Chapter 41: Out of Danger

Chapter 41: Out of Danger

"Scammer Lyle! Scammer Lyle! Scammer Lyle!"

...

The crowd erupted in anger, furious at having been deceived. How could anyone do something so terrible just for power and fame?

Gillian stared at the documents in her hands, shocked. As a doctor, she could tell if these documents were real or fake. Charlotte watched a demoralized Gillian, unsure how to comfort her. Seeing her idol fall to ruins was a devastating blow, shattering her worldview completely.

Lyle's face was pale, unable to say a word because any defense would be useless. It was true—he had manipulated innocent people. Intense pain and regret were etched on Lyle's face. He knelt heavily before the enraged crowd, his head hitting the ground hard, drawing a trickle of blood, as he cried out with tears in his eyes:

"I'm sorry!"

Charlotte watched from the stage, and at that moment, her Observation Haki sensed Lyle's intense emotions—a deep pain and regret. But... would a simple "I'm sorry" be enough?

Setva's heart was full of excitement. Not only had he exposed Lyle's big lie and become the new hero, regaining his power, but he had also destroyed his opponent's reputation. Finally, he could avenge the humiliations of the past. Power, wealth, honor—everything belonged to Vanka Setva. Everything he had lost would be returned with glory.

In the middle of the enraged crowd, an old man slowly stood up and walked to the stage. Charlotte frowned. "That old man...," she thought, wondering what he was planning. When the old man reached the stage, everyone looked at him curiously. In a soft, hoarse voice, he began to speak:

"I am Augustin Bain."

"Dr. Bain!"

Many people showed surprise. He was an old man known for his selflessness and exceptional medical skills. He had traveled the entire kingdom, treating people without charging, both nobles and commoners, earning everyone's respect.

Bain looked around and spoke calmly, "Actually, the virus was not deadly. Even without treatment, it would heal by itself within a month."

Huh? Charlotte was puzzled.

Those present looked at each other. No one who had received Bain's help doubted his words, as he had saved many lives with his great medical skill. Bain continued without worrying about the reactions of others:

"Back then, Setva imposed high medical costs for his luxury, exiling doctors who refused to comply. This caused the deaths of many innocent people who could not afford the treatment, destroying countless families."

Charlotte couldn't believe what she was hearing. This guy was worse than she imagined!

Bain looked at Lyle, still kneeling, with a complex expression and continued speaking: "And Lyle, to overthrow the king, developed the virus and also the medicine to ensure he could treat it."

"What?"

Bain's words struck like lightning, leaving everyone stunned.

Bain did not approve of Lyle's methods, but he acknowledged that, in a way, he had saved the country, allowing people to receive treatment and saving many lives. Since everything had happened, Bain had mixed feelings towards Lyle.

This? Charlotte didn't know what to say. Everything was incredibly unexpected. Lyle was not completely a fraud.

Setva's face darkened. That old man had always been against him when he was king. "Damn him!"

The crowd's attitude changed again. They remembered that, thanks to Lyle, no one had died from lack of treatment. Recalling those moments, the looks of disdain towards Setva intensified, filling him with rage. He was the legitimate king; how dare those commoners look at him like that?

"Kill them all!"

If he couldn't return in peace, he would do so violently. He would kill everyone and spread false news to manipulate the people. For him, manipulating those stupid commoners would be easy.

The pirates raised their weapons, ready to massacre everyone present. To them, they were just sheep ready to be slaughtered. Charlotte's face darkened. These damned ones had no honor!

For Bain, for his conscience, he couldn't stay still. He had observed enough to know that the pirates had no more tricks. He had to act, but discreetly to avoid raising his bounty. Everyone should faint.

Suddenly, a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki emanated from Charlotte, spreading throughout the place. In an instant, everyone lost consciousness and fell to the ground. Setva looked in despair at Charlotte's imposing figure before fainting as well. The hall fell into a deadly silence.

Charlotte, with Gillian unconscious in his arms, approached the pirates, easily eliminating Setva and the other pirates. Pirates were terrible! Only dead pirates were good pirates! Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief. "Done, job's finished."

Quickly, he carried the unconscious Gillian. Bain, the old man, seeing what Charlotte had done, also fainted, thinking, "Young people... are terrifying."

...

"What happened to Gillian?" Lina asked worriedly when she saw Charlotte.

"Ah, don't worry, she just got a little scared. She'll be fine with some rest."

Lina nodded, trusting Charlotte. "Then leave her to me."

She took Gillian and carried her away. Charlotte sat in the hall, lit a cigarette, and became pensive. This time, his intervention had been flawless; everything went very well. He had been discreet and careful since his arrival, always keeping a low profile.

Charlotte exhaled a smoke ring, completely relieved. Everything was under control... well, almost without danger. He just had to wait for Gillian to rest so they could return to Ratti Island. Charlotte felt more relaxed and started humming a song...

Listen to me...

Thanks to you...

Because thanks to you...

The four seasons were filled with warmth...

(End of Chapter)

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