The next morning, Pablo sat alone in his room in the old man's palace. On the table before him were financial papers, crop reports, and a land inventory. The morning sun entered through the window, touching his calm face.
He began to calculate.
The monthly profits of Shell Island, after deducting the farrs' salaries (eight thousand per farr) and the costs of farming and maintenance, ranged between ninety and one hundred million Beli. Not a huge amount compared to what he had gathered from Sorbet or from previous theft operations. But Pablo was not interested in the direct profit from this island.
His goal was bigger.
Control over food in the entire region. Whoever controls food, controls everyone. This island was the region's breadbasket. And now, it was his.
He closed the papers. He put them aside.
---
After breakfast, Pablo summoned his ten n whom he would leave on the island. They stood before him in the palace hall.
"You." He pointed to the first. "You will stay with the old man all day. Watch him. Do not let him move without your knowledge. If he tries to contact any outside party, tell imdiately."
The man nodded.
"You." He pointed to the second. "You will supervise the distribution of salaries. Every farr takes his due on ti. No delay. No shortage. No corruption."
"And you." He pointed to the third. "You will supervise the port. Every ship that enters, every good that leaves, will be under your watch. Record everything."
"And you." He pointed to the fourth. "You will supervise the warehouses. Crops enter and leave only with your permission."
Pablo continued distributing tasks to the ten. Each knew his place. Each knew his responsibility.
"I will not stay here long. I will return to Sorbet. You are my eyes on this island. You will settle here. If anything strange happens, contact imdiately."
The n nodded. They left one by one.
The old man stood in the corner, watching in silence. He knew his days as an independent ruler were over. He was nothing more than a tool in this young man's hands.
The reason Pablo kept this old man alive was his strength, which could fend off thieves and so pirates. Instead of killing him, he could work as a guard for Pablo here.
---
After the n left, the Den Den Mushi on the table rang.
Pablo looked at the device. He picked up the receiver.
"Pablo."
Levin's voice was clear, excited.
"Sir, I have news. Skull Island is now completely under our control."
Pablo smiled. "Tell ."
"Kuma wiped out all the pirates. Captain Black is dead. He was strong, but Kuma was far stronger. He could not withstand a single blow from Kuma."
Levin paused for a mont. Then he continued:
"We seized over three hundred million Beli from the pirates. In addition to 21 pirate ships in good condition. So large, so dium. All seaworthy."
Pablo smiled a wider smile. "Good work. What about the remaining pirates?"
"Those who surrendered, we have detained awaiting your orders. Those who fought, we killed. So fled. The prisoners are under our guard. I will begin organizing the island tomorrow. We will need to appoint new guards, reopen the port, and revitalize trade."
"Continue. Send a detailed report by the end of the week."
"I will."
Pablo hung up. He looked out the window. He was satisfied. Three hundred million. Twenty-one ships. An entire island under his control.
And Kuma... was his strongest weapon.
---
Shigo's Call - Coral Island
Not long after, the device rang again.
"Pablo."
Shigo's voice was cold as usual.
"Shigo. Your news?"
"The Pearl rchant Council refused to cooperate at first."
He paused for a mont. Then he continued:
"There were four of them. I spoke with them. I offered them your terms. They refused. They said they were not afraid of you."
"And what did you do?"
"I killed two of them. In front of the others."
Pablo was silent for a mont. He was not surprised. He knew Shigo.
"And the remaining two?"
"They beca very cooperative. Their soldiers are under our command. Their ships are at our disposal. And the profits will be distributed as we planned."
Pablo smiled. "Good work. Stay there until things stabilize. Then return."
"I will."
Pablo hung up. He did not ask for details. He did not ask about resistance. He knew Shigo left no enemies behind him.
---
Arthur's Call - Breeze Island
After a few minutes, the device rang a third ti.
"Pablo."
Arthur's voice was tired, but triumphant.
"Arthur. Breeze Island?"
"Morris resisted fiercely. He had a thousand soldiers. He thought he could repel us."
"Our losses?"
"Heavy, Pablo. I lost many n. But the final result... Morris is dead. His palace is under our control. His port is ours. His soldiers either surrendered or fled."
Pablo was silent for a mont. He did not ask about the death toll. Ordinary n were just tools. What mattered was that the mission was accomplished.
"Is the island now under your control?"
"Yes. I have begun organizing things. I will send a detailed report soon."
"Continue. I want Breeze Island ready to receive our ships within a month."
"It will be ready."
Pablo hung up. He placed the receiver on the device. He looked at Jinny, who was sitting on the opposite chair, listening to everything.
"Skull Island, Coral Island, Breeze Island, Last Port Island, Shell Island." Pablo said. "Five islands in our grasp. Two remain."
---
Departure
An hour later, Pablo and Jinny stood on the port pier. The ship was ready to sail. Behind them, the old man and the ten n Pablo had left behind stood in silence. The farrs gathered on the pier to bid them farewell. Because of the decision to raise salaries, Pablo had beco beloved overnight.
Pablo boarded the ship.
He stood at the bow of the ship. He looked at the island for the last ti. The green fields, the farrs, the small port, the old man's palace.
"To Sorbet." he said.
The sailors raised the anchor. The sails swelled with the wind.
The ship began to move slowly.
Pablo looked at the horizon. He was thinking of Shadow Island. No news had co from Marco yet.
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