Chapter 174: | 174 | Subsequent Moments
After discussing about the final operation against the Colonial Dominion of Terra in the conference of the First Summit, the representatives of the allied islands and the fleet admiral began conversing about the economic prosperity of each island and the whole alike.
The discussion was primarily about the trade of goods between islands and the acceptance of UN Dollar as the official currency of the allied islands under the United Navy. The price of goods, service, and manufacturing were explicitly stated by the fleet admiral.
In turn, the allied islands were also free to trade their own goods to the United Navy like the first-established nation of beastfolks in the sea region of terra, the State of Minos. Before things could become heavy in the economics, the conference moved on into the defensive ties of the UN.
One after another, defensive treaties were written as to allow member islands of the United Navy to ask for help when they are being attacked by hostile enemies. But for this to be actualized, the member island mustn't be the first one that starts the confrontation.
Some defensive treaties were complicated, others were simple. The territorial waters between islands were considered as free waters as to allow mingling of cultures and people in the authority of the United Navy. Though, naturally, rules regarding seafaring vessels would have to be built.
Other than the defensive talks and the economic discussion, there weren't much interesting thing to say in the First Summit. It ended early as there weren't as much problems that needed to be discussed in the assembly. But perhaps in the later years, things would last longer.
Though, hopefully not.
At the moment, Abraham was in a luxurious restaurant somewhere in the Port of Dawn. Beside him were Laplace and Charlotte, who were respectively eating their expensive meals with great satisfaction. On the other hand, in front were Hermona and Escudo.
Before the conference in the UN Assembly, he had already made his statement about wanting to have a word with the two representatives. Naturally, Abraham wouldn't be foolish enough as to break his own words.
"I'm glad that we could converse in a more suitable location. My name is Abraham Shepherd, by the way. Many know me as the Fleet Admiral of the United Navy." Abraham introduced himself with a calm smile plastered on his face.
Though, in the inside, he was enjoying the dumbfounded expressions of the two representatives. Hermona was shocked since the fleet admiral had just personally invited her. No men wouldn't do that without a deeper reason. While Escudo wondered what he should do in his unique circumstance.
Obviously, Abraham didn't simply stop with his introduction. He looked at Laplace and began introducing her as well. "The one to my right is Laplace, known to the United Navy as the lieutenant colonel of the Special-Response Unit, but infamously considered as the Dragon of Liberation."
Laplace grinned at the two while waiving her hands at them. She kept eating her steak as it was too delicious to waste her attention at anything. Seeing her concentrated on the food, Abraham merely sighed and looked at his left where a quite, yet eating vice admiral dwell.
"To my left is Charlotte, the second highest authority of the United Navy. The two of you might not know much about her, she was the one that commanded the northern fleet to deal with the shield of Terra. She had destroyed over a dozen of battleships without losing much of her subordinates."
"A quite impressive victory." Abraham smiled at Charlotte, who raised her eyebrows, but smiled at the two representatives. She gazed at their dumbfounded faces and remarked. "Your food will become cold if you don't return to reality."
Hearing her words, Hermona and Escudo who were preoccupied with their surging thoughts, returned back to reality. They finally faced their meal and began eating in silence. Abraham couldn't help but chuckle as it would take time before the two gets use to him.
The group began eating their meals and quickly devoured the food before them. Abraham and Laplace ordered for more, making Charlotte glanced at them with a complicated expression. She couldn't help but wonder how deep their appetite were.
But it didn't take long before their eating session concluded. It was finally to start talking.
Hermona looked at Abraham, Laplace, and Charlotte. The fleet admiral of the United Navy was remarkably strong. Even though he didn't have a tinge of mana inside his body, he was stronger than anyone she had seen. She could feel her instincts telling her to avoid him.
However, Laplace was entirely different. Other than a completely unstoppable and seemingly invincible body, her mana was akin to the sun itself. Fortunately, Laplace hadn't dared to completely perceive the mana of the dragoness. Otherwise, she would be blinded into crisped.
