One piece: Establishing a Pirate Family

Chapter 30: Shipbuilding

"Hahaha! I really envy John and his men, being able to plunder an entire country's wealth while we only get the leftovers—and we have to hand over a share to the Seventh Squadron. It's like being skinned alive!"

Golden Lion Shiki complained loudly, ending with a harsh curse.

"Wahahahaha! Little lion, have you grown bold recently? You even dare to scold your captain!"

Rocks' laughter echoed from a distance, catching everyone's attention.

"Ah, Captain, how could I ever do that? You're my most respected leader!" Shiki quickly covered, his voice dripping with false flattery.

Rocks laughed, not bothering to take him seriously. "Not bad, Shiki, not bad."

With a wave of his hand, Rocks turned his attention to the two large transport ships docked nearby.

Years of plundering across the seas allowed Rocks to recognize them instantly as World Government vessels used to transport Heavenly Tribute from various nations.

"Hahaha! Not bad, not bad at all. You truly are my capable subordinates. Once everything is accounted for, the Third Squadron share will be yours to use however you see fit."

Rocks' words brought an approving nod from the others.

"Thank you, Captain!" Shiki said with a gleam in his eye.

"Wahahahaha! No need for thanks; we're all brothers here!" Rocks said jovially before departing, leaving Charlotte and the others behind.

Charlotte watched Rocks' retreating figure with a contemplative expression.

As soon as Rocks was out of sight, Shiki spat out his cigar in frustration. "Tsk! That miser. He's only giving us 30% of this huge haul. How is he not drowning in his own greed?"

Charlotte stepped onto one of the ships and took a look around. The total value of the gold and treasures aboard was about 4 billion Berries. Thirty percent of that would barely cover the costs of maintaining their crews.

Split four ways, each of them would only receive 100 to 200 million Berries—not nearly enough to sustain the hundreds of pirates under their command.

Charlotte sighed. He'd have to go out and plunder again soon.

---

Returning to his own ship, Charlotte inspected the progress on its construction. The vessel had been docked at Hachinosu for nearly three months, undergoing repairs and upgrades.

"Old man, how much longer will it take?" Charlotte asked an elderly boatwright who had been overseeing the work.

The old man straightened his back, bowing respectfully. "Lord Charlotte, the ship is in its final stages of construction. It should be ready for delivery in two or three days!"

"Good. Once it's done, let my crew know immediately."

Charlotte turned to leave, his cloak billowing behind him.

Watching Charlotte's retreating figure, the old man muttered under his breath, "What a young and powerful man..."

---

As Charlotte walked through the base, crew members greeted him warmly.

"Boss!"

"Boss!"

Charlotte nodded in acknowledgment. These men had followed him from Kami Island, and he appreciated their loyalty.

In return, he treated them well. Over the past three months, every time he returned from plundering, he'd distribute a portion of the spoils among his crew. Each man received around 500,000 Berries—a generous amount that allowed them to live comfortably on the island.

For many, this meant nights spent in the red-light district, where even the most luxurious companions charged only 100,000 Berries per night.

As for Charlotte, he spent his time training. Every day, he honed his swordsmanship and improved his Haki. His battles with Shiki, Whitebeard, and Ochoku had exposed weaknesses in his technique, and he was determined to address them.

---

Charlotte stood in a clearing, surrounded by shattered trees and scorched earth—a testament to his rigorous training.

"Damn it!" he muttered, clenching his fists. He had mastered full-body Armament Haki, but he still struggled with internal destruction.(Ryuo)

With a powerful punch, he shattered a tree into splinters. But that wasn't enough. His goal was to destroy the core without breaking the surface, and he was far from achieving it.

"It seems I'll need a teacher to master this technique..." Charlotte mused.

His thoughts turned to Kurozumi Muchan and Kurozumi Chanmaru, the siblings from Wano Country. As samurai, they might have the knowledge he needed.

Determined, Charlotte made his way to the Seventh Squadron's base.

---

"L-Lord Charlotte!"

The pirate guarding the entrance straightened nervously as Charlotte approached.

"Are the Kurozumi siblings here?" Charlotte asked, his tone sharp.

"Y-Yes, sir! They're inside!"

"Take me to them."

The guard hesitated for only a moment before leading Charlotte into the camp.

As he walked through the base, Charlotte noticed the faint auras of several swordsmen.

"Hmph. Third-rate," Charlotte muttered, unimpressed. None of them had even a fraction of his strength.

His presence, however, did not go unnoticed. The swordsmen felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from him and whispered among themselves.

"What a terrifying swordsman... Is this the power of the Blood Sword Master?"

Ignoring their murmurs, Charlotte continued toward the main building, where the Kurozumi siblings were waiting.

He could only hope they had the answers he sought.

---

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