How to Save Face

He actually wanted me...

Hearing Lin Yu's words, Reiju froze in place, staring at him warily.

"You want Reiju?"

"Why?"

Gage's puzzled voice came from the Den Den Mushi.

Lin Yu had long since prepared his explanation. Smiling, he said:

"You can think of it as a political marriage."

"If Miss Reiju follows me, then you naturally won't have to worry about me harming Germa."

"And I won't have to worry about being betrayed by Germa."

"Then that's how we'll arrange it." After considering it for a moment, Vinsmoke Judge agreed to Lin Yu's proposal.

Whether it was Lin Yu's strength or the secrets he knew, both made him worthy of Reiju.

After discussing their next meeting with Gage, Lin Yu handed the Den Den Mushi to Reiju and smiled.

"Your father has something to say to you."

Reiju pressed her lips together, clenched her fists tightly, and took the Den Den Mushi.

"Hello, Father."

"Reiju, stay with him for now. No matter what he tells you to do, you must obey his orders."

"I understand."

"That's all. Bring him to see me first."

Click.

After saying that, Gage immediately hung up.

"Are you satisfied now?"

Reiju glared at Lin Yu and walked off to one side.

She needed to properly sort out her feelings.

When Anna and Charloss heard that Reiju was coming aboard, they were both delighted. There was finally someone else to share Lin Yu's firepower, which thrilled them greatly.

Lin Yu did not mind Reiju's displeasure.

After using the ship's ropes to remove Reiju's Special Necklace and Sea Stone Handcuffs, Lin Yu had Anna and Charloss prepare a meal.

Glancing at Anna and Charloss as they limped away, Lin Yu went to the captain's cabin and closed his eyes to rest.

He was not awakened by Charloss until two hours later.

"Master, dinner is ready." Seeing the anger on Lin Yu's face, Charloss spoke cautiously.

"What dinner..."

Still grumpy from waking up, Lin Yu reached out, grabbed the Special Necklace around Charloss's neck, and pulled her into his arms.

In the dining room.

Seeing that Charloss had not returned for a long time, Anna went to check outside the captain's cabin.

After hearing strange sounds from inside, she returned to the dining room with a flushed face.

"Is Lin Yu not eating?" Having already calmed herself down, Reiju glanced at Anna and asked doubtfully.

Anna sat beside the dining table and curled her lips.

"He's already eating."

North Sea.

Near a Nameless Island.

Lin Yu controlled the God Slave as it slowly approached the island.

Not far ahead of the God Slave, Vinsmoke Judge was also riding a Snail Ship toward the island.

The Snail Ships that had been following the God Slave also joined Germa's main force under Yongji's command.

Both sides docked at opposite ends of the island before heading inland together.

Lin Yu was alone, and so was Gage.

"Not bad. You really are God Slayer Lin Yu."

Seeing Lin Yu's face, Vinsmoke Judge nodded and confirmed his identity.

Throwing a large bag at Lin Yu's feet, Gage continued.

"These are the Science Combat Suits you wanted, along with the information on them."

"Reiju knows how to use and make them."

"I'll give you the rest after I confirm Pluton's blueprints."

Opening the bag and taking a look, Lin Yu nodded in satisfaction before tossing a slip of paper to Gage.

He did not actually care much about the remaining information on modified humans.

"Water Seven, Franky?"

Seeing the information on the slip, Gage raised an eyebrow.

"This man is the disciple of Tom, Water Seven's greatest shipwright. Pluton's blueprints are on him."

After giving that explanation, Lin Yu picked up the bag and prepared to leave.

He had obtained the combat suits, and Reiju was already aboard his ship. He did not want to stay any longer.

As for Pluton's blueprints, he figured that rather than giving them to the World Government or destroying them, it would be better to hand them to Gage.

At least in Gage's hands, Lin Yu could reap the benefits whenever he wanted.

"Catch."

Gage tossed a box to Lin Yu. "This contains my specially made Den Den Mushi and Germa's Eternal Pose. Take it. It'll make it easier for us to contact each other later."

"Got it. I'll be taking Reiju with me, then."

With the bag in one hand and the box in the other, Lin Yu casually waved at Gage.

After a long silence, Gage finally shouted just as Lin Yu was about to board the God Slave.

"Treat her well."

"Got it."

Without even turning his head, Lin Yu boarded the God Slave.

The next moment, the God Slave raised its sails and sped toward Reverse Mountain.

Watching the God Slave depart, Vinsmoke Judge burned the slip of paper in his hand before returning to Germa 66.

"Target: Water Seven!"

God Slave.

On deck.

Lin Yu held the canister and manual for the Science Combat Suit, carefully studying the instructions.

Behind him, Charloss and Anna were undergoing grueling physical training.

In the hands of someone who had not undergone Lineage Factor modification, a Science Combat Suit did not provide much of a boost in combat power.

It did not grant special abilities like Reiju's poison, Ichiji's fire, Niji's electricity, or Sanji's invisibility.

Of course, its basic defense, flashy transformation effects and appearance, and ability to fly were still retained.

And for Lin Yu, the ability to fly alone made it a huge bargain.

Seeing Lin Yu study it for so long, Reiju could no longer stand it and said to him:

"These are all unfinished products. They need to be further designed and modified according to the user before they can be used properly."

Unfinished products?

Hearing Reiju's words, Lin Yu was instantly furious.

That old bastard Gage actually dared to fool him with unfinished products.

Didn't he know that if he angered me, his daughter would suffer?

With that thought, Lin Yu directly tossed aside the canister in his hand, preparing to turn back and settle the score with Gage.

"Be careful!"

"That thing is very expensive."

Seeing Lin Yu casually throw away the combat suit canister, Reiju quickly caught it.

Only then did Reiju say to Lin Yu irritably:

"Everyone has a different body type and different strengths."

"So there are no finished combat suits. They are all semi-finished products. Memory Metal is also extremely rare and expensive, making combat suits difficult to produce."

"If you break one, there'll basically be one less."

Only then did Lin Yu realize that he had wronged Gage, and for a moment, he could not save face.

No wonder Gage had said Reiju knew how to use and make them. So that was the reason.

But since he had lost face here, Lin Yu decided to get it back somewhere else.

"Reiju, are you willing to join my Pirate Crew and become my subordinate?"

Walking up to Reiju, Lin Yu asked her.

"I am." Reiju had long been mentally prepared. She pressed her lips together, then nodded in agreement.

Ding! Reiju has joined the crew. Please select Reiju's Crew Position.

"Combatant."

After saying that, Lin Yu directly scooped Reiju into his arms and ran toward the captain's cabin.

Suddenly being held in Lin Yu's arms, Reiju was startled.

"W-What are you doing?"

"Hehe, since it's a political marriage, what do you think I want to do?"

At those words, Reiju's pretty face instantly turned crimson, the blush spreading all the way to her ears and complementing her pink hair.

Reiju: "I-I'm not ready yet..."

Lin Yu: "But I am."

Reiju: "..."