Paradis Island.
It lay northeast of the Marley continent, separated from it by the sea.
On the opposite shore stood a coastal city called Mozambique.
It had originally been an important assembly port for Marley's forces before they entered Paradis Island.
Later, with the arrival of the "Freedom Judgment Decree,"
the region endured nearly two years of burning, killing, and plundering. Only after its resources were depleted and its people scattered did it gradually fall into desolation.
But after Imu abolished compulsory labor for all Eldians at the cost of mandatory military service for adult men, and allowed Historia to restore her nation,
word somehow spread, and people from the surrounding areas began gathering there on their own.
These people, weathered by hardship and countless agonies, seemed to have figured out the rules of the "Absolute Freedom Decree."
They elected no leader, much less established any rules.
At most, they cooperated with one another—building houses, fishing in groups, and later catching chickens and dogs to raise.
Those with medical skills naturally became doctors, while those with higher levels of education taught the children lessons and literacy.
In short, everything depended on everyone's mutual understanding.
If conflicts arose between people, they were left to settle them outside on their own.
Argue, fight—anything went.
Even if only one returned in the end, no one except their closest family would ask too many questions.
No one would help them.
Not even friends who were close to them.
They feared that banding together would be seen as forming a gang and invite eradication by those black-clad men.
However, those who chose to live there all loathed conflict and longed for peaceful days.
Thus, conflicts rarely arose among them.
What they talked about most each day was still what to eat, how the weather was,