Chapter 12: The Mayor's Invitation

The gigantic Sea King squid perished instantly, releasing a flood of ink, leaving Sharlo with no place to stand except on the creature's body. The other two Sea Kings, seeing their leader fall, quickly fled, disappearing from Sharlo's Observation Haki.

Standing on the floating squid corpse, Sharlo surveyed the blackened sea. He had killed five Sea Kings, with the rest escaping. Exhausted from the intense battle, he collapsed onto the squid's body, too drained to summon his men. The corrosive ink also deterred him from calling the ships over.

After about half an hour, the ink began to dissipate. Sharlo waved towards the four ships, signaling them to approach. The lookout spotted his signal, and one ship carefully made its way over. Soon, Sharlo leapt aboard.

"Quick! Haul up these Sea King corpses and let's leave this area," Sharlo commanded, fearing the arrival of more massive Sea Kings. His crew hooked the Sea Kings' bodies and maneuvered the ships to tow them back to their island.

The four ships, manned by a handful of crew, worked slowly but steadily. After linking together and securing the four Sea King bodies, they set sail for their home island. One of the Sea King corpses was left behind, contaminated by the squid's ink and deemed unsafe to consume.

As they departed, the sea returned to its usual calm, as if nothing had happened. With the navigator guiding their route, Sharlo didn't worry about veering off course. Instead, he focused on replenishing his energy, devouring food at the table. Although they hadn't met their hunting quota, the enormous size of the Sea Kings would provide ample food for a month.

Sharlo reflected on the successful voyage, having acquired a new pirate ship and a bounty worth over ten million berries. He planned to send someone to the nearby Marine G-8 base to claim the reward.

The island soon appeared on the horizon, eliciting emotional reactions from the young crew members. Many had feared for their lives and now cried in relief, grateful for Sharlo's protection. Their admiration for him grew, but Sharlo, focused on eating, didn't acknowledge it.

As they docked, townsfolk, dockworkers, and merchants gathered, astonished by the sight of the new ship and the enormous Sea Kings. For many, these creatures spelled doom for ships, making Sharlo's success all the more impressive.

Sharlo disembarked first, greeted by Ivan and twenty black-suited men, along with five maids. Ivan approached, bowing slightly. "Boss, how did it go? Quite a haul to return so early?"

Sharlo picked his teeth nonchalantly. "Not bad. Despite the dangers, we prevailed. Four Sea Kings and a new pirate ship. Take the pirate captain's head to the G-8 base for the bounty."

Ivan noted the instructions. "Yes, boss. I'll handle it right away." The Wild Wolf Gang had grown significantly under Sharlo, allowing Ivan to delegate tasks.

"Prepare some food; I need a bath," Sharlo ordered. Ivan nodded, and the maids headed to the villa to make preparations.

As Sharlo walked through town, he was greeted respectfully by townsfolk and merchants alike, a routine he had grown used to. Suddenly, a security officer approached. "Mr. Sharlo! The mayor wishes to see you."

Recognizing the officer, Sharlo was puzzled. "The mayor?" He followed the officer, curious about the unexpected summons. He recalled not meeting the mayor even after defeating the marauding pirates.

Waving off Ivan, Sharlo followed the security officer to a café, where he was introduced to a middle-aged man adorned with jewels. The officer bowed and left Sharlo with the man.

"Who are you?" Sharlo asked, frowning. His intuition warned him this man was trouble.

"Ha ha ha! I've heard much about our island's hero. It's our first meeting. I'm Randolph Chamberlain, the new mayor of Carmie Island. It's a pleasure to meet you, hero of Carmie Island," Randolph extended his hand.

Sharlo hesitated briefly, then shook it, curiosity piqued about this new mayor and his intentions..

Check out my Patreon for more advanced chapters at patreon.com/Anime_kingdom

(50 Advance chapters)