Raiden Ei truly didn't expect Mina to answer her that way, and for a moment, she was stunned. Before she time-traveled, she often saw people posting about '996' work schedules when watching short videos.
But looking at Mina, it seemed even more severe than '996'. She really wanted to know what job she did that cultivated such work habits.
Raiden Ei asked directly, and her slightly curious voice echoed in the ship's cabin:
"Then... Mina, what is your job?"
Mina answered without hesitation or concealment: "I am a servant in Duke Inste's household on Vinnia Island."
Hearing the name Duke Inste, Raiden Ei knew immediately—they were nobles!
In this world, setting aside pirates, there were nobles. The World Government had over 170 affiliated nations, and nobles existed in every one. Especially the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, those truly despicable beings.
Where there are nobles, there are slaves. The most slaves in the world exist because of these nobles on the seas. Later, when she maximizes her strength, she will use Musou no Hitotachi to obliterate the Celestial Dragons on the Red Line.
"Working for a noble shouldn't require you to work all day, right? Don't you ever get time off?"
"Working for the Duke is my duty. I can rest when the Duke does not require my service."
Raiden Ei was truly speechless upon hearing that. Was that work? That was clearly exploitation, naked exploitation. She must be worse off than a slave; at least slaves are discarded when they are no longer useful. She would be exploited her entire life.
Seeing her like this, still believing Duke Inste was right—what was this if not brainwashing? Could these nobles be running a pyramid scheme!
The corner of Raiden Ei's mouth twitched; she could say that with a straight face.
"You should know what kind of life you are living compared to how others live. You should be able to tell the difference, so why can you still regard that kind of work as a duty?"
"Shouldn't... it be considered a duty?"
Raiden Ei roared internally. Of course, it shouldn't! What kind of capitalist rhetoric was that? And why were you doubting yourself?
Where there is oppression, there will be resistance; otherwise, so many pirates would not have emerged. One must remember that islands in the world of pirates are not connected.
Populations do not flow; except for a few people, many truly never leave their island in their lifetime. Information exchange relies only on newspapers brought by the newspaper gulls flying across the world.
Raiden Ei thought of all this, but felt powerless to care about so many things. Even if she overthrew these nobles, what then? New nobles would appear after a while, like a cyclical shackle. Human desires would never cease.
Raiden Ei thought... I should still aim to be the strongest in the world! I cannot let these unchangeable matters affect my resolve to become stronger.
When poor, cultivate oneself; when successful, help the world.
"It shouldn't be... Do you want to hear my opinion?"
Mina looked a bit dejected. "It shouldn't be considered a duty? Please tell me, I am willing to listen."
"You are a person, a distinct individual, and every person in this world is a distinct individual.
Every distinct individual should choose their own way of life, not be instilled from childhood on how they should live or who they must be responsible for. Nor should they be anyone's appendage. Everyone should have their own thoughts.
Right now, you lack your own ideas, blindly following the thoughts of others and obeying the commands given to you. Why must you be manipulated by others?
You are also an individual, a person, not born to work for others. You should follow your true feelings and be someone with your own thoughts. No matter what you want to do, it should stem from your own volition."
After listening to the concept of equality Raiden Ei explained to her, Mina's mind was completely shut down. She had never heard such things.
She had worked in Duke Inste's household since childhood, receiving an education to become a servant. She never considered whether these things originated from her own thoughts. When did she start believing this work was her duty?
"Am I... the same as the Duke? Should I have my own thoughts?"
"It's not your fault. Right now, your perception of the world is still too limited. From now on, you don't need to spend all day tidying up in the cabin.
Go to the deck and see Haisier and the others. Although some of them may not have the ability to live life according to their own thoughts, at least they all know what they are doing and why they are doing it."
Seeing Mina thinking, Raiden Ei stopped talking. As long as she could still think, she could be turned around. She looked toward the cabin door, and just then, Haisier walked in.
Haisier looked somewhat awkward; he had been caught eavesdropping by the person involved. They had spotted an island from afar earlier. He wanted to report it to Raiden Ei, but when he reached the cabin, he found her eyes closed, seemingly asleep.
He recalled that she hadn't rested the night before and had even fought a sea beast; she must be very tired. Since they were still far from the island, he planned to report it later. Unexpectedly, when he returned to report, he heard Raiden Ei talking to Mina just as he reached the cabin door. He listened for a while and became engrossed. He only snapped back to reality when he was discovered by the person involved, making him, a grown man, feel a bit embarrassed.
"General Raiden Ei, I apologize for eavesdropping on your conversation."
"It's fine. You don't need to call me by my full name; just call me General. Is there something you need?"
Raiden Ei's Observation Haki had already detected him, but she hadn't paid attention. Having one more person listen didn't bother her. It would be best if they could absorb what was being said.
"Alright, thank you for your tolerance. We spotted an island about an hour ago, and our ship is heading there now. Gatt estimates we can reach it before nightfall."
"Hmm... I know. Notify me if there are any accidents. Also, you heard what was just said."
Haisier's heart skipped a beat: "I heard, General. I promise I won't spread it."
Raiden Ei didn't quite understand what he meant, but she didn't want to waste her training time on such a trivial matter, so she simply ignored him and continued with her own business.
"Mina doesn't quite understand what 'herself' means yet. You teach her a bit."
Mina: "No need... I can do it myself. I still need to..."
Raiden Ei interrupted Mina: "It's settled. You are not yet able to control yourself."
"Yes, I will. Mina... come with me!"
"Mr. Haisier, I really don't want to trouble you too much."
Haisier walked out of the cabin without waiting for Mina. Seeing this, Mina hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to follow him out. Remembering Raiden Ei's words, she gritted her teeth, put down the cup in her hand, and followed Haisier out of the cabin.
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