"Plea... please..."
Panting, the girl arrived three meters away from Merlin and stopped, her eyes full of unease at this moment.
Merlin sized up the two, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.
At this time, one of the chasing hooligans stared at Merlin fiercely: "Kid, this has nothing to do with you. We are from the Black Hand Gang of the North District. I advise you not to meddle."
"Brother Dong, stop talking nonsense with him. A kid who hasn't even grown hair down there wants to play hero saving the beauty? Use a knife to open a hole in him."
"Right, Brother Dong. Our Black Hand Gang is a top force in the outer perimeter of the North District. No need to be afraid of killing someone at the border of the Safe Zone."
The three hooligans pulled out daggers from their waists simultaneously, grinning hideously.
However, at this time, Baby 5 glared at the three angrily, "A bunch of blind little hooligans, go die quickly!"
Saying this, she extended her right hand straight towards them. However, Merlin moved a step ahead of her, a wisp of black flame flashing in his eyes.
The next second, with a casual wave of his hand, a handful of black flames gathered from his palm.
Then, accompanied by Merlin's wave, it flew quickly past the green-haired sisters' faces and exploded in front of the three hooligans almost in the blink of an eye.
Whoosh~
Black flames ignited.
Wrapping the three in an instant.
The sudden possession of black flames made the three instinctively let out screams.
A few seconds later, they reacted somewhat bewilderedly, only because this possessing black flame caused no damage at all.
A glint flashed in Merlin's eyes at this time. Can black flames without triggered calamity effects really cause no damage?
It seemed indeed impossible.
"Laplace, what is this? You are actually a Devil Fruit ability user?"
Law's surprise sounded from the side.
However, at this time, seeing the three beginning to calm down despite their panic, Merlin thought: "Calamity: Electric Paralysis."
A unique calamity fluctuation appeared out of thin air within the possessing black flames.
Calamity Black Flame was the medium for Merlin to exercise his ability, and Merlin could transmit calamity effects into the black flames at will.
There was a special causal connection between Merlin and the black flames.
At this moment.
The three let out a scream simultaneously. Immediately after, twitching all over, they fell to the ground stiffly like dead fish one after another with thuds.
The current that could paralyze Merlin's whole body had no reason not to instantly take down these three little hooligans.
"Than... Thank you for saving us sisters again!"
Turning her head to glance at the three fallen people, the girl turned to Merlin and thanked him with grateful eyes.
"Laplace, your ability..."
Merlin ignored Law's questioning and looked at the girl with interest, "You saw me last night? By the way, what is your name, and why are you so unlucky?"
"Monet. My name is Monet, and this is my sister Sugar. Yesterday evening, after hearing the screams of those pirates chasing us, I looked back and saw you. Thank you for saving us again."
Monet's eyes were filled with gratitude.
However, at this time, Monet looked up at Merlin, a hint of coldness brewing in her eyes: "Can you lend me a weapon?"
Merlin raised his eyebrows, then held the sheath and handed Night Earl at his waist forward.
"Thank you!"
Monet pursed her lips and thanked him again, then gently placed Sugar in her arms on the ground, rubbing her head and saying softly: "Wait for big sister a moment!"
Sugar nodded obediently and vigorously. Then, Clang! Monet reached out her right hand to draw Night Earl, her expression turning cold again, and strode towards the three.
Soon arriving in front of them, looking down at them coldly, holding the sword with both hands, Squelch! she stabbed into the first person's chest.
Immediately after, two more crisp stabs into the chests of the other two. At this time, she was panting heavily, wisps of red light flashing unconsciously in her eyes. The next moment, holding the sword up with both hands, aiming even more coldly at their necks.
Swung down.
More than ten seconds later, Monet walked back with scarlet at the bottom of her eyes and returned the sword.
Merlin narrowed his eyes slightly, took back the sword, and sheathed it.
However, at this time, Monet, who returned the sword, felt her legs go soft and sat on the ground instantly.
"Big sister, are you okay?"
At this time, a soft yet bouncy voice sounded suddenly.
Sugar knelt on the ground in front of Monet, holding Monet's arm, looking at her with great worry in her eyes.
Monet raised her lowered head at this time. She looked at Merlin, recalling the bloodthirsty impulse surging violently from the bottom of her heart just now.
"Is your sword a cursed sword (Kitetsu/Youtou)?"
Merlin looked at her in surprise: "You know the legend of cursed swords?"
Monet's eyes contained sorrow, "Our father used to be a famous merchant, and our mother was a formidable swordswoman. I heard mother talk about the legend of cursed swords before."
"With such a good family background, how did you end up here?"
At this time, Baby 5, who was hiding behind Merlin and was scared by Monet's ruthlessness just now, asked Monet somewhat curiously.
A flash of sadness passed through Monet's eyes.
"During a sea trade half a month ago, we encountered the Demon Pirates. Our family's chamber of commerce was completely wiped out. Only Sugar and I were kept by them to be sold..."
Speaking of this, a flash of deep hatred passed through Monet's eyes, but in an instant, she looked at Merlin and asked hopefully: "After last night, you..."
