That Thing Is Too Troublesome
A group of figures appeared in the civilian district.
Their neat, well-made clothing sharply contrasted with the tattered rags of the people around them. Two types of people in one city—wealth and poverty standing side by side.
Charlotte frowned slightly. Beneath the veneer of prosperity, darkness festered in hidden corners.
The others dared not approach the newcomers, even though they showed no hostility. Instead, they merely watched in silent fear.
Yes, fear.
The well-dressed men had long treated the impoverished like insects, and even if they killed them in the open streets, no one would bat an eye.
Charlotte could see that emotion in their eyes. His own gaze, however, remained unreadable, an indescribable dullness settling in his expression.
"Sir... If you need anything, I'm willing to work for some Berries."
A small, timid voice broke the silence.
Charlotte turned instinctively.
The speaker was a child, his small frame covered in dirt and bruises. His fearful yet determined gaze met Charlotte's.
The bystanders flinched, whispering anxiously. They knew what happened to those who dared to speak to the wealthy. Punishment was inevitable.
Charlotte smiled, reaching out to gently pat the boy's thin shoulder—but then, his hand froze midair.
A hush fell over the crowd. Their fear deepened.
Yet, Charlotte's gaze grew complicated. Something about this child struck him differently.
"Alright," Charlotte finally said, his voice calm. "Help me, and in return, I'll grant you something. How does that sound?"
"Really?" The boy's eyes lit up with an unparalleled brilliance.
"My name is Charlotte. What's yours?"
"Sir, my name is Mitis," the child replied.
Charlotte nodded firmly. The nearby onlookers could scarcely believe their eyes.
"Lina, arrange for someone to buy more food," Charlotte instructed.
Lina nodded without hesitation, swiftly setting things in motion.
Before long, a large amount of food was brought over. Mitis swallowed hard at the sight.
"If you want to work, you must eat first," Charlotte said, handing the boy some food.
Mitis hesitated, staring at the generous portion. He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten anything this clean or nourishing. Carefully, he took small bites—but at the same time, he quietly tucked most of it away, hoarding it in his hands.
His eyes darted toward Charlotte, wary of any reaction.
Charlotte, however, remained unfazed. He noticed but said nothing. He had no intention of shattering the boy's fragile dignity.
Mitis finished eating and quickly bowed. "Thank you, Mr. Charlotte. I'm full now."
Charlotte smiled slightly.
"Good. Now, spread the word—tell the others that food is being distributed for free here."
Mitis was momentarily stunned but soon ran off to fulfill his task.
The reason was simple: the civilians feared Charlotte and his people. Using Mitis to relay the message would help establish trust.
Charlotte had another reason for doing this as well—he needed to observe the memories of the townspeople and search for traces of Saga Lido. Surely, someone must have seen him.
Before long, the news spread, and more civilians began to gather.
Charlotte distributed the food himself.
Those who received it broke down in tears, praising him for his generosity.
Charlotte sighed inwardly. How different people were—some shed tears of gratitude for mere bread, while others viewed human life as disposable.
As more people arrived, so did more information.
The truth about Food City was bleak.
The island's indigenous people had received none of the compensation they were promised. Their lands had been seized, and with no means to make a living, they were left to suffer in destitution.
This crumbling slum was the last shred of mercy granted by the so-called King of Food, Domi Sith.
How laughable.
Charlotte's expression darkened.
He wasn't a savior. He didn't have the power to change the world.
All he could do was act within his limits, with a purpose.
There were countless islands like this one, all suffering under the weight of unchecked power.
Lina, standing quietly by his side, sensed his mood. She spoke softly.
"Charlotte, don't dwell on it too much. The world is cruel, but you've already done more than most. At the very least, you've kept Lati Island safe and peaceful."
Her words eased some of the weight on his heart.
She was right. For now, all he could do was protect what was within his reach.
"Thank you, Lina."
Her silent support gave him a sense of comfort.
At that moment, Charlotte finally made a breakthrough.
An old man's fragmented memories surfaced in his mind. And there—amidst the scattered images—was a fleeting glimpse of Saga Lido's face.
He had committed that face to memory before setting out.
Now, he had confirmation.
Charlotte turned to his men. "Continue distributing the food until it's all gone."
Then, he looked at Mitis.
"Alright, your work is done. Do you have any requests?"
Mitis hesitated. He wasn't sure if he had done enough to ask for a favor. But after a brief moment of courage, he clenched his fists and spoke.
"Mr. Charlotte... Can you help my sister? She's sick."
Charlotte didn't let the child's courage go to waste.
"Of course. Lina, make the arrangements."
Lina smiled gently at Mitis. "I understand. Don't worry."
She followed the boy away, leaving Charlotte to his next move.
Using the old man's memories as a guide, he soon arrived at a nondescript courtyard.
Knocking yielded no response. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Aren't you going to answer?" Charlotte called out lazily. "Saga Lido, there's no point in hiding."
A man inside stiffened. He had donned a simple disguise, but it was unmistakably him.
His face darkened. "You're here to take me back, aren't you?"
"If you really plan to kill me, your secrets won't stay buried."
Charlotte sighed.
"Stop, stop, stop. I don't care about your secrets. That's too much trouble."
Saga Lido blinked in surprise.
Charlotte continued, "I just need you to build something for me. That's all."
Before Saga Lido could respond, figures emerged from the shadows.
"There you are, Saga Lido."
A man wearing a blue hat and a blade at his waist stepped forward.
Saga Lido's expression turned grim.
"You... Niskeen."