One piece: Establishing a Pirate Family

Chapter 112: Searching for Barrett

Tang En didn't hesitate to agree to Charlotte's request, even before hearing what he wanted.

Charlotte was taken aback by such straightforwardness, but he burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! Great! I like the way you handle things—quick and efficient!" Charlotte praised, clearly amused.

Tang En forced a smile onto his usually serious face. Though his attempt at politeness was a bit awkward, Charlotte didn't seem to mind.

Inwardly, however, Tang En cursed.

Even if I said no, could I stop him?

"Do you have a captain named Douglas under your command?" Charlotte asked directly, wasting no time.

Tang En blinked in confusion for a moment, but before he could respond, the captain beside him, named Douglas, broke into a cold sweat.

Why is he asking about me? Douglas thought nervously. Did I offend him somehow?

Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead and back.

"Douglas?" Tang En repeated the name, then glanced at the young man beside him. His reaction didn't escape Charlotte's notice.

He knows something, Charlotte thought, narrowing his eyes.

Tang En's mind raced. Could Douglas have offended Charlotte somehow? If so, Tang En knew there was nothing he could do to protect him.

"Mr. Charlotte! What a coincidence! The captain you're looking for is standing right here!" Tang En exclaimed, yanking Douglas forward as if offering him up for inspection.

Douglas, now trembling in fear, could only stare at Charlotte, his face pale.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow at the terrified man. What a stroke of luck! he thought. Finding Douglas so easily… this simplifies everything.

Charlotte couldn't help but smirk. If I can find Douglas, I'll find Barrett. His connection to Barrett as the one who pulled him into the Boy Scouts is key.

"Captain Douglas," Charlotte said, his voice calm yet firm. "I heard you have a Boy Scout unit under your command. Is that right?"

Douglas, still shaken, nodded automatically. He saw no harm in admitting it, as Boy Scouts were common in the military and not considered a secret.

"I want to find someone," Charlotte continued. "He might be in your Boy Scout troop. Let me take a look."

His tone left no room for refusal.

Douglas hesitated for a moment, but before he could answer, Tang En stepped in.

"Of course, Mr. Charlotte! We'll take you to see them immediately," Tang En said quickly, giving Douglas a sharp look.

Douglas gulped, realizing how close he'd come to making a mistake. "This way, sir," he said, leading the way.

Charlotte followed, a subtle smirk on his face. Barrett, you can't hide from me now.

Elena, who had been holding Charlotte's arm, noticed his unusual excitement. She found his behavior a bit odd but chose not to ask questions.

The group left the bustling streets and headed into the military camp, which lay deeper within Jarzburg.

The farther they walked, the more the scenery changed. The houses gave way to large military installations, and soldiers in uniform were everywhere, engaged in rigorous training.

"These are the soldiers under my command," Tang En said with pride, gesturing to the rows of troops. "They are the elite of the kingdom—each one a seasoned veteran of the battlefield."

Charlotte glanced at the soldiers, noting the faint but distinct aura of killing intent around each of them. These men had undoubtedly seen combat.

"That's impressive," Charlotte admitted. "As expected from the 'Kingdom of Endless War.'"

Tang En smiled at the compliment, feeling a rare sense of pride. Praise from someone as renowned as Charlotte was no small thing, even if he was a pirate.

Meanwhile, Elena was silently observing the scene. She realized where all the men and children from the town had gone—they were here, in the massive military camp.

The sight filled her with a mix of disgust and pity. Many of the soldiers had either numb expressions or faces twisted with cruelty. The children, even worse, seemed divided between lifeless apathy and unbridled madness.

Elena clutched Charlotte's arm tighter, her unease growing.

Charlotte noticed her discomfort and sighed. She's too kind-hearted for this world, he thought, but he found her innocence endearing.

After passing through multiple camps, they finally arrived at Douglas's unit.

"Please wait here, sir," Douglas said, gesturing toward an empty reviewing platform. "I'll gather the Boy Scouts right away."

Charlotte nodded, stepping onto the platform. From there, he could see the entire camp.

It was clear that the Boy Scouts made up a significant portion of the unit. Most were children, barely eight or nine years old. Their small frames contrasted sharply with the adult soldiers around them.

Charlotte scanned the crowd carefully, but so far, he hadn't spotted Barrett.

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