Chapter 275: Klein and Slude
The Calm Belt.
Sitting at the bow of the ship, Charlotte gazed at the tranquil sea.
It had been a long time since he had seen such calm waters.
In the New World, the weather was almost always chaotic.
Violent storms, tidal waves, and natural disasters were an everyday occurrence.
He had grown accustomed to the tumultuous sea.
Now, suddenly surrounded by this absolute stillness, he felt slightly out of place.
The silence of the ocean extended to his heart as well.
Listening to the soft hum of the ship's engine and staring at the unbroken horizon, he found himself lost in thought.
When they first entered the Calm Belt, he had been on edge.
Even though he had coated the ship's hull with Seastone, which supposedly masked them from the Sea Kings, he still felt uneasy.
The Calm Belt had a notorious reputation.
For the past two days, he had been on high alert, expecting a sudden attack from the enormous sea creatures that roamed these waters.
Yet nothing happened.
The Sea Kings were everywhere—massive, hundred-meter-long beasts, scattered across the sea like floating debris.
They were so abundant that Charlotte could spot one just by glancing around.
At first, this made him even more nervous.
But as time passed and the creatures continued to ignore them, he gradually relaxed.
He wasn't the only one.
The entire crew had been tense when they first set sail into the Calm Belt.
They had protested Charlotte's decision, fearing the legendary dangers of these waters.
Even the Roger Pirates had only ever dared to briefly enter to escape pursuit.
To cross it outright? Unthinkable.
But Charlotte had overruled them.
And now, two days later, everyone was starting to accept that the danger might not be as imminent as they had feared.
Some even found themselves admiring the sheer majesty of the Calm Belt—a place feared by all, yet eerily beautiful.
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
"Charlotte! Charlotte! Marsha is in labor!"
Elena rushed out from the cabin, her voice full of urgency.
Charlotte snapped out of his thoughts.
"What? She's giving birth?!"
Without hesitation, he leaped to his feet.
"Yes! Her water just broke. The doctor is preparing for delivery!"
Elena hurried alongside him as they made their way to the birthing room.
Her son was being held by her younger sister, Panis.
Charlotte had already chosen a name for the boy—Rockefeller Klein.
The tenth son of the Rockefeller family.
Standing outside the cabin, Charlotte could hear Marsha's screams of pain.
A rare moment of guilt crept into his heart.
He had fathered many children, but the ones who suffered through the process were always these six women.
Each childbirth was an ordeal for them.
Should he stop for a while?
Or… perhaps, find some new candidates?
The thought crossed his mind, and instinctively, his gaze drifted toward Toki.
Right after his wife went into labor, he was already considering another woman.
What kind of monster had he become?
He shook his head, dismissing the thought.
Just then, a sharp cry pierced the air.
A baby's wail.
His face lit up with joy.
"Congratulations, Master. Mother and child are both safe!"
A maid stepped out, carrying a small, wrinkled newborn.
"It's a girl?"
Charlotte took the baby into his arms.
"Yes, Master. A daughter!"
The maid smiled warmly.
Charlotte looked at his sleeping daughter, beaming.
"Oh! I have another little sister!"
Cesar, Robert, and the other children cheered excitedly.
Their sudden outburst startled the newborn, making her cry.
Charlotte quickly rocked her gently, shooting a glare at the rowdy kids.
They immediately straightened up, standing at attention.
"If it's a girl… her name will be Rockefeller Slude."
He announced the name with a proud smile.
His children's names were chosen with care.
Slude. His newest daughter.
Holding her close, he entered the room.
Marsha lay in bed, pale and exhausted.
He placed the baby beside her.
"Our daughter—Rockefeller Slude."
Marsha gazed at the child, her expression softening with maternal warmth.
"Slude… what a beautiful name."
She reached out weakly but couldn't hold the baby just yet.
"You need rest. Let your body recover first."
Charlotte gently pressed her back down.
Marsha nodded, closing her eyes.
The room was getting crowded.
Too many children had rushed in, eager to see their new sibling.
Some were even climbing onto the bed.
"Get out! What are you all doing here?!"
Charlotte barked.
The kids scattered like frightened mice.
His authority among his children was absolute.
After ensuring that Marsha was properly cared for, he stepped out.
Handing the baby to the nursemaid, he walked onto the deck.
"Congratulations, Captain! Another daughter!"
The crew members cheered.
"HAHAHAHA! Tonight, we feast! To celebrate my daughter's birth!"
Charlotte laughed heartily.
A grand feast was tradition—every time he had a child, the crew celebrated.
Some were thrilled. Others… not so much.
The kitchen staff groaned.
A banquet meant a long night of cooking.
But orders were orders.
The deck was soon transformed into a lively party venue.
As night fell, torches lit up the ship.
A long table stretched across the deck, loaded with steaming platters of food.
The men cheered, grabbing whatever they could.
Delicacies they rarely had the chance to eat were served in abundance.
They tore into their meals like ravenous beasts.
Charlotte sat with his officers and Barrett, enjoying his drink.
The fourteen-year-old Barrett, still inexperienced with alcohol, was trying his first cup.
The senior crew members grinned wickedly.
One by one, they poured him more.
The boy, drunk after just a few cups, was soon completely dazed.
Charlotte simply sat back, watching the scene unfold.
He liked moments like these.
They reminded him why he fought.
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