Chapter 13
The two men shook hands firmly, their eyes locked in a silent exchange of intentions. Charlotte could feel a strange new pulse of life stirring in the back of his mind—the subtle ripple of someone else's presence, as if a hidden soul lingered just beyond perception.
This kid is the hero of Kamei Island, the thought echoed faintly in his mind, but he's far too young. I hope he won't interfere with my plans.
Charlotte's senses sharpened instantly. There was something… off.
Ghosts? Spirits? The faintest trace of ethereal energy, elusive but undeniable.
He kept his gaze steady, careful not to betray his sudden alertness.
"Hello, Mr. Chamberlain. And where might the former Mayor be?" Charlotte greeted smoothly, still holding Chamberlain's hand, not willing to release the contact that connected their thoughts.
Chamberlain's eyes flickered with mild surprise. He tried to pull away, but found his hand caught in Charlotte's firm grip. Chuckling awkwardly, he allowed the handshake to continue.
Is this kid… gay? Chamberlain wondered silently, scowling at the thought. Damn it!
Yet, outwardly, his face remained carefully neutral.
Damn you for thinking that! Charlotte's mind snapped sharply, a black line of annoyance running through him. But he said nothing aloud.
"The former Mayor retired due to his age. I have no idea where he is now—I heard he went on some kind of trip," Chamberlain replied after a moment's thought.
Charlotte nodded thoughtfully. He had half expected Chamberlain to know more. If the Mayor had been killed, I would have avenged him already. The idea made Charlotte's chest tighten slightly.
"Then why am I the one he's looking for?" Charlotte pressed on.
Chamberlain's grin broadened. "Haha! It's nothing serious. I just wanted to meet Kamei Island's young hero right after taking office. Figured I should get to know those I'll be working with. And of course, look out for you in the future."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow but kept his face composed. He knew exactly what Chamberlain's intentions were: to recruit him as a local ally, a 'snake in the grass' to advance the new Mayor's ambitions.
If Charlotte hadn't developed the skill to read minds, this fat, oily politician might have fooled him.
"Hmph! I serve under Umis, the King of the Sea," Chamberlain added, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "He sent me to open up the second half of the Great Route. This island is a key checkpoint."
Charlotte's mind snapped back sharply at the mention of the Sea King. Umis—the legendary Shipping King, one of the six underground kings of the dark world, whose name would echo through history for generations to come.
And now, they were setting their sights on Kamei Island.
This was no good.
Charlotte frowned deeply, sensing the undercurrents of danger beneath Chamberlain's smooth words.
"Is something wrong, Mr. Charlotte?" Chamberlain's voice broke through his thoughts.
Charlotte forced a smile. "No, no, just a passing thought. Nothing to worry about."
He released Chamberlain's hand, standing smoothly.
"Oh! Leaving so soon, Mr. Charlotte?" Chamberlain said, quickly grabbing his hand again. "Sit, have a drink with me."
Charlotte settled across from the portly man at the small table in the cafe.
"Just some trivial matters," he said vaguely.
"That's good to hear. If you ever need anything, just come to me," Chamberlain said, patting his jeweled chest. "I'm here to help."
Charlotte returned a polite nod. "Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'll trouble you for sure."
Chamberlain's eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
"I'll hold a banquet in two days. You, the hero of Kamei Island, will be my honored guest."
Charlotte smiled coolly. "No problem. It sounds like a trivial matter."
He already understood Chamberlain's plan—to transform the island into a critical transfer station for the Sea King's shipping routes. By having Charlotte as his local contact, Chamberlain's work would proceed swiftly and without opposition.
After a few more drinks and casual conversation, the two parted ways.
Charlotte left the café, surprised to find that a coffee shop was serving red wine.
A little tipsy, he made his way back to the villa.
Four years since he traveled through time—and this was his first time drinking alcohol. The thought alone made him chuckle quietly.
"Master!" "Boss!"
The moment Charlotte staggered toward the door, five little maids and Ivan rushed over to steady him.
Their concern immediately sobered him up.
Feeling the warmth of their support, Charlotte's cheeks flushed faintly.
"Are you home safe?" he asked, looking at the villa.
Ignoring Ivan's gentle grip, Charlotte leaned slightly on the two nearest maids as they helped him inside.
The other three maids blushed furiously at the sight.
Ivan cleared his throat awkwardly. "You three wait outside, please."
He then turned away, not wanting to be alone in the room with the boss as a man.
The three remaining maids exchanged embarrassed looks as they lingered by the door.
The next morning, Charlotte woke slowly to a pounding headache.
"What…" he groaned, sitting up and rubbing his temples.
A wave of dizziness swept over him.
He had clearly drunk too much last night.
His eyes caught on two slippery hands resting on his chest.
"What the—?" Charlotte grabbed both arms and glanced sideways.
Martha and Jenny, two of the maids, were lying beside him—disheveled, their clothes torn in places.
What had happened yesterday?
Charlotte quickly pulled the quilt up, only for a brief flash of morning light to reveal itself before he covered up again.
His sudden movement woke Martha and Jenny instantly.
"Master!" they both gasped, sitting up naked, cheeks flushed bright red.
Charlotte's face burned with embarrassment at the sight.
"Get up! Get up!" he stammered, quickly pulling on his clothes and rushing out.
Outside the door, the three maids waited with toiletries.
"Take them inside and help them wash up," Charlotte ordered, then left without looking back.
The three flushed maids glanced enviously at Martha and Jenny.
Charlotte, carrying his sword at his waist, walked out alone.
He needed to calm down and gather his thoughts.
What had happened last night played vividly in his mind.
As a virgin in his previous life, now suddenly with two women close to him, the situation was more than a little confusing.
Pulling out his long sword on the beach, Charlotte vented his frustration with furious swings.
Sword qi surged, carving more than a dozen deep grooves into the sand.
But the incoming tide quickly washed them away.
After a few more strokes, Charlotte's breathing slowed, and his mind began to clear.
The peaceful, meditative calm of the sword practice returned.
Then, his eyes narrowed as an intense aura exploded from his center.
Domineering. Overwhelming.
Since the last time he had unleashed it, he had avoided using the power—partly because he feared losing control.
But now, the surge returned unexpectedly.
Charlotte fought to restrain it, wanting to remember the sensation, to someday master this arrogant, fierce energy.
This was a turning point. He needed to harness it—not just for survival, but to control the fate of Kamei Island itself.
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