emerging from all areas of the crowd.
"Count me in as well! Boss Brett! "
"And me! And me! "
Mark was momentarily taken aback.
Then, he could not help but laugh.
'How many guys have you rallied, Brett?'
What began as a call from a select few quickly evolved into cheers from the entire assembly.
Brett nodded with satisfaction; the people's support would be invaluable.
"However, let me clarify: the selected people will represent Fishman Street. Should you choose to disrupt or disgrace Fishman Street, resulting in my embarrassment, do not fault me for my response. "
Following these stern words, personnel from the Exit and Entry Administration arrived to select the initial group of over 2,000 miners, with Mark among them. He was also appointed as one of the mine leaders, tasked with organizing and managing the workers.
Mark would discover this information once the work began, and Brett mentioned it would be more than sufficient.
After all, shipping routes were currently non-existent. There were excessive numbers of people and an overwhelming amount of ore extracted that could not be sold, merely increasing the financial strain on Dragon Palace in vain.
Once all the miners were gathered, civil servants proceeded to distribute documentation and tools.
The tools included a mining pick and a backpack.
The documentation, though labeled as such, consisted merely of a few sheets of paper detailing how to identify various common ores.
The civil servants organized a training session for the workers that lasted a day, focusing on the identification of ore and mining techniques. However, this training was strictly theoretical, as no person on Fishman Island possessed this particular expertise.
Subsequently, Brett guided the miners out of Fishman Street, proceeding eastward through the bubble.
Before long, he led the group to an expansive rift valley located on the seabed. The findings indicated a substantial presence of iron ore in this area.
It was now time to begin their work.
Within the vast rift valley, Fishmen floated along the steep mountain wall, vigorously wielding their mining picks and persistently tapping against the rocks.
"Isn't this site an excellent location for work? " Mark remarked, swinging the mining pick he held.
"Indeed," Brett, the leader of Fishman Street and the head of the Immigration Bureau, affirmed while also brandishing his mining pick and nodding in agreement.
While the conditions might be manageable initially, as the mining effort progresses deeper, there exists a significant risk of the mountain wall giving way.
Alternatively, he could bring Alexander one day to break apart the upper section of the mountain wall.
With careful control of the force applied, the mineral deposits should remain intact.
It would be ideal to enlist a few additional sea beasts to assist with labor, as transporting the excavated stones may prove challenging.
"Hey! Brett! Look! " Mark suddenly exclaimed, "Is this iron ore? "
Brett turned to see a reddish stone in Mark's grasp.
Indeed, the iron ore reserves in this location were impressive, having been uncovered with just a few strikes of the pick.
Brett smiled and stated, "Congratulations, Mark, on extracting the first piece of ore."
This represents the first foundational step towards development.