"Uh…"
Charlotte Linlin slowly opened her eyes.
As her consciousness cleared for just a moment, a sharp, brutal pain exploded through her body, forcing her eyes wide open.
It hurt!
It felt as if someone had torn all her intestines apart with sheer force.
For someone like Charlotte Linlin, who had rarely experienced pain since the day she was born, this sharp agony made her frown as her body reacted, sitting bolt upright.
What happened?
The intense pain and the earlier blackout left her mind foggy.
"Oh! Auntie Linlin, you're finally awake? Sorry, sorry, I might've gone a little too hard."
A familiar, teasing voice drifted from beside her—the voice of that damned brat.
Charlotte Linlin snapped her head toward him.
Just like her, Ian was floating leisurely inside a bubble.
"Well, you know how it is. Compared to Redfield and Shanks, your defense is way tougher. So of course I had to use more strength."
Charlotte Linlin froze.
She remembered now. She remembered everything that happened before.
Her right hand pressed against her stomach.
Ian!!
The look she gave him could no longer be described as simple shock.
So this brat… defeated her completely with just a single move?
She hadn't even resisted.
At the time, she didn't even understand what had happened before Ian's strike knocked her clean out.
How could the difference be this enormous?
How could anyone be this strong?
Only now did Charlotte Linlin truly understand why Kaido had said that even if the two of them worked together, they still wouldn't be Ian's match.
Forget just the two of them—add Whitebeard, Roger, Golden Lion Shiki, Sengoku, Garp, every monster from the previous era whose name shook the seas… combine them all, and against a fully serious Ian, they would still be crushed instantly.
She finally understood why Ian had said that after defeating the World Government, their existence didn't matter anymore. There was no need for any "settling accounts" or "punishment."
Because to him… none of them were worth mentioning.
Thinking of this, Linlin clenched her fists.
Nothing could be more humiliating.
She had been wary of him all this time, only to learn that to him, her existence meant absolutely nothing.
Her teeth ground together so hard it felt like they'd crack. She almost wanted to bite Ian to death right then.
"Hahahahaha!"
A loud laugh echoed from beside her.
She looked over with gritted teeth and saw Shanks, sporting a huge bump on his head, laughing his heart out.
"I told you, this is exactly how Charlotte Linlin would react when she woke up!"
Beside him, Redfield—also nursing a bump—gave a bitter smile. "Who could possibly believe something like this without experiencing it firsthand?"
Yeah. Before seeing it themselves, who would ever believe such absurdity?
Shanks couldn't help letting out a sigh.
Ian… you're way too strong.
He found himself remembering that battle in the East Blue against Golden Lion Shiki years ago.
Back then, before their final showdown with Golden Lion, before Ian mastered the advanced application of Conqueror's Haki, Ian might not have even been stronger than Shanks.
But now? The gap had grown so vast that it was impossible to measure.
If Ian got even a little serious, Shanks wouldn't even be able to withstand a single strike.
But.
Shanks raised a hand to rub the large bump on his forehead, yet his gaze toward Ian was full of admiration.
If even someone as formidable as Ian wasn't the one Captain Roger had been waiting for, then perhaps no one in this world could ever change it.
Only someone this powerful could truly alter the course of the world.
"So, this battle should be enough, right?"
Ian said, "From now on, don't give me any more trouble."
"Then let us join hands and await the final battle."
"At this point, I naturally have nothing more to say."
Redfield sighed.
Ian had already given him a chance to rebel, but being outmatched and defeated, there was naturally nothing left to say.
"In the coming war, I will do everything I can to support you, Ian."
"Likewise. In fact, whether or not we had the previous battle, this was always destined to happen."
Shanks laughed, relaxed and carefree.
Compared to Aunt Linlin and Redfield, he carried no psychological burden at all.
"I, of course, have nothing more to say either."
Aunt Linlin took a deep breath and ultimately could only say it honestly.
The Beasts Pirates, who dominated the New World, were already terrifying enough, but even more fearsome was their captain, Ian.
Was there truly anyone left in this world who could stand against this kid?
Did the World Government really have the right to make him so cautious?
"That's wonderful!"
Ian clapped his hands joyfully. "With everyone's help, our chances in the upcoming war have greatly increased."
Mihawk nearly laughed out loud, while Shanks simply burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Ian, if we face an opponent even you can't handle, I doubt we'd be of much help!"
"That matter can be settled when the time comes."
Ian chuckled lightly.
After all, the decisive outcome of this war would still depend on the battle between him and Imu.
For now, he needed to check the Final Island, hoping Joy Boy would have left something useful behind.
At the very least, he wanted a proper explanation of Imu's abilities and those of the Five Elders.
What exactly was the secret behind the Elders' immortality?
Had they really lived for over eight hundred years? And what about Imu's power? Did he also possess immortality?
Were the Ancient Weapons in the hands of the World Government truly "Uranus"? And what kind of power did they hold?
All these crucial questions should at least be fully documented within the Great Treasure.
If none of this was recorded, Ian could only conclude that Joy Boy had led a relatively unremarkable life.
In any case, once they went there, everything would become clear.
The Paw Bubble raced across the sky. The time it took to return was almost the same as the time it took to arrive.
When the Paw Bubble landed at the gates of Onigashima, the entire island erupted in excitement.
The officers of the Beast Pirates poured out from the gates one by one.
**********
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