Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Protecting Peace with the Sword
Chapter 4: Protecting Peace with the Sword
Charlotte Hiberfield had become famous on Ratti Island, a situation that left him a bit disheartened. How was he supposed to keep a low profile now? If word got out, the consequences would be unimaginable, causing him all sorts of trouble.
The main reason he wanted to keep a low profile was to avoid problems that would interfere with his training. But now, things were different. Lina, the head maid, had been following Charlotte for almost a month and had grown accustomed to his modest character. Always so kind, always so radiant.
Soon, Charlotte arrived at the Hiberfield family's port. The captured pirate ship had already been reflagged with the Hiberfield family emblem: a pair of white angel wings joined together with a royal sword in the middle. This symbolized protecting peace with the sword. It was clearly Ivan's idea.
Looking at the old pirate ship, even though it wasn't big, this small port on Ratti Island seemed even smaller. "Boss, I think for the better development of the Hiberfield family, we should repair and expand the port," Ivan said seriously to Charlotte.
This was something Ivan had been planning for a while. The family's growth wouldn't rely on looting; their future would depend on maritime trade. This small port didn't meet the future development expectations of the Hiberfield family. They needed a large port to collect commercial taxes and maintain stable income.
For a moment, Charlotte hesitated. He understood the importance of the port for the family but also knew it could bring trouble. A thriving port could easily attract the attention of pirates.
Ivan saw the doubt on Charlotte's face, thinking the boss was deep in thought. As the leader of the Hiberfield family, every decision he made affected their future. Charlotte was indeed worried; it was a tough decision. On one hand, it wasn't safe, and on the other, he needed a comfortable life. This caused a dilemma.
How to solve this? He needed to think it through.
"Then..." Just as Charlotte was about to speak, he saw the eager look in Ivan's eyes and decided firmly. His subordinates were working hard for his comfort, so he had no reason to refuse outright.
"Let's give it a try!"
Ivan was ecstatic. The boss was as wise as always. "Boss, don't worry. I've already talked to Old Lati about designing the plans." Charlotte nodded. If they were going to do it, it was better to be prepared.
The affairs of the Hiberfield family were in capable hands with Ivan, which was reassuring. Thanks to Ivan's efforts, this poor family could survive. He had time to train and relax. After all, although there were risks, as long as his reputation didn't grow too much, it wouldn't be a problem if he didn't attract too much attention.
Ports were not scarce in the New World. In the worst-case scenario, they could raise the flag of one of the Four Emperors and pay a little for protection, which was common in the New World to ensure safety. Thinking about this, Charlotte felt more at ease.
Besides, developing Ratti Island's port would take a long time. Old Lati was the original designer of this small port. He had gone to sea to learn about architectural design and was a very competent old man.
Charlotte began to think seriously, stroking his chin. Although Ratti Island was a bit remote, its geographical location wasn't bad. With the protection of a future Emperor's flag and a reasonable commercial tax, it could become a maritime transit point. Then, there would be a steady flow of money, strengthening their power.
Money is also a form of power. To relax, he needed money and power; after all, he couldn't live on bread and water or work for others. As for pirates, they knew nothing about commercial development. Preferably, it would be under the flag of the Whitebeard crew.
"How much money do we have in our accounts, and how much would it take to fully implement the plan?" Charlotte asked Ivan. After all, aside from training, he just wandered around.
"Boss, that depends on Old Lati's plans. The size of the port, materials, labor, everything requires money, and if we choose good materials, the price will be high. This small port alone cost 1.6 billion berries back in the day."
1.6 billion berries? That's a lot! The money was worth a lot now, and that was a huge amount. Charlotte had never seen so much money since he was born in this world.
"We don't have enough money in our accounts, only the 30 million berries you stole from the pirates," Ivan explained to Charlotte.
It was a shame that the former mafia boss, although he invested in the port, didn't have the capacity to attract many commercial ships. This led to the port's current situation; it was due to a lack of capability. Charlotte was speechless as he listened to Ivan's analysis. The only 30 million berries were stolen from the pirates.
"What is our biggest source of income?" Charlotte asked. Luckily, there was no rush; he could find some ways to raise funds gradually. This was a good excuse to delay.
"We charge a protection tax and sometimes a commercial tax," Ivan replied, a bit embarrassed.
Charlotte was surprised to hear this, so few businesses! It was a miracle they hadn't starved to death. "Boss, now we have a ship, and we can go fishing in distant waters." Charlotte nodded at Ivan's words. The family was poor; there was no other choice.
(End of Chapter)
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