Chapter 111: General Don
Thanks to hundreds of years of World Government propaganda, the terrifying reputation of Navy Admirals had become deeply ingrained in people's minds. Since Charlotte managed to escape from an admiral, his strength could not be underestimated.
"Yes, General! I saw it with my own eyes. They have already landed on the island," the squad leader named Douglas reported.
The general fell into deep thought after hearing Douglas's affirmation.
A man of such strength was definitely not someone their kingdom or army could afford to provoke. Conflict must be avoided at all costs.
Thinking of this, the general made up his mind.
"Come with me! Let's go meet this world-famous pirate," the general declared, his tone firm.
As a general, he never lacked courage.
"Ah!" Douglas froze for a moment, startled by the general's decision. He quickly voiced his concerns.
"General! That's a pirate with a bounty of 1 billion berries! What if—just hypothetically—what if he harbors ill intentions toward our island?"
The general rolled his eyes at him.
"Even if he does, what could you possibly do about it?" the general asked, looking at Douglas.
"This… this…" Douglas stammered, rendered speechless. He realized the general was right. If someone as dangerous as this pirate wanted to harm them, there was nothing they could do.
Douglas nodded in agreement, his resolve strengthened. The general smiled faintly, satisfied with his subordinate's understanding.
"Let's go. Take me to meet this mighty figure of the seas," the general ordered.
Without any guards, the general began walking toward the town, with only Douglas accompanying him. He feared that bringing guards might provoke Charlotte unnecessarily.
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Meanwhile, Charlotte and Elena entered the town.
The first thing Charlotte noticed was the eerie silence. Despite the number of people in the market, the atmosphere was unusually quiet.
Walking down the silent street, Charlotte couldn't shake the creeping unease that crawled up his spine. The people didn't seem lively at all.
"Charlotte!" Elena clutched his arm, moving closer.
"Elena," Charlotte whispered, leaning toward her, "have you noticed something? Most of the people selling goods here are old women and elderly men. There are hardly any adult men or children."
Hearing this, Elena quickly scanned their surroundings.
Indeed, she realized that the people on the street were predominantly elderly, women, and a few children. There wasn't a single able-bodied man in sight.
"What's going on?" Elena asked, puzzled.
"This area hosts five or six kingdoms simultaneously, and wars break out between them almost daily. That's why this place is called the Kingdom of Endless War. Adult men are conscripted to serve as soldiers, and even children are trained for battle," Charlotte explained as he observed his surroundings.
"You have to understand—on the battlefield, a bullet fired by a child is just as deadly as one fired by a grown man."
Elena covered her mouth in shock.
"You mean… all the men and children here are drafted into the military?" Elena whispered, horrified.
Charlotte nodded grimly.
"This… this is too cruel!" Elena exclaimed softly.
Having lived a sheltered life on her island, Elena had been exposed to countless shocking realities during her time with Charlotte. Yet, each new revelation seemed to shatter her worldview further.
"Why?" Elena asked, her voice trembling. "Is it about land? Resources? Why can't people just live in peace?"
Charlotte shrugged. "Who knows? It could be personal ambition, manipulation behind the scenes, or something else entirely. There are countless reasons for conflict."
As they continued walking, Charlotte suddenly noticed a change in the atmosphere. The people around them had fallen silent, their gazes fixed on one direction.
At the end of the street, a middle-aged man in a black military uniform and cap, accompanied by a younger soldier, walked toward them.
The younger soldier was none other than Douglas, the squad leader from the dock.
As the general appeared, the murmurs in the marketplace ceased entirely. The townsfolk gazed at him with a mixture of fear and hatred.
Charlotte instinctively pulled Elena and Panis closer to him, his sharp gaze fixed on the approaching figures.
When the general reached them, he immediately gave Charlotte a respectful bow.
"Dear Mr. Charlotte, welcome to Jarzburg! Both you and your wife are most welcome here. I am General Don Sitney, the garrison commander of this island. You may call me General Don," the man introduced himself with a noble salute.
Charlotte raised an eyebrow but nodded in acknowledgment. It was clear the general had come to ensure that no trouble arose on the island.
Seeing that Charlotte didn't seem hostile, General Don exhaled in relief. His greatest fear was dealing with an unpredictable pirate.
"I wonder," General Don began cautiously, "what brings someone of your stature to our humble Jarzburg?"
Charlotte's expression darkened.
"Why should I report my business to you?" he asked coldly.
The general's face twitched as he suppressed his rising panic. Forcing a smile, he bowed again.
"No offense intended, Mr. Charlotte. Please forgive my curiosity," the general said, his voice humble.
Charlotte waved dismissively.
"Fine. I'm here to replenish supplies and rest for a few days. You don't need to worry about us. As long as no one messes with me or my people, there won't be any problems."
The implicit threat in Charlotte's words was unmistakable, but the general had no choice but to nod.
"I understand. You have my word—there will be no trouble here," General Don assured him, though inwardly he seethed at being forced to endure such humiliation.
As he was about to leave, Charlotte suddenly stopped him.
"Wait," Charlotte said. "I need your help with something."
The general froze, unsure of what Charlotte might ask.
"I am at your service," he said, forcing himself to maintain his composure.
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