Pet

Linlin lowered her head and smiled. "Good that you know. Still, thank you for your concern."

Then Linlin pulled out a small bottle of baijiu from behind her and tossed it to Roger. "This is a gift as compensation."

Roger caught it, then opened the bottle and took a light sniff. "Whoa! This stuff really has a kick. Is there any more of this liquor?"

Rayleigh, standing to one side, took a deep sniff, his body unconsciously drifting toward Roger as his hands began to wander.

But the next moment, Roger stuffed the bottle into his clothes and stared at Rayleigh with guarded eyes.

Realizing he had no way to steal the liquor, Rayleigh could only smile awkwardly.

Watching the two clowns, Linlin shook her head. "This is called Maotai. It was also just developed in our Many Countries. The one in your hand is the second bottle."

"Then it looks like I'll have to buy more the next time I come." Roger shook the Maotai in his hand. Looking at the clear liquid that smelled strongly of alcohol, he could not help swallowing.

"If you could stay here for another month or two, you might be able to buy some by then." Linlin took a sip of tea and spoke casually.

"I'll pass. I can't stay that long."

"And what you told me earlier—you wanted me to spread word of Milim's deeds, right?" Roger carefully put the Maotai into his pocket and looked up at Linlin.

Linlin nodded. "That's right. I do want you to spread word of Milim's deeds. That would effectively deter all kinds of forces at sea."

"After all, Milim might not be able to kill every person in a country, but she could definitely kill a country until only a few people remained." Beneath Linlin's calm tone lay a chilling killing intent.

"I understand. I'll help with this."

"But as payment, shouldn't you give me a little perk?" Roger said lightly, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"What kind of perk? Let me make this clear first: Maotai isn't easy to come by right now." Linlin watched Roger warily. The Maotai was still in the experimental stage, and Milim had only provided a general direction. Even now, the purification techniques were still immature.

"Hahahaha! No need for that. Didn't a Hot Spring Inn just open over there? Let my boys enjoy themselves there for a few days." Roger laughed heartily as he winked at his crew behind him.

"Long live the captain!" The Roger Pirates erupted into a chorus of howls and cheers.

"Very well!" Linlin rose to her feet and said as she walked away, "No matter how many days you stay in Many Countries, that Hot Spring Inn will be open to you free of charge for the same number of days."

"Boys, let's go soak in the hot springs!" Upon hearing Linlin's answer, Roger rushed toward the hot springs impatiently.

"Idiot Captain! Who goes to soak in hot springs first thing in the morning?"

"Damn it, Rayleigh! I've never soaked in one before, so how would I know?"

The Roger Pirates remained as noisy as ever, but a smile rested on Linlin's lips.

"King Linlin, it seems you like the Roger Pirates very much?" El emerged from the crowd and approached Linlin. Seeing the smile on her face, he could not help asking.

Linlin smiled. "The Roger Pirates truly are completely different from ordinary pirate crews."

"I don't think they're all that great. A captain being beaten by his own crew cannot establish any authority." El clearly disliked such a team, one without distinctions of rank or hierarchy.

Linlin did not refute him. She knew that was simply El's personality—rigid and methodical. Though his bottom line could be quite low at times, in certain matters he held himself to extremely high standards. For example, ever since Linlin had become king!

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El had never addressed Linlin by name again, instead calling her King Linlin.

In the end, Linlin left behind only one sentence before heading to her office to begin work.

"I can feel that every crew member aboard Roger's pirate ship trusts their captain completely. They would even willingly become Roger's stepping stones. That spirit gathered among them cannot lie."

Hearing this, El remained where he was, quietly pondering the meaning of those words.

Meanwhile, Milim arrived at a Pet Shop that sold animals. This shop had only opened today.

The owner had never expected Milim to be the first person to enter his store!

The owner immediately approached Milim with a broad smile. "Congratulations, Lord Milim. You are the first customer to visit our store since it opened, so you may choose any one of the animals here and take it with you."

"Really?" Milim's eyes sparkled with delight.

The owner nodded with a smile.

"You're such a good person, Boss." Milim patted the owner's back excitedly and laughed happily.

Milim was happy, but the owner's face turned red from the blows, and he nearly lost consciousness.

Milim then went to the little rabbit she had already picked out. She took the struggling rabbit from its cage and held it high in the air.

"Boss, I want this one."

"Of course, Lord Milim." After seeing Milim out of the Pet Shop, the owner watched her departing figure with a kindly look in his eyes.

"To meet Lord Milim on the very first day of opening, I'm really lucky!" As Milim left, the surrounding residents also began entering the Pet Shop.

During the time since Many Countries had been established, all its people had come to know Milim. After all, the nation's emblem had been designed after Milim's portrait.

At first, the people of Many Countries had been somewhat afraid, worried that Milim would be as tyrannical as the nobles of old. But after spending time with her, everyone learned that Milim was merely a little childish and very easy to get along with.

Over time, most of the people of Many Countries came to like Milim, who could protect Many Countries while also getting along wonderfully with ordinary people!

Milim had also become a kind of trademark. Stores she had visited were often given priority by the other people of Many Countries.

Milim held the rabbit in one hand and a newly bought Roasted Rabbit Leg in the other. The rabbit in her arms trembled as it looked at the terrifying human before it.

Both Milim's powerful aura and the Roasted Rabbit Leg in her hand filled the rabbit with fear.

As she walked, Milim suddenly spotted a familiar figure. Her eyes lit up, and she headed straight toward him.

Roger had just stepped out of the Hot Spring Inn. Stretching lazily, he kept exclaiming, "So this is a hot spring! And they even have massages—this feels amazing!"

Rayleigh rubbed his waist, his face equally relaxed as he sighed. "That masseur was unbelievably strong. My bones feel like they've gone all soft."

A voice suddenly rang out.

"Yo, Roger."