Chapter 9: The Hero of the Town
Ever since Charlotte single-handedly defeated the Wild Bear Pirates during their invasion, he had become a hero in the eyes of the townsfolk.
"Charlotte, would you like an orange?"
As Charlotte walked through town, the townspeople greeted him warmly, their smiles filled with gratitude.
He scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed.
"No, no, thank you!" he said, waving his hands in polite refusal.
"Boss! While collecting protection fees today, not a single person resisted. Even the big merchants came willingly to pay!" Ivan reported, following closely behind Charlotte.
"Oh? They're even coming forward to pay voluntarily now?"
Charlotte raised an eyebrow. In the past, collecting protection fees for the Wild Wolf Gang was a struggle, with the townspeople doing everything they could to avoid it. Now, they were offering payment of their own accord.
"Boss, it's all thanks to you! After you saved the town and single-handedly defeated the Wild Bear Pirates, everyone sees you as their protector," Ivan said, looking at Charlotte with admiration.
Charlotte chuckled, pleased with the recognition. The attention felt nice.
Behind him, Martha and the other four maids followed, their curious eyes taking in everything around them.
Their former kingdom, though called a kingdom, was little more than a small, impoverished island with barely ten thousand people. It lacked even a proper port, making it a stark contrast to the bustling, prosperous town they were in now.
"Mr. Charlotte!"
"Mr. Charlotte!"
As Charlotte arrived at the port, people bowed respectfully to greet him.
He nodded and smiled in return.
The three pirate ships from the Wild Bear Pirates' fleet were still docked there, their pirate flags removed.
Charlotte examined the ships, noting their size and condition. They were small, only about fifty meters long, and somewhat worn.
"Ivan, do we have any shipwrights in this town?"
Charlotte turned to Ivan.
"Boss, our port mainly caters to passing merchant ships, so we have shipwrights, but they aren't top-tier. They mostly build small boats or handle repairs," Ivan explained.
Charlotte stroked his chin thoughtfully. He planned to set sail when he turned seventeen or eighteen, but he'd need a decent ship for that. Living like Luffy and setting out in a barrel wasn't the life he envisioned.
"How much money do we have, and what would it cost to build a ship?"
Charlotte asked. Despite being in the One Piece world for years, he still wasn't familiar with the prices here.
"That depends on the size of the ship, Boss. For ships under fifty meters, it'd cost about fifty to sixty million berries. For anything over fifty meters, you're looking at around a hundred million berries. Ships over a hundred meters are beyond what our town can manage, and higher-quality materials could double the price," Ivan explained.
Charlotte listened carefully, rubbing his chin.
"How much protection money do we collect monthly?" he asked, realizing how short on funds he was.
"With this month's collection, we made about three million berries. After expenses, we're left with about two million berries. Most of the expenses go toward your food, Boss," Ivan said, his tone slightly awkward.
Charlotte stared at him in shock, demanding an explanation.
Ivan gave a wry smile.
"Boss, your meals consist of Sea King meat and wild game from the mountains. Hunters risk their lives to gather them, so we have to pay handsomely. Otherwise, no one would venture into the sea or the mountains."
Hearing this, Charlotte fell silent. His monthly food expenses alone were nearly a million berries. Adding the cost of his training equipment left little room for savings, making it almost impossible to afford a ship.
"From now on, I'll handle my meals myself. Stop buying food for me," Charlotte said decisively.
"Yes, Boss!" Ivan nodded.
"Also, refit these three pirate ships. They'll be my fishing boats for hunting Sea Kings. Get it done quickly," Charlotte instructed.
"Understood!" Ivan replied, bowing slightly.
---
After checking on the port, Charlotte headed to an isolated beach to train.
Standing knee-deep in the waves, he gripped his sword tightly, slashing at the water tirelessly.
For three months, this was all he did—swinging his sword against the relentless waves, striving to break through the mental barrier holding him back.
Day after day, the monotonous training began to pay off.
One day, with a swing of his sword, a ten-meter-long flying slash tore across the sand.
Charlotte stared at the gash left in the sand, his eyes filling with tears of joy.
After a year and a half of relentless training, he had finally achieved something remarkable.
"I've reached the level of a swordsman!"
Charlotte beamed with pride. His current strength was comparable to that of a mid-level Vice Admiral, save for his lack of Armament Haki.
Even without Armament Haki, he was confident he could hold his own against a Vice Admiral.
His abilities included powerful swordsmanship with flying slashes, Observation Haki capable of covering a thousand kilometers, and Conqueror's Haki. Though he hadn't activated his Conqueror's Haki since the battle with the Wild Bear Pirates, he wasn't discouraged.
With his newfound flying slashes, Charlotte felt ecstatic.
"Wahahahaha!"
He laughed heartily as he slashed wildly at the beach, carving the sand into a chaotic mess.
The five maids watching from the edge of the beach were mesmerized, their eyes shining with admiration for Charlotte.
After one last slash, Charlotte sheathed his sword and returned to the shore.
"Young Master!"
The maids approached, each carrying a towel or other items to assist him.
Charlotte took a towel to wipe his sweat.
"Let's go home," he said, handing his sword to Gillian.
"Yes, Young Master!" the five maids replied in unison, their voices sweet and respectful.
---
Back at his residence, Ivan approached Charlotte.
"Boss, we're running low on Sea King meat. You'll need to hunt more soon," Ivan said.
"Got it. Tomorrow, I'll head farther out to find some," Charlotte replied.
After three months of hunting, the Sea Kings and large fish near the island had been almost completely wiped out. Now, it was time to venture deeper into the ocean.
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