Chapter 3: The First Battle

Chapter 3: The First Battle

Teeth fell out in chunks!

Charlotte didn't care about Bess, who lay on the ground groaning in pain. Instead, he picked up the gold tooth, still bleeding, from the ground.

He was desperately short on money right now—desperately.

"Ugh~!"

Bess clutched his bloody mouth, glaring in pain as he watched Charlotte's actions.

After thoroughly robbing Bess of his belongings, Charlotte delivered a swift kick, sending him flying. Bess landed in a heap alongside his subordinates.

"Scram! Don't let me see you again!"

Charlotte's voice rang out, sending chills through the onlookers, who quickly backed away.

Even Bess's lackeys scrambled to their feet, lifting their boss, and fled in a panic.

Watching them retreat, Charlotte couldn't help but laugh.

"Wahahahaha!"

His mood improved considerably. After all, he had spent an entire year in the mountains in silence. Although he could endure solitude, it didn't mean he wasn't suppressing some frustration.

Returning to his stall, Charlotte organized the pelts and waited for buyers.

Fortunately, some people still appreciated the pelts. The most valuable ones sold quickly, earning him a total of 1.4 million berries.

As for the remaining, lower-quality pelts, Charlotte decided to call it a day and head to the blacksmith's shop to make purchases.

"Boss! I need some iron tools made!"

Charlotte shouted into the blacksmith's shop.

"Coming, coming! What do you need,Sir?"

A burly man emerged, holding a large hammer.

"Here, these are the blueprints. Follow these designs. When can they be ready?"

Charlotte handed over the blueprints he had prepared in advance.

The blacksmith unfolded them and frowned.

The items described were unusual—nothing like the farming tools or weapons he typically forged.

"Young man, these are a bit tricky, and I don't have much material on hand. It might take a month."

"A month?" Charlotte frowned.

"Fine. Start with these pieces. I'll have the rest made at other shops."

Charlotte couldn't wait an entire month—at most, a week.

"Alright!" The blacksmith readily agreed.

Charlotte paid the deposit and headed to the next blacksmith shop.

The small town had only three blacksmiths, so he divided the work among them. This way, he could collect everything within a week.

With his orders placed, Charlotte returned to his dilapidated thatched hut, where he hadn't stayed in a year.

The hut was in a remote area, far from the harbor.

Seeing how run-down it had become after a year of neglect, Charlotte sighed but decided to make do. After all, it couldn't be worse than living in the mountains.

Lying on the bed, he quickly fell asleep.

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Meanwhile, in a modest but sizable residence, four or five bruised lackeys stood before their boss, Bess.

Bang!

"That kid is dead. I swear it—nothing will save him, not even God!"

Bess's face twisted in fury, his words whistling through his broken teeth.

"Have you found out who he is?" he asked his subordinates.

"Yes, boss! He's just an orphan living in a thatched hut on the west side of town. Everyone knows it; it wasn't hard to find out."

Hearing this, Bess stood up and walked to a cabinet, pulling out a drawer and retrieving a finely crafted pistol.

"Tonight, I'll end him. Follow me!"

Bess and four or five lackeys armed with the pistol headed west.

Before long, they reached the dilapidated thatched hut.

Through the moonlight streaming in, they saw Charlotte sleeping soundly inside.

A sinister grin spread across Bess's face.

"This is almost too easy!"

Stopping 20 meters from the hut, Bess raised the pistol and aimed at Charlotte.

Without hesitation—Bang!

The bullet fired.

Charlotte, though asleep, suddenly felt every hair on his body stand on end. In his mind, a vivid scene of himself being shot flashed before him.

Acting on reflex, he turned his head.

The bullet grazed his scalp, jolting him awake and drenching him in cold sweat.

"Who's there!"

Charlotte roared, bursting out of the hut to see Bess standing there.

Bess froze, staring in disbelief at Charlotte. He had aimed directly at the boy's head—how had he dodged at the last second?

Seeing Bess, Charlotte immediately understood what had happened. Rage bubbled within him, and he couldn't suppress it any longer.

"You bastard! I spared you earlier, and you dare come back to assassinate me? You're asking for death!"

With a furious shout, Charlotte charged at Bess, striking him square in the chest with a full-force punch.

The blow went straight through, Charlotte's arm piercing out of Bess's back.

Bess's subordinates were stunned speechless.

"Ah… ah…"

Bess tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. After two seconds, his head slumped, and he died.

Charlotte pulled his bloodied arm free, shaking it off with disgust.

He turned to the remaining lackeys, who were frozen in fear.

Some, realizing the gravity of the situation, turned and ran.

Charlotte, however, was faster. In a few leaps, he intercepted them. He didn't use lethal force, but a few kicks sent them sprawling.

Grabbing two by the ankles, he dragged them back.

As he touched their bodies, his mind was suddenly filled with their thoughts.

One thought desperately," I'm doomed! Poor me, leaving behind my lovers!"

The other cursed, "Damn it! Let me go! I'll kill you one day!"

Charlotte glanced at the one intent on killing him.

The man struggled furiously, but Charlotte's expression darkened.

Stopping in his tracks, Charlotte let go of the man, who was momentarily confused.

Then, Charlotte stomped down, crushing the man's chest and ending his life in agonizing pain.

The others trembled violently, pleading, "Don't kill me! Don't kill me!"

Charlotte studied the cowering men. Though he didn't fully understand how he could hear their thoughts, he had a vague sense of its nature.

"You're with the Wild Wolf Gang. Do you know where your boss hid his treasure?"

Charlotte demanded answers.

He had spared them for this reason—any amount of treasure, no matter how small, would be worthwhile.

The men exchanged nervous glances.

Finally, one lackey, his head wrapped in a bandage, raised his hand.

"Good. Speak!"

"Sir! The boss—no, Bess's wealth is all stored in the safe at his manor. You can take it anytime!"

Hearing this, Charlotte grabbed the man's hand and pressed, "Is that true?"

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