One piece: Establishing a Pirate Family

Chapter 172: The Sky Pirates

"Marco! Stop bragging! It was Dad who saved Vista! Hahaha!"

A crew member standing nearby teased Marco, ruthlessly exposing him.

"What? If I hadn't rushed into the flames, Vista would've been buried in that fire!" Marco shot back, indignant.

"Lululululu! I don't want to hear it!"

The crew member laughed and ran off toward the party.

"Come on! Let's join the party too!" Marco said, pulling Vista along.

---

The bonfire was lit, and an array of food was brought out. Everyone gathered around, talking and laughing while enjoying the feast.

Whitebeard sat at the center of the crowd, his smile never fading. The joy of his crew brought warmth to his heart.

The celebration lasted until the evening. The crew, now full and tipsy, sprawled across the deck.

Whitebeard sat on the deck as well, holding a pot of wine and gazing at the stars above.

"Dad!"

Vista approached hesitantly.

"Vista! What's on your mind?" Whitebeard asked with a kind smile.

"Dad, I want revenge! The pirates who destroyed my family… they must pay!"

Vista's voice trembled with anger, his young face filled with determination.

Whitebeard took a sip of wine, his expression growing serious as he regarded the boy.

"Dad… will you help me?" Vista asked cautiously, his small frame trembling under Whitebeard's towering presence.

"Do you remember what their flag looked like?" Whitebeard asked after a moment of silence.

Vista's face lit up with hope.

"Dad! Are you really going to help me?"

"Kulalalalala! You're my son. It's a father's duty to help his children!"

Vista's eyes sparkled with gratitude. "Thank you, Dad! I don't know what the pirates looked like, but I remember their flag. I'll draw it for you!"

He quickly found some materials and sketched the pirate flag on the deck.

Whitebeard's expression darkened as he recognized the emblem.

It was the flag of a crew under Shiki the Golden Lion.

"Kulalalalala! Don't worry, Vista. Your dad will bring justice for you."

"Thank you, Dad!" Vista exclaimed, unaware of the storm his request had set in motion.

---

Far away, aboard a pirate ship, the crew reveled in their recent plunder.

"Wahahaha! Captain, we scored big today! Who knew that merchant ship would have so much treasure?"

The pirates were feasting and celebrating their haul.

"Hahaha! It was a lucky find. That wrecked merchant ship turned out to be a goldmine," the captain said, raising his glass.

"Captain, are you sure this is okay? This is Whitebeard's territory. If he finds out, we might be in trouble," a cautious pirate said, breaking the jovial mood.

The entire ship went silent at the mention of Whitebeard.

The captain, slightly drunk, yelled out, "What are you afraid of? We're part of the Sky Pirates! Do you think Whitebeard will go to war with us over a merchant ship?"

His words seemed to give the crew some courage.

"Hahaha! That's right! Whitebeard is nothing compared to Boss Shiki!"

"Drink up! Let's keep the party going!"

The crew cheered, raising their glasses once more.

---

Meanwhile, on a floating archipelago, Golden Lion Shiki sat in his grand hall, reviewing reports.

"Hahahaha! Not bad! With the navy distracted by Charlotte, our Flying Pirates have made a fortune."

Shiki chuckled, pleased with the numbers. However, his tone turned sour.

"Too bad Charlotte has gone back to Kami Island. The navy will be on our backs again soon."

Shiki knew the navy would shift its focus to him now that Charlotte was lying low.

"Boss Shiki! With nearly 30,000 pirates under our command, the navy can't touch us!"

A pirate, emboldened by their recent success, spoke out.

"Hahahaha! That's right! The New World belongs to the pirates!" Shiki laughed, but his expression remained thoughtful.

"Prepare the fleet. The navy won't let us off easy, so we need to be ready for anything," Shiki commanded.

"Yes, Boss!"

As the pirates drank and laughed, Shiki's gaze fell on a newspaper featuring Charlotte's photo.

"Charlotte… why won't you join me?"

Shiki murmured, his ambition to recruit Charlotte growing stronger. He believed that with Charlotte's power, they could drive the navy out of the New World entirely.

---

Back on Kami Island, Charlotte was overseeing the island's development.

Once a barren land with only 10% habitable space, Kami Island had undergone significant transformation under Charlotte's guidance. Now, 30% of the island was usable, and it was thriving.

The population, which once numbered only a thousand, had surged to nearly 300,000. Immigrants and major forces from across the New World flocked to the island, drawn by its prosperity and safety.

The influx had been particularly dramatic in the past two months, with an additional 10,000 people arriving each month.

Charlotte stood atop a hill, surveying the bustling island below. His vision of turning Kami Island into a haven for pirates and outcasts was coming to fruition.

"Captain, the population report for this month," Carter said, approaching with a clipboard.

Charlotte took the report, glancing over it before nodding.

"Good. Let's make sure the newcomers settle in smoothly. Expand the housing and reinforce the defenses."

"Yes, Captain!" Carter saluted before hurrying off to carry out the orders.

Charlotte watched him go, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Let the navy and Shiki play their games. Kami Island will rise above them all."

With that, Charlotte turned and walked back toward his base, ready to shape the future of his pirate empire.

---

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