The third time was this [Erudite] advancement quest. (Continued)

Adrian said politely, "I'll have to trouble you for a while, Mr. Little Morn. Sorry for the trouble."

"Haha! Not a problem!"

Little Morn Isaac laughed heartily, masking his earlier astonishment.

"As long as you don't turn your nose up at knowledge, no scientist would turn away a genuine seeker of it."

The two exchanged a few brief words.

Little Morn Isaac was secretly astonished once again.

White Ghost's grasp of oceanography also far exceeded his expectations.

Their conversation made it abundantly clear that he had read through every book and document he had borrowed earlier several times.

Perhaps he hadn't mastered everything completely, but he had at least developed a deep understanding!

Little Morn Isaac had thought this was the limit of what White Ghost could accomplish.

But Adrian's performance over the following days once again redefined Little Morn Isaac's understanding of how knowledgeable a pirate could be.

Only a month passed.

Adrian successfully passed the Kingdom of the Future's standard-difficulty doctoral examination in oceanography.

In short.

As far as oceanography was concerned, Little Morn Isaac had nothing left over Adrian except seniority.

Unlike Ohara's gold badges identifying its historians, the Kingdom of the Future certified its doctorates with a relatively simple blue certificate.

Little Morn Isaac handed Adrian the blue certificate as he praised him.

"Adrian, you really are a genius!"

"..."

Adrian accepted the certificate and gave Little Morn Isaac a somewhat speechless look.

That wasn't exactly the sort of compliment you should throw around...

Having passed the Kingdom of the Future's doctoral examination in oceanography, Adrian had fully accomplished his main purpose in coming to Baldimore.

He knew that Dr. Vegapunk, whose intelligence was said to be "five hundred years ahead of the world," had left behind considerable knowledge of mechanical modification in Baldimore.

But Adrian