One Piece: Lord of the Weather Chapter 44: Expansion

In just two months, the Pablo Family continued its relentless expansion.

They crushed two more gangs. No one rembered their nas anymore. What mattered was that their territories had fallen under the control of the Pablo Family.

Now, the family controlled twenty percent of Naraka Island.

Their numbers had exceeded eighty. They were no longer just a street gang. They had beco a real power.

In the areas under the family's control, things had changed.

Small shops paid twenty thousand Beli monthly for protection. Larger shops paid forty thousand. Factories paid ninety thousand.

No one dared to object. Not after seeing what happened to those who did.

At the port, in the section they controlled, the family's n stood on the dock. Every ship that docked paid a fee for "protection and security." Comrcial ships, fishing boats, even small vessels. There were no exceptions.

Ships that refused to pay were driven away from this part of the port.

The profits were enormous.

Over ten million Beli monthly.

Adding the four million from the factory, the Pablo Family's monthly inco had reached fourteen million Beli.

But expenses were also large. Eighty people in the family, plus the battles with other gangs – all of it consud money quickly.

If not for the savings they found when raiding other gangs, the Pablo Family would have gone bankrupt.

Pablo no longer needed to embezzle from the factory. The factory had beco just one piece of his growing empire.

---

But Pablo did not stop there. He began a new phase: expansion through ownership.

He decided to take over factories.

He chose to start with one factory. He selected it carefully.

He chose a factory that produced ship anchors. It was owned by a man in his fifties nad Morris.

On a sunny morning, Pablo entered the factory with Marco. They had no other n with them.

Morris was standing beside an old machine, reviewing his papers. When he saw them, he froze for a mont. Then he recognized them.

"You... you are from the Pablo Family."

Marco stepped forward. He didn't say anything. He just stood there.

Pablo sat on a nearby chair. He spoke quietly.

"Morris, I want to buy your factory."

Morris's face changed color. But he did not back down. He said in a firm voice:

"I know who you are. I know what you do in this area. This factory is not for sale. This factory is everything I own. I built it with my own hands twenty years ago. I will not sell it to anyone. Not to you, not to anyone else."

Pablo looked at him for a second. He could have threatened him. He could have sent Marco to break sothing. But he chose a different thod.

"Alright. That is your decision."

He stood up. He gestured to Marco. They left the factory without saying another word.

Morris remained standing. He was trembling slightly. But he felt he had won.

He did not know that the battle had just begun.

---

The Following Days

The next day, the raw materials Morris had ordered did not arrive.

He called the supplier. The supplier said: "The roads are not safe. I cannot deliver the goods now. Maybe next week."

On the third day, his workers began to be absent.

"Sick," said the first.

"Family matter," said the second.

"I'm not coming back," said the third without explanation.

On the fourth day, in the middle of the night, a fire broke out in the back warehouse of the factory.

It was not large. It was brought under control quickly. But it burned half of his stock.

On the fifth day, Morris found a note pinned to the factory door. It was not threatening. It simply said: "Things haven't been going well these days, have they?"

Morris knew.

He knew that all these incidents were not coincidences.

He knew that the Pablo Family was behind them.

But he could not prove anything.

---

The Marines

Morris went to the Marine headquarters.

He stood before the officer on duty. He told his story. He said the Pablo Family was trying to force him to sell his factory. He said they were threatening him. He said they had burned his stock.

The officer listened. He took so notes. Then he said:

"Do you have any evidence?"

Morris hesitated.

"Evidence? Isn't the fire evidence?"

"The fire could have been an accident. The workers' absences could be for personal reasons. The delay in raw materials could be a problem with the supplier."

"But I know they are behind this!"

"Knowing is not evidence, Mr. Morris. The Marines cannot act based on guesses."

Morris left the building. He was angry. He was afraid. And he knew he was alone.

---

The days continued.

Things did not improve. They got worse.

Raw materials no longer arrived at all. The workers did not co back. The second fire was larger than the first. It almost consud the entire factory.

Morris sat on the floor of his empty factory. He looked at the machines. At the dirty walls. At the ceiling that was about to collapse.

The dream of his life was crumbling before his eyes.

He cried.

He no longer had anything.

---

The next morning, he went to the Pablo Family headquarters.

He stood before the door. He was trembling.

He knocked.

One of the n opened the door. He looked at him coldly.

"I want to see Pablo."

After a few minutes, Morris entered the room where Pablo sat behind his desk.

Marco was not there. Only Pablo. And his terrifying calmness.

Morris spoke in a broken voice:

"I will sell."

Pablo looked at him. He did not look triumphant. He did not look happy. Just calm.

"I knew you would co."

"Why?" Morris asked. "Why are you doing this? I am an old man. My small factory is not worth much. Why did you insist on destroying ?"

Pablo put his pen aside.

"There is no personal dispute between us. The matter is entirely about interests."

"That does not justify—"

"Perhaps. But it explains it."

Pablo took out a paper from his drawer. He placed it in front of Morris.

"I will pay you for the factory. Not what it was worth. But it will be enough for you to live the rest of your life in peace."

Morris looked at the paper. He knew he had no choice.

He signed.

His hand trembled. But he signed.

Pablo took the paper. Folded it. Put it in his pocket.

He stood up.

"We will change the factory's production."

"To what?"

"Swords."

