Manpower and Funding

The sea breeze carried dampness as it swept through the silent dock district. Only a few gas lamps struggled in the darkness, casting dim, wavering halos of light.

Suddenly, a piercing shriek tore through the air from high above, drawing nearer and nearer before ending in a dull, thunderous crash that shattered the stillness of the night.

Dawn descended from the sky, landing steadily on the soft earth at the island's edge and kicking up a faint ring of dust.

He carefully set Robin down. Though the girl's face showed some fatigue from the journey, there was little panic in her eyes. Instead, she carried a composure far beyond her years, along with... a trace of dependence that was difficult to detect.

Without saying much, Dawn took a Den Den Mushi from his coat. Its "purururu" rang especially clearly through the silent night.

"Stella, we've arrived. Where are you now?"

Less than ten seconds later, the Den Den Mushi was answered. Dawn picked up the receiver and asked directly.

A gentle female voice came from the Den Den Mushi's mouth:

"Walk about five hundred meters east along the coastline. You'll see a path half-hidden by weeds. Follow it in, and I'll be waiting for you at the tavern at the end."

"Understood. Stay alert. We'll be there soon."

After confirming the location, Dawn put away the Den Den Mushi and gestured in a direction for Robin. The two moved one after the other, disappearing into the shadows deeper within the island.

Before long, following Stella's directions, they found a solitary wooden tavern at the edge of the dense forest.

Dawn pushed open the wooden door, and a strange smell hit him head-on—a mixture of cheap alcohol, sweat, and... something burned.

The sight inside the tavern was rather bizarre.

A group of burly men lay sprawled across the floor. Their faces were twisted, frozen in lecherous and disgusting expressions. Each of them bore burns of varying severity, blackened marks branded into their skin. The scorched smell in the air came from them.

In stark contrast to the mess covering the floor was the graceful figure seated behind the bar.

Stella rested her chin on one hand while idly playing with an empty wineglass in the other, smiling at the two people who had entered.

Robin merely swept her gaze over the people on the floor. Her expression showed little reaction as she rushed straight behind the bar, her voice full of dependence and a hint of barely noticeable grievance.

"Big Sister Stella!"

Stella hurriedly set down her glass and opened her arms to catch the charging Robin. She gently patted her back, her voice soft enough to melt water.

"Alright, alright. It's good that you arrived safely. You didn't run into any trouble on the way, did you? Look at that little face of yours, it's covered in dust."

Robin rubbed against Stella's embrace, then raised her face and complained in a slightly coquettish tone.

"It was fine. Dawn just flew too fast. The wind made my face hurt."

Dawn did not interrupt the warm scene. He silently glanced at the unconscious burly men beneath his feet and immediately understood what had happened.

Most likely, these blind drunks had seen Stella alone and noticed her outstanding looks. Emboldened by alcohol, they had tried to harass her, only to kick an iron plate and be effortlessly taken down by Stella's increasingly proficient flame abilities.

In the Four Seas, where people generally relied on physical combat and Flintlocks, it was simply an overwhelming advantage.

Dawn could not help feeling a trace of emotion. To ordinary people, the power of a Devil Fruit truly was like a natural disaster.

Without drawing attention to himself, he activated Kurouzu and absorbed the trash that needed disposing of into its compressed space. Then, with a casual motion, he shut the tavern door, completely cutting off any prying eyes from outside.

Only after finishing all that did he turn his attention back behind the bar.

Stella was carefully wiping Robin's face. Robin wore the bright, cheerful smile a girl her age should have had, yet one that had been almost entirely absent from her past experiences.

Seeing the two women as close as sisters, a nearly imperceptible softness flashed through Dawn's eyes.

It seemed that, under my influence, Robin's personality had changed completely...

If her original fate had played out, she definitely could not have been as cheerful and trusting of others as she was now. She would have instinctively shut away her heart and never easily revealed her thoughts to anyone. Still, the way things were now was ultimately a good thing.

With that thought in mind, Dawn walked to the bar, pulled out a wooden chair that looked fairly sturdy, and sat down.

He extended a finger and lightly rapped his knuckles against the wooden counter, producing a "knock knock" that drew the attention of the two women, who had been talking quietly.

Stella and Robin looked over at him at the same time, questions in their eyes.

Dawn organized his thoughts, then stated his plans one word at a time.

"I've thought it over. Constantly running away is ultimately the worst option. If we keep taking hits passively, sooner or later, we'll run out of strength."

"I don't intend to keep running forever. I know very well that there is only one way to truly escape the World Government's endless pursuit: destroy them instead. And that requires enormous financial support, as well as reliable manpower."

Stella spoke at just the right moment.

"So, are you planning to start accumulating funds first, or recruit like-minded companions first?"

Her heart had long since become tied to Dawn. She had no objections whatsoever to the seemingly insane idea of opposing the World Government.

Robin was more practical. She pointed out the issue without hesitation.

"If we're accumulating funds, Dawn, are you sure you know how to do business? Big Sister Stella and I aren't good at that either."

Like Dawn, she was a target of the World Government's pursuit. Their positions naturally aligned, so she had no objection to opposing the World Government. But she cared more about whether it was actually feasible.

Dawn gave Robin's bluntness an approving smile. Clearly, he had already thought it through.

"I've decided to prioritize accumulating funds. I don't have an urgent need to recruit companions in the short term. Building trust takes time, and acting rashly may invite disaster instead. We can discuss that once our foundation is more secure."

He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice as he continued.

"As for how we'll accumulate funds... I'm not planning to do legitimate business. You and I both know our identities are too sensitive to withstand scrutiny through official channels.

"I plan to start with the underworld. It's a mixed bag here, and strength writes the rules. It's the perfect stage for people like us. And in the West Blue... there is no shortage of shady industries with staggering profits."

Stella casually picked up a newly opened bottle of fruit wine from the bar and took an elegant sip. The golden liquid complemented her hair perfectly. Her eyes shimmered as she looked toward the high-spirited blond youth.

"Since you've considered things so thoroughly, I suppose you've already chosen a target as well?"

Dawn nodded confidently, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"When I was resupplying on the merchant ship, I overheard the crew talking about the location of the West Blue's largest gunpowder supplier.

"Interestingly, he is also the only major figure in the West Blue underworld who has not deliberately concealed the location of his headquarters.

"That arrogance has given us the perfect opportunity. He'll be our first target!"

In the current pirate world, military technology mostly remained in the age of Flintlocks. Selling standard weapons was certainly highly profitable, but it could not compare to the profits gained by directly controlling the sales channels for a strategic resource like gunpowder.

Every Flintlock weapon depended on gunpowder. Controlling gunpowder meant, in a sense, seizing the lifeline of countless forces and pirate crews.

Seeing that Dawn's thinking was clear and his target definite, Stella and Robin exchanged a glance. Both saw approval in the other's eyes, then nodded together.

"Alright. We'll do as you say."

TO BE CONTINUED