Hachinosu Island, Charlotte Linlin's temporary residence.
"Linlin! How are you? Are you okay?!" As soon as Charlotte Linlin stepped through the door, Gloriosa pounced on her like a kitten, nimbly climbing up her tall frame. Her small hands patted and pressed here and there, her eyes full of anxiety as she carefully checked Charlotte Linlin for any signs of injury.
"Ma~ I'm fine. What could possibly happen to me?" Charlotte Linlin let her fuss, her massive body falling backward and sinking comfortably into the large bed.
Although the battle with John seemed like a complete crushing, that final move,'Sky Roar,' had cost her quite a bit of mental focus and energy.
"So what was all that noise outside just now? What happened?" After confirming Charlotte Linlin was fine, Gloriosa climbed onto Charlotte Linlin's flat, firm abdomen and sat cross-legged. Her little face was scrunched up as she guessed worriedly,
"Could it be... that bastard who kidnapped Shakky was bold enough to make a move on you, Linlin?!"
"No." Charlotte Linlin shook her head and glanced at the nodachi.
"It was that drunkard John. I don't know when he made a deal with the Marines, but his target was This lady's blade."
She didn't care much about the incident itself. After all, this blade was connected to her mind and was essentially a manifestation of her power. With just a thought, she could take it back at any time; an outsider could never truly steal it.
"However," she changed the subject, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes, "it wasn't entirely without gain. I forced some information out of John. It seems the Celestial Dragons are behind Shakky's disappearance."
"Celestial Dragons?!" Gloriosa's small fists clenched tightly, a flush of anger rising on her face.
"I knew it! No matter how chaotic Hachinosu Island is, no one would kidnap Shakky for no reason! It must be those human-skinned scum, the Celestial Dragons, who had some filthy ideas! Those damn world parasites!"
After venting her anger, Gloriosa looked up and asked worriedly, "Then Linlin, what should we do next? Are we going to Mary Geoise?"
She knew Charlotte Linlin was strong, but directly attacking the Holy Land of the World Government seemed like a suicidal act to her.
Charlotte Linlin looked at the fading night outside and the faint light rising on the distant sea horizon. After a moment of silence, she said slowly, "No, we're going back to Inazuma first."
"Back to Inazuma?" Gloriosa was somewhat surprised.
"Yes." Charlotte Linlin nodded with certainty.
"Even though we know the Celestial Dragons did it, my divination clearly shows that Shakky will appear safe and sound in a year. If we act rashly during this time, alerting the enemy or even starting a war with the World Government, we might interfere with or even change that 'certain' future. I can't gamble Shakky's safety on an uncertain outcome."
After all, divination only shows the most probable timeline among countless possibilities. When Charlotte Linlin performed the divination, the preset conditions were 'inaction' or 'routine investigation.' If she forcibly added the massive variable of 'attacking the Celestial Dragons head-on,' the future image would change immediately. And... Charlotte Linlin rubbed her smooth chin, recalling the scene from the divination.
...Beside Shakky, an image representing 'the God of Love' appeared? Could it be that her savior is her destined person? If that's the case, the matter of avenging Shakky should perhaps be left to the person who will appear in her life in the future. It'll also be a chance to see if the person Shakky chooses is responsible.
As for her... ultimately, she wasn't someone who liked to meddle in others' business.
"Okay! Then we'll do as Linlin says!" Gloriosa had absolute trust in Charlotte Linlin. Since Linlin said to wait in Inazuma, there must be a reason. She nodded vigorously and lay down obediently on Charlotte Linlin's belly, asking no more questions.
The night passed in silence, with only the sound of the tide gently lapping against the shore... As the sky brightened slightly, the morning light dispelled the last of the darkness.
A group of pirates carrying several heavy chests and treasure boxes arrived outside Charlotte Linlin's manor, trembling with fear. They were sent by John's order to deliver the "apology gift."
After the leading officer reported with trepidation, they were granted permission to command their subordinates to carry the items into the courtyard. Then, they retreated as quickly as if they had seen a ghost, not daring to stay a second longer.
As John's subordinates, they knew very well the miserable state John was in when he returned last night. Their incredibly powerful Captain John had actually lost a hand!
This caused this group of John's men, when facing the peerless beauty Charlotte Linlin, to have not a single stray thought. Instead, they were terrified that she might be in a bad mood and kill them.
One billion Berries were neatly stacked in several large chests, glittering with gold. But for Charlotte Linlin and Gloriosa, who didn't value wealth that much, it wasn't particularly shocking.
What interested them more were the other two exquisitely crafted treasure boxes.
Opening the first treasure box, a strangely shaped Devil Fruit lay quietly inside. The skin was deep green, covered in spiral patterns that looked like turning book pages, faintly emitting an aura of knowledge and tranquility.
"This is..." Gloriosa picked up the encyclopedia included in the box and began to read.
"Paramecia-type: Book-Book Fruit? It can create a book-page space and seal people or objects within it, and can even use books to record, learn, and reproduce knowledge or abilities... A very strange ability, with great potential for managing and developing an organization."
"This fruit is quite suitable for Mia."
Charlotte Linlin nodded with satisfaction and turned her gaze to the second treasure box.
Next, Gloriosa opened the second box. The fruit inside was covered in fine scale-like patterns like emeralds. Its overall shape was winding and slender, like a dormant ancient giant Snake, full of power and mysterious beauty.
"This is the Snake-Snake Fruit, Ancient Species, Green Python Form," Gloriosa said, based on the encyclopedia in the box.
"An Ancient Species Zoan Devil Fruit? It seems that fellow John really bled this time."
One billion Berries plus these two highly valuable Devil Fruits were enough to compensate for his offense last night, and she temporarily put aside her thoughts of looking for trouble with him later.
"But as for the Snake-Snake Fruit, how about giving it to Lilith?" Charlotte Linlin looked at Gloriosa with a smile.
"I'll listen to whatever Linlin says," Gloriosa replied.
"Alright then." Charlotte Linlin rubbed Gloriosa's white hair.
"Gloriosa, let's go. Pack your things; it's time to return to Inazuma."
"Okay, Linlin!"
After putting a pile of treasures into a large sack, Charlotte Linlin transformed into a thousand-meter giant dragon and left Hachinosu Island.
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