People Sit at Home, and the Pot Falls from the Sky
"Boy, are you the mysterious swordsman who appeared in the floating city of Foodvalten?"
The golden-haired man who had been calm and composed moments ago suddenly exuded a suffocating aura. His eyes, sharp as blades, locked onto the young man before him.
It was Golden Lion Shiki, one of the most fearsome pirates in history, the man who once stood shoulder to shoulder with Roger and Whitebeard.
Charlotte could feel the weight of Shiki's Haoshoku Haki—the legendary Conqueror's Haki, a power only possessed by those born to be kings. Unlike other forms of Haki, it could not be trained or acquired; it was a testament to one's innate dominance.
No!
Despite the immense pressure crushing down on him, Xia Luo gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand his ground. His body trembled, but his will did not waver.
"You think I'd admit to something like that just because you're pressing me?" he spat, eyes burning with defiance.
"Jihahaha!" Shiki's laughter rang through the air. "Still putting on an act, brat? You're not being very sincere!"
With a flick of his wrist, his Haki surged again. The pressure doubled.
The air itself seemed to tremble under the force of his will. The weaker members of Charlotte's crew—Ivan, Lina, Beta, and the others—couldn't hold on. Their eyes rolled back, foam formed at their lips, and they collapsed where they stood.
Shiki sneered. "Haoshoku Haki is truly a convenient tool for getting rid of small fry."
His gaze returned to Charlotte, who was still resisting. Despite being on the verge of collapse, the young man's defiant spirit intrigued him.
This brat has potential.
Shiki smirked. "Not bad. I might have some use for you."
His eyes flickered to the others. "A few of your people aren't half-bad either. Let's see how far you can all go."
His voice turned cold. "Boy, in this world, the weak have no right to live. If you're lying to me, you die."
Charlotte's breath hitched. A chill ran down his spine.
This man isn't joking. He's a complete lunatic.
Shiki slowly unsheathed his dual swords, Oto and Kogarashi.
The killing intent was suffocating.
Nearby, Ivan and the others struggled to stand, their faces pale, but they refused to kneel. The sheer force of the moment stirred something deep inside Charlotte.
This place…
This island, this city… Foodvalten was his home.
Here, he had found companions. Friends. Family. A place where he belonged.
And now, just because some pirate decided to show up and make demands, all of that was going to be taken away?
No.
No!
"DAMN IT!!!"
A roar erupted from his throat.
Lightning crackled in the air.
A second surge of Haoshoku Haki burst forth from Charlotte's body—wild, untamed, and overwhelming. Black lightning danced in the sky, arcs of power tearing through the atmosphere.
It was an undeniable sign. He, too, was born with the power of a king.
Ivan and the others—already struggling—succumbed to the overwhelming clash of wills and lost consciousness.
Shiki's smirk vanished. His expression turned serious.
For a moment, two monstrous forces clashed—then, just as quickly as it began, it ended.
Charlotte staggered, panting heavily.
Shiki, on the other hand, let out a triumphant laugh.
"Jihahaha! Awakening Haoshoku Haki for the first time really takes it out of you, huh?" He nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."
His grin widened. "Hiberfield Charlotte… I like you."
Then his expression turned sharp.
"Join my crew. Become a member of the Flying Pirates."
There it was. The inevitable invitation.
Charlotte scoffed. A pirate? Me?
There was no way in hell.
"Sorry. Not interested."
His refusal was instant. He didn't even think twice.
For a brief moment, silence hung in the air.
Then Shiki's face darkened. His golden locks swayed as his aura turned menacing.
"Boy," he said slowly, "this isn't a negotiation."
His voice was ice-cold. "The weak have no right to refuse."
Charlotte clenched his fists.
He hated the idea of becoming a pirate. There was nothing good about it.
But against Golden Lion Shiki?
He had no chance.
And he knew it.
So he made the only choice left to him.
"Fine. I'll join."
It wasn't courage. It wasn't defiance.
It was sheer, unfiltered helplessness.
I can't beat this guy.
I really can't.
So he gave up.
Shiki let out another boisterous laugh. "Jihahaha! That's more like it!"
Charlotte sighed internally. Damn it. I was forced into this!
As if reading his thoughts, Shiki floated closer. Charlotte instinctively took a step to the side.
The older pirate smirked. "You're quick to adapt. Not bad, not bad. This island… it's well-run. You've got talent, boy."
Charlotte felt a headache coming. That doesn't sound like a compliment…
"Captain Shiki," he said cautiously, "this place was built by my subordinates. It has nothing to do with me."
Shiki raised an eyebrow.
Then, to Charlotte's horror, the pirate's face split into a wide, toothy grin.
"Good," Shiki said. "That means I don't have to take it from you."
Charlotte's scalp went numb. What the hell does that mean?!
Then, in front of the entire Flying Pirates, Shiki turned and made his declaration.
"Hiberfield Charlotte will be the Captain of the Sixth Division of the Flying Pirates!"
His voice boomed across the island.
Huh?!
Cheers erupted.
Charlotte felt his entire soul leave his body.
The Flying Pirates had just gained a new division captain—Hiberfield Charlotte.
He wanted to cry.
Even Chichiya, one of Shiki's subordinates, sighed in amazement.
"This guy is really a monster. He might already be stronger than the captains of the First and Second Divisions…" He shook his head. "His future will be terrifying."
Charlotte stared blankly into the distance.
This is a nightmare.
In tomorrow's newspapers, his name would be everywhere.
The Navy would start hunting him down.
There was no going back.
And as if to seal his fate further, Shiki's voice boomed once again.
"Alright, everyone! We're throwing a party! Let's celebrate our new crewmate—Charlotte of the Flying Pirates!"
"Yeah! A new captain!" someone cheered.
"Good news, worth celebrating!" The Fourth Division Captain, Moji, grinned.
"Alright," the Fifth Division Captain, Daxo, nodded with an unreadable expression.
Shiki was pleased.
Charlotte?
He was completely and utterly numb.
A real-life example of 'sitting at home and having disaster fall from the sky'...
And there was nothing he could do about it.