In the end, Urouge couldn't quite decipher the meaning of that letter, but Rosen told him that there were still many people from the D. clan across the sea.
"When all the treasure is converted into Berries, each crew member will receive a reward of 20 million Berries," Robin announced from the ship's bow, informing the crew of their earnings from this treasure hunt.
"Whoo!" The moment she finished speaking, the crew erupted in cheers.
As pirates, they lived day by day, rarely saving money. Whatever they earned was quickly spent.
By the end of the year, most were left with nothing. But now, with 20 million Berries each, they could indulge themselves for quite some time.
If they only spent on necessities, it would last even longer. However, the life of a pirate naturally involved heavy expenses—on weapons, ammunition, food, alcohol, and entertainment.
Rosen had initially planned to give each crew member 40 million, but Robin advised against it. Too much money could lead to complacency, and that was dangerous for pirates.
Unless there came a day when Rosen no longer needed a crew to man his ship, some might start having second thoughts if they felt they had earned enough.
Rosen found her reasoning sound. It also showed that Robin was thinking ahead, fully considering his interests.
A mountain of gold and treasure could easily give people a sense of satisfaction.
Rosen even consulted Robin about how to spend money wisely.
It might have sounded a bit arrogant, but it wasn't possible for him to just hoard wealth without using it.
However, as they passed through various small islands, few had the capability to exchange such a massive amount of gold into cash. They could only convert a portion of it.
Still, after the first exchange, the ship's provisions and living conditions improved dramatically.
The first change was to the Dawn. At a trade island, they underwent a luxurious renovation.
The upgrades didn't just make the ship look more refined—it significantly improved comfort.
From bedding and floorboards to lamps and wallpaper, everything was upgraded.
The cutlery was now silver, and their food supplies had shifted from ordinary salted meat to dried Sea King meat—high-energy, rare, and delicious.
They no longer relied solely on freshwater and alcohol, now stocking specialty beverages from various islands.
Even their firearms and ammunition were replaced with the latest and most powerful models.
Wealth had transformed life aboard the Dawn, and Rosen didn't mind the expenditure—it had only cost around 20 million Berries.
Previously, 20 million Berries would have been a significant expense when they only had a few hundred million.
But now, with an estimated treasure worth over 2 billion Berries—even after rewarding the crew—it was nothing.
Even Robin's tea and coffee had been upgraded to premium quality.
"No wonder so many people are drawn to the sea," Rosen mused. "The chance to strike it rich overnight is so simple at times."
He now understood why so many sought treasure.
This world was dominated by the ocean, with countless riches buried beneath it.
One discovery could change a person's life.
If Rosen wanted to, he could settle on a prosperous island and live as a wealthy man for the rest of his days without worry.
"Oh my, BOSS," Robin said, lounging under an umbrella with a book in her hands. "Your cigars were upgraded when we passed through that last trade town. I also bought some high-quality coffee beans—I assume you wouldn't mind?"
As she spoke, she took a sip of her freshly brewed coffee. The familiar setup was there—the umbrella, the small stool, the table, and the rich aroma of coffee in the air.
She poured an extra cup and handed it to Rosen.
Rosen took a sip. It tasted good, but he couldn't really tell why.
Still, he had entrusted Robin with full control of their finances.
After all, he didn't want to deal with trivial matters, and financial freedom gave Robin more flexibility in gathering intelligence.
Often, information was as valuable as gold.
"Oh, right, BOSS," Robin suddenly recalled. "The shipwrights have been refining some gold to craft you a new hook."
Rosen sighed. He looked at his left hand—empty. It did feel a bit strange.
But why did it have to be another gold hook? Couldn't they try a different design?
"Tell them to make it the size of an arm. Even if the fingers won't be functional, at least it'll look better."
A gold hook was inconvenient. If it resembled a full arm, it could at least be used for smashing things.
"Understood," Robin nodded, indifferent to the request.
"How much longer until we reach Lantis Island?" Rosen asked.
"Not long now," Robin replied. "But I came across something concerning in the news. This area is known as the Forbidden Sea. Are we really going to sail in so openly?"
She was worried. The information she had gathered about Lantis Island was vague at best.
That made it difficult to determine what was true.
One thing was certain, though: the sea surrounding Lantis and its eight neighboring islands was considered restricted.
No merchant, passenger, or noble vessel was allowed entry without approval.
Anyone attempting to enter would be bombarded by the Marines.
Even Marine ships required special authorization before docking at the eight outer islands.
However, given the vastness of the ocean, it was impossible for the Marines to guard every entry point.
Those who did manage to slip in were usually pirates, bounty hunters, and criminals.
As for merchant and passenger ships, most wouldn't dare take the risk after being officially warned.
According to Rosen's research, the waters between Lantis and the eight islands were referred to as the Divine Sea.
Lantis itself had once been the private garden of the Celestial Dragons, also known as the Divine Garden.
Without direct orders from the World Government, even the Marines were not allowed large-scale access.
Lantis was a massive island, home to eight major cities with a permanent population exceeding a million.
For the world of pirates, it was a legitimate nation—one of significant size.
If Lantis were divided using a cross-shaped grid, it would form four quadrants.
If another diagonal "X" was overlaid on this grid, it would divide the island into eight fan-shaped sectors.
At the intersection of the cross and the "X" was the former residence of the Celestial Dragons, known as the Ninth Divine Garden.
If Lantis were viewed as a circle, then the very center would be the Ninth Garden.
Since the island wasn't a perfect circle, the sizes of the eight regions varied slightly.
As for the island's current state, Rosen was unsure.
News reports had mentioned chemical plant leaks, but the details were unclear.
He figured he would find out once they arrived.
"There's a ship ahead, approaching us on the same course," the lookout called from the mast.
"A merchant ship?" Rosen frowned.
Wasn't this area supposed to have few merchant ships?
It seemed the Marines' blockade wasn't as strict as advertised if they had already run into one.
"Something's off," the lookout added. "There's a Marine fleet pursuing the merchant ship."
The moment he finished speaking, the sharp sound of cannon fire whistled through the air.
"Incoming fire! Watch out!"
Recognizing the sound, Rosen immediately gave the order to prepare defenses.
The crew reacted swiftly, wheeling out their own cannons.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A massive volley of shells rained down.
Over ten Marine warships had opened fire simultaneously, launching a relentless bombardment on the merchant vessel.
Most of the shots were inaccurate, but with such overwhelming numbers, a few found their mark.
Explosions erupted across the merchant ship, setting it ablaze.
Another barrage followed.
In just moments, the massive ship—larger than the Dawn—was sent sinking into the depths of the ocean.
(End of Chapter)
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