After Jinny finished presenting her information about the seven islands, a brief silence fell over the eting hall. Everyone was thinking. Everyone was calculating. Then Pablo raised his head and looked at those present.
"Do you have any suggestions?"
Marco spoke first. "I don't care about details. Just tell where to strike."
Pablo laughed a little. "I will tell you. Wait your turn."
Shigo spoke quietly. "The small islands can be taken quickly. We can take them first and then focus on the two difficult islands."
Kuma was silent. He said nothing. He was still thinking about Pablo's words about the poor and the slaves.
Jinny looked at Pablo. "My job is to gather information. But the decision is yours."
Darin, who had been sitting, stopped. "Sir, I have a report about the recruitnt of n."
Pablo looked at him. "Speak."
"I have completed the recruitnt of the 500 n. I chose the strongest from the Sorbet revolutionaries. I equipped them with sufficient weapons. And throughout the past month, they have been training under my supervision."
Pablo smiled. A smile of satisfaction. "Good work, Darin."
"Thank you, sir."
"I have a task for you."
"I'm listening."
"You will take 200 n. You will take warships with you. You will head to First Port Island."
"What will I do there?"
"You will subdue the island. By any ans necessary."
Pablo explained his plan.
"First: Go to Ronan, the island's ruler. Offer him to keep his position. But actual control will be in the family's hands. Taxes, the port, trade... everything will be under our command. He is just a face."
"And if he refuses?"
"If he refuses... kill him. And take over the rule of the island yourself. We don't want enemies in the rear of our fleet."
Darin understood. He nodded. "It will be done."
---
Pablo turned to Kuma.
"Kuma."
Kuma raised his head. His sunken eyes still carried sothing from Pablo's earlier words.
"I have a task for you."
"I'm listening."
"You will head to Skull Island. You will take 70 n with you. And I will send with you a smart man to run the island after it's done. His na is Levin."
"What will I do there?"
Pablo looked at Kuma with sharp eyes.
"You will kill Captain Black. You will kill his pirates. You will kill every pirate there. You will free the island from their rule."
He paused. Then he added in a quieter voice, but deeper:
"The poor there, Kuma... have lived in fear for decades. The pirates plunder their hos, steal their won, kill their children. No one protected them. Not the Marines. Not the kings. No one."
Kuma was silent. But his eyes ignited.
"You will be the one to protect them."
Kuma said nothing. He just nodded. But the nod was enough. Pablo knew how to reach Kuma's heart.
"After you control the island, stay there until things stabilize. Levin will help you with administration."
"I will." Kuma said in his deep voice.
---
Pablo turned to Marco.
"Marco."
Marco smiled. "Finally."
"You will head to Shadow Island. The most dangerous island on the route."
"I am not afraid."
"I know. That's why I'm sending you."
Pablo explained the plan.
"I will arrange for the kingdom's navy to move with you. Ten warships. With 3,000 soldiers. All under your command."
Marco raised an eyebrow. "Three thousand?"
"The gang has between 1,300 and 1,500 n. I want overwhelming nurical superiority. We don't want surprises."
"What exactly do I need to do?"
Pablo looked at him directly.
"Their leader is Kuro. The kingdom's navy will take care of the gang mbers. The thing you must personally ensure... is Kuro's death."
Marco smiled. A cold smile.
"I will make sure of that."
"Don't leave him alive. Don't allow him to escape."
"Understood."
---
Pablo turned to Shigo.
"Shigo."
Shigo raised his head. His stone-like face did not change.
"You will head to Coral Island. You will take ships and 100 n."
"What will I do there?"
"You will negotiate with the Pearl rchant Council."
Shigo raised one eyebrow. "I am not a diplomat."
"You don't need diplomacy. I will tell you what to say."
Pablo explained.
"You will tell them that their soldiers and ships will beco under the use of the Pablo Family. They will be part of our forces. If they agree... they will keep their positions. If they refuse..."
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
Shigo understood. "I will do it."
---
Pablo looked at everyone.
"As for Last Port Island and Breeze Island... I will contact my n in Naraka. Arthur and Ido will take care of them."
"What about Shell Island?" Jinny asked.
Pablo smiled. He turned to her.
"Shell Island is the most important. Most of this region's crops co from there. Everyone's food. Whoever controls food, controls everything."
"So what will we do?"
"We will go, you and I. On one ship. With 40 n."
Jinny was silent for a mont. "Alone?"
"You are not alone. I am with you."
She looked at him. In her eyes, there was sothing like anticipation.
"Alright."
---
Pablo stood up from his chair. He looked at those present one by one.
"This is our plan. Darin to First Port. Kuma to Skull Island. Marco to Shadow Island. Shigo to Coral Island. And Jinny and I to Shell Island. And my n in Naraka will handle Last Port and Breeze Island."
He paused. He caught his breath.
"Each of you knows his mission. Each of you knows his goal. Do not disappoint ."
The leaders looked at him. In their eyes, there was one common thing: respect.
They were not following a child. They were following a leader.
Pablo was 15 years old. But his way of speaking, his way of leading, his confidence in himself, his knowledge of each of their abilities... all of this made them forget his age.
Marco was thinking: "How long have I been following him? From Naraka to Sorbet. He has never made a mistake."
Shigo was thinking: "A child full of surprises. I will follow him to see the end of his journey."
Kuma was thinking: "Perhaps his thods are violent. But he wants good for the poor. That's what I saw. That's what I believed."
Darin was thinking: "Without him, I would still be a thug on the streets of Naraka. Now I am the assistant to the leader himself."
And Jinny's eyes were almost turning into hearts as she looked at him.
She admired him. More than she wanted to admit.
They rose and left one by one. Each heading to his task. Each knew what he had to do.
Pablo remained standing. He looked at the map on the wall.
His plan was clear. Seven islands. Seven tasks. Seven battles.
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