Chapter 12: The Mayor's Invitation
The colossal squid Sea King died instantly, releasing a flood of ink from its body. The ink spread rapidly, leaving Charlotte without a place to stand, forcing him to remain atop the squid's corpse.
The two remaining Sea Kings, seeing their leader slain in an instant, whipped their tails and dove into the depths, disappearing from Charlotte's Observation Haki range.
Standing on the squid's floating body, Charlotte surveyed the blackened waters around him. With five Sea Kings killed and the rest fleeing, the chaotic battle had finally ended.
Exhausted, Charlotte slumped onto the squid's corpse. The high-intensity battle had drained him significantly, leaving him physically and mentally spent.
He chose to stay put, catching his breath rather than calling his crew over, as the squid's ink still tainted the waters, and it was far too risky to bring the ships closer.
After about half an hour, the ink began to dissipate. Charlotte signaled to the four ships in the distance, waving his hand.
One of the lookouts spotted his gesture, and a ship separated from the group, cautiously approaching Charlotte.
When it drew close enough, Charlotte leaped aboard.
"Quick! Start hauling these Sea King corpses onto the ships. We need to leave this area immediately!" he commanded.
His voice carried urgency, fearing that lingering too long might attract even larger Sea Kings. Dealing with creatures over a hundred meters was challenging enough; facing a thousand-meter behemoth would spell disaster.
"Yes, Boss!"
The sailors threw hooks into the Sea King bodies, working as quickly as they could to secure the kills and tow them back to their ships.
Once all four vessels were linked together, they dragged the four massive Sea Kings toward the island. One corpse, contaminated by the squid's ink, was left behind, deemed unsafe to bring back.
The fleet sailed away, leaving the battle-torn waters behind. The once chaotic sea now returned to an eerie calm, as if nothing had happened.
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With the navigator charting their course, Charlotte felt at ease. He sat at a dining table, devouring food to replenish his energy.
Though they hadn't met their original hunting quota, the four colossal Sea Kings they had captured would provide enough meat for at least a month. Charlotte decided it was best to return and plan the next hunt later.
Overall, the expedition had been a success. They had secured a pristine pirate ship and over ten million berries in bounties. Charlotte planned to send someone to the nearby G-8 Navy branch to claim the rewards—a sizable boost to their finances.
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The island finally came into view as a dark speck on the horizon.
Seeing their home, the young sailors—many of whom were on their first voyage—burst into tears, overwhelmed with relief. They had narrowly escaped death, and they owed it all to their leader.
The crew's reverence for Charlotte grew, their admiration evident in their gazes.
Charlotte, sensing their emotions through his Observation Haki, remained silent, focusing instead on finishing his meal.
As the ships docked at the port, a crowd of townsfolk, dock workers, and merchants gathered to watch.
Their eyes widened at the sight of the fourth ship and the massive Sea Kings being towed behind the fleet.
In their eyes, these hundred-meter-long Sea Kings were colossal monsters. Normally, encountering such creatures spelled doom for any ship, making it all the more shocking to see someone successfully hunt them.
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Charlotte disembarked first, greeted by Ivan and twenty black-suited subordinates waiting onshore. Standing neatly behind them were the five maids, their postures respectful.
"Boss, how was the trip? You're back earlier than expected," Ivan asked, bowing slightly.
Charlotte casually picked his teeth with a toothpick, gesturing toward the ships.
"Not bad. It was a bit dangerous, but we managed. We got four Sea Kings, each around a hundred meters, and captured a pirate ship. Take the pirate captain's head to the G-8 Navy branch later to claim the bounty."
"Understood, Boss. I'll have someone handle it immediately!"
With Charlotte's growing influence, the Wild Wolf Gang had expanded significantly. Ivan now delegated most tasks to others, allowing him to focus on more important matters.
"Also, prepare some food for me. I'm going to take a bath," Charlotte added.
Ivan nodded, glancing at the maids, who quickly understood and hurried back to the mansion to prepare.
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"Mr. Charlotte!"
"Mr. Charlotte!"
As Charlotte walked through the town, the residents and merchants greeted him warmly, their gratitude evident.
He had grown accustomed to this after his heroics in defending the town.
"Mr. Charlotte, the mayor requests your presence," said a man in a security officer's uniform, approaching with a respectful bow.
Charlotte recognized him; they had interacted often due to the Wild Wolf Gang's activities.
"The mayor?" Charlotte raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
Even after defeating the invading pirates, the mayor hadn't reached out to him. Why now?
Waving to Ivan, Charlotte followed the security officer, curious about what this meeting might entail.
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Charlotte was led to a small café but found no sign of the mayor. Instead, a middle-aged man adorned in luxurious jewelry sat waiting.
The security officer bowed before stepping aside.
"And you are?" Charlotte asked, his tone laced with irritation.
His instincts told him this man wasn't trustworthy.
The man stood, extending a hand.
"Haha, I've heard much about you, the hero of Kamei Island. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Randolph Chamberlain, the new mayor of Kamei Island."
Charlotte hesitated briefly before shaking the man's hand.
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