Chapter 114: Tang En's Banquet
Nightfall.
Charlotte, along with his crew, Elena, and the newly recruited Barrett, arrived at a grand castle for a banquet. The host of this event was General Tang En, who had invited Charlotte to his residence after the successful recruitment of Barrett.
Of course, Charlotte, never one to refuse free food and drinks, eagerly accepted the invitation. Without hesitation, he brought everyone along, leaving no one to guard the ship. He trusted that no one would dare to approach his vessel, given his infamous reputation.
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The banquet began in full swing, and the atmosphere quickly became lively. The hall buzzed with toasts, laughter, and the clinking of glasses.
Charlotte, holding a large bottle of wine, joined the festivities enthusiastically.
Elena sat at a table with Panis and Barrett, sipping juice and quietly observing the rowdy celebrations. Charlotte had forbidden her from drinking alcohol due to her pregnancy, and he extended the restriction to Barrett and Panis, claiming they were too young to drink anything stronger than juice or milk.
At their table, the delicious aroma of food caught Barrett's attention. His eyes lit up as he stared at the feast before him. Having spent his life in a military camp with limited provisions, such a spread was a rare luxury.
"Go ahead," Elena said gently after seeing his eager expression.
Barrett hesitated for a moment before digging in. Panis, too, joined him, albeit at a slower pace.
Barrett, however, ate voraciously, finishing everything on the table in no time.
Panis, watching his rapid consumption, muttered under her breath, "What a monster."
Her comment was quiet, but Barrett's sharp ears caught it. He froze mid-bite, his hand stopping in mid-air.
Seeing this, Elena quickly intervened. "Panis! That's rude. Apologize." She turned to Barrett and smiled reassuringly. "Don't let it bother you. Eat as much as you want. If it's not enough, let them know, and they'll bring more."
Her kind tone and motherly demeanor touched something deep within Barrett. Though he didn't say anything, he silently resumed eating, albeit more calmly than before.
Elena chuckled softly at his reaction and turned her attention back to the banquet.
She couldn't help but notice how often her gaze drifted toward Charlotte. There was a mixture of admiration and concern in her eyes as she watched him laugh and drink with his crew.
Noticing Elena's attention, Barrett followed her gaze. For the first time, he observed the man who had recruited him earlier that day.
After some time, Elena, finding the chaos of the banquet uninteresting, turned back to Panis and Barrett.
Panis was looking around the extravagant hall with wide eyes, marveling at the grandeur of the setting.
Barrett, on the other hand, continued eating in silence, his plate piled high with food.
"Barrett, are you sure you're okay eating so much?" Elena asked softly, a hint of concern in her voice.
Barrett paused and looked up, his expression serious. "I'm fine. I'm just… hungry."
Elena tilted her head. "Hungry? Didn't you eat enough before?"
Barrett nodded, his voice dropping. "I've never really been full before."
Hearing this, Elena's heart ached. She pushed her plate toward him. "Here, take mine too. Eat as much as you want. If you're with us, you'll never have to go hungry again."
Panis, moved by Elena's gesture, slid her plate over as well.
Barrett stared at the additional food in silence, his eyes growing misty. For someone who had known only hardship and deprivation, such kindness was almost overwhelming.
Without saying a word, he resumed eating, tears threatening to fall as he devoured the food.
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Meanwhile, at the center of the banquet, Tang En raised a glass to Charlotte. "Captain Charlotte, your drinking skills are truly impressive!"
"Hahahaha! That's nothing. I can drink all day and night without a problem!" Charlotte boasted, downing another bottle with ease.
"You truly live up to your reputation as a world-renowned pirate!" one of the guests said, raising their glass in admiration.
The flattery continued, and Charlotte basked in the praise, grinning from ear to ear.
"Come on! Drink up! No one leaves until they're drunk!" Charlotte declared, holding up his bottle.
"Cheers!"
"Long live Captain Charlotte!"
"You're the hero of the seas!"
The room erupted with cheers and laughter.
After drinking for a while, Charlotte decided to check on Elena and the others. He excused himself from the crowd and walked toward their table, his movements slightly unsteady but still composed.
As he approached, the smell of alcohol emanated from him, making Elena wrinkle her nose in disapproval.
"What are you doing here? You smell like a distillery!" she said, her tone tinged with annoyance.
Charlotte chuckled. "I came to check on you guys. Have you eaten enough?"
He glanced at their table. Barrett's plate was piled high with food, but Elena and Panis only had a few empty glasses of juice in front of them. His frown deepened.
"Why didn't anyone serve my wife food?" he snapped, turning to the nearby maids.
The maids trembled, their fear evident.
"Relax," Elena interjected, rolling her eyes. "I told them not to. I've had enough. Why waste food?"
Charlotte stared at her for a moment before breaking into a grin. "Fair enough."
He turned to Barrett, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "How about you? Did you enjoy your meal?"
Barrett stiffened under Charlotte's touch but managed a nod.
"Hahaha! Good! Eat your fill!" Charlotte said, giving his shoulder a hearty pat.
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