Chapter 341 Shirahoshi's Resolution, The Arriving Forces
Shirahoshi didn't understand at all.
Why, even though both sides' leaders had decided to reconcile, did those beneath them refuse to comply?
"It's quite a simple matter."
Brett said with a smile. "Humans are simple creatures. They typically only act for their own interests."
"Of course we can't deny that among them exist outstanding individuals who abandon personal interests to strive for greater goals."
"But for the vast majority of people, all their motivations have just one source—self-interest. Who would willingly do something offering them no benefit?"
Shirahoshi blinked in confusion, not quite understanding.
"I get it!"
Nana happily raised her right hand. "Brett-niisan, you're saying this war lets these guys profit, so they don't want to stop, right?!"
"Smart girl."
Brett looked at Nana approvingly. "The more crucial reason is—when many people benefit from the same thing, they've already formed a group."
"At that point, if someone wants to betray this group and do something harming everyone's interests, then naturally they'll face everyone's attacks."
Becoming king wasn't because they possessed royal blood from birth—it was because everyone acknowledged them and willingly made them king.
This was essentially a contract.
When the king could satisfy domestic elites' interests, he was king. When he couldn't, he could only be abandoned.
"So now do you understand, Shirahoshi?"
Brett said. "When someone violates shared interests, even their closest allies will suffer misfortune. In such circumstances, do you still think both sides can understand each other and coexist peacefully?"
The little princess fell silent.
Brett rubbed the little princess's head gently. "I'm not trying to make you unable to trust humans. Among humans are also many good people—many remarkable people willing to abandon personal interests for righteousness!"
"But we can't expect everyone to willingly abandon their interests to become remarkable people, right? For most people, they'll only fight for their own interests."
And unfortunately, Fish-Man Island's rise harmed many people's interests.
Even more unfortunately, many of these people were precisely those who truly directed this world's course.
The little princess stood dazed.
Her small brain had sunk into contemplation.
Throughout this journey, she'd seen many humans she'd never encountered before.
Kind ones. Evil ones. Upright ones. Despicable ones.
Mama always said not to treat all humans as enemies.
Brett-niisan said not to treat all humans as friends.
Was this the principle? Because among humans were both good and bad people?
No, it wasn't simply dividing people into good and bad.
It should be like Brett-niisan said—people taking different actions for different interests...
How could such people understand each other and coexist peacefully?
"Brett-niisan, I don't understand..."
The little princess only felt her mind had become completely muddled. She looked at Brett with distress.
"No need to worry so much."
Brett smiled. "Fighting for your own interests isn't a bad thing, right?"
"Like how I'm willing to fight for Fish-Man Island, because Fish-Man Island is my homeland, where I grew up. Protecting this island is my interest. Doesn't Shirahoshi want to protect Fish-Man Island?"
"Oh right!"
Nana also nodded repeatedly. "I want to protect Mama, protect my sisters, and Brett-niisan too! That's my interest, right?!"
You want to protect me?
Brett chuckled softly. Then you'll need to keep working hard, Nana.
"But if pursuing your own interests means wantonly harming innocent people, that's something that can't be allowed, right?" Brett said.
"Yes!"
The little princess nodded heavily.
How could you hurt innocent people because of your own matters?
"So when we encounter such people trying to violate us, what we must do is strike back mercilessly."
Brett smiled. "When fundamental interests conflict, how can they be reconciled? All we can do is eliminate them."
The little princess pressed her lips together.
Eliminate.
Such vocabulary was somewhat too cruel for her.
"Oh! I finally understand!"
Nana looked as if awakening from a dream. She made exaggerated expressions at Brett. "Brett-niisan, you went through all this trouble just to make Shirahoshi understand—not everyone can understand each other, and sometimes force is necessary, right?"
Brett smiled. Not a complete dummy after all.
"So then, Shirahoshi—what do you think?"
Brett looked at the little princess.
"...I, I understand."
The little princess hesitantly nodded lightly.
Today's experience in this country had truly given her much to reflect on.
Brett had indeed taught her a principle—even humans couldn't understand each other, let alone humans and fish-men and merfolk.
"Okay, okay! We all understand the principle now."
Nana said urgently. "What I'm more concerned about now is—Brett-niisan, how will you stop this country's war?!"
"That's quite simple."
Brett smiled and turned toward the two pale-faced faction leaders.
"Really?"
Nana looked somewhat skeptical.
"For instance, just like this."
Brett cleared his throat. Then he said, "If I ever discover you continuing this war afterward, then I'll eliminate both sides' ruling classes completely."
His tone was very low—not sounding like a joke at all.
Both factions' leaders trembled continuously.
Then—
"Yes!!"
They nodded repeatedly in unison.
Shirahoshi's mouth opened slightly.
This was genuine too—not a trace of lying in their thoughts.
"That's it?"
Nana blinked.
"It's just that simple."
Brett smiled. "Though the conflict between their interests can't be reconciled, if powerful external force is applied, it's not impossible to forcibly eliminate their contradictions."
He himself was that powerful external force.
To these people, incomprehensibly strong.
Barring surprises, these people probably wouldn't dare continue the war afterward.
Though this only treated symptoms rather than root causes, there wasn't much time to waste here now.
"Then let's go back."
Brett said.
However, just as Brett brought the two children skyward preparing to return to the sea—
"Hmm?"
He turned his head.
In the distant sky, a cloud was rapidly approaching.
Within the cloud were familiar presences.