Return and Loli Raising

"Kuina was actually a fine prospect, stronger than most men," Lin Qi suddenly said.

"I know that, but unfortunately, women cannot become Great Swordsmen."

The conversation in the room fell silent.

"Have Kuina come find me in the Navy someday. I'll help her fulfill her dream."

"That will depend on her own wishes."

The room fell quiet once more.

The conversation between the two had not been pleasant.

Koshiro stubbornly believed that women could not go far on the path of swordsmanship.

Even if that person was his own daughter.

"Father, would you like more tea?"

Hearing Kuina's voice, the two tacitly stopped discussing the matter.

"Kuina, come in."

Dressed in a kimono, Kuina looked utterly adorable as she knelt beside the table and refilled the teapot.

"Kuina, I'm leaving today," Lin Qi said.

"Huh?"

Kuina's hand trembled, and she nearly dropped the teapot.

She looked so aggrieved that she was on the verge of tears.

"So soon? Can't you stay a few more days?"

"Silly girl, I've already been here for half a year. How is that soon? Don't tell me you can't bear to part with me?"

"W-Who can't bear to part with you, idiot!" Kuina's little face instantly turned bright red. "I'm just worried there won't be anyone to talk to anymore."

"Haha. Kuina's so strong, I figured as much."

"Oh, right. I've never given you a gift before. I have one for you before I leave."

He took out a Devil Fruit and placed it on the table.

"This is the Zoan-type Peacock-Peacock Fruit, one kind of Devil Fruit. Eating it grants you incredible power."

"Kuina, haven't you always wanted to surpass boys? If you eat it, you can do that."

He had bought this Devil Fruit during one of the System Mall refreshes.

Ordinary Zoan-types like this were cheap.

He refused to believe Kuina could still fall to her death after eating a Zoan Devil Fruit!

"Father, is what Brother Lin Qi said true?" Kuina looked at Koshiro expectantly.

How dearly she wished to hear her father say that she could surpass men.

Yet all she received was Koshiro's silence.

Koshiro only wanted his daughter to live a safe and peaceful life. Perhaps eating a Devil Fruit was not such a bad choice either.

With that thought, Koshiro nodded.

That gave Kuina tremendous encouragement. She picked up the Devil Fruit and bit off more than half of it in one bite.

"Thank you, Brother Lin Qi."

"Ugh... it tastes awful!"

Kuina nearly spat it out, but when she thought of surpassing boys and earning her father's approval, she forced herself to swallow the fruit.

Tears streamed from her eyes from how awful it tasted.

"Alright, I'm leaving. Goodbye."

"Thank you for teaching me over the past six months."

"Little Kuina, I look forward to the day we meet at sea."

Having personally watched Kuina eat the fruit, Lin Qi did not linger any longer.

After returning to the ship, he immediately had ten crates of treasure delivered to Koshiro.

"Wouldn't it be more sincere if you delivered them yourself?" Hina asked in confusion.

"If I delivered them, he wouldn't accept them."

Just before the warship set sail, Kuina came running over, panting heavily. Standing on the dock, she shouted:

"Brother Lin Qi! I came to see you off!"

Lin Qi smiled. "Kuina, I believe you'll definitely become a female Great Swordsman."

For some reason, the moment Kuina heard that, tears immediately spilled down her face.

"Thank you. It's a promise. I'll definitely become a Great Swordsman and show you!"

"Alright."

Watching the warship sail away, Kuina wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. With a smile on her face, she ran straight toward the training ground.

Marineford Era 1508.

Lin Qi led his troops back to the Grand Line and called Sengoku.

"Yes, I'm back. I encountered Dragon in the East Blue."

"Send the prisoners to Impel Down first? Understood."

Lin Qi hung up the Den Den Mushi.

Over the year or so he had spent at sea, more than a hundred Ability Users had been imprisoned in the ship's hold.

Sengoku would not have felt at ease entrusting the escort of these Ability Users to anyone else.

Except Lin Qi.

Impel Down, Marine Headquarters, and Enies Lobby formed a triangle.

The World Government had a dedicated passage between the three.

No one except official personnel could pass through it.

Passing through the Gate of Justice, Lin Qi and his group arrived at Impel Down.

Magellan, who was still the Deputy Warden, came out to receive them.

"Hello, Captain Lin Qi. On behalf of Impel Down, I welcome your arrival."

Wearing thick gloves, Magellan shook hands with Lin Qi.

"Hello, Warden Magellan. I've long heard of your great reputation."

As Lin Qi exchanged pleasantries with Magellan, his subordinates escorted the prisoners into Impel Down.

Seeing that every prisoner wore Seastone handcuffs, Magellan asked curiously, "Don't tell me all the people you caught are Ability Users?"

"That's right."

"So many? There must be over a hundred of them."

Magellan was stunned.

Most people would be lucky to catch one or two Ability Users in a single voyage.

Yet Lin Qi would casually bring back over a hundred Ability Users.

Did he think Ability Users grew like cabbages?

Those who knew would say Lin Qi was a Captain.

Those who did not might think he was a Fleet Admiral.

"I was at sea a little longer than usual, and I happened to catch them."

Hearing Lin Qi's humblebrag, the corner of Magellan's mouth twitched.

Casually catching so many Ability Users—no matter how one looked at it, that was impressive.

With that much military merit, Magellan could only envy him for ten years.

"Reporting, sir! All prisoners have been escorted in," a soldier reported.

"Good. In that case, Brother Magellan, farewell until we meet again."

"Goodbye." Magellan watched them leave.

Several more days passed.

Lin Qi returned to Marine Headquarters.

After being away for over a year, he felt a little nostalgic the moment he set foot on land.

"System, show me my attributes."

Host: Lin Qi

Combat abilities: Geppo (peak), Shave (advanced), Rankyaku (advanced), Yari Yubi (peak), Tekkai (advanced), Life Return (advanced), Kami-e (beginner).

Note: All techniques with a limit are represented by proficiency.

Life abilities: Navigation (intermediate), Cooking (beginner), Loli Raising (intermediate).

Basic attributes: Physique: Level 5 (Physique King), Swordsmanship: Level 5 (Great Swordsman), Fruit Development: Level 3 (Fruit Expert), Marksmanship: Level 3 (seasoned Sniper), Observation Haki: Level 3, Armament Haki: Level 4, Conqueror's Haki: Level 5 (Conqueror's King).

Note: Attributes with no limit and that can be continuously improved are represented as basic attributes.

These were Lin Qi's gains after a year at sea.

Both his physique and swordsmanship had reached Level 5, a qualitative leap.

Not to mention everything else; all of it had improved.

Only...

"What the hell is this Loli Raising?!"

Lin Qi protested.

What kind of messed-up skill had the system labeled him with? How had he become a loli raiser?

Hadn't he merely helped the Empress, Koala, Nami, Nojiko, and Kuina?

"..."

Fine. He accepted the Loli Raising label.