In the afternoon, the old man stood on a wooden platform in the large square in the center of the town. His face was still pale from his defeat, and his hands trembled slightly. But he knew what he had to do.
Behind him stood Pablo. Beside him, Jinny. And behind them, so of Pablo's n.
Hundreds of families gathered in the square. n, won, children. They whispered to each other.
The old man raised his hand. Everyone fell silent.
"My people... I have an announcent."
He paused. He looked at Pablo for a mont. Then he continued:
"This is Pablo, the head of the Pablo Family. From today, he is the lord of this island."
Silence. Then small cries of surprise. Soft whispers. Exchanged glances.
Pablo stepped forward. He wasn't wearing fancy clothes. He wasn't holding a sword. He wore a simple white shirt, black pants, and shiny black shoes. His black hair was neatly trimd. His face was calm, but his eyes pierced hearts.
"I know you are afraid." he said in a loud, clear voice. "I know you don't know . But you will know soon."
Pablo decided to use the simplest way to make the atmosphere better.
"Your salaries were four thousand Beli per month. From today, they will beco eight thousand."
A mont of silence. Then the square erupted with murmurs. They couldn't believe what they had heard.
"I will not only increase your salaries. I will improve your working conditions. I will build new grain warehouses. I will provide you with better equipnt. I will protect you from any external threat."
He looked at their faces one by one.
"I am not here to enslave you. I am here to make your lives better. And in return... you will work for . You will give your loyalty. And we will grow together."
He paused. Then one of the farrs shouted from the crowd: "Do you promise us?"
Pablo looked at him. "I do not promise if I do not intend to fulfill."
Silence fell for a mont. Then one person began to clap. Then another. Then another. Until the square filled with applause and weak chants at first, then strong ones.
The old man stood aside. He knew his ti was over.
---
An hour later, the gathering was over. Pablo returned to his room in the old man's palace. It was a large room, with stone walls and a window overlooking the green fields. A large bed, a wooden table, and two chairs.
He sat on the edge of the bed. He took off his white shirt. The wound on his arm was still red, but not deep.
Jinny entered. She didn't knock. She carried a damp cloth, ointnt, and bandages.
She didn't say anything. She sat beside him on the bed. She began cleaning the wound slowly. Her hands were soft. Her fingers touched his muscular arm.
"You were strong earlier." she said in a low voice.
"I was lucky."
"You weren't lucky. You were the best."
He smiled. "You flatter ."
"I am honest."
She began applying the ointnt to the wound. Her movents were slow, deliberate. Her fingers traced circles on his arm, touching the muscles, pausing sotis. His body tensed under her touch.
She raised her eyes to him. He was looking at her. Their faces were close. Their breaths almost mingled.
"Jinny..."
She didn't reply. She leaned in. She placed her lips on his.
The kiss was soft at first, light, hesitant. Then it beca deeper. Longer. More needy.
Pablo placed his hand on her waist. He pulled her toward him. She was now sitting on his thigh. She felt the warmth of his body. She felt his hard muscles under his clothes.
Jinny raised her head for a mont. She looked at him. Her eyes were half-closed. She was breathing with difficulty. Her cheeks flushed.
"Pablo..."
He didn't reply. He kissed her neck. She sighed. She closed her eyes.
His hands moved over her back. Down to her waist. To her hip. She felt a shiver run through her body.
Pablo's hand moved to her buttocks. He squeezed them gently. His fingers dug into her soft skin under her pants. He pressed, touched, felt. She didn't pull away. She left his hand there.
She sighed with pleasure. She placed her hands on his bare chest. She felt his hard muscles. She wanted more.
Pablo's hand moved higher. He touched her exposed stomach. Her abdominal muscles were toned. They were hot under his fingers.
His hand moved lower. He touched her thigh over her pants. He moved inward. Her breathing quickened. Jinny trembled in his arms.
Pablo reached for the edge of her shirt. He was about to lift it.
And then suddenly...
The Den Den Mushi on the table rang.
Pablo stopped. His hand froze in place. He looked at the device. Then at Jinny.
"Damn." he whispered.
