Hawkins led a group of captain-level officers from the Second Fleet to personally welcome Ronglin ashore and escort him into the palace. Logically, Hawkins had handled the BIGMOM Pirates matter quite well, and there had been no need for Ronglin to show up in person. Ronglin's arrival therefore left Hawkins somewhat baffled, unsure of where he had fallen short.
"Well done!" Ronglin first praised Hawkins's work. "To sort out the BIGMOM Pirates in such a short time, Old Hawkins, you really do have what it takes!"
Hawkins's poker face showed no extra expression. He merely nodded in silence.
Next, Ronglin summoned everyone from the Charlotte Family. When dozens of people gathered within the palace, with members of every race assembled in one place, it was truly an eye-opener for Ronglin. He could not help but marvel inwardly at Charlotte Linlin. She really could give birth. As long as a species could reproduce, Charlotte would dare to have one for you.
Although Charlotte Linlin had died at Ronglin's hands, the Charlotte Family's children did not harbor much hostility toward him. Their eyes held only fear of Ronglin.
It seemed that Charlotte Linlin's brutality over the years had planted the shadow of fear deep in their hearts. Now that the dark clouds hanging over them had suddenly been swept aside, they had yet to adjust. Thus, Ronglin became the new object of their fear, a new source of spiritual dependence.
"Your ability to recognize the times is quite gratifying to me," Ronglin said calmly. "If we could have resolved this matter peacefully from the beginning, then the casualties that should have been avoided would not leave us with such regret now."
Having heard of Ronglin's reputation for mercy, the Charlotte Family members all felt somewhat uneasy, unsure of how Ronglin intended to