For a long time, Charlotte trained in solitude.
Just as her Conqueror's Haki was about to dissipate, Charlotte's eyes snapped open. A powerful surge of invisible energy exploded from her once more, centered around her body. This wave was even more intense than before. The surface of the sea trembled with ripples, and the coconut leaves lining the beach fluttered from the force.
She looked at the sea fish stunned by her aura and grinned. "I'm such a genius."
With a thought, Charlotte suppressed the Conqueror's Haki, and the area returned to calm. Only the dead fish washed up on the shore bore witness to what had just occurred.
"Hahahahaha! I can finally control my Conqueror's Haki at will. I'm one step closer to joining the ranks of the strong."
She swung her long sword wildly. Blades of sword energy slashed into the sand one after another, the waves of force growing visibly larger. Delighted by her progress, Charlotte continued her training until exhaustion overtook her.
...
Time flowed quietly as Charlotte honed her abilities.
By the lunar calendar, it was now the year 1480.
Over the past year, Charlotte had trained daily on the beach, rarely venturing into the mountains. The seas had become increasingly dangerous due to the activity of the notorious Rocks Pirates. Pirates frequently landed at Kamei Island's port every other month in search of plunder.
But each group that came ashore faced Charlotte. She would eliminate them, claiming their bounties through her subordinates without revealing her identity. Thanks to her efforts, Kamei Island had become a rare safe haven.
Additionally, as a strategic checkpoint for Sea King Umis' transport network, the island was now thriving. The population had swelled from just over 1,000 five years ago to more than 7,000 today. Most were refugees rescued by Charlotte from the New World's harsh southern territories.
Her name had become legendary across the island.
Even Chamberlain, Umis' appointed subordinate, drastically changed his demeanor after witnessing Charlotte's ruthless efficiency against pirates. Now, he consulted Charlotte on all matters, to the point that it annoyed her. She eventually pushed Ivan forward to deal with Chamberlain in her place.
With pirate activity increasing, Charlotte knew she couldn't fight them all herself. In the latter half of the year, she selected over 50 talented individuals, all loyal and devoted to her, many of them former slaves she had rescued.
Once a week, she trained them personally, helping them master Observation Haki and basic combat techniques. Some had even begun learning forms from the Navy's Six Powers. These would become her elite crew when she finally set sail.
Charlotte also assigned a few of them to study navigation. Chamberlain helped with this, as his connections to the Sea King provided access to experienced navigators, doctors, and shipwrights.
Navigation was especially critical. Charlotte tasked Ivan with selecting a few trusted subordinates to study under the new navigators. For medical training, she recruited a handful of doctors to teach her dozen personal maids.
During the year, Charlotte rescued many slaves, including women with nowhere to return. She gave them shelter and assigned them roles in her household. Cooks and shipwrights were already present on the island. A single command could summon more than a dozen of them when needed.
With navigators, doctors, cooks, and shipwrights in place, all that remained was a proper ship.
Initially, Charlotte only planned to construct a modest 50-meter vessel due to limited funds. But with the increasing pirate bounties pouring in, her finances improved rapidly. Even Chamberlain took interest after learning about her shipbuilding plans.
Having personally witnessed Charlotte slay over a thousand pirates that year, Chamberlain reported her actions to Sea King Umis. The Sea King took immediate notice. After learning Charlotte was still a teenager, he marveled at the rising prodigy and instructed Chamberlain to maintain a good relationship with her—without revealing the truth of his affiliation.
Thus, Chamberlain began to fully support Charlotte's endeavors. When she needed a navigator, he found one. When she needed materials, he secured the best available—not quite the legendary Adam Wood, but second only to it.
With ample funds, top-tier resources, and skilled workers, Charlotte commissioned a massive vessel: 120 meters long, 30 meters wide, and towering high above the sea. Construction was underway at the port, expected to take about a year to complete.
There simply weren't enough shipwrights on the island. Out of the 7,000 residents, fewer than 70 were trained shipbuilders. Only a dozen were assigned to her ship.
Still, Charlotte wasn't concerned. She had three years before setting sail. Time was on her side.
By now, she had completely mastered Armament Haki. Her days were filled with either training her crew or refining her own abilities.
The journey to mastering Armament Haki began a few months ago.
One day, a powerful pirate with a bounty of 100 million appeared at Kamei Island's port. Charlotte sensed the overwhelming malice radiating from him and didn't hesitate. She launched a flying slash immediately.
The 30-meter-wide arc of sword energy cut through the air, aiming straight at the pirate ship hundreds of meters away. Charlotte expected an instant kill. But to her surprise, a man leaped from the ship and intercepted the attack barehanded.
He was injured but survived.
Charlotte's interest was piqued.
She allowed the pirates to dock but warned all civilians to evacuate the port. She would face the crew alone.
The pirates lived up to their fearsome reputation. From a distance of several dozen meters, they unleashed a barrage of cannon fire at the port.
Charlotte remained unfazed. With a few elegant sword sweeps, she detonated the cannonballs mid-air. Under her Observation Haki, she tracked every shell and deflected them all into the sea.
While preparing for the enemy's next move, Charlotte suddenly felt a chill.
Autumn had just begun. Winter was still months away. So why did it feel so cold?