— — — — — — —
Gion listened carefully to the discussion within the Charlotte Family.
She, as a marine, understood that Cloud Island's strategic value wasn't the scariest part.
What was truly terrifying was…Could the Charlotte Family produce Cloud Islands without limit?
That was the real threat.
To know, the Marine Headquarters also emphasized administrative and strategic studies.
Admirals dealt with high-level military strategy and governance.
Otherwise, how would an admiral smoothly transition into the role of Fleet Admiral?
A mere brute wouldn't just step up and take command. That would be impossible.
Whether it was Sengoku, who later became Fleet Admiral, or Akainu, or even Zephyr as the Marine Instructor—
Even when Zephyr left the Marines and formed his own faction, his management was always methodical and effective.
They all had the necessary skills.
Gion, being a top graduate, naturally understood the immense significance of Cloud Island.
"Hmm?"
Lost in thought, Gion snapped back to reality when she noticed everyone staring at Opera in surprise.
Opera raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "What's with those looks? Don't look at me like I'm an idiot! I'm a general skilled in both strategy and combat! You all act like you underestimate me every day!"
He pouted in annoyance.
"Hahaha!"
His siblings couldn't help but burst into laughter.
To be fair, their reaction wasn't unfounded. The five Opera brothers were known for being reckless brutes, always itching for a fight.
It was natural for them to be seen that way.
Joey chuckled. "It's not that surprising. People change in just a few days, let alone years. But Opera, your point is valid—Cloud Island as a strategic resource makes sense. Compote, can these islands be mass-produced?"
Compote shook her head. "Big Brother, not exactly. The Goblins modified the island, but the key issue is materials. According to them, mass production requires a special mineral called Cloudstone."
Joey nodded. "Got it. Then for now, we won't focus on Cloud Islands. But tell me—was only one Cloud Island built?"
"No!" Compote answered. "Besides Cloud Island, they also built 30 Cloud Ships, each the size of a standard 1,000-man vessel. They follow the same concept as Cloud Island."
Joey thought about it.
There was no denying it—Cloud Islands and Cloud Ships were major strategic assets.
Right now, the Dark Trade Guild's business was tough.
Since they couldn't operate through the Red Line, their only route was via Fish-Man Island.
The problem was—The dangers of Fish-Man Island were undeniable.
Even with the Charlotte Family's influence, one out of every ten ships faced serious trouble.
That was unavoidable. No matter how careful they were, accidents happened.
But with Cloud Ships and Cloud Islands, their trade wouldn't be restricted by the World Government anymore.
After thinking for a moment, Joey said, "Overall, there's no doubt about the importance of Cloud Island. I'll look into Cloudstone. If possible, forming an air force would be crucial."
"Mm!"
Everyone nodded seriously.
Indeed, if it were feasible, an air force would be invaluable.
Even with a simple hit-and-run strategy, they could wipe out their enemies without retaliation.
The mere thought of it made everyone realize just how significant this could be.
However, after briefly considering it, they decided not to dwell on it further.
And so, the meeting ended. This time, it was just a preliminary discussion.
With the new year approaching, everyone planned to relax and put other matters on hold.
A break was well deserved.
— — —
After 10 days
The new year finally arrived!
"Hahaha!"
Walking through the streets, Gion watched as everyone celebrated joyfully, feeling a bit out of place.
It was… strange.
She had never experienced anything like this in the Navy.
The Marines worked tirelessly year-round, with barely any time to rest.
After all, the seas were always chaotic. The Navy's relentless work ethic made sense.
Curious, Gion asked a maid, "Does the Charlotte Family gather like this every year?"
The maid respectfully replied, "Yes, every year."
Gion nodded in understanding.
The maid then hurried off to handle other preparations.
Just then, another maid rushed over. "Madam! This way, please. The Patriarch and the others are already seated, waiting for you."
"Me?" Gion blinked.
The maid smiled. "Of course! As the Patriarch's future wife, you have the right to sit with them. Please, follow me!"
With that, the maid led Gion toward the castle.
Before long—In the grand banquet hall, Gion found herself surrounded by family members dressed casually, seated throughout the hall.
With the ever-growing family, the gathering had evolved beyond a simple dinner.
Now, it was a full-fledged festival.
Small groups formed here and there, laughter and joy filling the air.
"Sis-in-law, you're here!"
"Good to see you, Sis-in-law!"
