Chapter 173: Land Reclamation

Chapter 173: Land Reclamation

The influx of new residents had injected vitality into Kami Island, making it more vibrant and prosperous.

Charlotte, however, had other plans for the day. He decided to head to the mountains to train and, incidentally, level some of them in the process.

Boom!

Charlotte's hands, covered in Armament Haki, were further infused with Conqueror's Haki. Red and green lightning crackled wildly around him.

With a single punch, a towering mountain over a thousand meters high crumbled into dust.

The ground quaked violently across the entire island.

---

At the External Port

A violent shockwave rippled through the area, causing panic among the newly arrived merchants.

"What's happening? Is it an earthquake?" one shouted, stumbling to the ground.

The townspeople, however, remained calm, lying on the ground until the tremors subsided. Once everything settled, they brushed themselves off and went about their business.

"Relax! It's normal. That's just Lord Charlotte practicing his boxing again. You'll get used to it!" an older man said nonchalantly, lighting a cigarette.

"Charlotte? You mean the pirate Charlotte?" one of the merchants asked cautiously, unaware of the local customs.

"Watch your mouth, you fool! Lord Charlotte isn't some pirate! He's our protector, a kind and generous man! The so-called 'pirate' label is just nonsense from the navy!" the townspeople rebuked, visibly offended.

The merchant, realizing his mistake, wisely changed the subject. "You mentioned he's practicing boxing... What exactly does that entail?"

"Practicing boxing? Simple! He's blowing up mountains with his fists!" the older man said with a smirk, pointing toward the massive plume of dust rising from the island's center.

"Another one bites the dust," someone nearby muttered.

"Yeah, that's the sixth mountain this month. He's flattening them faster than we can clear them!"

"Curse that Charlotte!" shouted a ragged-looking man in shackles. "He's got me, a former captain of a pirate crew, digging rocks like a common laborer!"

The man's complaint earned him a sharp reprimand from Wolfe, the second squad captain, who stood nearby with a whip in hand.

---

Charlotte's relentless training had practical purposes beyond self-improvement. The rubble from the destroyed mountains was being cleared by captured pirates and repurposed to expand the island's usable land.

Over 2,000 captured pirates now labored under strict supervision. They were tasked with clearing debris, filling potholes, and reclaiming land from the sea. Wolfe, in charge of the operation, kept a watchful eye on the workers.

As Charlotte descended from the mountains, Wolfe approached him with a towel, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Captain!" Wolfe called out, handing over the towel.

Charlotte wiped the dust from his face and surveyed the workers.

"Are the pirates behaving?" he asked.

"Yes, Captain. They've been completely cowed by your power. They wouldn't dare step out of line," Wolfe replied confidently.

"Good. But don't get complacent. Pirates are pirates, and you never know when they might try something. Stay vigilant," Charlotte warned.

"Understood, Captain. I'll ensure the guards remain alert," Wolfe assured him.

"If you need more manpower, talk to Carter. He can gather additional workers from the surrounding seas," Charlotte added.

Wolfe's face lit up at the suggestion. "Thank you, Captain! That'll speed things up significantly."

"Good. I'll leave this to you. I'm heading back," Charlotte said before turning to leave.

---

Returning to the island's main camp, Charlotte took stock of his base's activities. The camp had grown into a bustling hub, housing his crew, captured scientists, and various other workers.

As he approached, he spotted Barrett and Caesar Clown huddled over a strange machine.

"Hey! What are you two up to?" Charlotte asked, startling them both.

"Captain!" Barrett stood at attention.

"Mr. Charlotte!" Caesar greeted nervously.

"What's all this?" Charlotte gestured at the large contraption in front of them.

"Captain, we're working on a submarine! My Fusion Fruit ability makes it easy to solve sealing issues, and Mr. Caesar is assisting with the design," Barrett explained eagerly.

"Yes, yes! We're collaborating to create something extraordinary!" Caesar chimed in, his voice trembling slightly.

Charlotte examined the prototype, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"Excellent. If you can pull this off, you'll both be handsomely rewarded. Keep it up!"

"Yes, Captain!" Barrett and Caesar said in unison, relief washing over Caesar's face.

Charlotte gave them a nod before moving on.

---

The next stop was the scientists' quarters. Inside, a group of them huddled around blueprints and diagrams, engaged in heated discussions.

Charlotte observed them silently for a moment, a small smile playing on his lips.

Though the scientists had initially been brought here against their will, they were now immersed in their work. It seemed their brilliance had found purpose under Charlotte's leadership.

"Carry on," Charlotte said, his voice breaking through the chatter.

The scientists turned, startled, before nodding respectfully.

As Charlotte left the room, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction. His plans for Kami Island were progressing smoothly, and his vision of creating a powerful base in the New World was steadily becoming a reality.

The reclamation of land, the expansion of resources, and the innovations led by his crew and captives were all steps toward building an unshakable empire.

Charlotte looked out over his island, the setting sun casting a warm glow over the bustling activity below.

"This is just the beginning," he muttered, a determined gleam in his eyes.

---

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