Chapter 74: Killing (V)
Hoyle didn't fully grasp the implications of Charlotte's words but nodded instinctively, his fear overriding all rational thought.
Seeing Hoyle's obedient nod, Charlotte's smile widened with satisfaction.
"Good! Then I didn't find the wrong person!" Charlotte said, his voice dripping with malice as his smile turned sinister.
"Your auction house! How dare you capture me and plan to sell me like a common commodity? Tell me, how should I repay you for your audacity?" Charlotte asked mockingly, his grip tightening around Hoyle's neck.
Hoyle's face turned red as he struggled to breathe. He clawed helplessly at Charlotte's hand but was unable to break free. His mind raced with curses, especially toward his auction house's thugs, who had yet to come to his aid.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Seven Waters City...
Jiben, a self-proclaimed slave-catching expert, was strolling near the auction house when he noticed a familiar face: Charlie, Mayor Hoyle's assistant.
"Hey, isn't that Brother Charlie? What's the rush?" Jiben called out, running up to him eagerly.
Charlie turned to Jiben, frowning in confusion.
"Who are you?"
Jiben plastered on his most ingratiating smile. "Brother Charlie, I'm Jiben! I work for Chief Steward Fei. I'm responsible for finding slaves for the auction house. Surely you remember me!"
Charlie's expression shifted to one of recognition.
"Oh! Right, Jiben. I remember now!"
Without further pleasantries, Charlie began walking briskly again, his face lined with anxiety.
"Brother Charlie, why are you in such a hurry?" Jiben asked, matching Charlie's pace.
"Something's gone terribly wrong at the auction house!" Charlie blurted out. "A slave escaped and started wreaking havoc. The mayor sent me to call for reinforcements, but I can't find the auction house's thugs anywhere! I'm on my way to the city hall to find the sheriff."
Hearing this, Jiben's eyes lit up with excitement. This was the perfect opportunity to show off in front of the mayor's assistant.
"Brother Charlie, there's no need to go to the city hall! I'm here, and catching slaves is my specialty! Just leave it to me!"
Charlie hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
"Alright, Jiben. Let's go deal with this runaway slave. But hurry! The longer we delay, the worse this will get!"
Jiben grinned and quickly called out to his crew. "Jack! Gather the boys! We've got work to do!"
In no time, Jiben assembled a group of about sixty or seventy men, all armed and eager to prove themselves. As they marched toward the auction house, their weapons glinted ominously under the sun.
The men exchanged whispers as they walked.
"What's the job this time, Boss?" one of them asked, a one-eyed man with a long knife.
"Apparently, a slave escaped and caused chaos at the auction house. The boss is trying to impress the mayor, so he's brought all of us along," Jack replied.
Hearing this, the one-eyed man nodded thoughtfully. Others in the group had similar ambitions, each hoping to curry favor with Mayor Hoyle through this mission.
Back at the auction house…
Charlotte stood amidst the carnage, his Conqueror's Haki suppressing everyone in the hall. The once-boisterous crowd was now silent, their faces pale with fear.
The only sounds were Hoyle's agonized screams as Charlotte ground his boot into the mayor's broken legs. Blood pooled beneath Hoyle, soaking the floor.
"Please! Please spare me!" Hoyle begged, his voice trembling with desperation.
Charlotte looked down at him coldly, his voice laced with disdain. "Spare you? Did you spare the countless people you sold into slavery? Did you spare them their dignity, their freedom, their lives?"
Hoyle whimpered, his hands trembling as he tried to shield himself from further harm.
Charlotte's eyes burned with fury as he raised his foot and brought it down on Hoyle's hand.
Snap!
Hoyle screamed as his bones shattered under Charlotte's weight, his hand now a mangled mess of blood and broken flesh.
The onlookers recoiled, horrified by the scene. None dared to speak or even move, their fear of Charlotte outweighing their pity for Hoyle.
From his vantage point on the auction table, the Red Earl watched the proceedings with amusement.
"This man lives up to his name," the Red Earl mused. "The Blood Swordsman indeed."
Despite his own twisted nature, the Red Earl found himself impressed by Charlotte's ruthlessness.
Meanwhile, Hoyle's screams grew weaker as the pain and blood loss took their toll. His pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.
"Hahaha! Mercy? Why didn't you show mercy to the innocent lives you ruined?" Charlotte sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.
As he prepared to deliver the final blow, the sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention.
Jiben and his gang had arrived, their weapons at the ready.
"Boss, there he is! That's the slave causing all this trouble!" Jack shouted, pointing at Charlotte.
Charlotte turned to face them, his bloodied hands and cold eyes sending shivers down their spines.
"You must be the reinforcements," Charlotte said, his voice calm but deadly. "Good. I was just getting warmed up."
Without waiting for a response, Charlotte stepped forward, ready to unleash his fury once more.
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