Future Planning and Vision
The mission had been successfully completed, leaving no reason to linger. Charlotte Linlin gave the order:
"Set sail! We're heading back to Lati Island!"
This time, the young giant, Dal, accompanied Charlotte and her crew, ready to start a new chapter in his life.
Dal wasn't just an exceptional fighter; his immense strength made him a valuable asset for labor as well.
Inside the Captain's Quarters
Charlotte sat comfortably, feeling satisfied and at ease.
Though there had been a few unexpected obstacles during the treasure hunt, the rewards far exceeded expectations.
Three large ships were filled to the brim with treasure—gold, jewels, and other priceless artifacts. The sheer quantity was so vast that an accurate count had to wait until they returned to Lati Island for a proper inventory.
However, the most valuable finds weren't just gold and jewels. Among the treasures were two particularly rare items: a mysterious Devil Fruit, its ability still unknown, and a notebook containing insights on Armament Haki.
Charlotte's gaze landed on a small ornate chest resting on the table—the Devil Fruit inside was undoubtedly a prize beyond measure. A grin spread across her face as she picked up the worn-out notebook from her coat.
Flipping through the pages, she carefully examined the training notes within. The methods and theories on Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) were extensive, outlining ways to harden one's body and weapons, enhancing both defense and offense.
Charlotte muttered in admiration, "As expected, Haki is truly one of the great forces of this world."
The notes emphasized that the strength of Armament Haki varied from person to person, depending on one's physique, natural talent, and training.
After thoroughly reviewing the material, Charlotte closed the notebook with satisfaction.
"Training on a ship isn't ideal. I'll have to wait until we return to Lati Island for proper hellish training."
Stepping out of the captain's quarters, Charlotte spotted Dal sitting cross-legged on the deck. His massive frame made the ship look absurdly small in comparison.
Indeed, giants were a different breed. Their lifespan averaged around 300 years, meaning Dal, still in his youth, would continue to grow even larger.
"Outrageous," Charlotte thought, shaking her head in amazement.
Returning to Lati Island
By dusk, the fleet finally reached the shores of Lati Island.
From the docks, a crew member excitedly pointed at the incoming ships.
"Brother Ivan, look! The fleet is back! Boss Charlotte has returned!"
At the port, Ivan and his comrades waved eagerly. But as soon as they caught sight of Dal stepping onto land, the atmosphere changed.
A massive shadow loomed over the port as Dal's towering figure came into full view. Gasps spread among the onlookers, their faces filled with shock, awe, and a hint of fear.
Sweat dripped from Ivan's forehead as he felt an instinctive chill. The sheer pressure from Dal's presence made his words come out stammered.
"B-Boss… this… this!?"
Charlotte chuckled at Ivan's flustered reaction.
"This is Dal, our newest crew member."
Ivan blinked, struggling to process the information.
"This is too insane!" he muttered.
Charlotte ignored the remark and got straight to business.
"All crew members who went out to sea this time will receive a reward—100,000 Berries each. The officers will get 1 million."
Dal, along with Lina, left on their own after that.
Only Ivan and Beta remained, watching the departing figures, still processing everything.
"How the hell are we going to house that guy?" Ivan mumbled.
Sure enough, the Heberfil family estate wasn't designed to accommodate a giant. For now, Dal would have to sleep outdoors until they could build a proper wooden house for him.
One thing was certain—there was plenty of meat to go around. That was all that mattered to Dal. As long as there was food, he had no complaints.
But Charlotte had bigger plans in mind.
Future Plans for the Heberfil Family
With such an enormous haul of treasure, the port funds were more than secured. It was time to reconstruct the Heberfil family base—not just any base, but a fortified stronghold.
Charlotte tapped her chin in thought.
"We need something massive and impenetrable. Something like… the Navy Headquarters!"
The idea of turning the family estate into a fortified military base filled her with excitement.
A stronghold like that would serve two purposes:
1. Protection – As the Heberfil family's influence grew, they needed a secure base to safeguard their members and their loved ones.
2. Defense against spies – The world was filled with informants and traitors. Security had to be airtight.
Charlotte clenched her fists.
"If we're going to do this, we'll do it right."
Of course, the biggest obstacles were manpower, materials, and funding.
Cannons, reinforced walls, seastone defenses—all of it required a fortune to acquire.
Still, with proper investment and long-term planning, it was achievable.
More importantly, the world was on the brink of the Great Age of Pirates. When that era began, pirates would flood the seas like never before.
By establishing a stronghold before that time, they could crush countless rookie pirates before they even became a threat.
Charlotte's gaze hardened.
This wasn't just about securing their future—it was about dominating the seas.
Training the Next Generation
The very next day, Charlotte put her plan into motion.
She handpicked the most talented and ambitious young fighters from her crew.
Training would be brutal—hellish, even.
Armament Haki and Observation Haki were the priority.
Haki alone could make a difference in the dangerous seas ahead.
Additionally, if needed, they could acquire the "Six Powers" (Rokushiki) from corrupt Navy officers through underground deals.
After all, money talks.
A Treasure Hoard Beyond Imagination
Meanwhile, Ivan and the others were still stunned by the sheer volume of treasure being unloaded from the ships.
Beta smirked proudly. "Brother Ivan, you look shocked!"
Ivan, still in disbelief, muttered, "This is… insane. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you raided a kingdom."
Beta laughed. "What? Of course not! We're respectable people!"
As Beta proudly recounted the journey—including Charlotte's battle with Dal—Ivan's eyes gleamed with excitement.
But as he examined some of the ancient relics among the treasures, an idea formed in his mind.
Some of these artifacts… could be from kingdoms long lost to history.
A new opportunity had just presented itself.
Ivan smirked. "This… could be interesting."