Merlin said to her calmly: "Their heads were exchanged for bounties by me."
Hearing this, Monet pursed her lips, her eye rims instantly turning red. Ripples of moisture appeared in her golden eyes. Sugar beside her pouted and looked up at Merlin, her glutinous voice rising with a crying tone: "Thank you, Big Brother."
And at this moment, hearing her somewhat peculiar and highly recognizable voice.
An imperceptible nostalgia quietly emerged in Merlin's eyes.
A voice that could be called the source of all evil.
Giving a feeling like chasing anime in his previous life.
However, just similar.
"My condolences!" Law looked at the two of them calmly and said, but his eyes stared straight at Sugar.
At this time, Monet noticed Law's gaze, stood up with vigilance in her eyes, and calmly protected Sugar behind her.
"Thank you!" Although vigilant, Monet still thanked him at this moment.
However, Law's face turned dark, "What do you mean by this?"
Seeing the vigilance in Monet's eyes, Merlin's gaze flashed, and then he explained to Monet: "This guy is called Law. He had a biological sister who looked about the same age as your sister Sugar."
Hearing Merlin speak, the vigilance in Monet's eyes reduced slightly, and she apologized to Law: "Sorry, I didn't mean to."
But her eyes were stunned at this moment because she saw the deep sorrow emerging from Law's eyes. The look in her eyes couldn't help fluctuating, "Your sister?"
Law glanced at her, then looked at the little Sugar, opening his mouth slightly and saying hoarsely: "Protect your sister well. Don't let your future self regret it."
Law sometimes thought, if he had taken Lami with him back then, maybe...
Seriousness appeared in Monet's eyes, "I won't let anyone hurt Sugar."
Baby 5 looked at Sugar with envy in her eyes at this time. Having such a sister who loved her so much, her heart moved slightly. She blinked her bright eyes and looked at Monet: "Are you homeless? Any relatives left? What are your plans for the future?"
Monet was stunned upon hearing this, and couldn't help looking at Merlin, because in her opinion, Merlin was obviously the backbone of the three: "Can you take us sisters in?"
Baby 5 was stunned, tilted her head to look at Monet and then at Merlin, feeling like something wasn't quite right.
But after thinking about it, she couldn't figure it out.
At this time, seeing Baby 5's gaze, Monet's eyes became awkward, and she said hurriedly: "We only had our parents as relatives, but they all died at the hands of pirates. Sugar and I are homeless now. I can do anything. Can you take us in?"
Merlin's gaze was subtle, sizing up the sisters Monet and Sugar. In the original timeline, they would be brought back to the family by Doflamingo about several years later, but now they asked him if he could take them in.
A feeling of the impermanence of worldly affairs.
Merlin suddenly felt at this moment that the world was full of variables. It was never immutable; it had multiple uncertain future directions.
And since he, a small butterfly, had already changed the future of quite a few people, then in the future, how many people's futures could he change?
Suddenly felt that he had officially integrated into this world and become a part of it.
Seeing Merlin silent, a flash of disappointment passed through Monet's eyes. If it were just her alone, she wouldn't care, but with Sugar together, she really didn't know if she could protect her well in the future.
Especially being women in such a place.
At this time, Law glanced at Merlin, then at Sugar, and finally looked at Monet: "We are pirates. Are you sure you want to go with us? We are people of the Donquixote Pirates."
Monet's body trembled, her eyes widened looking at the three, and then fell silent. But just a few seconds later, she had made a decision. Determination flashed in Monet's eyes: "Whether pirates or whatever, as long as you can take us, I am willing to do anything."
Monet wrapped her arms around Sugar's chest. As long as Sugar could live well, she could do anything.
Merlin looked at Monet with a serious expression now. From just a few sentences, he could discover that this was a decisive girl with determination.
Such a person, no matter where, presumably could do well.
"Are you sure you want to go with me? The future might be more dangerous, possibly dying at any time."
Merlin looked at her and said quietly.
Light emerged in Monet's eyes, "You have already saved us twice. I owe you four lives. As long as you can protect Sugar, my life is sold to you."
Monet's golden eyes blossomed with determination. Merlin's pitch-black eyes were as deep as a secluded pool. Staring into her eyes, after a few breaths, Merlin nodded and said: "I don't need you to sell your life. To me, the life of every one of my own people is precious. Remember, even if you work for me in the future, your life must always come first."
Hearing this, Monet's eyes couldn't help trembling, "You agreed?"
A smile appeared at the corner of Law's mouth, but immediately after, he curled his lips and muttered in his heart:
Worthy of someone who sold newspapers. His words were instigating, but indeed comfortable to hear.
And a look of longing also emerged in Baby 5's eyes.
At this time, Merlin nodded, but then said: "By the way, I am not a member of the Donquixote Family. I am just me.
"Also, I am Merlin. You can call me Merlin in the future."
Hearing this, Monet was obviously stunned for a moment, but immediately nodded: "Okay, I understand. By the way, can I call you Mr. Merlin?"