"Children under twelve can just have their parents spank them. But they won't get off easy—we'll inspect the scene, and their butts have to be swollen at the very least~"
However, the old man's answer immediately brought a knowing smile to the middle-aged man's face. "Haha, some bratty kids really do need a spanking. There's no fixing them without one~"
Anyone over twelve could no longer really be considered a child, especially in the Pirate World, which was not like Earth, where individual differences were far less pronounced. With enough talent, they could even be stronger than ordinary adults. Even if their parents wanted to discipline them physically, they might not be capable of doing so, leaving the government to step in and correct them.
But calling those between twelve and sixteen adults was still a bit premature.
Thus, Totto Land's laws adopted a compromise: their lifespan would still be deducted after committing a crime, but less severely than adults'. The usual starting penalty was two years rather than five.
The middle-aged man nodded after hearing this. Though he had never raised children, he had often been troubled by the idiots, scumbags, or idiot-scumbag combinations in his research teams. Some people simply could not be kept in line without harsh measures. So while he still felt Totto Land's laws were somewhat too strict, he did not voice any objection before this local resident.
Speaking of collecting lifespan, the old man felt it necessary to give this well-mannered "young man" a heads-up. "Young fellow, are you here to travel, or are you planning to stay for the long term?"
"Is there something I should know?" The middle-aged man immediately understood what the old man meant and asked.
"If you're traveling, follow this road to the fork and turn left. You'll find