General Anemone is not the one in power of the Octarian neighborhood. No, he answers to an Octoling king and queen, being their main enforcer of laws and millitary matters. Though, a lot of what he personally values are shared with the two rulers. He just doesn't mention them to outsiders because he knows that there are groups who will try to destroy any semblance of order that the Octarian neighborhood has.
unless you're like putz who outwardly is rude to other people over it