The Mobile Den Den Mushi was lucky to have Charlotte Linlin's Soul-Soul Fruit power protecting it. Otherwise, it would have been shaken to pieces on the spot.
Ignoring Streusen, who was injured, she read Mother Carmel's instruction manual again. She couldn't even tell whether it was really Carmel's handwriting.
"Mobile Den Den Mushi? Mother Carmel is in there too. Don't reveal your identity just yet? Is this a game of hide-and-seek, or a guessing game? How fun!"
Charlotte Linlin immediately picked up the Mobile Den Den Mushi and studied the information on its little screen. But none of it interested her in the slightest.
Suddenly, another private message popped up.
[Carmel: Linlin, how have you been lately? Make sure to take good care of yourself!]
The towering Charlotte Linlin immediately split off a small piece of her soul and turned a pen into a Homie. Then she used it to type out a reply on the screen.
[Number 43: Sister, are you all right? Where are you now? I miss you so much!]
[Carmel: I'm on an isolated island, rebuilding Lamb House. You don't need to come looking for me for now, because the currents here only complete a cycle once every ten years. Promise me you'll take good care of yourself until I get out.]
[Number 43: Sister, you're just as kind as ever. I'll wait for you and the others!]
[Carmel: Whatever you do, don't let anyone kill the Mobile Den Den Mushi. Anyone who says something like that must never be allowed near it again. Otherwise, we won't be able to talk until ten years from now!]
[Number 43: Sister, I'll protect the Den Den Mushi. I won't let anyone hurt it! You have to talk to me every day from now on, okay? I'll miss you!]
[Carmel: I have to go take care of the other children now. You take good care of yourself.]
[Number 43: Okay, Sister. Go ahead!]
The Mobile Den Den Mushi's screen went dark. Charlotte Linlin's first thought was to find some leaves from Treasure Wood Adam to feed the delicate creature.
Streusen finally came running back, blood still running from the corner of his mouth. The moment he saw Linlin, he put on a smile and warmly asked whether she had finished talking with Carmel. Inside, though, he was furious. Someone was about to steal his tool away from him. Linlin was the most powerful tool he had for conquering the seas.
"Hmph." Charlotte Linlin glanced at Streusen. She wasn't about to be nice to someone who had dared to hurt the Mobile Den Den Mushi.
"Linlin, it was my fault. I was just worried you'd be tricked. Let's go find Mother Carmel together."
I have to expose this bastard's ill intentions.
"No need. I'll talk it over with Sister. For now, let's go find Treasure Wood Adam!"
"Linlin, are you planning to build a ship out of Treasure Wood Adam? You're finally done looking for Sister? Are you going to set sail and become a pirate for real?"
Streusen asked excitedly. He was already sick of this life of running around looking for people. Linlin was so strong; she should be conquering territory and becoming an overlord!
"I said we're going to find Treasure Wood Adam!"
Charlotte Linlin stared at Streusen, making him gulp. He hurried to lead the way and find out where they could get information.
Brook had also finished his private chat with Charlotte Linlin. It had been exhausting, especially having to pretend to be other people.
Today, something strange happened aboard the Lion-Man Pirates' ship. A Seagull News Bird had delivered a gift directly to one of the officers, Edward Newgate. The captain and the other officers all looked at Newgate strangely.
Could he be a World Government spy? The thought made Newgate grit his teeth in anger. He opened the box in front of everyone.
'For Edward Newgate, from your family on Sphinx.'
Newgate, now twenty-two, stared at the words with mixed feelings. Suddenly, he didn't want the others to see what was inside.
Bracing himself, he opened the box. Inside was a Den Den Mushi, some leaves, and an instruction manual.
Everyone exchanged glances. Could it be a spy's Den Den Mushi?
Only after Newgate repeatedly swore to the heavens did everyone finally put their curiosity aside. He then began reading the manual.
A strong man favored by the times? Don't reveal your identity? He also saw instructions on how to use the Den Den Mushi and what it needed to eat.
He picked up the little screen and scrolled through the history. He learned some shocking things, and decided he couldn't let the crew know about these secrets.
But what puzzled him most was who this family from Sphinx was. Did he still have family back in his hometown?
"Captain, Newgate keeps getting stronger. Even you can't handle him anymore! And now a News Coo has mysteriously delivered a Den Den Mushi from his family. We have to be on our guard!"
One of the officers said this to the captain, Lion-Man Ryan, his eyes full of resentment and envy.
A few weeks ago, Newgate had been lucky enough to eat a Devil Fruit. At first, it had seemed like a useless fruit that only let him make his fists tremble, and everyone had laughed at him. But now he could shatter enormous rocks with ease, and his strength was closing in on that of the captain, who had eaten the Lion-Lion Fruit.
Lion-Man Ryan looked at the officer who had followed him for several years, his expression complicated. He was brave in battle and had no interest in money, so many pirates had come to think of him as a weirdo. What kind of pirate didn't like treasure?
When a crew member's strength began to surpass the captain's, everything changed. Even if Newgate had no intention of betraying him, Ryan couldn't help becoming wary.
Better safe than sorry.
"Newgate, have you ever thought about setting out on your own?"
Lion-Man Ryan cautiously asked what Newgate was thinking, trying to see whether he really intended to strike out on his own. If he did, Ryan would let him go, so Newgate wouldn't kill him and take his position later. That was the cruelty of pirate crews in the New World.
If a captain wasn't strong enough, he'd better step down or send the crew member off to fend for himself. Of course, some captains chose to kill the threat before it grew too strong.
"Captain, what do you mean? Are you questioning my loyalty?"
Edward Newgate retorted, growing annoyed. He always charged into battle first and never asked for much treasure. Now it was just a Den Den Mushi. Was there really any need to test him like this?
Newgate was still a bit simple and honest. The Mobile Den Den Mushi was only the trigger; it was his steadily growing strength that made Captain Ryan wary.
"How could I? Newgate, I was only worried you wouldn't be able to fulfill your dreams. Haha!" Lion-Man Ryan said with an awkward laugh.
Newgate walked off in frustration. Noticing that the Mobile Den Den Mushi's screen was still lit, he picked it up, but didn't know what to write. He had no idea who the family from Sphinx was, and he couldn't reveal his identity.
[Number 50: Hello, is it strange for a pirate not to like treasure?]
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