Jinny sighed. She was frustrated. But she understood.
"Answer it." she said in a low voice.
He looked at her. He was angry. Not at Jinny. At the interruption.
He removed his hand from her body. He took a deep breath. Then he reached for the device.
"Pablo." he said in a cold voice, with a trace of anger.
Arthur's voice was clear.
"Pablo. I have news."
"Speak."
"I have taken Last Port Island. No one resisted. The old governor surrendered as soon as he saw our n."
Pablo's expression changed. The anger faded a little. "Casualties?"
"None. Not a single shot."
Pablo smiled. "Good work."
"I am now heading to Breeze Island. I will arrive in two days."
He paused. Then added:
"I heard you headed to Shell Island. How was the old man?"
"He was stubborn. But he understood my ssage."
Arthur laughed. "I'm sure of that."
"Let know when you reach Breeze Island."
"I will."
Pablo hung up. He placed the receiver on the device. He looked at Jinny.
He was still angry about the interruption. But he was also happy. Proud of his n.
"Arthur took Last Port Island." he said.
Jinny smiled. "Good news."
"Very good."
He was silent for a mont. He looked at her body. At her lips. At her eyes. Her cheeks were still flushed. She was still breathing fast.
"Where were we?" he whispered.
She smiled. "You were about to take off my shirt."
"Right."
He reached for her again. But she caught his hand.
"Later." she said.
Pablo sighed. "You are annoying ."
She stood up. She fixed her shirt. She looked at him. She was smiling.
She left the room. She closed the door behind her.
Pablo remained sitting on the bed. He could still feel her touch on his body. He was still angry about the interruption. But he was happy about the victory.
He stood up. He walked to the window. He looked at the green fields, and saw so of his n sitting under the shade of a tree talking.
Pablo called one of his n. "Bring the old man."
One of them rose. He returned after a few minutes with the old man. He was still trembling slightly, but he was calr than yesterday.
"Sit down."
The old man sat on the chair. He avoided looking directly at Pablo.
"How many agricultural lands are there on this island?"
The old man thought. "Over four hundred large plots. So are owned by , so by the farrs. The lands here are very vast."
"How many farrs?"
"Most of the island's population, about thirty-three thousand. The rest, less than two thousand, work in other professions: fishing, butchery, carpentry, trade... but the island depends entirely on agriculture."
Pablo looked at him. "Thirty-three thousand farrs?"
"Not all thirty-three thousand are farrs themselves; they are the farrs along with their wives and children. But yes. This is an agricultural island. Every family works the land. Even the rchants and fishern, their origins are from farrs."
Pablo took ntal notes.
"What do you grow?"
"Wheat mainly. Also rice, vegetables, and fruit. But wheat is our main crop. We export it to neighboring islands."
"Who buys it?"
The old man looked at Pablo. He said in a low voice:
"All eight islands in this sea region buy from us. But our biggest custor is the Sorbet Kingdom."
Pablo's expression changed for a mont. He showed nothing on his face, but inside, he smiled.
Sorbet. His kingdom. His kingdom.
He was buying wheat from this island. And the old man did not know that the man standing before him was the one who controlled Sorbet.
"Sorbet?" Pablo asked coldly.
"Yes. A large kingdom. They used to buy huge quantities. But recently, shipnts stopped for a while. We heard there was a revolution there, or a war... I don't know exactly, but now they have returned to trading with us."
"From now on, the crops are for us only. The family will pay for the grain, the farming expenses, and the farrs' salaries, and we will take all the crops."
"Understood."
"Also, I will send my n to organize things. They will survey the lands, distribute the new salaries, and supervise."
"As you wish."
Pablo stood up. "You may go."
The old man left. He was still trembling, but he knew things could have been worse.
Pablo remained standing. He looked out the window at the green fields.
This island supplied Sorbet with wheat. And Sorbet was now under his control.
He was buying wheat from himself.
He smiled. A cold smile.
Then he returned to his bed. He sat down. He looked at the sky.
Then he lay down. He closed his eyes.
It had been a long day. And tomorrow would be longer.
But he was ready.
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