Two years later.
sea circle calendar 1480, 4 years before the God Valley incident.
[According to Oda's personal confirmation in the latest issue of SBS, the correct sea circle calendar timeline is 1541, and Luffy's departure to sea was in 1539, so Carlo's current timeline should be 1499. However, the time was already set at the beginning, so this book will still follow Luffy's departure in 1520.]
Hachinosu.
Behind Skull Mountain, in a luxury manor of over ten thousand square meters by the sea.
"Lord John, this is the financial report for our Sky Pirates this month, please have a look."
A man wearing a slim-fit black suit and a tie, looking completely out of place among pirates, stood in the manor, holding a form in both hands and respectfully handing it to John.
The first division captain of the Sky Pirates and a Senior Combatant of the Rocks Pirates, [Treasure Hunter] John, put down his red wine glass, leaned back on the leather sofa, and took the form handed to him.
He took a quick look.
[Income]
[Thirteen subordinate pirate crews, total tribute amount, approximately seven hundred thirty million Berries, of which the Pathesius Pirates alone contributed three hundred million Berries.]
[Rocks Pirates dividends {including gold mining, looting operations, human trafficking, war employment, arms smuggling, pleasure district entertainment} four billion eight hundred eighty-eight million Berries]
[BOSS personal looting income this month, 0]
[Total Income: five billion two hundred eighteen million Berries]
[Expenditure]
[Daily expenses {banquets, crew wages, training consumption, executive commissions, manor maintenance, gifts}, approximately two billion six hundred thirty million Berries]
[Special expenses {purchase of three Steam Ironclads, two hundred million Berries each, some ammunition replenishment, spent two hundred thirty million}]
[BOSS personal expenditure: one billion nine hundred eighty million Berries]
[External debt this month]
[Whitebeard: one hundred thirty million]
[Charlotte Linlin: five hundred million]
[Kaido: three hundred ten million]
[Stussy: two hundred million]
[Maron: one hundred million]
[Total balance this month: negative one billion four hundred sixty-two million Berries]
Seeing the eye-catching negative income on the last line of the form, John's expression remained calm.
He didn't get angry because of it.
On the contrary, he also praised the man next to him.
"Pathesius, you've done well. Among these subordinate pirate crews, only yours looks decent; the others are all trash! Every month they only pay this little tribute. Tell them for me, if they pay so little next month, let their Captains come to Hachinosu to see Carlo in person!"
"Yes, I will definitely tell them, Lord John." Pathesius bowed slightly, his expression remaining respectful throughout.
John was very satisfied with his attitude, tossed the form on the table, picked up a cigar box, and threw a cigar over.
"Thank you for the reward, Lord John!" Pathesius caught it with both hands, appearing overwhelmed by the favor.
John picked up his wine glass again, swirled the red wine, and asked as if casually, "I heard you're planning to give up being a pirate and intend to start a shipping company?"
"I... I'm sorry! Lord John! I didn't mean it like that, I..." With a thud, Pathesius knelt on the ground, his face turning pale.
John frowned: "What are you panicking for? I don't mean to blame you. If you have the intention, you have it; if not, you don't. Just tell the truth."
"Being a pirate doesn't make money in the first place, unless you're like Rocks, directly occupying the territories of several kingdoms to collect taxes.
Or be a lone pirate, one person eats and the whole family is full.
Otherwise, even a pirate crew the size of our Sky Pirates with over ten thousand members will have a fiscal deficit.
A pirate like you, who can earn nearly one billion berries a month with your small pirate crew of less than a few hundred people,
Is rare even in the entire New World."
"Pathesius, you are a talent, and your talent is indeed wasted as a pirate. If you want to go into shipping, you might actually make it work. I heard that fellow Shiki has also been investing money in this lately, seemingly supporting a young man named Umit."
Seeing that John really wasn't angry, Pathesius finally stood up tremblingly, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
"I... I do have this idea, but... even if I open a company, I will definitely let Boss Carlo be the company's major shareholder!"
Pathesius was the young pirate whose life was spared by Carlo at Rocky Port two years ago.
Over a year ago, he came to Hachinosu, found Carlo, and became the first subordinate pirate Captain under Carlo's command.
And the Sky Pirates was the pirate crew Carlo created for himself a year ago.
Now, the Sky Pirates has over ten thousand main members, two Division Captains, one acting Division Captain, and thirteen subordinate pirate crews.
The total number of people is close to twenty thousand.
This scale, even in Hachinosu, is a major force second only to the Rocks Pirates and the Flying Pirate Crew.
"Wororororo! Where's Carlo? A great beauty came to the island today, even Rocks and the others ran to see her, why didn't he go?"
Suddenly, a loud, booming voice rang out from outside the manor.
Then, without waiting for the pirate guards at the manor gate to announce him, the visitor walked straight in.
A figure over seven meters tall, with a sturdy and majestic body, carrying a pitch-black spiked club on his shoulder, and two black bull horns growing on either side of his head, his entire being exuded a wild and fierce aura.
Seeing the visitor, Pathesius hurried to bow and greet him: "Captain Kaido."
Kaido glanced at him sideways, "Oh, it's you. Was it you who bought the wine in my yard again?"
"Yes, that wine is a small token of my appreciation. It's not very expensive, but it's very strong. I heard that you like strong liquor best, Captain Kaido, so I specifically bought it from a cargo ship from West Blue. I hope you won't mind it, Captain Kaido."
Pathesius said with a bow and a humble expression.
Kaido grinned: "I'm very satisfied, buy more next time."
Upon hearing this, Pathesius didn't feel any pain in his wallet because of Kaido's words; instead, his face lit up with joy, "Alright, I will definitely buy more and send it over next time, I guarantee you will be satisfied, Captain Kaido."
"Wororororo, I like you. If I create my own pirate crew in the future, you come to my ship, and I'll give you a Division Captain position."
Pathesius bowed even lower, "How could I be worthy of Captain Kaido's high regard? Thank you very much for your kindness. But in this life, I will always be a member of the Sky Pirates."
Kaido curled his lip, "Tch, I knew you'd say that. I really don't know what's so good about that guy Carlo. Anyway, where is Carlo?"
"He went to train," John said from behind the table.
"Went to train again? Where did he go?"
"In the sea."