One piece: Establishing a Pirate Family

Chapter 84: Askaka Island (Part 1)

Charlotte couldn't help but think of his hometown, Kami Island.

It had been years since he last set foot there, and he wondered what Kami Island was like now.

Looking around, Charlotte decided he needed information, and the best place to gather information was a tavern.

"Let's go! Let's have a drink!"

Charlotte waved his hand and headed toward an alleyway on the bustling street.

Hearing this, Paul and the others exchanged glances, grinning knowingly. They followed him into a tavern, excited about the prospect of drinking.

As the group of more than twenty people entered the tavern, all eyes turned to them.

After finding clean spots to sit, Charlotte gestured for the bartender to come over.

The bartender approached quickly, drink menu in hand.

"What would you like, sir?"

"Bring out all the best wine you've got. Money is no issue," Charlotte said proudly.

"Hahaha! The boss is so generous!"

Paul shouted enthusiastically.

"The boss is generous!"

The rest of the crew echoed loudly, causing a stir in the tavern.

Charlotte smiled slightly, unfazed by the attention. He hadn't told Paul and the others the real reason they were on Askaka Island.

Hearing Charlotte's order, the bartender beamed and hurriedly fetched drinks. Before long, the table was filled with an impressive selection of wine.

"Drink up, boys!"

Charlotte stood, holding up a bottle of wine, and addressed his crew.

"Drink!"

Paul and the crew cheered, raising their bottles and drinking heartily.

The lively scene quickly spread through the tavern, and the other patrons joined in, creating a festive atmosphere.

Charlotte watched the chaos with satisfaction—this was exactly the effect he wanted.

He turned to a burly man sitting nearby and struck up a conversation.

"Brother, it's my first time on Askaka Island. I've heard some legends about this place. Are they true?"

The burly man, already drunk, squinted at Charlotte and burped.

"Legends? Bah! Just stories to trick tourists into coming here!" he said dismissively.

"Really? So the part about the shrine maiden is fake too?" Charlotte asked, feigning disappointment.

The burly man chuckled, a sly look on his face.

"The Seven Star Sword? Yeah, that's fake. But the shrine maiden? Oh, she's real!"

Charlotte's eyes lit up with interest.

"Oh? Where is she? I'd love to see for myself. If you take me to her, I'll cover your drinks for the night!"

Hearing this, the burly man's eyes gleamed with greed.

"The shrine maidens live in a mountain village nearby. It's a tradition passed down through generations. The current shrine maiden is a beauty, let me tell you. I saw her from a distance once—stunning figure and face!"

The burly man smirked and gave Charlotte a knowing look.

"Where is this village? I'd love to meet her," Charlotte said, his face lighting up with feigned eagerness.

Seeing Charlotte's enthusiasm, the burly man grinned and raised his bottle for a sip.

Charlotte immediately understood the implication and called out to the bartender.

"Bring more of your finest wine for my friend here!"

As the bartender complied, Charlotte subtly used his Observation Haki to peer into the burly man's mind.

"Hehe, another fool. Now I'll have even more to drink," the man thought smugly.

Charlotte's expression soured for a moment, but he quickly concealed his irritation.

"Brother, you haven't told me where the village is yet. I'm eager to see this shrine maiden," Charlotte pressed.

The burly man, emboldened by the wine, leaned closer.

"The village is deep in the mountains on the other side of the island. It's hard to get to, but I know the way. I've been there before while hunting."

The man puffed out his chest proudly.

Charlotte used his Observation Haki again, this time extracting the exact location of the village from the man's mind. It was indeed secluded, situated near a steep cliff, which explained why it was so isolated.

Now that he had the information he needed, Charlotte's demeanor changed. His eyes grew sharp, and his aura radiated dominance.

Before the burly man could react, Charlotte unleashed a burst of Conqueror's Haki. The man's body stiffened, and he collapsed to the ground, foam spilling from his mouth.

The other patrons glanced at the fallen man but quickly dismissed it, assuming he had simply drunk too much.

Charlotte returned to his table, his expression unreadable.

Only his crew members knew what had really happened. They exchanged looks, understanding that the burly man's state was no coincidence.

Paul approached Charlotte cautiously.

"What's wrong, boss?" he asked in a low voice.

Charlotte glanced at the unconscious man and smirked disdainfully.

"Nothing. Just enjoy your drink," he replied curtly.

Paul knew better than to press further. He nodded and returned to his seat, joining the others in drinking and chatting.

Meanwhile, Charlotte mulled over his next steps.

He now had the information he needed to locate the village. However, seeing his crew in their drunken state, he decided to wait until morning to set out.

For now, he allowed himself to relax. He drank quietly, occasionally responding to his crew's attempts to include him in their revelry.

Tomorrow, he would lead them to the isolated village and uncover the secrets of the Seven Star Sword.

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