Chapter 8: Five Girls
"Slaves, huh?"
Charlotte muttered indifferently as he walked up to the young girl.
Though her face was smudged with dirt, it couldn't hide her natural beauty.
"No wonder they caught you to sell as a slave," Charlotte murmured to himself, looking at the girl.
The girl blushed slightly under his gaze.
Charlotte, with his long golden hair, muscular build, and battle-worn clothes that exposed his well-trained physique, was undeniably striking.
Looking at the lock on the cage, Charlotte grabbed it and tore it apart with ease.
He opened the door, letting the girl out.
To his surprise, more than just one girl emerged—four additional girls stepped out one by one.
"I've killed all the pirates above. You're free now," Charlotte said, addressing the five youthful, radiant girls.
Their previously dull eyes lit up instantly.
Charlotte didn't linger, instead moving to each cell and breaking the locks to free everyone inside.
One by one, the captives stepped out, their expressions filled with relief.
Having freed them all, Charlotte walked out with his hands in his pockets.
Encountering these pitiful souls, he thought it was no harm to save them. He had always detested slavery.
Once outside the dimly lit cargo hold, Charlotte took a deep breath.
The suffocating sense of despair he had felt inside lingered. With his special Observation Haki, Charlotte could distinctly sense the hopelessness of the captives, a feeling that left him deeply unsettled.
No wonder Bartholomew Kuma preferred solitude—having mind-reading abilities through Observation Haki was as much a curse as a blessing.
"Phew…"
Exhaling softly, Charlotte grabbed a chest filled with berries and prepared to leave the pirate ship.
"Sir!"
That familiar female voice called out again just as he was about to disembark.
Charlotte turned, frowning at the girls.
"What now? You're free. What do you want from me?" he asked, his tone impatient.
All five girls exchanged glances before dropping to their knees in unison.
"Please, take us in! We're willing to serve you as maids to repay your kindness!"
The same girl who had spoken earlier pleaded desperately.
Charlotte sighed, feeling the weight of their emotions pressing on him. With his heightened senses, he could tell they were sincere.
"Why?" he asked.
At his question, silence fell over the group, a heavy sadness emanating from them that further irritated Charlotte.
"Sir, we have no home to return to. Our kingdom was destroyed because we couldn't pay the Heavenly Tribute. Pirates frequently attacked us, and now our entire kingdom is gone. The island is a dead land, and we're the only survivors. The pirates spared us because of our appearances, planning to sell us to slave traders. Please, take us in!"
The girl's voice broke into sobs as she knelt before Charlotte, her plea heartfelt.
Charlotte was touched by the intensity of her emotions.
"Get up," he said, stepping forward to help them to their feet.
"What are your names?" he asked.
The lead girl immediately responded, "Sir, my name is Martha Bruce."
Her golden hair and blue eyes glimmered as she gave a small curtsey, reminiscent of a noble greeting.
The other girls introduced themselves one by one:
"Sir, I'm Jennie Kenneth."
"Sir, I'm Alice Louise."
"Sir, I'm Nell Heber."
"Sir, I'm Gillian Janice."
"Martha, Jennie, Alice, Nell, and Gillian—correct?" Charlotte confirmed, looking at the five girls.
"Yes, sir!" they answered in unison.
"Good. From now on, you'll follow me as my maids. My name is Rockefeller Charlotte. Call me 'Young Master.'"
"Yes, Young Master!"
Satisfied, Charlotte nodded. Having five beautiful young maids wasn't a bad deal, especially given their circumstances.
"Follow me," he said, turning toward the port.
As for the others, Charlotte couldn't care less. He wasn't their parent, and their survival was their own responsibility.
---
"Hey, wake up! Get up!"
Charlotte nudged Ivan with his foot.
Ivan had been knocked unconscious by Charlotte's Conqueror's Haki and hadn't woken up since.
In fact, most of the townspeople were still lying unconscious at the port.
Charlotte marveled at the sheer power of his first use of Conqueror's Haki.
After a few more kicks to Ivan's side, the man finally groaned and stirred awake.
"B-Boss!"
Ivan jumped in shock upon seeing Charlotte, then quickly surveyed his surroundings.
"W-Where are the pirates?" he asked, panic-stricken as he saw the corpses and unconscious townsfolk scattered around the port.
Charlotte pointed toward the flagpole, where Alex Jesse's severed head was displayed.
Ivan's eyes widened in disbelief.
"T-That… Boss, did you do this?"
Charlotte nodded, annoyed by Ivan's lack of composure.
"Get up. These five girls are now my maids. Train them well," Charlotte ordered, motioning to the girls.
"Yes, Boss!" Ivan replied hastily, though his trembling hands betrayed his fear.
Charlotte walked away, leaving Ivan behind.
Despite training with Charlotte for three years, Ivan couldn't even withstand his Conqueror's Haki.
"What a useless subordinate," Charlotte muttered, his irritation growing as he headed back to his residence.
The town was eerily quiet, with everyone still unconscious. Charlotte's Haki had covered the entire area.
---
When Charlotte arrived home, he realized no one was there to prepare food for him since the entire town was out cold.
Soon after, Ivan arrived with the five girls.
"Ivan, you're just in time. Prepare some food for me. I need to replenish my energy," Charlotte said, his cold gaze settling on Ivan.
"Yes, Boss!" Ivan said respectfully before leading the girls to the kitchen.
Though Ivan lacked strength, his efficiency in handling tasks had earned him a place by Charlotte's side for four years.
Sitting on the couch, Charlotte reflected on the battle earlier.
He had awakened Conqueror's Haki during the fight, and the experience had left him feeling liberated and exhilarated.
"That feeling… could it be that I enjoy killing? Does that make me some sort of executioner? Since when did I become so twisted?" Charlotte mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
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