Chapter 57: Scum
A thin man approached with a knife, reaching to snatch Charlotte's wallet.
The moment the man drew close, Charlotte's earlier display of panic vanished entirely.
With a calm smile, Charlotte snatched the long knife from the man's hand with such force that a loud crack echoed.
"Ouch!"
The thin man let out a scream as Charlotte's grip broke his wrist.
"Hahaha! How dare you try to rob me! Bad luck for you!"
Charlotte grinned at the eight individuals surrounding him—or rather, the seven remaining as he firmly pinned the thin man underfoot.
"Boss, help me! Save me!"
The man under Charlotte's boot, named Vic, cried out in desperation. Charlotte's foot pressed harder on his chest, holding him like a clamp.
"You! Let Vic go!"
The fat leader, who had been confident moments before, suddenly looked panicked.
How did the weak, helpless boy they targeted transform so quickly?
Even though the situation surprised him, the fat man believed it wasn't entirely out of control. Seven against one was still favorable odds.
"Go! Go! Kill him!"
The fat man waved his hand, urging his men to attack Charlotte with raised weapons.
Charlotte stood calmly, watching them with an almost amused smile.
The seven rushed forward, grinning wickedly as they prepared to cut him down.
"Boy! Let's see you dodge this!"
The fat leader thrust his knife toward Charlotte's stomach.
But instead of flesh, the blade struck something impossibly solid.
Clang!
A metallic sound rang out.
The fat man stared, dumbfounded, as a black substance coated Charlotte's stomach, stopping the blade entirely.
It was Charlotte's Armament Haki.
Charlotte smiled at the fat man, saying nothing.
"You! You're a Devil Fruit user!" the fat man stammered, his eyes wide with terror.
In the first half of the Grand Line, knowledge of Haki was limited, and the leader mistook the display for a Devil Fruit ability.
Charlotte continued to smile silently, his expression mocking.
Enraged by Charlotte's calm demeanor, the fat man screamed, "I don't care if you have a Devil Fruit! We'll kill you anyway! Attack, everyone!"
He swung his knife again, and his men followed suit, hacking at Charlotte with everything they had.
Charlotte's smile widened as his entire body was coated in Armament Haki, turning him an intimidating shade of black.
Clang! Ding ding!
The sounds of metal clashing echoed through the alley as their weapons struck Charlotte's hardened skin.
"Huff... Huff..."
After only a few swings, the fat man was already out of breath. His lackeys, seeing their leader stop, hesitated and lowered their weapons.
They all stared at Charlotte, their faces pale with fear.
Not a scratch.
Charlotte stretched his neck lazily and cracked his knuckles.
"Are you done? My turn."
Charlotte's smile grew colder.
He pressed his foot harder against the thin man pinned beneath him.
Crack!
The sound of bones breaking echoed. Blood spurted from the thin man's mouth as his ribs collapsed. His wide, terrified eyes locked on Charlotte's before his head lolled to the side.
He was dead.
The remaining seven stared in horror.
"Oh dear, what a shame. He's dead already." Charlotte sighed dramatically. His grin turned cruel. "Guess I'll have to play with the rest of you."
Charlotte opened his arms mockingly, his eyes brimming with malice.
As he activated his Observation Haki, Charlotte felt the darkness within these men's hearts.
Kidnapping children, enslaving others, destroying families—they had done it all. And worse.
To Charlotte's surprise, the fat leader wasn't just a random thug.
He was tied to Water 7's mayor.
Charlotte wasn't a judge or savior, nor did he care about their connection. But they had chosen to provoke him.
"Run! Run!"
One of the men finally broke, yelling in terror as he bolted.
The others quickly followed, scattering in every direction, even leaving their leader behind.
Charlotte's smile grew wider.
Shave.
Rankyaku!
Charlotte's form blurred as he leapt into the air. From his feet, sharp slashes of compressed air shot out, slicing through the fleeing men.
Thud! Thud!
Each strike found its mark. The six men crumpled to the ground, cut cleanly in half.
The fat leader, slower than the rest, stumbled to a halt as he saw his companions fall.
He dropped to his knees, trembling.
"P-please! Have mercy! I was wrong to provoke you! If you let me live, I'll give you all my treasures!"
The fat man kowtowed desperately, his forehead slamming into the ground.
Charlotte landed gracefully and walked toward the groveling man.
Click. Click. Click.
Each step of Charlotte's boots against the cobblestones echoed in the alley.
The fat man looked up to see Charlotte standing before him.
Terrified, he quickly lowered his head again, groveling harder.
"Spare me? You expect me to forgive you for less than 400,000 Baileys?"
Charlotte bent down, his voice dripping with mockery.
"H-how... How do you know that?" The fat man's eyes widened in disbelief.
Charlotte didn't answer, merely chuckling.
Thud!
A powerful kick sent the fat man sprawling, his face smashed and his teeth scattering across the ground. Blood poured from his mouth as he whimpered in pain.
"Don't touch me. You're filthy," Charlotte said coldly as the fat man reached out a trembling hand.
Charlotte grabbed a long knife from the ground.
Swish!
"Ahhhhh!"
The fat man screamed as Charlotte severed his limbs, leaving him a writhing, bloody stump.
"I won't kill you. Live with your fear."
Dropping the knife, Charlotte turned and left the alley without a backward glance.
Behind him, seven lifeless bodies and the fat man's anguished cries filled the air.
---
Clap. Clap. Clap.
As Charlotte exited the alley, slow applause echoed from nearby.
"As expected of a pirate with a bounty of 950 million. Your methods are brutal."
Charlotte turned, his eyes narrowing.
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