Chapter 154: Plan to Go to Sea
Chapter 154: Plan to Go to Sea
After Charlotte decided to go out to sea, he didn't do so recklessly.
He picked up his Den Den Mushi and called a number he had memorized.
"Moshi Moshi!"
A groggy female voice came from the other side.
"Xia Qi! Long time no see!" Charlotte said as he settled onto the sofa.
After Charlotte's greeting, there was silence on the other end of the line.
Charlotte didn't rush her. He waited patiently for a few seconds.
"Long time no see, Brother Charlotte," Xia Qi's voice finally replied from her bar on Island No. 13 of the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Sister Xia Qi is still the same! It's been two years since we last met. I heard you moved to the Sabaody Archipelago. Is that true?"
Charlotte smiled as he spoke, his tone casual but meaningful.
Xia Qi's pupils shrank at his words.
"Brother Charlotte, you're very well-informed! I did come to the Sabaody Archipelago after the Rocks Pirates disbanded, but I didn't tell anyone else!" Xia Qi took a deep breath, the cigarette in her hand nearly burning to the filter.
"Haha! A few friends of mine happened to see you there, Sister Xia Qi. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known you'd settled right under the Navy Headquarters' nose," Charlotte said, his tone light but carrying an undertone of warning.
Xia Qi felt a chill run down her spine.
"Brother Charlotte, what do you need today? If it's something I can help with, I'll do my best!" Xia Qi replied, her calm voice masking the tension in her grip on the Den Den Mushi.
"Haha! I do have a favor to ask, Sister Xia Qi. After all, you're a master of intelligence!" Charlotte replied with a laugh.
"Oh? No problem! We're old colleagues. Tell me, what do you need?" Xia Qi said, her voice regaining its composure.
"There's an island in the New World called Shuigu Town. I need its exact location," Charlotte stated his purpose.
"No problem! I'll send you the information as soon as I have it," Xia Qi replied without hesitation.
"Thank you, Sister Xia Qi!" Charlotte hung up, satisfied.
He bore no ill will toward Xia Qi; he had only wanted to scare her a little.
Over the past year, Charlotte had often wondered how the Roger Pirates had known about the Valley of the Gods.
After piecing together information from his current knowledge and later events, he concluded that Xia Qi was likely involved.
As Rocks's intelligence officer, Xia Qi would have had access to such information. If Rocks knew the location of the Valley of the Gods, Xia Qi undoubtedly did as well.
Considering her later connection to Rayleigh and the Roger Pirates, Charlotte felt he had pieced together the truth.
His test had confirmed his suspicions. Charlotte was now certain of Xia Qi's role in sharing the location with the Roger Pirates.
He had only wanted to remind her to tread carefully—and to obtain the information about Shuigu Town for free.
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In the days that followed, after Charlotte announced his plan to go to sea, his crew sprang into action.
Supplies were loaded onto Charlotte's massive ship, which had taken five years to build.
This ship was the largest among all pirate vessels. Charlotte wasn't one to compromise on comfort or utility.
The only dissatisfaction he had was that it was a traditional sailing warship, neither steam-powered nor equipped with advanced technology.
"Looks like it's time to visit Punk Hazard," Charlotte thought to himself.
With the appearance of Stussy, Charlotte was sure that Vegapunk had already been recruited by the World Government.
With his Brain-Brain Fruit ability, Vegapunk, a genius five hundred years ahead of his time, could easily design a ship that didn't rely on sails—or even one with wings.
The thought of a flying ship excited Charlotte.
He also remembered the existence of Ark Maxim on Sky Island, a ship powered by electricity. The potential of such technology in the pirate world was staggering, not to mention the Golden City built on it.
Charlotte planned his journey carefully.
First, he would go to Shuigu Town to obtain the Vampire Fruit.
Next, he would head to Punk Hazard to steal Vegapunk.
Then, he'd visit Dressrosa to investigate rumors of Devil Fruits in the kingdom and explore the Lilliput Kingdom.
After that, he would pass through Fishman Island to the first half of the Grand Line, where he'd go to Sky Island to acquire the Thunder Fruit and the Ark Maxim's blueprints.
He also planned to visit the Drum Kingdom to recruit doctors for his ship and retrieve two Devil Fruits from its treasury, the Junjun Fruit and the Swallow-Swallow Fruit.
From there, he'd experience the Upside-Down Mountain and journey to the North Blue and West Blue. In the West Blue, he planned to locate the iceberg hiding the Babao Navy's treasure hoard.
He also wanted to visit O'Hara, the archaeological island that would be destroyed in a dozen years. It was now or never.
Finally, he would make a leisurely trip to the South Blue before heading to the East Blue, famously known as the "Sea of Protagonists."
After a voyage across the seas and the Grand Line, Charlotte estimated it would take seven or eight years before he returned to the New World.
By then, he would have grown far stronger, his crew more formidable, and his resources vastly expanded.
The only concern was the potential for a Navy ambush. However, Charlotte felt confident that the Navy wouldn't have time to focus on him.
The Golden Lion Shiki's arrogance had only increased, drawing the Navy's attention. Sengoku was keeping a close eye on the Flying Pirates, while Garp was locked in a game of cat-and-mouse with the Roger Pirates.
The Whitebeard Pirates, meanwhile, were secure in the territory they had reclaimed after Rocks's destruction.
The only admiral likely to move against him was Zephyr.
Cyborg Kong, as Navy Marshal, was far too busy to act unless Charlotte did something drastic, like attacking the Celestial Dragons or slaughtering marines.
Satisfied with his plans, Charlotte closed his notebook with a smile.
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