Stability
Time flies!
For the sake of safe travels, Charlotte had a ship custom-built through the underground forces.
After all, there were too few skilled shipwrights on Lati Island, and the ones available lacked experience. If he attempted to build it himself, it would take far too long to launch, and there were serious safety concerns.
Drawing a harmless design was one thing, but building a seaworthy vessel was an entirely different matter. Charlotte decided there was no point in wasting time—he had the money, so he bought one.
However, even with money, shipbuilding took time.
The seas had become increasingly dangerous in recent months, with pirate activity surging. To ensure his safety, he ordered a fully customized warship. He had no intention of being chased, bombarded, and sunk by opportunistic pirates the moment he set sail.
His ship had to meet four key criteria:
1. Speed – Outrunning enemies was just as important as fighting them.
2. Durability – It had to withstand cannon fire and harsh seas.
3. Size – A larger ship meant more space for resources and personnel.
4. Firepower – Enough artillery to obliterate any threats.
Of course, such a vessel came at a steep price—1.2 billion Berries. Even for Charlotte, it was a painful sum to part with. But safety was paramount. A pirate's ship was their lifeline, and in battle, it determined whether they lived or died.
The nearby seas had been particularly restless lately. Whether it was rumors of treasure or Lati Island's growing port, something had drawn unwanted attention.
For both safety and to avoid trouble, Charlotte took the most direct approach—eliminating the pirates himself.
He hunted them down in secret, ensuring that no one saw him in action. As long as there were no witnesses, there would be no rumors. It was a flawless plan—or so he believed.
In town, life remained peaceful. No one spoke of a mysterious pirate hunter, and the island's tranquility remained undisturbed.
Meanwhile, Charlotte was focused on expanding his influence. To amass funds and complete the fortress base he envisioned, he turned bounty hunting into a business. Every pirate with a price on their head was a walking paycheck.
Of course, bounties were always claimed through the underground market to avoid attention. While this meant taking a slight cut in profits, it ensured his anonymity.
A safe and efficient approach.
This allowed Charlotte to breathe a little easier.
The island's new port was also nearing completion, costing 780 million Berries to expand significantly. For now, it seemed rather empty, but the sheer scale of it was impressive.
Money had done most of the work, but Charlotte's strength and reputation had also played a role. However, he could tell—people respected his wealth more than him. That attitude annoyed him.
Still, work had to continue. Ivan, a capable subordinate, was put in charge of overseeing operations. His dedication was almost excessive, taking over all of Charlotte's usual responsibilities.
Charlotte, on the other hand, turned his focus elsewhere. Using his Observation Haki, he handpicked promising individuals to train, ensuring they would become the future elite of his growing forces.
Among them, Beta stood out the most. He was the fastest to improve and the strongest of the recruits. Charlotte's training for him was especially brutal, yet Beta never backed down.
Now, Beta could command a ship on his own, hunting pirates and even Sea Kings.
This had an unexpected benefit—he became responsible for supplying the Heberfil family with food. After all, there were many mouths to feed, and the demand for meat was enormous.
Meanwhile, Charlotte carefully assigned other members to learn vital trades—navigation, medicine, shipbuilding, and cooking—all essential roles for any crew. Of course, he relied on the underground market to recruit skilled individuals.
A well-rounded crew was a necessity.
In recent months, rescued female slaves had also been integrated into the family's ranks, forming a maid division under the supervision of Lina. Under her leadership, their numbers had grown significantly.
With the Heberfil family expanding in all directions, its momentum was unstoppable. Stability had been established, and Charlotte no longer needed to worry as much.
Once his new ship arrived, he could wipe out the remaining pirate groups in the area without concern.
And despite his spending, his finances remained strong.
The pirates he hunted were notorious criminals—plunderers, murderers, and slavers. Their bounties were valuable, and their stolen goods only added to Charlotte's growing wealth.
As the saying goes—"Killing and looting pave the path to fortune." The old adage held true.
Now, Charlotte began stockpiling resources to construct his fortress base.
Meanwhile, underground forces had started setting up branch operations on Lati Island. They were more than happy to see him eliminate pirates, as it made their own business dealings smoother.
Charlotte's youth and ruthlessness impressed them. Believing in his potential, they increased their investment in him.
A monster in the making.
Of course, business was business. Nothing came for free. Even if their profits were slim, the high volume of transactions kept them satisfied.
It was an unspoken agreement—no names, no unnecessary questions. A mutual understanding.
Now, the final step was to find a world-class architect to design the fortress.
But such experts were rare and highly sought after. The best architects worked for major powers, and the Navy controlled most of them. After all, they built fortresses all over the world—from Marineford to Enies Lobby—each an engineering marvel.
Trying to steal an architect from the Navy? Impossible.
Charlotte knew better than to provoke that monster of an organization.
If they caught wind of him, it would spell disaster.
For now, he had no choice but to wait.
At least his strength had improved. He had fully mastered Armament Haki and the Six Powers (Rokushiki).
And so, life continued—just as before.