It wasn't until Charlotte Linlin's figure disappeared down the corridor outside the treasure chamber that Yemu slowly came back to his senses.
This woman had actually walked away, leaving a man who could easily be considered an enemy alone in her most precious treasure chamber.
Was this really the same Charlotte Linlin he knew from the story—that crazy woman who only cared about eating sweets?
As if sensing Yemu's thoughts, Lillilu, perched on his shoulder, gazed in the direction Charlotte Linlin had departed and spoke.
"Linlin's body is very unique. Even I and the Master cannot tell which one is truly her."
"What do you mean?"
Lillilu explained,
"The reason the Master recruited Linlin for this plan wasn't merely because of her Devil Fruit ability. Soul-type Devil Fruit abilities are not exactly rare in this world—my Mythical Zoan is one example. The Master chose Linlin primarily because of the uniqueness of her body. In the Master's words, Linlin's body is, to a certain extent, a being that has broken through the shackles."
"!!!"
"When Linlin was on the Master's ship, she would often go mad due to her pica. In that state, she displayed incredible, unimaginable strength—a power that even adult members of the Giant Race could not possess. Furthermore, according to the Master, it seems there are two souls within her body. After being subdued by the Master while in her pica state, she would experience brief amnesia. During this time, she would behave like a small child, and only after recovering would she return to her current self."
Yemu seemed to realize something.
Is it the soul of that nun? he asked.
"Do you know anything about her past?"
Lillilu shook her head.
"No. She has never spoken of it, and the man beside her, the one called Streusen, never mentions it either."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. So, the Master found her not only to utilize her Devil Fruit ability but also to study her body and discover the origin of that terrifying power within her. She's clearly human, yet she possesses strength that surpasses even the Giants!"
"Did he find it?"
"Of course he did!" Lillilu said, turning to Yemu.
"Not only did he find it, but he applied it to you."
Yemu was truly shocked.
"Applied it to me!? What exactly does that mean?"
"It's simple. Linlin was right. The Master wanted to create a Devil Fruit with its own life—or rather, a new type of human known as a Devil Fruit. However, after much research, he discovered that simply using Devil Fruit power was insufficient to create life. This power itself could not become a living being. So, just as a Devil Fruit requires a fruit as a vessel, the Master had to create a vessel for his creation. Among the options, Linlin's body was the best template."
Yemu was a bit confused.
"Why didn't Rocks choose himself? If he could subdue Charlotte Linlin, doesn't that mean he's stronger than her? Then his body should be even more suitable."
Lillilu shook her head.
"It's not like that."
She did not answer directly. Instead, she asked another question.
"You're clever. After hearing all this from Linlin, have you guessed what the Master meant by the 'shackles of fate'?"
Yemu thought for a moment and said,
"You already told me yesterday—it's the Lineage Factor, isn't it?"
Lillilu nodded approvingly.
"That's right. It's the Lineage Factor. Every living being and Devil Fruit possesses this entity. It limits a person's future and restricts the power of Devil Fruits."
"Is there a problem with that?"
Yemu was still trying to grasp the concept.
"Life exists because of these limitations. Humans, fish-men, giants—the existence of Devil Fruits depends on the Lineage Factor. Without these restrictions, would any of them still exist?"
"You're right. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue. As the Master says, if this world had no Creator or gods, all life would exist under these constraints equally, and there would be no injustice. Unfortunately, this world does have a Creator or gods—or rather, a group of people like the Master who possess Creator-like powers and are within reach. This means the world is inherently unfair. Where there is unfairness, there will be oppression and enslavement. This oppression and enslavement surpass race and class, for there is no hope of resistance."
At this point, Lillilu seemed to recall something and spoke.
"Of course, this is not absolute. The Master once said that a very long time ago, there was one exception, a warrior known as the Liberator of Slaves. But he never told me exactly what that meant. And now, although the Master's Lineage Factors grant a body with power greater than Linlin's, when it comes to the future, Linlin's Lineage Factors hold more hope."
"So, when using your body as a vessel, the Master chose Linlin's Lineage Factors to create you. That is also why you possess the power to awaken the will of a Devil Fruit. In truth, this is the power of the Soru Soru no Mi hidden within Linlin's Lineage Factors. This is also the existence the Master hoped for."
Yemu had to admit that today, he had learned an astonishing number of secrets about himself, things even he had never imagined.
Even so, he still had some questions.
"A doctor once told me that D blood runs through me. Going by what you said, wouldn't that mean Charlotte Linlin also has a D in her name, and is part of the D clan too?"
Lillilu shook her head again.
"No, Linlin is not part of the D clan."
"Then why do I have D blood in my lineage? Does that mean D is not actually tied to blood at all?"
"No. You actually already gave the answer to that question yourself."
"I did?"
For a moment, Yemu truly did not react.
"Didn't you already guess why the Master attacked God Valley?"
Only then did Yemu understand.
"So what you mean is, even though my body was built from Linlin's Lineage Factors, my heart belongs to Rocks? That really makes me sound like some stitched together monster."
"A stitched together monster? That is not entirely wrong. Just as Linlin said, when the entire plan reached its final moment, it still had not succeeded. But the Master could no longer wait. So he prepared to use his final plan. Since he could not create a true soul, or true life, he could only use the power of the Ope Ope no Mi to exchange his body and mind with yours, in the hope of being reborn."
"That is why the Master launched the attack on God Valley. On one hand, it was to obtain the Ope Ope no Mi. On the other, it would also give him a suitable reason for his disappearance. Otherwise, if a great pirate like him were to suddenly vanish, it would certainly draw an investigation from the World Government. Although the Master had great confidence in how secret the plan was, he was unwilling to leave the gamble in anyone else's hands. So, in that battle with Roger and Garp, the Master had Grins-sama remove his heart in advance, simply waiting for the moment of his final fall to complete the operation."
"It is just that, although everything went smoothly, the result, judging from how things stand now, was still not a success...."
"Even so, the Master did not fail completely. At the very least, he created you...."