Morris looked at him in shock. "Swords?"

"The family needs weapons. And we will sell the surplus. The weapons trade is profitable."

"Why are you telling this?"

"Do you want to continue supervising your factory? You will keep the money I gave you, and you will work for in your own factory, and you will receive a fixed salary. Don't worry. It will be a high salary. What do you think?"

Morris looked at this young man angrily. He had just taken over his factory and now wanted him to work for him.

But if he looked at it from a positive side, he had sold his factory and it was in the past. He didn't know what to do. He had spent most of his life in the factory. Wasn't it better to continue supervising the factory than to go without direction?

Morris breathed deeply. "Alright. I will work for you."

Morris left the building feeling defeated.

But deep inside, there was sothing strange. Curiosity. He wanted to see what would beco of his small factory under the hands of this mysterious young man.

---

In the center of Naraka Island, the Marine building stood.

Not as large as those on the major islands, but imposing enough. White walls, stone columns, and the World Governnt flag fluttering at the top.

On the upper floor was the office of Captain Vinson.

A wide room, its windows overlooking the main street. A heavy wooden desk, dark leather chairs, and behind the desk, a large chair where the captain sat.

On the walls were maps of Naraka and the neighboring islands. A long sword hung behind the chair. It was a beautiful sword, its hilt made of silver, its blade shining.

Captain Vinson was a man in his forties. His hair was light brown, carefully combed back. His eyes were blue, always half-closed, as if he did not want to see everything. But those who knew him knew that he saw everything.

He was tall, lean in build, but the muscles of his arms were disproportionately strong compared to the rest of his body. His long sword was always hanging on his back outside the office.

On this day, Vinson was sitting behind his desk. Before him, on three chairs, sat his officers.

"This month's report," said Vinson.

One of the officers, a young man in his thirties, opened his file.

"The Pablo Family. They have taken control of twenty percent of the island in just two months. Their numbers have exceeded eighty. They are organized in an unusual way. They are not like other gangs."

"The Pablo Family... I have been hearing this na a lot in recent weeks. Who leads them?" asked Vinson.

"His na is Pablo. He is fifteen years old."

Vinson was silent for a mont. "Fifteen?"

"Yes. He is the one who runs everything. He has a man nad Marco, his right arm. Very strong. We have heard that he crushes people's bones with one punch."

Another officer interjected. "We must move before they get out of control."

A third officer shook his head. "We have orders not to interfere in gang conflicts unless they threaten comrce and the island's security. So far, they only control. They haven't killed civilians."

"They haven't killed civilians yet," the first said bitterly.

Vinson raised his hand. Everyone stopped.

"I will summon him."

They looked at him.

"I will see him myself. I will asure him. If he is just an ambitious child, we will contain him. If he is dangerous, we will deal with him."

He turned his head toward the window. He looked at the crowded street.

"Send a soldier to the factory he runs. Leave a ssage. I want to see him tomorrow at nine in the morning."

The young officer nodded. "It will be done."

---

anwhile, Pablo's relationship with Rein was deepening.

He was no longer just a custor buying weapons. He had beco a "preferred client." Rein regularly sent guns and ammunition. Sotis, he would send samples of new weapons. Stronger guns. Faster guns.

Pablo paid. Always on ti. Always without bargaining.

Rein appreciated this. In his world, committed custors were rare.

He began giving Pablo information from ti to ti. Not just weapons. Words too.

"The Kashmir gang was planning to attack you. I heard you defeated them first. Smart move."

"The Marines are watching you. Not seriously. But they are watching."

Pablo listened. Recorded. Planned.

Thanks to Rein, Pablo ard every mber of his family. The eighty n now carried guns. So of them trained themselves to use them in the backyard of the headquarters. Others trained with the swords that Marco had begun collecting from the market.

The Pablo Family was no longer just a gang. They had beco a small army. Organized. Trained. And loyal.

---

In the afternoon, while Ido was running the factory as usual, a Marine soldier entered through the main door.

He was wearing the white coat. His face was serious.

"Pablo?"

Ido looked at him coldly. "Not here."

The soldier placed an envelope on the table.

"Captain Vinson requests his presence tomorrow at the Marine headquarters. Nine in the morning."

He did not wait for a reply. He left.

Ido looked at the envelope. He opened it. He read the ssage.

His features tightened slightly. Then he took out the Den Den Mushi and called Pablo.

---

In the forest of Naraka, Pablo was training as usual. Running between the trees. Punching their trunks. Forming clouds above his head.

The Den Den Mushi in his bag rang.

He stopped. He picked it up.

"Pablo." Ido's voice was calm but firm. "A Marine soldier ca to the factory. He left a ssage."

"What does it say?"

"Captain Vinson requests your presence tomorrow at the Marine headquarters. Nine in the morning."

Pablo was silent for a second.

"Alright."

"Do you want to prepare anything?"

"No. Just continue your work."

He hung up.

Pablo stood alone among the trees.

The sky was clear. No clouds.

He raised his hands.

Clouds began to gather above him. Thick. Dark.

Then rain fell. Heavy. Strong.

He stood under it. He did not move.

He was not afraid.

But he knew that things would change after tomorrow.

He looked at the sky. Then at his hands.

"Tomorrow... we will see who you really are, Captain."

The rain stopped.

He returned to his training.

He never stopped.