One piece: Establishing a Pirate Family

Chapter 191: The Influence of the World's Greatest Swordsman

After Charlotte was named the world's greatest swordsman, the sword masters remained surprisingly indifferent.

What was the meaning of this? Wasn't this an acknowledgment that they recognized Charlotte as the world's greatest swordsman?

This damn pirate!

The Five Elders were furious when they learned about this.

Then, they turned their anger toward Morgans once again.

Was the title of the world's greatest swordsman so easy to hand out?

Once given, it would be incredibly difficult to take back.

And just like that, Charlotte's once-disputed title became undisputed.

Now, whenever someone mentioned the world's greatest swordsman, the name Rockefeller Charlotte would follow.

Captain of the Rockefeller Pirates, one of the Four Legendary Pirates of the New World, and the ruler of the center of the New World—his reputation was set in stone.

This newfound fame made countless pirates—both swordsmen and non-swordsmen alike—eager to join the Rockefeller Pirates.

And this troubled Charlotte greatly.

In Charlotte's vision, the Rockefeller Pirates were not meant to be like the Flying Pirates, where Shiki the Golden Lion would recruit just about anyone willing to follow him.

Charlotte wanted a close-knit family-based crew—one that he could trust completely.

This was why he had shown little interest in recruiting Albert (Jhin) back at Punk Hazard.

He wasn't looking to expand his crew indiscriminately.

Even the cadres under him weren't particularly strong, at least not yet.

The only exception was Barrett.

Charlotte had accepted Barrett as a member of the family because the boy had grown up within the Rockefeller Pirates. He would naturally develop strong ties to the crew.

Charlotte sought to build a true family—one where he could watch his children grow up under his care and eventually make a name for themselves in the world.

His priorities had shifted.

Charlotte had reached a ceiling in terms of power. Becoming stronger wasn't as easy anymore.

Though he still trained, his main energy was now focused elsewhere.

However, one thing was certain—he would never allow his strength to decline.

In a world where strength dictated survival, showing weakness was never an option.

This was also why Charlotte had never eaten a Devil Fruit.

He had reached the peak in physical combat, swordsmanship, and Haki. As long as he didn't act recklessly, like storming Marine Headquarters alone, he had no major weaknesses.

But eating a Devil Fruit would introduce one—seawater and Seastone.

For now, Charlotte preferred to remain free of those constraints.

The only Devil Fruit that had ever caught his interest was the Vampire Fruit.

After all, eternal youth was an attractive prospect.

Other Devil Fruits were just fancy abilities.

He could replicate their effects with Haki, brute force, or sheer skill.

Like Kaido had once said—Haki reigns supreme.

Charlotte also loved swimming, especially with his wives, so for now, he had no interest in consuming a Devil Fruit.

At first, he was reluctant about the influx of swordsmen joining his crew.

But after Elena's reasoning, he finally made up his mind.

It wasn't just about personal preference anymore.

Charlotte was one of the Four Legendary Pirates of the New World.

Though he only controlled Kami Island, people already saw him as the ruler of the central New World.

It was only a matter of time before he planted his flag.

However, despite his great reputation, his actual forces were small—the smallest of the Four Legendary Pirates.

This made him a target.

If he didn't arm himself, he would eventually face a major crisis.

Charlotte finally made a decision.

A ring was built on the west side of Kami Island.

Any swordsman who wished to challenge him had to compete in the ring first.

Only the winner of the monthly tournament would have the privilege of challenging Charlotte.

And Charlotte wouldn't disappoint them.

Each month, he would fight the strongest swordsman of the tournament.

If they impressed him, he would teach them swordsmanship personally.

This system changed everything.

Suddenly, Kami Island became a swordsman's holy land.

Not only could they test their skills against other swordsmen, but they could train under the world's greatest swordsman.

Over the next six months, Charlotte's forces grew dramatically.

Talented swordsmen from all over the world flocked to his banner.

Pirates and warlords watched in jealousy and awe.

Shiki the Golden Lion was particularly envious.

As a great swordsman himself, he had once fought Charlotte and pushed him to his limits.

Now, watching so many talented swordsmen join Charlotte, his heart burned with jealousy.

He couldn't understand it.

Why were all the young talents joining Charlotte instead of him?

Was it because of that damn title—the world's greatest swordsman?

Every time Shiki heard about a new swordsman rising in the New World, he would soon hear that they had joined the Rockefeller Pirates.

It infuriated him.

One day, while flying across the Grand Line, Shiki spotted a group of swordsmen sailing towards Kami Island.

His eyes narrowed.

Without hesitation, he descended from the sky and landed on their ship.

"Oi, brats! Are you headed to challenge the world's greatest swordsman?"

His voice was sharp and commanding.

The swordsmen froze in fear.

They recognized him immediately.

This was Shiki the Golden Lion—one of the strongest pirates in the world.

One of them gathered his courage and spoke.

"N-No! I mean, yes! Lord Shiki, do you have a message for Lord Charlotte?"

They were clearly nervous.

Shiki took a deep puff of his cigar and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Tell me... why are so many swordsmen choosing him over me?"

His eyes burned with curiosity—and perhaps a hint of resentment.

The swordsmen hesitated.

They glanced at each other before one finally stepped forward.

"Because Lord Charlotte is the world's greatest swordsman. He is also willing to guide the weak, fights against the strong, and treats everyone fairly. He is a man of honor and tolerance."

They repeated what they had heard in the newspapers and among the swordsman community.

Shiki's expression darkened.

His grip tightened on his swords.

Charlotte had stolen the future generation of swordsmen.

And he didn't like it one bit.

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