You Must Have Capital
It was obvious that the Hiberfield family had made a successful start. Their fishing trip had yielded great results, significantly easing their financial burdens.
A faint, unhidden smile appeared on Ivan's face.
"You're grinning from ear to ear," Charlotte noted, raising an eyebrow.
Ivan quickly composed himself, but the deep wrinkles on his face betrayed his years of experience.
Suddenly, Charlotte seemed to remember something. "Oh, right, Ivan, how's the harbor design coming along? What's the budget?"
At the mention of money, Ivan's demeanor shifted—his usual shrewd and capable self returned.
"Boss, Mr. Rady is still working on the blueprints. It'll take some time."
"But…"
Ivan hesitated, creating unnecessary suspense.
Charlotte frowned. "Out with it already!"
"The cost difference is too big!" Ivan finally admitted.
Charlotte sighed. "Alright, I'll figure it out."
Even in the world of One Piece, money was an unavoidable issue.
"By the way, what about the treasure map I asked you to redraw?"
At the mention of the treasure, Ivan's eyes lit up. His obsession with wealth was once again on full display.
"It's done. I redrew it to a perfect 1:1 scale."
He pulled out a brand-new map and handed it to Charlotte, who inspected it carefully.
To an outsider, it looked like nothing more than a regular sea chart—intentionally discreet and cryptic.
The fewer people who knew about it, the safer it would be.
Absolute secrecy. Absolute security.
Charlotte carefully folded the map and put it away. "Alright, Ivan, go handle your work. I have something to take care of."
With that, he strode out of the room, already preparing for what was to come.
---
A Favor from Baka
At the only restaurant in town, the owner lit up with joy as soon as Charlotte walked in.
"Mr. Charlotte! Come, take a seat!"
Charlotte nodded politely. "Mr. Baka, that's very kind of you."
To the townspeople, Charlotte wasn't just a visitor—he was a hero. He had recently driven away a group of pirates, protecting their homes and businesses.
Baka's admiration was evident. "Mr. Charlotte, you're too polite. You saved this town!"
Charlotte felt a little helpless. This level of enthusiasm is going to make things tricky.
Without wasting time, he got straight to the point.
"Mr. Baka, I need your help with something."
Baka's curiosity was piqued. "Of course! If there's anything I can do, just say the word."
Charlotte placed the redrawn map on the table and pointed to a specific location.
"Do you recognize this place?"
Baka examined it closely. As a merchant who frequently traveled to nearby islands for supplies, he immediately identified the area.
After a moment of contemplation, he muttered, "I know this place."
Charlotte's eyes brightened. "Then, do you know anything about the island?"
Baka nodded—but then hesitated, shaking his head as if unsure.
Charlotte frowned. "Well? Do you know it or not?"
"I know the island," Baka admitted. "But…"
Charlotte sighed inwardly. Spit it out already!
"I've never been there myself," Baka finally said, "but I've heard that it's overrun with ferocious beasts. Because of that, no one lives there."
He paused before adding, "Rumor has it that a pirate crew once landed on the island… but they never returned. Some say they were all devoured by the beasts."
Charlotte's expression turned serious. He hadn't expected this.
If an entire pirate crew vanished without a trace, the creatures on that island must be formidable.
Still, the One Piece world was vast, and there were plenty of unexplored dangers. Just because something wasn't well-documented didn't mean it didn't exist.
For example, the baboons on Kuraigana Island, where Dracule Mihawk resided—intelligent creatures capable of imitating sword techniques.
If such beasts existed, then who knew what kind of monsters lurked on this island?
Baka studied Charlotte's face. "Are you planning to go there?"
Charlotte nodded. "I need to hunt some large beasts."
Baka didn't press further. He trusted Charlotte's abilities.
After discussing a few more details, Charlotte left the restaurant.
Baka was so enthusiastic that even Charlotte found it overwhelming.
---
Preparation for the Hunt
Back at his base, Charlotte made up his mind.
Ferocious beasts or not, I've hunted before. As long as I'm careful, it won't be a problem.
More importantly, he needed funds for his harbor project.
And this treasure could be the key.
With the current state of the world—pirates, the Navy, and rising power struggles—things would only become more chaotic. Stability was a distant dream.
If he wanted to secure his future, he had to start preparing now:
Cultivate talent.
Train fighters.
Build a foundation for long-term survival.
All of that required money.
Even if the treasure hunt carried some risk, he had no choice but to move forward.
In this world, you need capital to stay ahead.
As long as he stayed low-key and avoided drawing attention from the true monsters of the sea, the other dangers were manageable.
A bit of fame wasn't a bad thing—but attracting the wrong kind of attention could be deadly.
And so, Charlotte began making his preparations.
The hunt was on.