Tina's Hometown

"Charlotte Katakuri!"

Lin Qi slowly spoke the name, his gaze fixed solemnly on the other man.

If the future Katakuri was a man standing at the pinnacle of the Emperor Commanders, then the current Katakuri was not yet so seasoned.

On pirate forums in later years, many people boasted that Katakuri's combat strength rivaled that of an Admiral.

Lin Qi could not be certain about that.

But judging by the aura radiating from him, the thirty-seven-year-old Katakuri definitely had not reached Admiral-level yet. Still, he was above even an elite Vice Admiral—the kind who could hold his own against an Admiral.

Lin Qi studied Katakuri, and Katakuri studied Lin Qi in return.

The young man before him looked no older than twenty, yet it was as though a demon lurked within his body.

His powerful Observation Haki constantly warned Katakuri that this man was no ordinary person.

After considering it, Katakuri gave up on the idea of attacking by force.

"Release my younger brother and sister. In exchange, I'll return this man to you." Katakuri lifted the unconscious Smoker slightly.

"Fine."

Lin Qi agreed. Smoker could not die yet. If Katakuri so much as applied a little force, Smoker's head would burst open.

Katakuri narrowed his eyes. The Marines were unexpectedly easy to deal with.

"Wake them up first. Once they leave, I'll keep my promise and release him."

"Fine."

With a wave of his hand, Lin Qi thawed them out. He even thoughtfully gave them clothes made of ice, so they would not be exposed.

Galette and Razer woke with splitting headaches, hazily spotting Katakuri.

"It's Brother Katakuri."

"That's great, Brother! Hurry and avenge us—kill them!" Razer shouted arrogantly.

"Shut up!" Katakuri snapped at his two foolish relatives. "Leave this place at once. Don't say another word."

Galette rubbed her burning backside and glared furiously at Lin Qi. Her red lips moved as if she wanted to speak, but stopped.

In the end, her brother's authority kept her from acting rashly.

Limping along, one hand supporting the sore rear Lin Qi had beaten, she left with Razer.

After the two had gone far enough, Katakuri kept his word, tossing Smoker down before going after his younger brother and sister.

"Smoker! Smoker, are you all right?"

A group of military doctors rushed over. They administered emergency treatment and pinched his philtrum, finally managing to wake Smoker.

Smoker opened his eyes and looked calmly at everyone. "Did I... lose?"

He could no longer remember the details of the fight.

He only remembered having just wiped out a ship full of Pirates when white, mochi-like things came crashing at him from all directions.

"Sorry. I held you back." Smoker touched the Jitte on his back and silently walked away alone.

The nearby soldiers were utterly shocked. "My God, Smoker actually apologized."

"Looks like this really hit him hard. Should we go comfort him?"

"Forget it. You'd probably only make him feel worse."

Considering Smoker's mental state, Lin Qi sent him back to Loguetown first.

Come to think of it, Smoker had it rough enough already—demoted and beaten senseless.

Before leaving, Lin Qi handed Smoker the letter Garp had written for Luffy and asked him to find someone to deliver it.

"Don't worry. I won't forget what you asked me to do."

Smoker stood at the dock, bidding Lin Qi farewell.

Once the ship had sailed away, he suddenly shouted, "Just you wait! The next time we meet, I'll definitely surpass you!"

"Good. I'll be waiting." Lin Qi laughed as he departed.

After half a month at sea, the Warship arrived at Tina's hometown.

The Molost Kingdom.

It was a small, middling country, the sort that was mediocre in every way.

Its ruler was neither wise nor foolish, and its people lived neither in hardship nor comfort.

However, Tina's family was one of the three most influential families in the Molost Kingdom.

The fact that her father had managed to obtain a Devil Fruit in a backwater like the East Blue spoke volumes.

Tina's grandfather had even been appointed captain of the kingdom's defense forces, commanding all land-based troops.

Lin Qi had the soldiers change into casual clothes and explore freely.

He strolled through the bustling streets with Tina and Tom Cat.

Back in her hometown after so long, Tina was especially happy today. Holding Lin Qi's hand, she ate her way down the street.

Like a couple deeply in love.

"Y-young Miss?"

A hesitant voice suddenly sounded from behind them.

Tina turned at the sound. "Uncle Sam!"

Tina happily pulled Lin Qi over by the hand.

"Let me introduce you. This is Uncle Sam, the butler who watched me grow up."

"This is Lin Qi, my... boyfriend."

When she said "boyfriend," Tina cautiously glanced at Lin Qi, hoping he would not mind her calling him that.

"Hello. I'm very glad to meet Tina's family." Lin Qi smiled and shook the butler's hand.

"Hello." The butler's expression was somewhat stiff.

Hadn't the young miss gone off to become a Marine? How had she returned with a boyfriend?

He only hoped the master would not suffer a heart attack upon seeing his precious daughter taken by some pig.

"By the way, are my father and grandfather doing well?" Tina asked.

"Well, I'm afraid not." The butler sighed. "Let me take you home first. The master will surely be very happy to see you back."

"Mhm, mhm. Let's go home." Tina hugged Lin Qi's arm to her chest and followed the butler.

The family estate.

Tina's father sat in the seat of honor, while the butler stood behind him.

Lin Qi and Tina sat below him, one to the left and one to the right.

After Tina finished chatting and laughing with her father, the room fell into deathly silence.

A pair of eyes continuously examined Lin Qi without blinking.

Lin Qi unconsciously sat up straight.

For their first meeting, he should at least avoid leaving the impression of a delinquent youth.

Judging by that look, he was afraid that with one command, countless armed guards would rush out.

"Father, Uncle Sam said something has happened to the family recently. Can I help?" Tina spoke up, relieving Lin Qi of the pressure.

Returning to the matter at hand, Kelly sighed.

"To be honest, a group of bandits calling themselves the Revolutionary Army has appeared in the Kingdom recently."

"Every midnight, they come out in an organized fashion to loot and plunder. Yet they never leave behind even the slightest trace, vanishing without a shadow by daybreak."

"It has been half a month since the King assigned our family the task of eliminating these bandits, but we still have no leads."

"If we fail to find them, the King's trust in us will greatly diminish. Your grandfather has already lost what little hair he had left over this."

"Leave it to me, Father! I can catch them for you!" Tina slammed the table and rose to her feet.

"Leave it to you? No, no. The men of this family aren't all dead yet."

Kelly shook his head like a rattle drum. How could he let his precious daughter put herself in danger?

In his heart, Tina would always be a little girl.

"It won't just be Tina. I'll be there too." Lin Qi stood as well. "Don't worry, Uncle. I'll help Tina resolve this problem."

"You?" Kelly looked Lin Qi up and down.

The young man was very handsome, but he did not seem particularly capable in a fight.