Chapter 85: Askaka Island (Part 2)
Charlotte became drunk and lost consciousness, falling asleep at the table.
He didn't know how long he had been asleep when, the next morning, he was awakened by a loud noise.
Charlotte frowned and looked outside at the dim sky. He was a little grumpy after being woken up so abruptly. If he hadn't been constantly reminding himself to keep a low profile, he might have started cursing.
Suddenly feeling the urge to relieve himself, Charlotte stood up abruptly, feeling slightly dizzy. He shook his head to clear it, then asked the bartender at the front desk for directions to the bathroom.
After taking care of his business, Charlotte felt a wave of satisfaction.
When he returned, he checked the time—it was only six in the morning. He looked around at his crew members lying unconscious on the ground.
Walking over to Paul, Charlotte gave him a sharp kick.
"Uh~!"
Paul groaned as he struggled to stand, holding his throbbing head.
Charlotte sat at a clean table, drinking tea and watching Paul.
"Get up!" Charlotte said faintly.
Paul instantly snapped to attention.
"Boss!"
Paul looked over and saw Charlotte sitting alone, drinking tea.
"Wake up the others. We're heading out," Charlotte ordered calmly.
"Yes!"
Paul didn't ask where they were going; he knew better. If the boss wanted them to know, he would tell them.
Paul moved to Isaac, giving him a similar kick.
"Um?"
Isaac jolted awake, his instincts on high alert. He blinked up at Paul in confusion.
"Wake up! The boss wants us ready to move," Paul explained.
Suppressing his questions, Isaac nodded and started waking up the rest of the crew one by one.
After a night's sleep, most of the crew were able to wake up with a bit of nudging.
Before long, everyone was on their feet.
"Boss, everyone's awake," Paul reported to Charlotte.
Charlotte drank his tea, observing the group of over twenty crew members who nearly filled the tavern.
Standing up, Charlotte put on a luxurious coat, threw a bag of money onto the counter, and headed for the door.
"Let's move!"
Charlotte stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the morning sun, and motioned for everyone to follow.
The crew could sense Charlotte's excitement, though they didn't know the reason. Without hesitation, they followed him out of the tavern.
As the group moved through the bustling streets, they attracted curious glances from the townspeople. Charlotte, however, paid no attention. His mind was focused solely on the Seven Star Sword.
Following the route he remembered, Charlotte soon led the group out of the busy town and into a quieter, more desolate area.
Looking around at the surroundings, Charlotte confirmed that everything matched his memory. He chose a path and entered a dense forest.
Seeing their boss walk into the forest, the crew exchanged puzzled looks.
"What are you standing around for? Follow me!" Paul barked, hurrying after Charlotte.
The others quickly followed suit.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the terrain became increasingly difficult. Charlotte couldn't help but wonder how Luffy and his crew had managed this in the original anime. Perhaps things had changed in the past forty years?
Breaking off a branch to clear his path, Charlotte moved forward with determination.
"Boss, why are we here?" Paul asked, cutting through the foliage.
"There's something I need in this forest. We should be close," Charlotte replied.
They had been walking all morning and had already crossed half the island. Charlotte was confident they would soon reach the isolated village.
Hearing this, the crew grew excited.
The journey had been tough, consisting of rugged mountain paths and dense jungles.
Suddenly, Charlotte's instincts flared. He raised his left hand and caught an arrow mid-flight.
"Someone's here!"
The moment Paul and Isaac saw the arrow, they drew their weapons, scanning their surroundings warily.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Paul shouted in the direction the arrow had come from.
The rustling of leaves a hundred meters ahead betrayed movement. Whoever it was had been discovered and was now repositioning.
Charlotte narrowed his eyes and disappeared in a flash.
Moments later, he reappeared, holding a teenage boy by the collar.
He threw the boy to the ground and pinned him there with a foot on his back.
"Ugh!"
The boy groaned but didn't cry out.
"Who are you? Why did you attack me?" Charlotte demanded.
The boy glared at Charlotte but remained silent.
"Oh, playing tough, huh?"
Charlotte bent down, grabbed the boy by the neck, and lifted him off the ground.
The boy, who was about 1.7 meters tall, dangled helplessly, his feet no longer touching the ground.
As the boy struggled, Charlotte activated his mind-reading ability, delving into his thoughts.
Within moments, Charlotte had the information he needed, including the exact location of the hidden village.
Satisfied, Charlotte casually threw the boy into a nearby tree. The impact left the boy vomiting blood and crumpled on the ground, his fate uncertain.
Paul looked at the scene and silently mourned for the boy.
"Let's go! I've found the location," Charlotte announced excitedly.
The crew followed eagerly, sensing their boss's enthusiasm.
As they exited the dense forest, the landscape opened up.
The path became easier to traverse, and signs of human activity, including carved stone walls, began to appear.
Charlotte recognized the ruins of the ancient Askaka Kingdom.
Seeing these signs confirmed that he was on the right track.
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