Secrets of the Velocia Kingdom

At dawn the next morning, daylight broke.

Amira gently shook the sleeping Charlos awake.

Charlos opened his bleary eyes.

"What is it?"

Amira said, "Shanks is gone. I just checked his room. It was already empty. He's completely left the ship."

Charlos nodded.

"Mm, got it."

He threw back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed. Amira stepped forward and put his slippers on for him.

Charlos stood up just as Amina hurried in carrying a cup of hot milk.

Charlos took the milk and had a sip.

"Since that's the case, it's time for us to set sail too."

Amina asked curiously, "Charlos, where are we going?"

Charlos said calmly, "Shanks is off to pursue his pirate adventure. I'll take you all sightseeing around the islands instead."

Amina's eyes lit up, and she smiled.

"Really?"

Charlos said, "Of course."

Charlos walked out of the cabin and looked up at flocks of seagulls sweeping across the horizon. "Set sail."

The gangway along the ship's side slowly rose as the massive vessel prepared to leave port.

On deck, Rukia was seriously mopping the planks. As she worked, she muttered under her breath.

"Ugh, why does this deck need mopping every single day?"

Nico Robin stood nearby reading a book and gave a soft snort.

"I think the deck is already very clean."

Charlos slowly walked up behind Rukia and suddenly reached out to gently cover her eyes.

Rukia froze, then immediately spoke.

"Who is it? Nico Robin, is this you again?"

Without even looking up, Robin turned a page and calmly defended herself.

"It's not me."

Rukia was even more confused.

"Then who is it?"

Charlos slowly withdrew his hand.

"It's me."

Rukia whipped around. Seeing Charlos behind her, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Wow! When did you get up?"

Charlos raised a brow at her.

"Am I someone who never wants to get out of bed in your eyes?"

Rukia nodded vigorously, completely unapologetic.

"Yeah! And you're a huge pervert too!"

Charlos laughed helplessly.

"Hey, when was I?"

Rukia said with certainty,

"You totally are."

Charlos shook his head helplessly.

"Alright, alright. Have you eaten breakfast yet?"

Rukia puffed out her cheeks. "I already ate. We've just been waiting for you, and the food is almost cold."

"Is that so?"

"Of course it is."

Amira slowly came out of the kitchen carrying an exquisite meal and gently set it on a small table beside the deck.

Amina brought over a wicker chair and placed it steadily by the table.

Charlos walked over and slumped into the chair, gently rocking his body, lazy and relaxed.

Amina picked up a small spoon, scooped up a bite of food, and held it to his mouth.

Charlos slightly opened his mouth and quietly ate it, giving a low hum. "Mm."

When Rukia, who was mopping nearby, saw this scene, she instantly lost it.

She directly slammed the mop down onto the deck, her face full of grievance and fury.

"Damn it! Damn it! You're such a bastard!"

Charlos did not even raise his eyelids, his tone calm.

"How am I a bastard? Does me eating breakfast get in your way too?"

"It does get in my way!" Rukia glared at him furiously. "I'm working myself to death cleaning the deck here, and you're sitting there enjoying yourself in comfort!"

Charlos gave her a casual glance, his tone lazy and frank.

"I am enjoying myself."

Rukia angrily turned around and started toward her room.

Seeing this, Charlos coaxed her, "Hey, don't be angry. Just tell me what you want, and I'll give it to you."

Rukia paused and turned back to glare at him.

"I want a gun. Do you have one?"

Charlos raised a hand and touched the tip of his nose, chuckling. "Ah, I forgot to bring one."

He turned toward Amira beside him and casually ordered, "Go get my flintlock and give it to her."

Amira looked utterly shocked. "Huh? Really? But isn't that flintlock—"

"Just give it to her," Charlos interrupted.

"Oh, okay."

Amira said nothing more. She turned and went into the cabin. A moment later, she brought out an exquisite flintlock and placed it in Rukia's hands.

Rukia held the flintlock, rubbing and examining it several times before pursing her lips.

"This gun doesn't seem that great either."

Charlos said calmly, "Didn't you want one? It's yours."

Rukia tightened her grip on the flintlock and gave a haughty snort.

"Hmph, don't you dare regret it and take it back later."

"Am I that kind of person?" Charlos asked helplessly.

Rukia pursed her lips, still unconvinced.

"Who knows?"

Charlos was completely out of temper. He helplessly closed his eyes and leaned back in the wicker chair, letting Amina continue feeding him as he leisurely enjoyed the sea breeze and the morning's peace.

Just as the massive ship slowly sailed out of port, the atmosphere inside the Velocia royal palace abruptly changed.

A guard rushed into the great hall and knelt to report.

Hearing this, Duke Ain immediately strode forward and bowed as he urgently reported to the old king.

"Your Majesty! The Celestial Dragon... he's gone! His ship has already left the port!"

The old king's nerves, strained for days, suddenly loosened. He let out a long breath, though suppressed rage churned in his eyes.

"Gone? He's finally gone! Damned Celestial Dragon! He made me suffer endless humiliation these past days, leaving me terrified and uneasy every day!"

Duke Ain hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, then should we... teach them a lesson?"

"Have you lost your mind?!" the old king shouted sharply.

Duke Ain instantly clamped his mouth shut, not daring to say another word.

A moment later, a vicious gleam flashed through the old king's eyes. He lowered his voice and murmured, "We don't dare provoke them openly, but in secret, we can still cause them some trouble."

Duke Ain immediately looked up, understanding filling his eyes.

"What does Your Majesty intend to do?"

The old king gave a sinister smile, his tone cold and venomous.

"Secretly contact several pirate crews in the surrounding waters and quietly send them a large sum of money. Have them intercept and kill that ship without anyone knowing. Afterward, pin every bit of blame on the pirate crews. It will have nothing whatsoever to do with the Velocia Kingdom."

Duke Ain nodded, then quickly withdrew.

The doors to the great hall had barely closed when the old king raised a hand and beckoned. A guard standing nearby immediately stepped forward.

"After Ain has settled this matter..."

The guard's pupils suddenly contracted.

A cold smile curled across the old king's lips as he raised a hand and lightly drew it across his own throat.

Within the shadows beneath the palace's towering eaves, a figure stood silently.

He was tall and straight, his mask concealing every trace of expression. After hearing everything, he raised a hand and lightly adjusted the edge of his mask.

The next second, the figure melded into the wind and shadows, vanishing from the heights of the palace without a trace.

On the luxurious ship, Charlos reclined in his wicker chair and soon fell soundly asleep.

Amina reached out and tidied the items on the table one by one, then quietly left the deck carrying the tray.

Nico Robin closed the book in her hands and tiptoed over to the wicker chair. Looking at the sleeping Charlos, she crossed her arms over her chest, a smile playing on her lips.

"Six Fleur."

Vine-like arms appeared out of thin air from the gaps in the wicker chair: six small arms in total. One pinched Charlos's nose, one pinched his ear, and the remaining two reached toward his stomach and gently tickled him.

Rukia tiptoed over to Nico Robin and quietly handed her a foxtail grass stem.

Robin gave a slight nod. One of the small hands took the foxtail grass and slowly moved it toward Charlos's nose.