In this world, the goal of pirates is not some “one piece.” Most of their ancestors were patriots who lost in the “Jouyi War” over a thousand years ago against the Celestials who invaded this world.

Now, unable to survive under the wanted orders of the world government established by the Celestials, they can only drift at sea to make a living. However, after more than a thousand years, most pirates have forgotten their ancestors’ original intention and will to overthrow the Celestial government.

In contrast, among the more than three hundred allied nations on the continent, there are a few revolutionary armies that have inherited the wishes of those patriots, operating underground in some remote small countries, plotting to overthrow the rule of the Celestials...

It must be said that, from what Edward Harris currently understands of world history, except for countries like Wano that maintain a relatively peaceful (father-son) cooperative relationship with the Celestial world government, things are a bit better internally.

Other small countries on the continent are either plagued by constant civil strife, ravaged by pirates along the coast, or see revolutionary forces flaring up like sparks under the Celestial world government’s oppressive rule, only to be suppressed again and again.

In any case, there are few who can live in peace.

The Grand Duchy of Shayash is just like this. For nearly a hundred years, the revolutionary forces have flourished and civil unrest has been constant. No wonder Emily Watson’s mother smuggled herself into Wano.

......

In the dim hallway on the west side.

Sensing Edward Harris’s footsteps, Emily Watson stood up like a startled little animal, turning her head in panic. When she could just make out that it was Edward Harris, a hint of joy appeared on her rosy little face.

“Ah! Is it big brother? Good evening.”

“Good evening, little Meili.”

Edward Harris greeted her as well, glancing down at a few broken planks in the corner—it seemed they were picked up from the abandoned construction site behind the apartment building, pieced together into a simple little shelter. Inside, three dirty little kittens were crouched, probably abandoned by young people moving out of the building. Noticing a stranger approaching, they were mewing softly and cautiously.

Edward Harris turned to look at the locked door and couldn’t help but sigh, “Did your dad forget to give you the key again?”

“Mm...” The little girl lowered her head.

Edward Harris shook his head at her reply.

John Watson had been behind on rent for half a year. Every time Walter Bennett came up to collect, he’d say he’d pay it all once he won some money, but was rarely seen otherwise. It was probably only for Emily Watson’s sake that Walter Bennett hadn’t forcibly taken back the room.

He was thinking about whether to invite her over to his place like last time, to wait for her father and have something to eat. Otherwise, if John Watson finished work and went gambling again, the little one would have to sit at the door all night.

But just as he was about to speak, Emily Watson froze for a moment, then shook her little head, a happy smile appearing on her rosy face. “I have a home... Big brother, look!”

As she spoke, she pointed her little hand at the shabby little shelter made of planks in the corner—only then did Edward Harris notice that there was a slightly cleaner little wooden sign hanging on the shelter, with a few crooked, childlike characters written in colored marker.

【未梨の家】

“Welcome, big brother, to my home.”

The little girl said in a childish voice.

Edward Harris was taken aback, then smiled and couldn’t help but pat her golden-haired little head. “Thank you, little Meili, your home is very beautiful.”

“Hee hee, not at all, it’s still very simple.”

A little embarrassed, Emily Watson’s face was nonetheless full of joy. It was probably the first time someone had praised her home. Suddenly remembering something, she turned around, took off her little backpack, and started rummaging through it.

“Big brother, do you want some tea? I’ll pour you some.”

Edward Harris glanced over and saw half a red bean bread wrapper, neatly folded and lying in the backpack; next to it were two bottles of purified water, one half-full and one unopened.

The little girl took out the full bottle, struggled to open it, and handed it to Edward Harris with great anticipation.

Faced with this child’s make-believe hospitality, Edward Harris bent down, took the water, squatted down, and took a small sip with a smile. “Thank you for the hospitality. The tea at little Meili’s home is really nice.”

Hearing this, Emily Watson’s rosy face immediately lit up with a crescent-moon smile.

As Edward Harris drank the water, he thought to himself—maybe the little one has a strong sense of pride. Last time, he’d a bit rashly invited her home and given her food and drink, which might have hurt her pride a little—but since she often can’t get into her own home without a key, she’s now “hosting” him in her little shelter.

He was thinking about whether to play house with the little girl for a while, waiting for her father to come home. If it got too late, he could go find Walter Bennett. That unreliable uncle wasn’t always proper, but could be counted on sometimes.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, footsteps suddenly echoed in the hallway.

A moment later, a man in his thirties came up, carrying a plastic bag and humming a tune. Emily Watson’s face lit up with joy as she took a few quick steps toward him, but then stopped shyly in her tracks.

“Hey! My good girl!”