Chapter 98: I Targeted It First
"Asshole! Didn't I tell you? Let's go! Hurry up and catch them before they reach Island No. 30. These two are both top-notch and must be worth a lot of money."
The leader looked at Charlotte and Elena with a sly grin.
"Boss, why do I feel like that man looks familiar? I think I've seen him in the newspaper recently," one of the lackeys said, his brow furrowed in thought.
"You've seen him in the newspaper? Is he a celebrity or some noble?" the boss asked, looking puzzled.
"I'm not sure! I think I just glanced at it at the time and didn't pay much attention," the lackey replied uncertainly, scratching his head.
Bang!
The boss slapped the lackey on the head.
"If you can't remember, don't waste my time! They're about to leave. Even if they are nobles, I'm taking them. I'll sell the woman after I've had my fun."
The boss licked his lips, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he followed them.
Unbeknownst to him, several other groups were also stealthily trailing behind.
And all of this was already under Charlotte's observation.
Charlotte decided not to intervene immediately—he wanted Elena to see the dangers of this world for herself.
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"Stop!"
Just as Charlotte and Elena were walking along a narrow path on the edge of the island, seven or eight burly men suddenly jumped out from the bushes. They were armed with weapons, ropes, and nets.
Charlotte raised an eyebrow but made no move to act. He wanted Elena to witness what could happen if she weren't careful.
"Boss! This isn't good! Those fat dogs are trying to steal our prey!"
From the shadows, another group of people whispered nervously.
"Stop!"
Before anyone could act, two more groups jumped out, surrounding Charlotte and Elena. However, their attention was not on the pair but on each other.
After seeing that three groups had already made their move, the remaining onlookers couldn't stay hidden any longer.
"Hold it! These two are mine. I targeted them first!"
Another four or five groups emerged, further crowding the area.
Charlotte took a quick glance around, surprised to see that there were eight groups of human traffickers on this one part of Island No. 8. It seemed the human trafficking business in the Sabaody Archipelago was flourishing.
---
As the crowd grew, Elena instinctively shrank behind Charlotte.
This surprised Charlotte. He had assumed Elena was fearless, but it seemed she did have moments of vulnerability.
Stepping forward, Charlotte positioned himself in front of Elena.
"Fat Dog! Our Sam's Slave Catching Team has been watching these two for a long time. Back off if you know what's good for you," said a man in a suit, brandishing a pistol and glaring at one of the rival groups.
"Heh! Sam, who do you think you are? Just because you're backed by the auction house doesn't mean you can claim everything. We were here first! Get lost, or I'll make you regret it!" Fat Dog shot back, glaring at Sam and the others.
Tensions rose as the two groups began hurling insults at each other, their lackeys shouting encouragement.
Charlotte stood silently, watching the scene unfold.
Elena, who had initially been terrified, grew curious. As the groups began arguing and insulting each other, she started watching with great interest. This chaotic scene was unlike anything she had ever experienced.
Charlotte glanced at her and sighed internally. This wasn't going as planned.
"Shut up, everyone!"
Charlotte's booming voice cut through the chaos.
---
The entire area fell silent as an intense pressure emanated from Charlotte.
This wasn't his Conqueror's Haki—it was pure, unfiltered killing intent.
Elena, who had been watching with interest, flinched at Charlotte's sudden shift in demeanor. For the first time, she felt a sense of unfamiliarity and unease around him.
The traffickers, too, were startled. Many turned pale, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. But after a few moments of silence, some began regaining their composure.
"What's wrong, little pretty boy? Did I scare you? Say that again!" one of the leaders, Crow, sneered as he raised a machete in Charlotte's direction.
Before anyone could react, a flash of green light sliced through the air.
Swish!
Crow's raised hand fell to the ground with a sickening thud.
"Ahhh! My hand! My hand!" Crow screamed, clutching his bleeding stump as he collapsed to the ground.
All eyes turned to Charlotte, who was now holding a magnificent green sword. Its blade was engraved with mysterious runes, exuding an eerie, otherworldly aura.
The surrounding traffickers froze, their greed overtaking their fear as they stared at the weapon.
"That sword… it must be a famous blade! It could fetch a fortune!" someone murmured.
"Boy! If you hand over that sword, I promise to let you and the girl leave unharmed," Fat Dog said, his tone dripping with greed as he stepped forward.
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