Chapter 14
Time seemed to slow, stretching endlessly across the horizon as Charlotte stood on the beach, the salty wind tugging at his clothes and hair. The domineering aura that had radiated from him moments ago began to fade, dimming like a dying ember—until, suddenly, his eyes snapped open.
Without warning, an invisible, powerful aura burst forth again, emanating from Charlotte like a dark sun. This time, the force was far stronger, almost tangible, shaking the waves with a violent tremor. Coconut leaves shuddered violently in the sea breeze, whipped by the shockwave of his energy.
Charlotte's gaze swept over the startled fish in the shallow water, which scattered like frightened shadows beneath the weight of his presence. A satisfied grin spread across his face.
"I'm a genius," he muttered with a laugh, pride rolling off him like the ocean waves.
As quickly as it had come, the domineering aura was withdrawn, the world around him settling back into calm. Only the small fish that had been washed up dead on the shore bore silent witness to the fierce energy that had just swept through the beach.
"Hahaha! I've finally learned to control the 'Domineering Look' freely," Charlotte said aloud, feeling a surge of triumph. "One step closer to becoming truly strong."
He swung the long sword in his hand without restraint, the blade cutting through the air with sharp precision. Sword Qi crackled around him, slashing at the sand and carving long, gleaming streaks across the beach.
With every strike, the length of his sword energy grew, reaching farther and farther.
Watching the increasing size of the sword Qi, Charlotte's heart soared with joy. He slashed relentlessly, pushing himself until his arms ached and his breath came in ragged gasps.
Days turned to weeks, and weeks into months. Charlotte's training became his world.
By the lunar calendar, it was now the year 1480.
For an entire year, Charlotte had stayed on the beach, trading the rugged mountains for the open sea breeze and soft sand. The pirates—those ruthless, lawless bandits known as the Rocks Pirates—were more active than ever, haunting the nearby waters and striking the island at least once every other month.
But the pirates were no longer invincible.
One by one, they fell to Charlotte's blade, their corpses exchanged for bounties handed out by grateful merchants and townsfolk. Each time, his younger brothers—his loyal crew—would quietly collect the rewards. No one ever suspected Charlotte's direct involvement.
Thanks to Charlotte's relentless efforts, the island had grown safer by leaps and bounds. Word spread quickly: Kamei Island was no longer a safe haven for pirates, but a fortress against them.
Beyond safety, the island prospered. Its location along the Sea King Umis's shipping route had transformed it into a bustling transit hub. The population had swelled from a mere thousand five years ago to over seven thousand—mostly refugees and escaped slaves from the dangerous second half of the New World, all rescued by Charlotte's hand.
His name was spoken with respect and sometimes reverence throughout the island.
Even Chamberlain—the Sea King's oily subordinate—had changed his tune whenever he saw Charlotte's fearless ways. The two met often now, though Chamberlain's attempts at politicking annoyed Charlotte to no end. Finally, Charlotte pushed Ivan to handle most dealings with him.
Pirate attacks only grew in frequency and ferocity, making it impossible for Charlotte to fight them all alone.
So, in the latter half of last year, Charlotte handpicked over fifty talented subordinates—rescued slaves, loyal brothers, and proven fighters—and began training them himself one day a week. Each was molded with his knowledge and commanding presence, quickly becoming his loyal supporters.
Now, even a band of five or six low-level pirates struggled to get close to the island.
Some of Charlotte's protégés had even mastered one or two of the Navy's six fighting styles, turning them into formidable warriors.
Others were assigned to learn sailing skills. For this, Charlotte enlisted Chamberlain's help, tapping into the Sea King's vast network of navigators, doctors, and boatmen.
Navigators were crucial; Charlotte sent several trusted men to study with the best. A dozen maids were trained by recruited doctors to care for the crew and injured.
Over the year, Charlotte had rescued dozens of trafficked slaves—many women who'd nowhere else to go—and arranged for them to serve alongside the maids. There were also skilled boatmen and cooks already on the island, ready to be mobilized at a moment's notice.
The trio of navigator, cook, and boatman formed the backbone of any sea voyage—and Charlotte had them all covered.
The only thing missing was a proper ship.
Originally, Charlotte had planned to build a modest vessel—around 50 meters long—due to limited funds. But with the rising pirate threat and growing bounties, his finances had skyrocketed.
When Chamberlain learned Charlotte was building a ship, he expressed full support, knowing Charlotte was a crucial player.
In just one year, Charlotte had personally slain over a thousand pirates—a fact Chamberlain proudly reported to the Sea King.
The Sea King himself took notice and became intrigued by this teenage prodigy.
Secretly, the Sea King instructed Chamberlain to nurture Charlotte without revealing his true identity. Chamberlain fully backed Charlotte's ambitions—providing top-quality materials, the finest craftsmen, and the best navigators he could find.
Though the materials weren't the mythical Adam Treasure Tree wood, they were the best alternatives available.
With funds, materials, and men at his disposal, Charlotte ordered a massive ship: 20 meters long, 30 meters wide, and towering high.
Currently under construction at the port, the ship was expected to be ready in about a year.
Despite having only about seventy boatmen on the entire island, and just a dozen assigned to the ship's construction, Charlotte wasn't in a rush. There were still three years before he planned to sail.
Each day was filled with training—whether with his younger brothers or honing his mastery of the 'armed color domineering.'
His life had taken on a steady, fulfilling rhythm.
Charlotte's recent training sessions on his 'armed domineering' style had started with a confrontation just months prior.
A notorious pirate captain with a bounty of millions had appeared at Kamei Island's port, radiating deadly malice.
Without hesitation, Charlotte unleashed a massive flying slash—nearly thirty meters long—that struck the pirate ship hundreds of meters away.
To his surprise, a figure leapt from the ship and blocked the attack with bare fists, absorbing the blow despite severe injuries.
Intrigued, Charlotte allowed the pirate crew to anchor in port but ordered the locals to clear the area, leaving him alone to face the bandits.
True to their fearsome reputation, the pirates launched cannon fire from a distance, shells hurtling toward the harbor.
Charlotte barely flinched. With a casual flick of his sword, all the cannonballs exploded midair, their wreckage plummeting harmlessly into the sea.
As he waited for the next move, a sudden chill swept over him, unexpected in the autumn air.
Winter's still two months away. Why do I feel this cold?
A deep unease settled in Charlotte's chest, foreshadowing that the challenges ahead would be far more dangerous than mere pirates.
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