A slave?" Charlotte said calmly, his voice cold but curious.
He stepped toward the little girl. Though her face was smeared with ash and dirt, her delicate features still stood out.
"No wonder she was taken as a slave," Charlotte murmured to himself, eyeing her.
The girl flushed under Charlotte's gaze. His striking golden hair, powerful build, and battle-worn clothes that exposed his trained muscles gave him a commanding presence.
Charlotte grabbed the lock binding her, gave it a tug, and with a sharp crack, it broke apart. He pulled open the door and let her out. To his surprise, she wasn't alone. Four more girls emerged after her.
"I killed all the pirates above. You're free now," Charlotte said, looking at the five young, beautiful girls. Their once-dull eyes now lit up with hope.
He turned away and began breaking open the locks on the other cells. Prisoners stepped out one by one, blinking at the sudden light and freedom.
With his hands tucked into his pockets, Charlotte left the grim cabin and stepped into the open air, drawing in a deep breath. The stench of despair from the hold still clung to his mind. Thanks to his heightened Observation Haki, he had felt every ounce of that hopelessness.
"No wonder Redfield liked using his mind-reading ability so much," Charlotte muttered. "This kind of empathy is overwhelming."
He sighed and picked up the chest filled with Berries before stepping off the pirate ship.
"Young master!" a familiar female voice called from behind.
Charlotte stopped, his brows furrowing. He turned around, irritated.
"What now? I told you, you're free. Why are you still calling me?"
The girls glanced at each other, then dropped to their knees.
"Please, take us in! We're willing to work like horses and cattle to repay you!"
It was the first girl again.
Charlotte was slightly taken aback. He could feel their sincerity, their raw desperation. That made it harder to ignore.
"Why?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
The silence that followed was laced with sorrow. Charlotte could feel it like a physical weight on his chest. His Observation Haki was too sensitive for this.
"Our home is gone. The Kingdom of Kakuna couldn't pay the heavenly tribute, and pirates attacked over and over until the kingdom was destroyed. Our island's a graveyard now. Only we survived—barely. These pirates kept us alive because they thought we were pretty enough to sell to slave traders. Please... give us a place."
Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded.
Charlotte's resolve wavered. Her emotions were intense—pure and crushing.
He sighed and stepped forward to help them up.
"What are your names?"
"My name is Bruce Martha," the first girl said, standing straight despite her trembling. Her blonde hair and blue eyes gave her a noble air.
The others followed:
"Kenneth Janney."
"Louise Alice."
"Hebrew Nell."
"Janice Gillian."
Charlotte looked at them all.
"Martha, Janney, Alice, Nell, Gillian, right?"
"Yes, young master!" they said in unison.
"Alright. From now on, you're my maids. My name is Rockefeller Charlotte. You may call me Young Master."
"Yes, Young Master!" the five echoed.
Charlotte nodded, satisfied. Having five beautiful maids was hardly a burden.
"Come with me."
He turned toward the port. As for the rest of the rescued prisoners? They were on their own.
"Hey! Wake up, already!"
He reached Ivan, who still lay unconscious from the earlier burst of Conqueror's Haki, and kicked him lightly.
Ivan stirred.
"B-Boss!?" He shot up in panic. "Where—where are the pirates?!"
He looked around frantically at the bodies strewn across the pier.
Charlotte pointed toward the pirate flagpole.
Ivan followed his finger and gasped.
Alex Jesse's severed head hung high for all to see.
"Boss... you did all this?"
Charlotte nodded nonchalantly.
"Take care of these five. They're my maids now. Train them well."
Charlotte didn't spare Ivan another glance. He'd spent years training the guy, yet he couldn't even withstand one wave of Conqueror's Haki.
Charlotte stormed back to his mansion, fuming.
As dusk settled, he realized the town was eerily quiet. Everyone had fainted—from his Haki. The entire place was out cold.
When he got home, there was no dinner.
Luckily, Ivan showed up soon with the five girls in tow.
"Ivan, just in time. Prepare a meal. I need to recover."
"Yes, Young Master!"
Ivan nodded and hurried to the kitchen with the girls.
Charlotte collapsed on the sofa and replayed the battle in his mind.
That moment of awakening his Conqueror's Haki... the clarity, the power—it was euphoric.
"Am I really becoming someone who enjoys killing? Is that who I am now? A bloodthirsty freak?"
He stroked his chin, lost in thought.