Charlotte Bus Linlin

Ares was sandwiched between Whitebeard and Golden Lion, the three of them strolling along like close brothers with their arms draped over each other's shoulders.

They walked farther and farther away.

Heading toward the direction of Skull Castle.

In the town.

A group of pirates exchanged bewildered glances, as if they had witnessed something utterly unbelievable.

Once they were out of earshot.

An eruption of heated discussion and exclamations broke out.

"Who the hell is that guy? How does he look like brothers with Whitebeard and Golden Lion??"

"Hey hey, is that Ares kid really that strong? Even Whitebeard's punch only sobered him up?!"

"Whitebeard's punch—not many can take that. How is that guy acting like nothing happened?"

"That guy's a rookie who just joined the Rocks Pirates a few days ago, and Captain Rocks personally made him a full-fledged crew member. He's terrifyingly tough!!"

"A rookie?! A rookie this tough?!"

"········"

Countless eyes followed Ares's retreating back with envy. The treatment of a full-fledged Rocks Pirates crew member was no ordinary thing.

And on top of that, he was someone Whitebeard and Golden Lion held in such high regard.

His future was boundless!

"No matter what, I'm getting that guy!" Charlotte Linlin's eyes blazed with unwavering determination.

But right now, with Golden Lion and Whitebeard both there, she couldn't do a thing about those two.

And all the Rocks Pirates officers were around too.

She looked down at Streusen by her feet, licked her lips excitedly, and asked, "Streusen, any way to get that Ares kid to join my Division?"

Those burning, hungry eyes were ten times, a hundred times more intense than when she spotted delicious food!

Streusen, who knew Linlin well, understood exactly what that meant. Cold sweat beaded on his temples as he said, "That guy's a bit strong—even Whitebeard's punch only sobered him up."

"And his growth rate is terrifying. To get him into our Division..."

"We'd have to target his dream. Didn't we find out from those villagers before? That kid's got some screws loose mentally."

"He's obsessed with forging himself into a Famous Sword. Maybe we can work from that angle."

This Ares kid's strength was advancing too fast. In three to five years at most, he'd probably become a captain-level figure in the Rocks Pirates.

Truly frightening.

By then, Ares would barely be an adult.

A monster like that had too much room to grow and too much potential—he might even become a legend like Captain Rocks.

"Good!"

Charlotte Linlin's expression lit up with excitement. She lowered her head, her pupils contracting like a demon's as she stared hard at Streusen. "Think of a good plan. I have to make that Ares guy mine!"

Having seen Ares in a different state today—that red-hot, steaming arm—she couldn't help but think of something that could freely stretch and swell.

Under Charlotte Linlin's terrifying gaze, Streusen's face instantly broke out in cold sweat, and his voice trembled as he answered, "Got it..."

That feeling—it was like Linlin was about to rip away his soul and lifespan.

A shudder that came from the very core of his being.

Only when Linlin withdrew her gaze and lifted her head did that fear fade, letting Streusen breathe a silent sigh of relief inside.

He raised a hand to wipe his sweat.

Then followed behind Linlin as she left the place.

Meanwhile, Kaido in the distance suffered another crushing blow to his heart, and his once-steadfast conviction began to waver inside him.

A haze of confusion settled over his mind: "Ares... how did he suddenly get so strong? Whitebeard's punch only sobered him up."

"Is his talent really like Linlin's—something others can only envy?"

Linlin's talent was unmatched. That terrifying body of hers was something others could never hope to reach—it was utterly despairing!!

He had followed the Rocks Pirates through many operations, but so far, no one had ever broken through Linlin's physical defenses.

Kaido's face darkened as he turned and walked away.

He knew he had to seize every single second to train!

To make himself stronger, so he could catch up to Ares's pace, or even surpass him, and reclaim the face he had lost!

After he had trudged a hundred meters in gloomy silence, a figure as tall as Kaido himself blocked his path.

Charlotte Linlin's eyes were clouded with lust as she looked at Kaido and said, "You want to become stronger? Then satisfy me first, and I'll have someone help you grow stronger!"

"Otherwise, you'll never catch up to that Ares guy!"

The fire of desire was burning her up inside, and Linlin couldn't hold back anymore. Since she couldn't go for Ares, Kaido would have to do.

Hearing Linlin's words, Kaido's face darkened. He had once tried to be with Linlin before.

But later he found out.

This woman was a somewhat picky "prostitute"—in cruder terms, a "public bus."

At the time, Linlin even had a child in her belly.

It was just that, unlike others, Linlin's body was so massive that there was no visible sign of pregnancy at all.

From then on, he reduced his dealings with Linlin; it disgusted him.

Kaido fell silent.

The other party was a captain on the Rocks Pirates, with strength far surpassing his own.

Refuse?

Or agree, letting his power grow rapidly?

On the other side, Whitebeard and Shiki the Golden Lion had launched into a full-on shouting match.

It was practically shattering Ares' worldview.

How could these two still be on the same pirate ship?

Would there come a day when they actually clashed and came to blows?

All these years, he had lived alone, and he simply couldn't understand why these two could still stay on the same ship.

At that moment.

Ares stopped pondering that question and instead asked Shiki, "Shiki, you promised before that you'd tell me what Armament Haki is."

"Can you tell me now?"

His words immediately made the quarreling Shiki and Whitebeard fall silent in tacit agreement.

Shiki the Golden Lion spoke up, "Armament Haki is a way of using the body's strength; its effect is even more useful than armor."

"It can also be turned into an attack method, and it can even touch Logia-type Devil Fruit users!"

"You can think of it as a special kind of energy, one hidden within the body that needs to be brought out through special techniques."

"And the two most common uses of Armament Haki are hardening and emission!"

As if remembering something, he quickly added, "Oh right, I told you before."

"Using Armament Haki, a swordsman can temper his blade into a Black Blade!"

After hearing Shiki's words, Ares' mind was filled with countless questions, but he asked first, "Black Blade?!"

"I've only heard of Supreme Great Swords, Great Swords, and Skillful Swords; I've never heard of what a Black Blade is."

"What kind of blade is a Black Blade?"