Chapter 76: Killing (VII)
When artillery bombardment is the only option, one resorts to brute force, a white knife going in and a red knife coming out, or using a flintlock rifle to fight from a distance.
But no one fights like Charlotte—crushing everyone with his bare fists.
"Ugh!"
Finally, someone in the audience couldn't bear the scene anymore and fell to the ground, vomiting violently.
This triggered a chain reaction.
In an instant, over a dozen weak-hearted individuals began retching and vomiting all over the floor.
"Vomit!"
Charlotte glanced at the spectacle but quickly turned away. There was nothing interesting about vomit, after all.
Even Charlotte felt slightly nauseous.
As the blood-red haze in his eyes gradually faded, Charlotte began to regain his composure.
Looking at the numerous corpses strewn around him, Charlotte didn't feel regret—only annoyance at being controlled by his emotions.
"I thought the side effects of my Observation Haki were gone," he muttered to himself.
It turned out those suppressed emotions had accumulated and detonated all at once, triggered by the chaotic atmosphere of the auction house.
Charlotte was well aware of the side effects of his Observation Haki.
That's why, even during his domineering training, he avoided overusing his Observation Haki to prevent emotional overload.
He thought he had solved the problem, but today it reared its ugly head again.
The sheer amount of fear and despair emanating from those around him made Charlotte feel uneasy.
Subconsciously, Charlotte moved closer to the Red Earl, seeking solace.
"Ah! Don't come near me! You're filthy!"
Seeing Charlotte approach, the Red Earl quickly stood up and backed away, his face filled with disgust.
After hearing the Red Earl's complaint, Charlotte frowned, black lines forming on his forehead.
But when he glanced down at his blood-soaked clothes, he sighed.
Fair enough.
Even Charlotte found himself disgusting at that moment.
"I need to do better next time," Charlotte thought to himself. "I've trained my swordsmanship for years to maintain an image of elegance and dominance. I can't let myself look like this again."
In his mind, Charlotte envisioned a persona similar to Mihawk: proud, aloof, and untouchable.
"I can't keep ruining my image like this."
As Charlotte was lost in thought, a commotion drew his attention.
Jiben and Charlie, along with a few others, were slowly inching toward the door.
They hoped to escape unnoticed, but Charlotte's sharp senses caught them.
He turned his gaze toward them, a cold smile spreading across his face.
"Oh no, we've been spotted! Run!"
Jiben, who had been keeping an eye on Charlotte, screamed and bolted for the door.
The others followed, fear driving them forward.
But Charlotte moved faster.
Utilizing the Navy's Six Styles, he used Shave to appear behind the fleeing group in an instant.
"Tempest Kick (Rankyaku)!"
With a sweep of his leg, Charlotte unleashed a white shockwave that tore through the group.
The energy wave cut cleanly through their waists, separating their upper and lower bodies.
In the brief moment before they collapsed, the fleeing men saw their lower halves running ahead of them.
"So fast," one of them thought before succumbing to death.
Their severed torsos hit the ground, spilling entrails and blood.
Those watching from outside the auction house were horrified.
They had gathered out of curiosity, following Jiben and Charlie's frantic retreat. From a distance, they had hoped to see what was happening inside.
But now, they were greeted with the sight of Charlotte, standing amid the carnage.
Some women screamed, while others turned away, vomiting.
One reporter, however, seized the moment.
He had been tailing the group, sensing a potential story. Now, he snapped photo after photo of Charlotte, documenting the young man's terrifying display of power.
Charlotte, oblivious to the onlookers, returned to the auction hall.
The entire confrontation had lasted less than three minutes.
Those inside the hall, who had briefly thought of making a run for it, quickly abandoned the idea and lay still, praying not to be noticed.
But Charlotte's sharp eyes caught even the smallest movements.
He dismissed their efforts with a scoff and walked back to Mayor Hoyle, who lay crumpled on the floor like a broken doll.
Hoyle, battered and bloodied, could barely move.
As Charlotte approached, Hoyle's lips curled into a twisted smile.
"Hahahahaha! Just wait," Hoyle rasped. "The World Government will avenge me. You'll be hunted down like the dog you are, marked as an enemy of the world! Hahahaha!"
Hoyle's maniacal laughter echoed through the hall.
These would be his final words.
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