Chapter 290: The Chaos of the North Sea
Charlotte wasn't in the mood to keep wandering around anymore. He was sure that after tonight, rumors would spread throughout the kingdom that a demon had arrived—one who led his subordinates in brutal slaughter against the kingdom's army.
There was no point in staying any longer. Once Lowell gathered the necessary supplies, they would set sail again. There was no reason to linger.
The others had no objections.
Under the trembling service of the waitstaff, everyone enjoyed the local delicacies. Once dinner was over, they didn't feel like exploring anymore. The kids were completely exhausted—except for Caesar, of course, who was still full of energy.
That night passed peacefully.
The next morning, everyone left the hotel. As expected, after a night of rumors, the town's residents were all hiding in their homes, not daring to venture out.
As Charlotte and his crew walked down the empty streets towards the harbor, anyone who saw them immediately fled. Charlotte didn't bother with them—just the natural reaction of the weak.
Back at the ship, the swordsman squad was already prepared and waiting for their captain.
"Set sail! Head to the next destination!"
Charlotte decided to dock at every island, stay for a day, and throw a banquet. Although the decision seemed a bit reckless, he was the captain, and his crew had no choice but to go along with it.
A few days later, Charlotte held a newspaper in his hand.
"When did I destroy Luvas Kingdom?"
He looked at the headline, completely bewildered.
"First Battle of the Rockefeller Pirates in the North Sea: Destruction of Luvas Kingdom!"
The bold headline covered the top of the paper, followed by a detailed description of how the kingdom was destroyed and a full introduction to Luvas Kingdom.
Charlotte was baffled.
"When did I destroy Luvas Kingdom? I don't remember doing that…"
Before he could think it through, Barrett approached him.
"Captain, there's a navy ship trailing us from a distance. It seems to be a surveillance vessel."
Barrett reported that the ship had been following them since morning, keeping its distance without approaching.
"Don't worry about it! We're in the North Sea—World Government and Navy territory. If they didn't send surveillance ships, I'd wonder if they were slacking off!"
(Daren: Who are you calling lazy?)
Charlotte waved it off casually. Being monitored by the Navy was nothing new to him—he'd long since gotten used to it.
"Yes, Captain!"
Since Charlotte didn't seem to care, Barrett relaxed but still ordered his men to keep an eye on the navy ship.
If Charlotte knew the person on that surveillance ship was Sakazuki, he might not have been so dismissive. After all, Sakazuki was destined to become an admiral and eventually the fleet admiral. If he were killed now, it would be a major twist in the future. At this point, though, Sakazuki was far from being able to withstand even one move from Charlotte.
For more than ten days, every time the Poseidon passed an island, Charlotte would lead everyone ashore to explore, gather supplies, hold banquets, and search for treasures. He played with his family and children, enjoying himself without the slightest sense of urgency despite knowing that Zephyr was on his way.
Though he was strict about the children maintaining their daily training before playing, the routine of traveling and celebrating didn't change.
On the surveillance ship, Sakazuki was frowning.
"What the hell is the Rockefeller Pirates doing? Why do they stop at every island just to hold a banquet?"
He couldn't understand the reasoning behind it. For over ten days, the pirates had done nothing but celebrate and explore.
Despite his confusion, he secretly felt relieved. If the Rockefeller Pirates had actually attacked a kingdom, he would have been forced to step in, even if it meant certain death.
"Ghost Spider, how long until Admiral Zephyr arrives in the North Sea?"
Sakazuki turned to his subordinate.
"The Governor's Office reports that he has already crossed Reverse Mountain and will soon enter the North Sea."
Ghost Spider replied.
Sakazuki exhaled in relief. Though he was ruthless against pirates, he knew the limits of his current power. Fighting against the likes of Charlotte now would be pure suicide. Even though his sense of justice burned strong, he wasn't stupid enough to throw his life away recklessly.
"When Zephyr-sensei arrives, the Rockefeller Pirates are finished!"
In his mind, Zephyr was an invincible existence, a force no pirate could withstand. He had never truly witnessed the pinnacle of power in the world and didn't grasp the terrifying might of top-tier combatants.
---
On an Island
Elena sat next to Charlotte by the campfire.
"Charlotte, aren't you worried at all? Admiral Zephyr is about to reach the North Sea. Aren't you feeling even a little anxious?"
Charlotte gave her a confident smile.
"Worried? About Zephyr? He may be strong, but he can't take me down. If it were Garp and Sengoku together, that would be another story. Just Zephyr alone isn't enough to pose a threat."
Seeing his unwavering confidence, Elena couldn't help but relax.
"I really hope you're right…"
---
Reverse Mountain
"Once we cross here, we'll be in the North Sea. The situation there is chaotic because of the Rockefeller Pirates. The morale of the other pirates has skyrocketed since Charlotte's arrival, making it nearly impossible for the local navy to maintain control."
Five naval warships sailed through Reverse Mountain, led by a towering figure at the front—Zephyr.
A seasoned vice admiral at his side reported the North Sea's deteriorating situation, largely influenced by the sheer presence of the Rockefeller Pirates. With most of the navy's attention drawn to Charlotte, other pirate crews seized the opportunity to expand, adding to the chaos.
Zephyr held the wanted poster in his hand, his eyes narrowing as he muttered,
"Charlotte…"
He couldn't help but think back to his previous encounters with the man, reflecting on how much Charlotte had grown since their first clash. The world had changed, and now he would have to confront the man once again.
Zephyr's grip tightened on the wanted poster.
"This time, I won't let you run wild."
---
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