But what impressed Hermona the most was the last gorgeous lady beside the fleet admiral. The vice admiral of the United Navy, a higher-ranking officer of Rear Admiral George, Vice Admiral Charlotte. Through Hermona's observations, she concluded that the vice admiral was but a normal and mana-less human.
Though... Charlotte stood with the two authorities of the United Navy with unparalleled calm. It seemed as though nothing could faze her. Not even the Dragon of Liberation appears to bother her. Despite not having the body of the fleet admiral or the mana of the dragoness, she still stands amongst them as a sort of equal.
"Hermona, you look like you have questions in mind. Why don't you ask them? I'm free to answer them as I like." Abraham uttered to the seemingly curious revolutionary leader of the Liberation Front. Hearing his words, Hermona got out of her trance and couldn't help but blush.
She felt embarrassed to be called out from her thoughts. However, things had already happened and there was nothing she could do about it. There was only one way for her and that was forward.
"Apologies for my disrespect, Fleet Admiral. I was simply curious about the three of you. It's my first meeting the highest authorities of the United Navy. It's quite unnerving in all honesty, but there's one important question I want to ask." Hermona gazed at Abraham's jet black eyes.
He raised his eyebrows, curious about what she wanted to ask. The revolutionary leader before him was always surprising him, so perhaps her question might be an intriguing one.
"Why Liberation?" Two words escaped her supple lips, but it was enough to attract the attention of everyone in the table. Even the dragoness, who wasn't that interested with the meeting, raised her eyebrows. Escudo also couldn't help but be impressed with his fellow representative.
When Abraham heard her, he couldn't help but smile. It was a great question, a simple yet complex one. Why did he choose liberation to begin with? Was it because of the rampant slavery in this world? Was it because of the world views from his former modern world.
Was it personal? Was it because he wanted to gain something? Was it because he wished to become a hero? Perhaps, becoming a righteous one was his desire. But why? For fame?
Admiration? Respect? To be remembered?
To be honest, the answer was simple. It might sound disappointing, but it was his real answer.
"I stuck with a spontaneous decision of mine. I chose."
Like her question, Abraham's answer was straightforward. But Hermona froze remembering the moments where she burned a colonial envoy for trying to make the good Saintess of the deerfolk tribe a slave. At that moment, she remembered her thoughts.
She was given a choice, choosing either would change her fate significantly. She picked the path that could protect the Saintess. After all, the child was innocent and didn't deserve to be thrown into such a horrifying fate. When she made her choice, she decided to stick with it and start a rebellion.
With this in mind, a smile emerged on Hermona's face as she looked at the fleet admiral with relief. "That's a great answer, fleet admiral. You simply stuck with what you have chosen. Nothing more, nothing less." Her words resounded throughout the table.
"Well, I'm glad my answer satisfied you, Hermona. At any rate, I'm sure your interested about the Port of Dawn. We have many things here that you could visit if you're desire to take a look." Abraham merely smirked at the response of the revolutionary leader.
"And Escudo, are you interested in taking a look? It might give you an inspiration." Abraham looked at the Minokin, who was astounded by the answer of the fleet admiral. He had previously thought that there would be a deeper meaning like not wanting to see slaves being mistreated by tyrants.
Were things really as simple as simply choosing?
"Thank you, fleet admiral. But I'll have to return to my country to discuss about the things we have talked in the conference." Escudo calmly answered to the fleet admiral after shaking his confused thoughts away.
"I see... Well, it's not like I can force you. How about you, Hermona? Are you interested?" Abraham asked the revolutionary leader, who nodded her head like a child. "I want to see more of the Port of Dawn, Fleet Admiral. I'm also curious about what makes it different from the things I have seen."
"Then, I'll work hard in satiating that curiosity of yours. You and your companions can go to the command center and ask for someone to guide you into the city. There's no need for you to ask for permissions. After all, you have mine." Abraham grinned, while Hermona felt thankful.
"Thank you very much, fleet admiral." Hermona deeply bowed at him, turning the easy-going atmosphere into an awkward one.