Pablo sat in his room, the morning newspaper open in front of him. Reading the news had beco his daily habit. Not because he enjoyed it, but because he needed to stay inford. The world outside Naraka did not stop, and he could not afford to be ignorant of what was happening.
He flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning headlines about pirate attacks, Marine movents, and trade routes. Then he stopped at sothing.
"The Liberation Army Strikes Again: Another Attack on the Kingdom of Tarunka."
He stopped.
The Liberation Army. The Revolutionary Army. In its early days, before it beca the global threat it would one day be. In his previous world, when he watched the original story, he knew that the Revolutionary Army was particularly active in the South Blue in its early stages. The sa sea he was in now.
He looked at the ntal map in his head. The South Blue was vast. Naraka was just a small dot in it. But if the Revolutionary Army was active here...
He closed the newspaper. He put it aside.
Not now. He had sothing more important.
---
After days of continuous observation, Arthur returned to Pablo with his information.
The three of them – Pablo, Marco, and Arthur – sat in Pablo's room on the upper floor.
Arthur opened his small notebook. He began to explain.
"Shigo has a fixed habit. Every night, he goes to a famous gambling den on the outskirts of the island. He spends hours there. He leaves around midnight."
"How many of his n are with him?" asked Pablo.
"At the den, he has ten or twelve with him. But when he returns..." Arthur smiled. "When he returns, he passes through the forest. A shortcut between the den and his territory. There, he has no more than three or four n with him."
Marco looked at Pablo. He knew what he was thinking.
"The forest at midnight. A perfect place." said Marco.
Pablo nodded.
"This is our opportunity."
---
But Pablo did not move imdiately.
He knew that killing Shigo was not enough. The territory he controlled represented thirty percent of the island. After his death, his n would remain there. So might try to take revenge. So might loot the area in the absence of a leader.
He needed enough manpower to control that territory after the assassination.
"Arthur, I have a new task for you."
Arthur looked at him. His eyes were ready.
"I want to increase the family's numbers to one hundred and fifty before we kill Shigo."
Arthur was not surprised. He knew this would co.
"How many do we have now?"
"Eighty. You need seventy more."
"Is there a specific ti?"
"As fast as you can."
Arthur nodded.
"I will start tomorrow."
He did not ask how. He knew how. He was familiar with the back streets of Naraka. He knew where to find the desperate, the strong, and those looking for an opportunity.
The sa old thod. But on a larger scale.
Arthur left the room and began his work.
---
In the following days, Arthur disappeared into the streets of Naraka.
He did not recruit just anyone. He chose. Only the best.
So were from gangs that had been defeated before. So were independent thugs. So were desperate young n who wanted a different life.
He told them that the Pablo Family was growing. And that it would soon beco the biggest power in Naraka.
"If you join us now, you will be among the first. You will receive a salary, a weapon, and protection. And if you prove yourself, you will rise."
The words were simple. But they were effective.
The n ca.
One after another.
The family's numbers began to rise quickly.
---
But all this expansion did not go unnoticed by the Marines.
Captain Vinson had given his orders.
In the Pablo Family's area, Marine patrols beca more frequent. The white-coated soldiers walked through the streets in Pablo's area often.
So family mbers were interrogated.
"Who are you? Who do you follow? What are you doing here?"
They answered coldly. No one admitted anything. But the pressure was clear.
Vinson wanted to send a ssage: "We see you. Do not do anything you will regret."
But Pablo did not care.
He knew that the Marines would not move as long as a large battle did not break out. As long as things did not get out of control.
And things were still under control.
He continued with his plan.
---
anwhile, the man Pablo had sent to find the craftsn had returned.
He stood before Pablo in his office.
"I found who we were looking for. Two skilled blacksmiths, and three experienced workers in tal shaping."
"Where are they now?"
"At Morris's factory. They have started working. They said they need two weeks to prepare the first batch of experintal swords."
Pablo nodded.
"Tell Morris that quality is more important than quantity. I don't care about the number now. I want one good sword before I see him produce a hundred ordinary swords."
The man nodded and left.
Pablo looked out the window. The factory was far away, but he imagined it full of blacksmiths, flas, and tals.
The Pablo Family's first swords were about to be born.
---
At night, Pablo sat alone in his room.
On the table in front of him: his small notebook, his pistol, and a glass of cold water.
He opened the notebook.
He wrote:
"The family currently: 80 mbers. Target: 150 before assassinating Shigo."
Then he stopped. He thought about the newspaper he had read that morning.
The Liberation Army. The Revolutionary Army.
In his previous world, when he watched the original story, he knew that the Revolutionary Army had begun its real activity in the South Blue. The sa sea he was in now. He did not know exactly where their bases were, but he knew they existed. Sowhere.
He had no plans to contact them. Not now. But knowing they existed... was useful.
He closed the notebook.
He was not worried. Arthur was competent. Within a week or two, the number would be complete.
The Marines were watching. This was expected. He did not plan to confront them. He just needed them to leave him alone until he finished with Shigo.
And after Shigo?
Half of Naraka Island would be under his control.
And the Marines... were a problem for another day.
He turned off the light. He lay down on his bed.
He did not sleep. He was thinking.
But his eyes were half-closed. His body was relaxed.
He was just waiting.
Waiting for the number to be complete.
Waiting for the right night.
Waiting for Shigo to be in the forest with his four n.
Then...
He knew what he would do.
He smiled in the darkness.
He was not afraid.
He was ready.
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