You Can't Afford to Offend, But You Can't Afford to Hide
"Eight Treasures Navy's Cone Pepper defeated the captain of the Golden Lion's Fourth Division, Moji!"
Charlotte's eyes lingered on the bold headline of the newspaper, his expression momentarily stunned. That name—Moji—wasn't just any ordinary pirate. He was a key figure under Golden Lion Shiki, a man who once stood alongside the great legends of the sea.
From Charlotte's perspective, Cone Pepper's potential was undeniable. His strength and leadership within the Eight Treasures Navy had already earned him recognition, but fate had dealt him a cruel hand.
It was a shame that he had encountered "Hero of the Marines" Monkey D. Garp too soon. Garp, a living legend, was one of the strongest figures in the Navy's history. His overwhelming might had shattered many ambitions, and Cone Pepper was no exception. The severe defeat he suffered had crushed not only his body but also his spirit, leaving him a shadow of his former self.
His bounty was once an impressive 500 million berries, a testament to his strength and notoriety.
However, from another perspective, Cone Pepper could be considered fortunate. He had survived long enough to become a legendary pirate, unlike countless others who had perished in pursuit of dominance.
"Survival is the true victory in this era," Charlotte mused.
He continued flipping through the newspaper, reading carefully.
After a long while, he put it down and let out a breath of relief. There was no mention of him. The incident in the Iren Kingdom had successfully blown over.
"As expected! I'm too smart for my own good!" he chuckled to himself, inwardly praising his careful planning.
The smooth resolution of the Iren Kingdom incident had been worth all his effort.
"Don't poke," he muttered absentmindedly.
Across from him, Lina observed his satisfied expression and smiled.
"Charlotte, you truly are a hero who doesn't let personal glory or shame get in the way. The Iren Kingdom is lucky to have met you."
Charlotte froze.
"Uh…?"
That was… an awfully exaggerated statement.
Trying to shake off his embarrassment, Charlotte quickly changed the topic.
"By the way, Lina, has Golden Lion contacted us recently?"
After the Iren Kingdom incident, Charlotte had deliberately avoided speaking to Golden Lion Shiki. He had even handed over the Den Den Mushi to Lina to handle any communication.
If it was something urgent, she would notify me… right?
Lina shook her head. "No, nothing since the Iren Kingdom incident."
That gave Charlotte pause.
Golden Lion Shiki, ignoring an event like this? That didn't sit right with him.
Given Shiki's arrogant and domineering personality, he wouldn't normally tolerate even the smallest act of defiance. He might not care about the lives of his subordinates, but his authority? That was an entirely different matter.
"Something's wrong…" Charlotte muttered, his expression darkening.
If Shiki wasn't reacting publicly, there was only one explanation.
He was planning something.
Charlotte shuddered at the thought. Lately, Shiki had been… eerily quiet.
And when someone like Shiki is quiet, it only means trouble.
A sense of unease settled in Charlotte's stomach.
There's a 90% chance that Shiki is preparing for something big.
Charlotte bit his lip, considering his options.
"I need to lay low for a while."
Unlike Shiki, Charlotte didn't have the luxury of pushing forward recklessly. In the pirate world, power alone wasn't enough. Connections, timing, and strategy were just as important.
With the current chaos among pirates and the Navy distracted by larger threats, this could be the perfect time to disappear for a while—perhaps even hide out in the first half of the Grand Line.
It wasn't ideal, but it was an option.
"Being low-key has its benefits," he told himself.
However, that plan came with complications. Getting back to the New World wouldn't be easy.
The Red Line split the Grand Line into two sections:
1. The first half, known as Paradise—where rookie pirates gathered before challenging the real sea.
2. The second half, known as the New World—where only the strongest could survive.
The paths between the two were limited.
Method 1: Marijoa Route
Pirates could theoretically request passage across Marijoa, but that meant dealing with the World Government.
"That's basically suicide." Charlotte dismissed the thought instantly.
Method 2: Fishman Island Route
This required a coating specialist in Sabaody Archipelago, who would coat the ship with special resin.
They would then dive 10,000 meters beneath the ocean, passing through Fishman Island to reach the New World.
However, this route was filled with dangers:
Giant sea kings.
Unstable currents.
The risk of the ship breaking under pressure.
Charlotte grimaced. "Neither option sounds good."
He hesitated.
Going to the first half of the Grand Line might be safer for now, but returning to the New World later would be a nightmare.
"This is a pain."
After much deliberation, Charlotte made up his mind.
"I'll leave the island for now."
He didn't necessarily have to head for Paradise. He just needed to avoid Golden Lion Shiki for the time being.
As for Lati Island, he wasn't too concerned about its safety.
Despite the trouble Shiki had caused, his name alone acted as an invisible shield for the island. Not many pirate crews would dare invade a territory even loosely associated with him.
Of course, some reckless fools might try, but they were in the minority.
"Lina, gather everyone. We're setting sail."
Lina nodded and quickly went to spread the news.
Charlotte leaned back, rubbing his temples.
"How did I even get into this mess…?"
He was doing just fine until Shiki showed up.
If you can't afford to offend someone, you avoid them. Right?
Apparently, not always.
Under his command, the Heberfil Pirates began their preparations with excitement.
Food? Check.
Fresh water? Check.
Weapons? Check.
Medicine? Check.
Personnel? Ready.
The Heberfil Pirates were ready to set sail.
Charlotte sighed. "This is going to be a long trip."
For now, he would focus on the journey ahead.
And pray that Golden Lion Shiki wouldn't make his life even more complicated.