Charlotte Linlin Joins

Streusen, the mastermind behind this, was being brutally beaten by a visibly annoyed Houka and Golden Lion Shiki.

It was this little runt who had been egging Charlotte Linlin on to run away!

"Do you submit or not?!"

"Or do you want to play a game of Davy Back Fight!"

Rocks kicked Charlotte Linlin away, his violent Conqueror's Haki Infusion causing even this "Steel Balloon" to cough up mouthfuls of blood.

Charlotte Linlin was stunned; this was the first time since she had set sail that anyone had managed to break through her defenses.

But she still refused to yield!

Her goal was to find Mother Carmel again; how could she possibly join someone else's pirate crew?

Charlotte Linlin used her soul power to rapidly heal her injuries, then went mad as she clashed with Rocks once more.

Seeing that Charlotte Linlin was actually able to bounce back to full strength, Silver Axe Xiong immediately snatched the job from Rocks and erupted into a fierce battle with her.

Rocks was a bit displeased that Silver Axe Xiong had stolen his kill, but he decided to let the two of them fight it out first.

Silver Axe had seen Rocks easily crush Charlotte Linlin, but once he stepped into the fray, he realized just how terrifying this "Steel Balloon" truly was.

Even his Armament Haki-coated giant axe couldn't cut through Charlotte Linlin's defenses.

By now, Charlotte Linlin, thoroughly enraged by Rocks, had entered her most berserk state.

A terrifying, monstrous shriek laced with Conqueror's Haki dealt a direct auditory and mental damage buff to Silver Axe.

Even the immense strength Silver Axe prided himself on was being crushed by Charlotte Linlin.

In less than half an hour, Silver Axe was beaten into a state of critical injury by the frenzied Charlotte Linlin.

On paper, the gap between Charlotte Linlin, with her 500 million berry bounty, and Silver Axe Xiong, with his 400 million, wasn't that large.

But in terms of actual combat power, Charlotte Linlin was a cut above Silver Axe Xiong.

It was estimated that even the current Houka and Newgate wouldn't be able to suppress her.

Having not had her bounty updated in over a year, it wouldn't be a surprise if Charlotte Linlin's bounty were to hit 600 or 700 million.

"Disgraceful!"

Seeing Silver Axe unable to defeat a thirteen-year-old girl, Rocks spat on the ground and drew his blade to take over the fight.

With a single strike, he sent the rampaging Charlotte Linlin flying.

"We surrender! We'll join!"

As Rocks continued to brutally pummel Charlotte Linlin, Streusen, whose face was swollen and bruised from the beating he'd received from Houka and Shiki, finally reached his limit. Unable to withstand Houka's threats and torture any longer, he screamed frantically.

"Linlin! Stop, quickly!"

"We have information about Mother!"

Terrified of death, Streusen hurriedly stopped the berserk Charlotte Linlin.

He was even more afraid because Houka somehow knew a thing or two about Mother Carmel.

He didn't want Charlotte Linlin to be killed by Rocks, and he certainly didn't want to be slaughtered by Houka.

For now, they had no choice but to join the Rocks Pirates and figure out a way to escape later.

Sure enough, upon hearing Streusen's shout, Charlotte Linlin's red-rimmed eyes quickly calmed down.

Houka watched this scene, a meaningful glint flashing in his eyes.

Streusen had been traveling with Charlotte Linlin for six or seven years now; for Houka to replace him as the person she trusted most would be difficult.

But Houka had plenty of ways to make it happen!

If the Seven-Star Sword couldn't control these kings who possessed Conqueror's Haki, surely it could still influence a cook like Streusen!

Moreover, Houka had been developing techniques to transform subordinates using his Vampire Ability.

"Don't try to play any tricks on me!"

Houka drove the Seven-Star Sword into Streusen's shoulder, flashing a wicked smile.

"I won't! We won't! We are joining the Rocks Pirates with all our hearts!"

Streusen's face twisted in agony, and a faint, imperceptible red light flickered in his terrified eyes.

Driven by fear, Streusen would agree to whatever Houka and his crew demanded.

"Do you really have news about Mother?"

Charlotte Linlin looked toward Streusen and Houka with anticipation, ignoring even the dangerous Rocks.

"What is going on here!"

Rocks had wanted to give Charlotte Linlin another beating, but this guy Houka had finished off the little runt of a cook in a few moves, and then easily handled this "Steel Balloon."

"Damn it!!!"

Clutching his chest with blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, Silver Axe Xiong's eyes were filled with resentment beneath his cracked sunglasses.

How could there be so many monsters!

He was being surpassed bit by bit by that bastard Golden Lion Shiki, and now he couldn't even defeat a female pirate!

Heaven is unfair!

Newgate, Shiki, Charlotte Linlin—these monsters not only possessed heaven-defying talent, but were also lucky enough to obtain such powerful Devil Fruit abilities.

Why is it like this!

Why does the Goddess of Fate favor these guys so much!

Charlotte Linlin flew quickly to the side of Streusen and Houka, asking anxiously.

"Linlin, trust me, following them is the fastest way to find Mother Carmel!"

Streusen spoke while biting the bullet; he still dared not reveal the truth—that Mother Carmel and those orphans had long since been eaten by this monster, Charlotte Linlin.

"Really? But didn't you say before that we should avoid them, that they would stop us from searching for Mother Carmel?"

The moment Charlotte Linlin opened her mouth, she accidentally sold Streusen out.

In an instant, the gazes Rocks and Shiki directed at Streusen were filled with murderous intent.

These two guys had actually wasted so much of their time.

So they really had been avoiding them on purpose!

"That was only because I hadn't met them before; it's only now that I've discovered Vice-Captain Houka possesses the ability of prophecy."

Streusen immediately let out a dry laugh, looking at Houka with sycophancy, his eyes filled with a desperate thirst for life.

Now that he had offended ruthless men like Rocks, only Houka—this mysterious vice-captain who seemed to know certain secrets—could save him.

Moreover, he felt an instinctive sense that Houka could save him, so he immediately moved closer to him.

"You possess the ability of prophecy?"

Charlotte Linlin's eyes lit up, and the look she gave Houka held a hint of longing.

That meant she would soon be able to obtain information about Mother Carmel and find the nun and her companions.

"I can indeed prophesy certain information!"

"The more contact you have with me, the more information I can prophesy."

Houka looked at Charlotte Linlin's eager eyes and revealed a meaningful smile.

Streusen could never control this super-enforcer, so he would take over instead.

"Then I want to follow you!"

Charlotte Linlin spoke without hesitation; anyway, she and Streusen had just been running around and plundering everywhere, unable to obtain a single shred of information about Mother Carmel.

"Wahahahaha! It's not following Houka! It's joining the Rocks Pirates!"

Rocks raised an eyebrow. That little bastard Houka was truly cementing his position as the second-in-command of the Rocks Pirates, becoming a vice-captain in all but name.

Even though he still insisted there was no such position as vice-captain on the ship, the other executives had all tacitly accepted Houka as such.

Even Silver Axe, a guy who claimed to be unconvinced, was changing under his subtle influence.

"Joining is fine!"

Charlotte Linlin spoke indifferently. Once she found Mother Carmel, she would find a way to leave the Rocks Pirates.

In any case, her goal and dream were to find the nun and establish a Kingdom of All Races.