Chapter 327: Barrett's Challenge
The arena erupted in protest.
Most of the crowd stood up, roaring in frustration—they couldn't accept that a little girl had just defeated Bao Yisi, who had a thirty-three-match winning streak.
In the viewing area, Chinjao frowned as he listened to the commotion.
He understood exactly what was happening.
Those angry voices belonged to people who had bet their fortunes on Bao Yisi. Now that an unexpected dark horse had taken him down, all their money was gone.
Chinjao wasn't concerned about their rage. What worried him was that this noise might provoke Charlotte, who was seated not far away.
He glanced across the arena.
Even after the crowd's outburst, Charlotte remained calm and composed, which only made Chinjao more uneasy.
"Quick! Tell the colosseum staff to quiet the crowd!"
Chinjao ordered his men.
Although the colosseum was backed by the royal family and Chinjao himself couldn't interfere too much, he still had influence.
—
Esdeath sheathed her sword and glanced at the furious audience.
"Pitiful fools."
She muttered under her breath with disdain, her words drowned out by the chaos—though a few people nearby caught them and stared at her with bloodshot eyes.
Bao Yisi slowly stood up, looking at Esdeath with a complicated expression.
To lose in swordsmanship to a young girl… shook his very identity.
"You're not bad. But you're too fixated on what's right in front of you."
Esdeath replied calmly, then turned and walked off the stage—to sign up for the next match.
She had made up her mind: she would challenge every swordsman in the Flower Country.
She would defeat them all.
—
Back in the stands, Charlotte stretched lazily after watching her match end.
He wasn't surprised by the outcome.
Given Esdeath's swordsmanship talent, the result was well within his expectations.
At just twelve years old, she had reached the peak of the swordsman realm—just a step away from swordmaster.
Her talent might even surpass Charlotte's own.
With years of guidance under his wing, she had begun to forge her own unique path.
With her Devil Fruit, even a Marine rear admiral wouldn't be confident facing her in battle.
—
"Dad! I want to fight too!"
Seeing their big sister dominate on the battlefield, several kids couldn't hold back. One by one, they raised their voices.
Charlotte looked at Tesla, Robert, and the others, smirking.
He knew exactly what they were thinking.
"Go on then. Be careful. Fight if you can. If not, surrender. You're still young—I don't expect you to be champions. Just know your old man is watching your back."
"YES!"
Overjoyed, the kids bolted off toward the registration area.
Even Caesar followed after them.
When the boys left, the girls couldn't sit still either. Seeing their brothers go, they also signed up to compete.
The viewing area instantly grew much quieter.
—
Charlotte turned to Barrett, who sat silently at his side.
"You not going?"
Barrett shook his head.
"These guys are too weak. Doesn't excite me. But him—"
He looked toward Chinjao and the surrounding generals.
"Them, I'm interested in."
Ever since his battle two years ago with a Marine logia-type vice admiral, he hadn't met a worthy opponent.
It was dull.
If Charlotte didn't occasionally spar with him, he might've gone insane from boredom.
"Oh? Want to fight Chinjao?" Charlotte asked with interest.
He looked over.
Chinjao had lost his drill head, and the pressure he once emitted was long gone. There was a heaviness to his presence now—a sense of decay.
Still, he wasn't someone to take lightly.
Even like this, Chinjao's strength remained formidable.
Barrett, now sixteen years old, was in the prime of his growth.
His five-meter-tall frame, packed with muscle and years of brutal training, had earned him the position of second-in-command among the Rockefeller Pirates.
His strength was unmatched except by Charlotte himself.
With devastating Conqueror's Haki and Advanced Armament, paired with his Demon Transformation, Barrett had become capable of facing even admirals.
He was the strongest commander beneath the level of emperor—a true monster.
—
Suddenly, Chinjao felt a chill run down his spine.
He looked up—and saw both Charlotte and Barrett staring at him.
His scalp tingled.
He felt like a death god was watching him.
Charlotte stood up and walked toward him.
Chinjao instinctively tensed.
Charlotte sat down a few seats away and said with a smile, "Feel like sparring with my first mate?"
Though it sounded like a question, the tone allowed no refusal.
Chinjao's heart sank.
He looked at Barrett—the towering young man who matched him in height. The infamous Douglas Barrett, the "Demon's Heir."
Twelve years old, and already known as a nation-destroying monster.
Now he was sixteen. How strong had he become?
Barrett met his gaze and smiled coldly.
Chinjao looked back at Charlotte.
"Alright. When?"
"Next round."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow casually.
Chinjao's stomach twisted—but he nodded.
He hadn't stepped into the arena since he'd set the 100-win record decades ago.
But now, he would return.
He got up and headed toward the ring.
"Chief!"
His subordinates stood up in alarm.
"Wait here. I'll be fine."
Chinjao reassured them and stepped into the arena.
Barrett followed, rising to his feet with a grin and heading down.
—
On the stage, Esdeath had just finished another match.
She looked up to see Chinjao walk onto the stage—then turned and saw Barrett following.
She understood immediately.
"Miss, leave this to me."
Barrett said to Esdeath.
"Mm. Good luck."
She nodded and jumped off the stage.
The next fight was about to begin:
Chinjao vs. Douglas Barrett.
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