How to Choose?
Ivan was dressed in a tight black suit, a black cape draped over his shoulders, bearing the Heberfil family crest—a symbol of peace and protection.
Charlotte's right eyelid twitched weakly. He was momentarily speechless.
What is this?
At first glance, it looked like a typical suit-wearing thug!
Needless to say, this design—this entire concept—was naturally the brainchild of the ever-ingenious Ivan.
The Heberfil family had a distinct "suit thug" aesthetic, carefully categorized among its ranks. Cadres, elites, and ordinary members each had their own designated uniforms, but only cadres and above were permitted to wear capes.
Right now, Ivan was standing before Charlotte, looking as flashy as ever.
"Report, Boss Charlotte! There's news about the architect you've been looking for!"
Charlotte's eyes lit up at the words, his prior concerns instantly forgotten.
"The designer of Island Food City—Saga Lido—is said to be there?"
Hearing Ivan's response, Charlotte frowned slightly.
A bit troublesome.
Island Food City was an entire island-turned-metropolis, built as a gigantic catering hub. Its grand and sprawling architectural style was testament to Saga Lido's immense talent.
Named for its sheer variety of food and unique concept, Island Food City was a beacon in the New World, drawing in pirates from all corners. Caravans, merchant groups, and even powerful factions converged there, creating an environment that was as chaotic as it was lucrative.
The city was ruled by Domi Sis, captain of the Food Pirates, a notorious pirate with a bounty of 770 million berries. He was known as the "King of Food"—a man who had secured his empire in the New World without being overthrown, proof of his formidable strength.
Going to Island Food City carried its fair share of risks.
Charlotte's cautious nature immediately took over.
He carefully recalled the many rumors and legends surrounding the city.
So far, there hadn't been any major incidents.
It was said to be a "neutral" food city, a place where even the fiercest pirates abided by the unspoken rules to enjoy a meal in peace. As long as one followed the law, there shouldn't be a problem.
Besides, he wasn't going there to pick a fight—just to recruit a man.
That should be fine... right?
Of course, Charlotte had deliberately chosen not to use the Shipping King's network for this.
While the fortress project he was undertaking couldn't remain a secret forever, he couldn't allow the actual layout to be leaked.
There were too many critical, classified arrangements involved. The only solution was to privately recruit an architect under the Heberfil family's exclusive employ.
Only then could he ensure the fortress's secrets remained safe.
Caution above all. Safety first.
That was Charlotte's creed—a principle of wisdom.
More importantly, qualified architects were extremely rare.
And as of now, Saga Lido was the only lead he had.
No other candidates.
No other options.
"Ivan, prepare the ship. We set sail immediately."
"Yes, Boss Charlotte!"
Ivan bowed slightly and rushed off to make the arrangements.
Charlotte closed his eyes in thought. This time, he would naturally bring Beta along, along with his most trusted crew members, Lina, and a select group of elite maids.
He had a reason for bringing Lina along—her recent intense training had produced remarkable results.
She had mastered both Soru and Geppo from the Rokushiki techniques with ease. Even Charlotte had to acknowledge her extraordinary talent and potential.
As for Giant Dal, Ivan's presence in Heberfil territory would be enough to maintain order while Charlotte was away. He didn't plan to stay gone for too long.
Sigh… We are still short-handed.
---
At Sea – Ten Days Later
For Charlotte, a full ten days of sailing was pure torture.
This was his first true experience of life at sea—and it was absolute hell.
The endless waves.
The countless pirates lurking around, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
It all made his scalp tingle with discomfort.
At the moment, Charlotte was clad in a black suit, a dark red dress shirt underneath, and a finely crafted, luxurious cape.
His expression?
Pure annoyance.
Right now, he deeply missed the comfort of his massive bed back home.
"What's so fun about being a pirate?"
The thought baffled him.
People in this world had seriously broken brain circuits.
"Boss Charlotte!"
Beta's loud voice snapped him back to reality.
Charlotte looked at him listlessly. "What is it, Beta? Didn't I give you full authority to handle any pirate attacks?"
"No, Boss! This isn't about an attack!"
Beta's expression turned serious.
"I found a boy drifting unconscious on the wreckage of a destroyed ship. We rescued him!"
...Uh.
"Rescued him?" Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "Well... then we rescued him."
He waved a hand, indifferent. "We can't just let people die if we can help it."
But then—he suddenly realized something.
Saving people at sea... wasn't something to be done carelessly.
Who knew if this person was an evil pirate?
Some were more dangerous than they looked—like Blackbeard.
Charlotte sighed in frustration.
Going out to sea is really making me reckless.
"Bring him to me."
---
Medical Room – A Shocking Revelation
In the ship's medical bay, Charlotte stared at the unconscious boy with an unreadable expression.
The boy had short golden hair and wore a military uniform with white gloves.
A collar badge gleamed on his uniform, and on his left arm, the emblem of the Goltz Army was stitched into the fabric.
Charlotte's brows furrowed.
Something about this boy seemed... familiar.
Then—his dormant memories suddenly resurfaced.
His expression changed.
This was Douglas Barrett.
The infamous "Demon Heir."
A young face, yet already nearly two meters tall.
Lying there quietly.
Charlotte was shocked.
It was currently the year 1491 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
That meant there was only one year left before Douglas Barrett would join Roger's crew.
Charlotte rubbed his chin.
At this moment, Barrett was only 14 years old.
A year ago, at 13, he had already consumed the Superhuman-type Gasha Gasha no Mi.
Recently, in a fit of rage after being betrayed by his superior, Douglas, he had destroyed an entire nation and army—a crime that had led the World Government to start hunting him down.
Charlotte's thoughts grew complex.
Douglas Barrett...
A boy shaped by war, betrayal, and relentless persecution.
By 1492, he would challenge Roger, lose, and join his crew.
But later, learning of Roger's illness would shatter him.
After Roger's execution, Barrett would spiral into madness, walking a path of total destruction.
Looking at his life, one couldn't help but feel pity.
It was yet another tragic testament to the unending chaos of the pirate world.
Now—at this critical moment—Charlotte had a choice to make.
What should he do?