Chapter 86: Plant Fairies, The Tontatta Tribe
King's Plateau, the highest area in Dressrosa, was also where the Royal Palace was located.
This was a custom of the sea; in most countries, the Royal Palace was situated at the highest point of the nation.
Drum Kingdom, Dressrosa, and even Fish-man Island were like this.
As for the situation in Dressrosa... overall, it was much better than Fish-man Island.
There were no major external enemies, nor was there extra discrimination. It was one of the fifty nations eligible to participate in the Reverie (World Council). The biggest problem was that it was relatively poor.
The country had no specialties, no particular strengths, and no unique features to speak of; it was a "three-no" nation.
As for why Doflamingo was able to make this place wealthy later...
Arms smuggling, Artificial Devil Fruit (SMILE) sales, slave trade, plus toys that knew no fatigue and required no investment—with such operations, the economy would naturally rise.
At this time, Riku Dold III was still very young. He had only taken over the throne not long ago. He hadn't gone bald from age and various troublesome matters yet, still sporting a head of spiky black hair.
"Troublesome..."
"What is so troublesome, King Riku?"
"Hmm? Didn't I ask you to leave? Why did you come back?"
Dold remembered clearly that he had asked the other party to leave before returning to the palace hall.
"It's like this: someone said he is an old friend you met in the Coliseum. He hasn't seen you for a long time, so..."
"Nereus, you guy... are you impersonating someone else to joke with me again?"
"Oh? You reacted so quickly this time?"
"How many times has it been? How could I not react?"
The two met in the Coliseum of Dressrosa. At that time, Nereus had just left Fish-man Island and was tempering his strength through battle.
Young Dold happened to be doing the same thing. However, Dold was no match for him. Even now, a legend of an undefeated mysterious man still circulated in the Dressrosa Coliseum.
"Fish-man Island caught some pirates with bounties. Same old rules: help me exchange them for the bounty."
"Thanks..."
"What is there to thank? We are friends. Those people in the Underworld take a higher cut. Giving it to you benefits us both."
Dold had a reason to say thanks. After all, Nereus would leave a portion of the bounty for him as a commission. For Dressrosa, which faced severe economic issues, this was like sending charcoal in snowy weather.
Since Nereus often encountered such things on the sea, if the distance wasn't too far, he would usually let Dressrosa handle the matter.
For Dressrosa, this was a considerable source of income.
"Although you don't have any local specialties here, the geographical location can still be utilized. Are you interested in letting my people open a coating company here to coat ships?"
There was no Sabaody Archipelago in the New World. Dressrosa's location could indeed undertake this work.
"Forget it. I don't have your capability. Those who need coating to pass through Fish-man Island are mostly pirates and merchants from the Underworld."
"Security issues would naturally be our responsibility... But never mind, I know what you are thinking."
"Sorry. I don't deny our friendship, but you are a pirate after all. It's not good to associate the entire Dressrosa with pirates.
By the way, I saw in the newspaper that you are now the King of the Ryugu Kingdom?"
"That's right, it's true. When the World Government recognizes this matter, you shouldn't mind establishing diplomatic relations with Fish-man Island, right?"
"Of course. But how will you make them admit that a nation ruled by a pirate is a member of the World Government? The situation of the Ryugu Kingdom was already special, and now..."
"That is a problem for me to think about."
Nereus agreed with one of Harald's points: to change the reputation of the entire race, World Government public opinion was still necessary.
Although dealing with the Celestial Dragons was the ultimate goal, Nereus didn't want to make Fish-man Island the enemy of the world. If that happened, the situation wouldn't improve.
He certainly wasn't afraid, but ordinary Fish-men and Merfolk acting outside would still face great danger. Temporary integration wasn't undesirable; after all, Fish-man Island's development also required communication with the world.
As for how to do it...
When the cost of appeasement and recruitment is less than the cost of suppression, many things will fall into place naturally.
"Let's not talk about this for now. I need to go to Green Bit this time."
"What are you going there for? Not enough Fighting Fish?"
"Of course not. I'm going to find the little guys of the Tontatta Tribe. I have something I need their help with."
"I won't go over there then. Nanamo should be with you, right? Let her come directly to the palace. I will prepare a banquet to entertain you."
Dressrosa's lack of wealth was relative to the nation. King Riku actually had very high prestige here, high enough that the citizens would voluntarily bring out their wealth overnight to scrape together 10 billion Berries.
A dinner banquet was still affordable.
After Nereus informed Nanamo via Transponder Snail, he headed to Green Bit.
About 170 years ago, an iron bridge connected Green Bit and Dressrosa. The appearance of Fighting Fish made this bridge dangerous. After Nereus took those Fighting Fish away, peace was restored here.
However, almost no one used this bridge anyway.
...
"Is Chief Gancho here? I am Nereus. I've come to ask for your help."
In the jungle of Green Bit, Nereus knocked on the ground, seemingly speaking to the air.
But not long after, several small figures appeared on the ground. Their bodies were not even as big as Nereus's finger, yet they were extremely agile.
They were the Tontatta Tribe, commonly known as Dwarves.
"Do you really know Chief Gancho?"
"Of course. I came here a few years ago. I was the one who brought your companions back."
Among the slaves Nereus had rescued, there were also members of the Tontatta Tribe. It was when he sent them home that he interacted with these little guys.
"Is that so? I'll go find Chief Gancho right away!"
The Tontatta Tribe was extremely innocent and kind, without a shred of scheming. They believed whatever others said.
Therefore, even though this Dwarf didn't recognize Nereus, he believed his words.
"Um, Mr. Big Human, what are you here for?"
The remaining Tontatta members also dropped their guard directly. One by one, they climbed to the tops of the leaves and asked directly.
"I have a few very special seeds here. I want to ask for your help to see if you can make them sprout and grow."
These seeds were the results of Wobbegong's work, and they were also experimental products. Wobbegong felt there were no issues with the data, but cultivation was very difficult.
That was why Nereus came here to find the Tontatta Tribe.
This tribe had the reputation of being Fairies, also known as Green Managers. They were the tribe most skilled at planting vegetation on this sea.
Even when Doflamingo made Artificial Devil Fruits later, he had to rely on the power of this tribe.
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