Amira slowly emerged from the woods.
"Looks like fish is off the menu tonight. Let's have fruit instead."
"Huh? But I want fish," Shalria grumbled, pouting.
Amina looked at Charlos pleadingly.
"Lord Charlos, could you please catch us a fish?"
"Why don't you go?"
Amina chuckled.
"Lord Charlos, did you forget? My sister and I ate Devil Fruits. We can't go into the sea."
"Fine, fine."
Charlos turned and plunged into the water, swimming hard beneath the waves.
Amira looked at the other two.
"Let's get a fire going. We can grill the fish when he gets back."
"Yay!"
Charlos held his breath and swam through the depths.
Before long, a large octopus drifted past him.
Charlos immediately gave chase.
Sensing pursuit, the octopus thrashed its tentacles and sped away.
Charlos kicked and pulled as hard as he could.
But humans were no match for sea creatures in the water. After a long chase, the octopus left him far behind.
Helpless, Charlos surfaced, gulped down air, and dove again.
This time, he spotted a tuna.
The tuna stared at Charlos, and Charlos stared right back.
As if provoked, the tuna whipped around and charged straight at him, its sharp, pointed snout leading the way.
On shore, Shalria munched an apple and gazed out across the endless sea.
"Why isn't he back yet?"
Amina watched the water in silence and shook her head.
Just then, a dark figure burst from the woods.
Dressed in a black suit and a crow mask, it was Black Crow.
He lunged straight at them.
"Oh, here we go again."
Clang!
A sharp, solid impact rang out.
Amira instantly coated her leg in Armament Haki and met Black Crow's kick head-on.
They clashed in a blur of fists and feet, moving so fast they left afterimages.
"Sister, I'm coming!"
Amina rushed in, attacking Black Crow from the other side.
The sisters worked in perfect sync, pressing him with one attack after another.
Before long, Black Crow's fierce assault faltered, and he began to lose ground.
Amid the chaos, a dark shape shot out of the sea.
The tuna flew like a cannonball toward the center of the fight.
All three tensed and leaped apart.
Whoosh—
The tuna shot through the gap and slammed into a tree behind them. Its tail twitched faintly, its eyes rolled white, and it went still.
Water splashed as Charlos strolled out of the sea, soaked from head to toe.
"Can't get a moment's peace."
He looked at Black Crow and said lightly, "How about a round with me?"
Behind his mask, Black Crow went rigid. Cold sweat broke out across his back.
He gave Charlos a long look, then vanished into the depths of the woods without daring to linger.
The clearing fell quiet again.
Charlos turned toward the tuna hanging from the tree.
"All right. Let's eat."
Just then, the Celestial Dragon Imperial Ship came slowly into view offshore.
Shalria bit off a large piece of fish and swallowed hard.
"Ugh..."
"What's wrong, Shalria?"
"Two years without salt. It's been awful."
Charlos reached out and stroked her head.
"Look over there. That's about to end. We've all grown a lot these past two years."
"Hehe, of course we have! But we're about to part ways, Brother."
Charlos ruffled her hair again.
"Have you made up your mind? You don't want to sail off on an adventure with me?"
"No. I'm going to join the Marines and beat up those pirates."
"All right."
The magnificent Celestial Dragon Imperial Ship drew up beside the shore.
Akali leaped from its deck onto the sand and looked toward the woods.
"Black Crow, your mission is over."
Black Crow slowly emerged from the trees, nodded, and said nothing.
Akali then turned to Charlos and bowed respectfully.
"Saint Charlos, please come aboard."
The group gathered themselves and boarded the Celestial Dragon Imperial Ship one after another.
"Akali, get me a newspaper," Charlos said.
"Yes."
Charlos took the paper and glanced at the front page.
A wanted poster dominated the center. Its photograph showed a young girl.
The headline read: Devil's Child Nico Robin. Bounty: seventy-nine million Beli.
Shalria leaned over for a look and gasped.
"She looks about my age. Why is she worth so much?"
Charlos gently tapped her nose.
"You're worth far more than she is."
"Of course I am!"
Charlos set down the paper and waved a hand.
Akali promptly handed him a Den Den Mushi.
With a click, the call connected.
"Hello, Grandpa."
At the Rosy Family's grand hall, the family patriarch answered, coughing lightly.
"Cough, cough. What is it, Charlos?"
"Grandpa, what's wrong? Are you sick?"
"I'm old. I haven't got many years left. Now tell me why you called."
"Grandpa, I've finished my training, but I don't want to come back just yet."
"Then don't. Go enjoy yourself out there."
"Hehe, thanks, Grandpa!"
The old man continued:
"Oh, and the ship I had built for you is finished. I'll have someone bring it over later."
"You're the best, Grandpa!"
Charlos grew serious.
"Grandpa, there's something else. Shalria wants to join the Marines."
The old man frowned on the other end of the line.
"Nonsense! How can she join the Marines?"
"She says she wants to catch pirates."
The old man sighed helplessly.
"She can catch pirates anywhere. Why join the Marines? Take some CP agents with her, and she can deal with whichever pirates she likes. Wouldn't that be more comfortable than serving in the Marines?"
Charlos laughed.
"What if I wanted to fight Whitebeard?"
The other end of the line fell silent for two seconds.
Then the old man said evenly:
"As long as you don't mind getting beaten up."
Charlos backed down at once.
"Hehe. Forget I said anything."
After another pause, the old man relented.
"Fine. If she wants to go, let her. I'll have a word with Marine Headquarters. No one will dare give her trouble."
Shalria's eyes lit up, and she broke into a broad grin.
"Hehe! Off to the Marines I go!"
"Watch yourself, Brother. One day, Shalria might just catch you."
"Hmph! I'll be waiting for the day you catch me!"
Charlos hung up the Den Den Mushi and turned to Akali.
"Where's the ship Grandpa had built for me?"
"In Water 7."
"Is that far from here?"
"Very far."
Charlos nodded.
"Then we'll wait at the nearest port and have them bring the ship to us."
Akali bowed. "Understood."
Before long, the Celestial Dragon Imperial Ship arrived at a coastal port and docked smoothly.
Charlos jumped from the ship and landed steadily on the dock.
Amira and Amina followed, landing one after the other.
Shalria waved her little hand at Charlos.
"I'm off, then, Brother!"
"Mm." Charlos nodded.
Akali bowed. "Saint Charlos, your personal ship will arrive soon. If you encounter any danger on the way, contact us with your Den Den Mushi."
Charlos lifted his chin, pride in his voice.
"Don't underestimate me. I didn't spend those two years training for nothing."