Chapter 21: Then I'll Cut Him Down

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Chapter 21: Then I'll Cut Him Down

Scientists are a particularly unique kind of people. Their discoveries can have a huge impact on the world.

Charlotte also wanted to form a secret team of scientists. Not to change the world, but to benefit Ratti Island. After all, who doesn't want to live more comfortably?

After getting information about the scientist daughter of Zaga Lido, she immediately took action.

The battle on the island had already begun. Ochoku's pirate crew had invaded the island's culinary city, plunging everything into chaotic hand-to-hand combat.

Fights, gunshots, killings, robberies, and the resulting ruins spread everywhere. The peace and prosperity of the past had completely vanished.

This favored Charlotte, who took advantage of the chaos. Carefully, she changed her clothes.

"Boom!"

A tall building collapsed, and huge pieces of debris began to fall slowly.

The island's inhabitants, caught in this war, feared for their lives.

Not far away, on a street, a group of pirates had gathered. They were capturing people to sell as slaves.

No one cared about human life in the midst of this chaos.

Men and elderly people were being massacred, leaving only women and children. People had become synonymous with merchandise for them.

"Mr. Pirate, please, spare them!" A crying woman pleaded with the pirate to spare her husband and children.

The pirate laughed exaggeratedly and, with a heavy blow, knocked down the pleading woman. He drew his sword and was about to strike her.

Step, step, step...

Footsteps were heard. Even amidst the commotion, they were clearly audible to everyone.

The pirate, sword raised, paused. The other pirates also looked towards the direction of the sound.

Charlotte, dressed in a black suit and a red shirt, slowly appeared. An invisible wind lifted dust, and his black cape fluttered gently.

"Ha, ha, another one. Looks like a noble, he must be worth a lot of money."

"Boss, you're right, he must be worth a lot."

The surrounding pirates joined in, excited.

The lead pirate, laughing, drew his gun and aimed at Charlotte.

Swish!

In an instant, Charlotte's figure turned into a shadow and disappeared. The next moment, he was behind the pirates, with his back to them.

The pirates seemed frozen in time, maintaining their expressions and postures. Even the leader was the same.

Charlotte calmly sheathed his sword.

He didn't hate all pirates. He knew some had become pirates for adventure or because the World Government had labeled them so for some interest.

What Charlotte detested were those pirates who, having power, used their swords to massacre the weak without any reason.

Because they didn't respect life. Their true nature was to commit evil acts.

The characteristic sound of his sword, Shigure, was heard as it closed.

"Crack!"

"Splat!"

The pirates' heads flew off, spraying blood everywhere, staining the ground red.

The headless bodies of the pirates fell lifeless, while the captives remained unharmed.

Charlotte didn't stop and continued towards his objective.

The cries of relief and gratitude echoed among the rescued.

"What a terrifying sword technique!" A man who seemed to be a journalist emerged from the rubble, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He smiled, realizing he had captured the impressive scene with his camera, though he regretted not getting a clear photo of Charlotte's face. Even so, he hoped for a good reward for his picture.

Charlotte moved quickly through the ruins.

Every evil pirate he encountered died, leaving behind a trail of headless bodies.

Soon he reached the culinary city's castle.

This place had been built by Domi Sys, modeled after a kingdom's capital. What were once golden and shiny palaces were now in ruins.

The sound of battles never ceased, showing the ferocity of the clashes.

The castle's huge doors had been completely destroyed. Destroying was much easier than building.

Charlotte, following Zaga Lido's plans, headed towards the objective: the underground laboratory.

Soon after, an independent and relatively intact palace appeared before him.

It was empty, with no guards or defenses.

Charlotte advanced and entered the place.

Soon, he found a large door leading underground.

"One-Sword Style: Wind Cut – Circular Dance."

The sword's light shone, and the door crumbled into pieces.

Charlotte slipped inside.

A wide and orderly hallway greeted him.

At the same time, in the underground control room, the guards saw the intruder through the surveillance Den Den Mushi and sounded the alarm.

"Quick, quick, there's an intruder!"

"Inform Mr. Bent Dibby!"

The pirates began to move hastily.

"Blublu, blublu!"

"Click!"

"Mr. Bent Dibby, we have a problem. There's an intruder!"

Bent Dibby, wrapped in a fur cloak, frowned. "Hold on, I'll be there right away."

He turned to his subordinates.

"Protect Dr. Zaga Rin and load the stuff onto the submarine. Quick!"

"Yes!"

Bent Dibby quickly headed to the surveillance area to provide support.

Meanwhile, Charlotte had reached the underground, amazed at what he saw.

"How huge this is!"

The various research structures and the underground factory were impressive.

This place was one of the cores of the culinary pirate team, and also Charlotte's objective.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

A burst of bullets flew towards him. A large group of pirates pounced.

For Charlotte, these pirates were just a minor obstacle.

With a single slash, he launched a shockwave that destroyed a large part of the underground structure, killing all the pirates.

Apart from the scientists, nothing else interested Charlotte.

People had more value than objects.

Just when he was about to continue, he felt an imminent danger and quickly jumped.

"Boom!"

An explosion echoed.

Charlotte adjusted his body and landed firmly.

Amidst the cloud of dust, a figure appeared.

"Bent Dibby!"

Charlotte said calmly.

This was a pirate with a bounty of 580 million, a user of the Bomu Bomu devil fruit, with the ability to cause explosions.

Among the pirates Charlotte knew, Bent Dibby was the current possessor of this ability.

That's how devil fruits work: the human container changes, but the fruit remains.

"Who are you?"

Bent Dibby was worried to see an unknown swordsman there.

Who was he? What did he want? Who had sent him? These were important questions.

Charlotte paid him no attention and, speaking to himself, said, "What an annoying guy."

Then, he gave a slight smile.

"Then I'll cut him down."

(End of chapter)

Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.