One pirate raised his hand and signaled. The other two immediately took a detour, circling through other alleys to cut her off.
Shalria glanced back. Only one pirate remained behind her, and she felt a little relieved. But when she looked ahead again, the other two were already blocking the intersection. She skidded to an abrupt halt.
"You little brat! How dare you hit me? You'll pay for that today!"
Watching the three pirates close in, Shalria backed away inch by inch until her back pressed against the wall.
"Shigan!"
One pirate dropped to the ground.
"Who's there?"
Two more sounds rang out, and the remaining pirates fell.
Akali stepped in front of Shalria. "Lady Shalria, are you all right?"
Shalria gasped for breath. "Akali, you came just in time."
Charlos was still flipping the coin in his hand when he spotted Akali bringing Shalria back from a distance. He crooked a finger, and Amina brought him a glass of juice.
Charlos took a sip. "Mm, very good."
Shalria walked up to Charlos, her spirits low, still shaken by what had just happened.
"What's wrong, Shalria? Lost your confidence after one little setback?"
"Charlos, was I too naive?"
Charlos raised his hand and gently stroked Shalria's head.
"You're just too young. You'll understand naturally when you grow up."
"All right, let's head back."
That night in the temporary palace, Charlos sat on the sofa, his gaze resting on the fruit platter as he kept flicking the coin into the air.
"Akali, tell me what happened to Shalria today."
Akali bowed and nodded. "Yes."
Amira and Amina listened quietly as Akali recounted the entire incident. Once Akali finished, Amira slowly spoke:
"Saint Charlos, if that's the case, can we really establish ourselves on these seas if we set sail in half a month?"
That night in the temporary palace, Charlos sat on the sofa, continually flicking a coin into the air.
"Akali, tell me what happened to Shalria today."
Akali obeyed, recounting everything that had happened during the day.
After listening, Charlos stopped tossing the coin and lowered his gaze to it in his palm. Then he tossed it up again.
Clack!
The coin landed on the floor, heads up.
He spoke calmly. "After we inspect the ship in half a month, we'll continue our intensive training. Two years will be enough to hone our strength. After that, we'll officially set sail."
Amira and Amina bowed in unison. "Yes."
The next morning, in the Rosy Family's magnificent great hall.
Charlos entered the hall and looked at the head of the Rosy Family, seated on the dais.
"Grandfather."
The head of the Rosy Family looked at Charlos. "What is it, Charlos?"
"I realized I'm still too weak." Charlos lowered his head and spoke slowly. "So I want to postpone setting sail. Can I wait until I'm stronger?"
"You decide to sail, and then you decide to postpone it. Don't you think you're being too willful?"
Charlos raised his head and looked at the patriarch. "That may be a little willful of me, but I don't think recognizing my own weakness is a bad thing."
The Rosy Family patriarch's expression suddenly softened, and he laughed. "Haha! It's good that you understand that, Charlos. You have my approval."
"But I am curious. Why are you so determined to become stronger? You already live in abundance. If all you want is to join God's Knights, your current training regimen will suffice."
Charlos slowly raised his hand and pointed at the sky. "Grandfather, that position."
The head of Charlos's family appeared before him in an instant and clamped a hand over his mouth, his eyes filled with horror. "Do you realize what nonsense you're spouting?"
Charlos stared at the Rosy Family patriarch, who stared back at him for a long time.
The Rosy Family patriarch slowly released his hand. "This matter ends here."
Charlos nodded.
The Rosy Family patriarch said, "I'll have someone deliver a sea chart to Akali later. There's an island well suited to your training."
"Thank you, Grandfather."
"Now get lost. You're giving me a headache."
Charlos turned and left the hall.
Once the boy's figure had vanished completely, the Rosy Family patriarch let out a long breath. His gaze shifted to a dark corner of the hall.
A masked CP0 agent emerged.
The patriarch's voice was low and cold. "You know what to say and what not to say, don't you?"
The masked CP0 agent bowed slightly and gave a small nod.
Charlos returned to his chambers and spoke to Akali.
"Akali, pack up. Get ready to leave."
Akali shook her head.
"Saint Charlos, I'm sorry. You can't bring anything for this island training."
Charlos froze for a moment.
"Nothing at all?"
"Yes. The patriarch has already given me the sea chart. That island has a rule: no outside items are allowed ashore."
Charlos nodded.
"Fine. Then I'll go alone, empty-handed."
Amira and Amina immediately stepped forward beside him.
"Saint Charlos, what about us? We can come too, right?"
Akali nodded.
"Yes."
Just then, the door was pushed straight open, and Shalria rushed in.
"Charlos! I want to go too! I'm coming with you! I want to get stronger too!"
Charlos looked at her.
"What are you tagging along for?"
"I've made up my mind! After what happened last time, I'm going to beat up every bad pirate out there!"
Charlos teased her offhandedly.
"Then why don't you just join the Marines?"
Shalria's eyes lit up.
"You're right! Charlos, come join the Marines with me!"
"No. I'm going to the island to train first."
"Then I'll go to the island with you! After two years of training, I'll join the Marines!"
"All right, Shalria. You can come with us."
Akali glanced down at the sea chart in her hand and raised her voice. "Saint Charlos, you have three days to rest and prepare. We'll leave after that."
Charlos asked in confusion, "Why do we have to wait three days?"
"I'd like to take a break too."
Charlos's brows instantly knitted together. "You want a break too?"
"Yes."
"All right, suit yourself."
Akali turned and left his chambers.
Charlos sat on the edge of his bed, pondering to himself.
Akali never makes personal requests like that. Why the sudden change today?
Beside him, Amira spoke slowly. "It's nothing. I heard Akali say you've been good-tempered and easy to talk to lately. She just wanted to try asking you for something once."
Charlos looked resigned. "What kind of ridiculous reason is that... never mind."
At the harbor three days later.
Charlos stepped onto the deck of the Celestial Dragon Imperial Ship.
He murmured wistfully, "It's been ages since I last rode on a Celestial Dragon Imperial Ship."
Shalria ran about the deck, her face full of excitement.
"We're going out to sea! This is my first time!"
"Then enjoy the sea breeze."
"Okay, Charlos!"
Just then, Amira and Amina approached in swimsuits.
Charlos immediately spoke up when he saw them. "You two little brats, what are you wearing swimsuits for? Go change."
They looked puzzled. "Huh? Why? We're still a long way from our destination."
"They don't look good."
Amira and Amina immediately pressed close together and stared at Charlos.
"What doesn't look good?"
Charlos put a hand to his forehead helplessly. "You've both got little kids' figures. What's there to admire?"
Shalria burst out laughing when she heard that.
"Hmph, you two idiots! Just wait! Once I grow up and have the best figure, Charlos will be head over heels for me!"
Charlos awkwardly wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead and turned to Akali beside him.
"Akali, you seem a little more human lately."
Akali looked down at the newspaper in her hands and gave a flat reply without even lifting her head.
"Mm."