"Mia, calculate whether our funds are sufficient!"
"Lilith, prioritize screening the first batch of people who deserve preliminary trust from the captives and local youth willing to surrender. Conduct basic military training; we need to build the framework first!"
"Ripley, Vina! Collect all the books you can find, especially those regarding history, law, geography, and technology!
We need a group of people who understand these things! Since searching for talent isn't very effective, we'll find books and train them ourselves!"
"Gölz, take the Fishman unit and the Homies unit to strengthen patrols. Ensure that during this period, no outsiders dare to come and cause trouble!"
"Gloriosa, appease the people, and collect information on their needs and specialties. We need to know what we have."
A series of Orders were issued once again. Although the road ahead remained fraught with difficulties, the Captain's determination infected everyone.
"As for the funding issue..."
"Once things have stabilized here initially, I will personally go and 'collect' it!"
The path to establishing a kingdom was destined to be covered in thorns, but the Heavenly Calamity Pirates' footsteps would never stall because of it.
"Yes!"
As everyone left, Charlotte Linlin stared blankly at the ceiling, her pale purple hair ends fluttering in the wind.
At this stage, Inazuma could only be ground out slowly with time, and as it happened, time was the one thing she did not lack right now.
With the establishment of Inazuma, the reward from the Raiden Shogun had also arrived: a body from a God—the Body of eternity.
"I should be able to live for at least one 'Rex Lapis' era now, right?"
Charlotte Linlin thought as she looked at the pink-purple gradient hair strands fluttering onto her face... Three months passed in a flash amidst busyness and anticipation.
Totto Land Sea Area, a sea area once shrouded in despair, was quietly bursting with new life.
Between the islands, merchant ships shuttled back and forth, breaking the isolation of the past.
In the fields, farmers bent over their work; their faces no longer held numbness, but rather hope for the harvest.
In the workshops, the sound of hammers striking and the hum of looms rang out again, injecting long-lost vitality into this sea area.
Thunder God Island, inside the Tenshukaku.
Charlotte Linlin listened to Mia's report, her fingertips lightly tapping the tabletop.
"Captain, the exchange system is running well, and the production enthusiasm on each island has significantly improved. We have preliminarily mastered the resource distribution and talent situation of each island."
Mia's voice was clear and efficient as she held a thick stack of reports.
"Citrus Island's specialty fruits have successfully opened up markets in three neighboring islands, exchanging for much-needed fish catches and timber.
The third ship repair Order undertaken by Shipyard Island has also been completed, and their craftsmen's skills are steadily improving."
"In addition," Mia flipped a page,
"Following your instructions, we selected a flat area on the edge of the main island. Infrastructure is complete, and we are ready to officially begin construction on a centralized trading market and a prototype for a comprehensive school—temporarily named 'Totto Land Academy'.
We plan to first hire several old gentlemen who are literate and understand arithmetic to teach basic reading, writing, and math. Meanwhile, sisters from our ship with special skills will take turns teaching basic navigation, first aid, and simple farm tool repair techniques. The number of applicants... is more than we expected."
Charlotte Linlin nodded with satisfaction, casting her gaze out the window.
On the distant sea, Lilith was commanding the newly formed 'Inazuma Patrol' in drills. It consisted of former pirates who had been strictly screened and re-educated after surrendering, as well as a small number of local youth with clean backgrounds who joined voluntarily.
The formation was fairly neat. Although their individual combat power was worlds apart from the Heavenly Calamity Pirates, their morale was acceptable. It was enough for maintaining daily Order, delivering messages, and assisting with small disputes.
"Very good. Remember, Mia, what we want to establish is not a simple pirate stronghold." Charlotte Linlin's gaze was profound, her voice steady and powerful,
"A true 'Kingdom' needs more than just martial force; it needs Order and hope that allows its subjects to live in peace and see a future.
Law, education, economy, defense... not one can be missing. The market is the blood, and the school is the foundation."
She turned around and spoke to the core cadres listening—Mia, Gölz, Ripley, Vina, and Gloriosa, who had just woken up and walked over rubbing her eyes:
"We want everyone living here to understand that hoisting the flag of the Heavenly Calamity Pirates no longer means fear and plunder, but safety, Order, and the opportunity to obtain a better life through hard work!"
"Inazuma will be our common home. And you,"
She looked at her Crew members, her face showing a gentle smile that blended her overlord aura with a warmth only felt by internal members,
"will be the founders and guardian deities of this new home."
The eyes of the cadres flashed with the light of agreement and fighting spirit. They followed Charlotte Linlin, and what they sought was never just wealth and power.
Now, seeing this sea area change bit by bit in their hands, this sense of achievement was far stronger and more lasting than plundering a merchant ship.
"However," Ripley said, crossing her arms and pointing out calmly,
"Our defensive forces are still too weak. The patrol is fine for dealing with petty thieves and internal security, but once a decent foreign enemy invades, relying solely on them would probably..."
"I know." Charlotte Linlin interrupted her, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes,
"Therefore, basic training must not slacken. Lilith, increase the intensity of the training, weed out the incompetent, and promote those with potential and loyalty.
At the same time, Gölz, your Homies squad and the Fishman unit, as strategic mobile forces, must remain vigilant at all times."
"Understood!" Gölz responded in a muffled voice, her fists cracking as she clenched them.
"As for high-end combat power and funding sources..." The corners of Charlotte Linlin's mouth curled into a meaningful arc,
"It's also time to go out and stretch my limbs. We can't just sit around and exhaust our resources, relying on those few spoils and future taxes."
Her gaze swept across everyone, finally landing on Gloriosa and Mia:
"I will be away for a while. The daily political affairs of Totto Land will be left to you and Gloriosa to handle together. If you encounter major issues that cannot be decided, Gloriosa's opinion shall prevail.
Military defense will be fully handled by Gölz, with Ripley assisting. Vina, the collection of intelligence on Devil Fruits must not stop. Keep a close watch on the movements of the surrounding sea areas, especially those 'neighbors' who might be interested in our new territory."
"Linlin, you're going out?" Gloriosa immediately pounced over, hugging her arm, her exquisite face full of reluctance.
"Yes, it's time to 'collect' a few things." Charlotte Linlin gently patted her head, her eyes looking toward Kuri, who had grown a bit taller again.
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