Charlotte Linlin Wants to Have Children?

Brook hadn't expected Redfield to come back after being away for a while with not only several remote little Sky Islands under his control, but also a whole group of meteorologists!

This was perfect. They could help improve the new ship's ability to float, while Shakky could learn their techniques for controlling the climate and understanding the weather.

But those old meteorologists were a stubborn bunch. They'd yield to force, not persuasion, and had nearly fought Brook and the others to the death. In the end, they'd reached a compromise.

They demanded that they be released once they'd finished helping with this task. Brook, in turn, required them to fly Sky Kingdom's flag and become one of its affiliated powers. He wouldn't interfere with them, though, and would provide them with suitable cooperation and resources.

Under Redfield's thunderous glare, the meteorologists had no choice but to accept Brook's terms. They planned to stay away for decades once they left Sky Kingdom!

But when Brook asked if they knew how to make Vivre Cards, the old men had just shaken their heads and whistled. They couldn't even lie convincingly. In the end, Brook had gotten the Vivre Cards out of them through a mix of threats and bribes. Now they wouldn't be able to escape, no matter how hard they tried!

While Fish-Man Tom built the new ship and Redfield searched for other Sky Islands, the message Brook received on his Mobile Den Den Mushi made him a little anxious.

From Brook's conversations with Charlotte Linlin while pretending to be Carmel, he learned that Streusen had recently been egging Linlin on to pursue her dream of building Totto Land and having children from every race.

What was more, Streusen had even suggested that he and Linlin have their first child, taking "the hardest first step." He was trying to deceive the innocent, naive girl who had power but little else!

Streusen had witnessed the terrifying things six-year-old Linlin had done at Lamb House with his own eyes. He'd decided she had great potential, so he teamed up with her to form a pirate crew.

Streusen was forty years old this year. Watching Linlin grow taller and slimmer, even this old man had found himself feeling a little tempted.

He'd raised Linlin from the age of six to sixteen, and now someone was trying to take her away from him. That was simply intolerable. And with Linlin's terrifying Iron Balloon physique, surely her children would be strong too!

Then he would be the first man to take the plunge and make Linlin give birth to his strongest eldest son!

Brook hurried back to his room and took out his Mobile Den Den Mushi. Pretending to be Carmel, he decided to give Charlotte Linlin a good talking-to.

[Carmel: Linlin, whatever you do, don't have a child with a weak man like Streusen!]

[No. 43: Sister, why not? Streusen and I have been together for ten years. It's time for me to take the difficult first step!]

[Carmel: Linlin, Streusen is short and isn't from a special race. Any child you have with him won't be strong! And I won't let you talk about having children again before you're eighteen. Do you hear me?!]

[No. 43: Sister, don't be angry. I'll just reject Streusen. I'll wait until I'm eighteen, then find a strong race and have a child!]

Brook saw that Charlotte Linlin still hadn't given up on having children with every race and building a dream world where all races could coexist.

[Carmel: Linlin, instead of wasting time having children with every race, why not have a child with someone powerful, then adopt outstanding children from every race?]

[No. 43: Sister, but I want all the children to be related by blood, so they can live together as one family!]

[Carmel: Linlin, your family is out there. He's part of Lamb House's family, and he's the only member of the Yomi Oni Race. He's a man who came back from the dead. Go join his big family. That way, I can rest easy!]

[No. 43: Sister, what's wrong? You don't want me anymore? No! I'll definitely do as you say!]

[Carmel: Linlin, I'm ninety this year. I don't have many years left. I only want you to join the Hell Pirates and protect the only member of the Yomi Oni Race. Support Brook, and help me fulfill this dream!]

Brook fought back his embarrassment as he deceived the naive Charlotte Linlin!

[No. 43: Sister, I'll definitely fulfill your dream. I'll go find the Hell Pirates right away and join them. Together, we'll build a new family!!]

[Carmel: Linlin, what a good girl! One last thing: don't listen to Streusen's nonsense!]

[No. 43: Sister, I understand!]

Worried that the truth might come out someday, Brook removed Charlotte Linlin from the chat group. The group had too many loopholes now and didn't offer much benefit. It was just a waste of his time, since he was always pretending to be a mysterious spirit in there. Brook was beginning to consider shutting it down for good.

He'd better go trick Edward Newgate into joining first. That man was longing for a family, after all.

As for the Lion-Man Pirates, Edward Newgate had been having a rough time lately. He'd completely surpassed Captain Ryan in strength.

That had made the captain and another officer wary of him. A few of the younger crew members had even urged him to take Ryan out and become captain himself. They only recognized the strongest person!

Watching those so-called "partners" grow more distant by the day had worn Newgate down. Fortunately, there was still someone on his Mobile Den Den Mushi who occasionally kept him company and chatted with him!

[No. 2: So, have you decided to leave the Lion-Man Pirates and join the pirate crew you're destined for? The huge Golden Ship is about to come pick you up!]

[No. 50: A Golden Ship? You're joking, right? I've only heard of the Golden Lion's Flying Pirate Crew. Could it be him???]

[No. 2: It isn't! Do you want to know who it is now?]

[No. 50: Tell me. I really do want to know now. I can't stay here any longer!]

[No. 2: The Hell Pirates. Go find them, heading toward the Grand Line. You'll run into them!]

[No. 50: I think I've seen a wanted poster for that crew!]

Edward Newgate began rummaging through his cabin, and found Brook's wanted poster: 200 million Beli, former musician of the Rumbar Pirates.

The atmosphere aboard that pirate crew seemed like it might suit him. Was Brook still the man who'd gone to sea for the sake of music?

[No. 2: Your place has been found! You will now be removed from the chat group.]

[No. 50: So that's how it is? I won't be able to chat with No. 36 and No. 55 anymore!]

[No. 2: May you find your family, and the love of your family far away.]

There went another one. It really paid to do this while he was young and unknown.

Sure enough, Edward Newgate then said farewell to his captain, Ryan. Ryan even thoughtfully prepared some Beli and treasure to cover his travel expenses.