"You look stunning in that outfit, Sis-in-law!"
Gion was dressed in a white dress with matching high heels.
She had to admit—Her perfectly sculpted figure made the outfit look incredible.
That morning, she had wondered why her outfit felt special.
Turns out—It was meant for the banquet.
"Uh…"
Gion's lips twitched slightly, unsure of how to respond.
Compote approached with a smile. "Sis-in-law, what are you thinking about?"
Gion shook her head. "I… just…"
"Hehehe."
Before Gion could refuse, Compote gently reminded her, "Listen, in four months, if the Charlotte Family still stands and Totto Land is officially established, you won't have any reason to hesitate anymore. Remember that, Sis-in-law?"
Hearing Compote's firm words, Gion stiffly nodded.
She knew that Compote was speaking the truth.
Four months! If Totto Land truly became a nation, then her fate would be sealed.
The Navy wouldn't come to rescue her.
Though the Five Elders were displeased with Totto Land now, If Totto Land successfully established itself,
The World Government would change its stance immediately.
At that point—Gion was certain. She wouldn't be a captive anymore—She would be an official consort, possibly even a political token handed over willingly.
For the government, Using a woman to secure relations with Totto Land was a simple and effective strategy.
A perfectly logical decision.
"Sigh."
With a soft sigh, Gion smiled faintly and said, "You're right. In four months, if Totto Land is established, I'll accept my role."
Gion couldn't help but shake her head in self-mockery.
After chatting with Gion for a bit, Compote eventually left to tend to other matters.
At that moment,
Joey suddenly spoke up, "Alright, you brats!"
Everyone turned to look at him.
Sitting at the head of the table, Joey raised his glass with a smile. "A new year has begun! And we're only four months away from our success!"
Hearing their eldest brother's words, everyone clenched their fists.
Only four months remained.
As long as they succeeded, everything would be in place.
Joey continued, "From the Big Mom Pirates to the Dark Trade Union—until now, our final step is Totto Land itself. Once we establish our nation, then… we will have completed the first stage of our plan!"
Gion blinked in surprise. "The first stage?"
This was only the first stage?
For most people, achieving what the Charlotte family had already done would be considered a complete success.
But for the Charlotte family, this was just the beginning?
Perospero asked, "Big Brother! If this year's goal is to establish our nation, then what's the future goal?"
"Heh heh heh—"
Joey chuckled lightly. "The future of the Charlotte family? It's nothing less than conquering endless worlds. In the future, there will be limitless possibilities."
"We don't need to care about anyone else in this world—they're all just stepping stones! Our eyes are on the Multiverse!"
"Understood!"
Hearing Joey's words, everyone smiled and raised their glasses.
Then, they downed their drinks in one gulp.
At this moment, Gion was completely lost.
She could understand every word they were saying. But when put together, she had no idea what they meant.
Endless worlds? Stepping stones? Multiverse?
What did that even mean?
At that moment, Gion felt utterly confused.
But she chose to stay silent and not ask questions.
And with that, The banquet officially began. Everyone in the Charlotte family dressed casually.
After all, this was a family gathering—there was no need for formality.
"Sister Broyé!"
Custard, Angel, Brûlée, and the others rushed over excitedly.
Custard curiously asked, "Sister! Is being a minister really exhausting?"
She was speaking to Broyé.
Normally, they didn't bring up this topic much. But today, they decided to ask.
Broyé tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Actually, it's not that tiring! There are people handling everything. All I have to do is make the final decision. And if there's something I can't decide, I just report it to Sister Amande, and she takes care of it!"
"Oh!"
Cornstarch and Moscato, the two siblings, also gathered around. Curious to hear more.
Since they were also future ministers, they wanted to learn as much as possible.
Broyé raised her small hand and started explaining. "Our work isn't that hard! But! We still have to take things seriously every day. We can't let problems arise in the islands we oversee!"
"Oh!"
The girls nodded adorably.
However, each island had a different race, so a different way to manage.
For example, the Tontatta Tribe was extremely gentle.
As for the Longleg Tribe? Zuccotto needed to beat them into submission.
After that, they would behave.
As for other races? Each had its own unique nature.
In short, they could learn general management strategies from each other, but when it came to the details?
That was something each minister had to figure out on their own.
Still, listening to how Broyé handled things was definitely helpful.
The entire Charlotte family wore smiles on their faces, enjoying Broyé's little lecture.
.
.