One Piece : Prince of Charlotte Family

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"Woo hoo hoo..."

Clatter... Boom...

Rain poured heavily, drenching the rough seas.

Dark clouds gathered high in the sky, lit up by flashes of lightning and roars of thunder. Amid the chaos, a pirate ship cut through the waves, braving the storm as it pushed forward.

Raindrops, the size of beans, fell in torrents like an unending barrage of arrows. The sharp "crack" of water hitting the deck echoed, splashing droplets everywhere.

Inside the ship, sheltered from the relentless storm, a cabin glowed with light. The lamps, brought from Sky Island and mounted on the ceiling, cast a warm and steady brightness across the room.

"Quick! It's still not enough!"

"Bring more food, and hurry!"

In a lavish dining hall, Smoothie's commanding voice echoed as Homies scurried around, carrying plates piled high with food.

Wilhelm, now freshly cleaned and dressed in casual clothes, looked nothing like the battered figure he had been earlier. Sitting at the grand table, he ate voraciously, devouring massive amounts of food.

Beside him, towering stacks of empty plates reached a height taller than an average person. The sight was astonishing, leaving the pirates and Homies around him wide-eyed and speechless.

Wilhelm's appetite was immense, completely at odds with his slim physique. With his relentless hunger, he paid no mind to his usual image as a handsome and noble son of the Charlotte family or the "natural monster" reputation he carried.

Unlike his older brother Katakuri, Wilhelm didn't care about maintaining a flawless public appearance. Katakuri, for instance, would go as far as using his Mochi-Mochi Fruit powers to create a sealed space just to eat his favorite donuts in secret, ensuring his image stayed intact.

Wilhelm, however, feasted openly, taking full advantage of his incredible digestion ability. Despite consuming an astonishing amount, his flat stomach remained unchanged, showing no signs of overeating or discomfort.

"As expected of Lord Wilhelm!"

"Even when he's eating like this, he's still so cool!"

"He's incredible! His appetite is just like Big Mom's. Truly the perfect creation of the Charlotte family!"

"It seems the earlier battle must've been intense. He needs all this food to recover his strength..."

It turns out that when good-looking people and less attractive people do the same thing, others perceive it completely differently.

For the pirates of the Big Mom Pirates, even if Wilhelm does something unrefined or awkward, his charm seems to make up for it effortlessly.

This isn't surprising.

After all, Wilhelm may have been slightly battered after his recent fight, but his opponent was none other than Vice Admiral Akainu—a powerhouse of the Marine Headquarters and a top contender for the title of Admiral. Akainu is a true "monster" in combat.

Most New World pirates tremble at the mere mention of Akainu's name. Some would rather grow extra legs just to run faster, avoiding any chance of a confrontation.

Yet Wilhelm, only fifteen years old and already regarded as a prodigy who inherited Charlotte Linlin's monstrous talents, not only managed to escape from such a formidable opponent but also left permanent scars on him.

To the Big Mom Pirates, this was nothing short of miraculous.

In their eyes, Wilhelm's reputation didn't suffer from the encounter—instead, it skyrocketed. Their respect and admiration for him only deepened.

Before long, Wilhelm finished his meal.

"Whew…"

Taking a long breath, he waved his hand to signal the Homies to clear the table.

"That's enough for now," he said, his energy fully restored. His demeanor returned to that of an elegant and composed noble young master.

"It's such a mess..."

Smoothie sighed as she looked at Wilhelm's handsome face, brushing a strand of her long silver hair back with a touch of irritation.

"Sometimes, things just have to get messy," Wilhelm replied with a lighthearted smile.

Facing Akainu had been a calculated risk. It gave him a chance to test his limits and understand the gap between himself and the world's strongest fighters.

He had truly enjoyed the battle—a clash that pushed him to unleash his full strength without restraint.

Though exhausting and undeniably dangerous, the thrill was something indescribable.

If Wilhelm was being honest, he found himself… addicted.

The adrenaline, the excitement, the rush of fighting against a monster-like opponent with life and death on the line—it was exhilarating.

He didn't fear these battles, nor did he back down from them. Instead, he embraced the danger with a kind of reckless joy.

Snapon, standing nearby, broke the moment of reflection.

"What's the plan now?" he asked directly.

"There are some deviations from the original plan, and the disturbance has caused quite a stir with the Marines," Wilhelm admitted with a casual shrug.

"But it's no big deal. Let's stick to the original plan."

He leaned back in his chair, his tone calm but filled with determination.

"First, we head to Prehistoric Island to see if we can uncover anything unexpected. After that, we'll return to the famous shipbuilding island.

Sister Smoothie, I'll need you to tailor a flying ark that perfectly complements the abilities of the Logia Thunder Fruit. Once that's done, we'll head back to the New World."

Wilhelm's ambitions were far from modest. He wasn't content to simply remain in the shadow of others. The thought of letting the World Government and those so-called Celestial Dragons maintain their lofty superiority was unacceptable.

This journey wasn't just about crafting Nidai Kitetsu or the legendary Shichiseiken Sword. Wilhelm had bigger plans. His goal was to gradually assemble a formidable team, step by step, and pave the way to challenge the established powers of the world.

Returning to Totto Land waters was not on the immediate agenda.

His first priority? Hunting down Devil Fruit users in secret.

Next, he intended to explore Prehistoric Island, rumored to be home to the two former titan leaders of the Giant Soldier Pirates. He needed to test his theories on the abilities of Zoan Devil Fruits and conduct further experiments to verify his conjectures.

Only then would he consider moving toward Wano Country, the stronghold of the Beasts Pirates.

The Marines, however, wouldn't take his actions lightly.

They had already dispatched Akainu, one of their strongest Vice Admirals and a candidate for Admiral.

The fact that Wilhelm had not only survived but also left Akainu scarred meant that Marine Headquarters would be paying much closer attention to him. The "natural monster of the Charlotte family" had become a serious threat.

Still, Wilhelm wasn't concerned.

Even if the Marines deployed Kizaru, the Logia Sparkling Fruit user known for his "light-speed" movement, Wilhelm was confident.

If they send him, so be it. I'll fight if I want to fight. If not, I'll simply disappear.

He knew the limits of Kizaru's abilities better than most. While the Admiral's light-speed movement was fast, it wasn't true light speed. There were inconsistencies—"moisture" in the details, as Wilhelm liked to call it.

If Kizaru's kicks truly moved at the speed of light, the resulting force would obliterate entire planets. It was far from realistic.

Wilhelm's teleportation, on the other hand, was instantaneous and untraceable. Even against Kizaru, Wilhelm could escape with ease.

As for the Four Emperors, the Ancient Weapons, or even the Celestial Dragons' mysterious national treasure?

They'll all step aside eventually.

With his (Sen Sen no Mi) Transfer-Transfer Fruit, Wilhelm could more than handle himself.

And then there were Smoothie and her sisters.

While they still had room to grow, Smoothie's powerful Heart Network—a vast sensory ability—made it possible to anticipate and avoid unnecessary conflicts.

For now, Wilhelm saw no reason to worry. The road ahead was long, but it was one he was determined to walk, step by step, toward the top of the world.