Linlin's Soul Hazard

Under Houka's Gravity Ability, Newgate also flew through the air, heading somewhere with Houka and Charlotte Linlin.

"Your abilities and Shiki's are really convenient."

Newgate eagerly copied Houka's sword-riding flight, trying to fly on his blade.

He stood on Murakumogiri's hilt, desperately maintaining his balance.

He had specifically asked Houka not to apply antigravity to him, only to Murakumogiri.

Still young, Whitebeard possessed none of the composure he would have in the future, retaining all the vigor of youth.

"Houka, Houka, when can you predict Sister Carmel's whereabouts?"

Charlotte Linlin stood atop Zeus, the thundercloud, following beside Houka like a guard.

These two future Emperors of the Sea were now the little giant guards at Houka's side.

"You'll know when you grow up."

Houka did not want to tell this simple-minded, chubby girl that cruel truth just yet.

Besides, it was still unknown whether Sister Carmel had used her Soul-Soul Fruit Ability to seize Charlotte Linlin's body.

Everything remained unknown!

In any case, the future Charlotte Linlin's personality and appearance would grow increasingly similar to Sister Carmel's, becoming cruel and tyrannical.

Yet after Charlotte Linlin lost her memories, she would return to her simple nature.

Before Charlotte Linlin, there had never been an example of one person directly inheriting another's Devil Fruit Ability.

Had Charlotte Linlin truly eaten Carmel by mistake during an Eating Disorder episode?

Or had Sister Carmel used a special technique of the Soul-Soul Fruit Ability to gradually replace this extraordinarily gifted Steel Balloon?

Houka needed to investigate all of this.

However, Houka had yet to obtain an ability related to souls.

So, for the time being, he could not determine whether Sister Carmel's soul was hiding within Linlin's soul.

Houka had already questioned Streusen, who had witnessed everything at the scene.

Streusen said that the frenzied Linlin had indeed swallowed everyone present, along with all the food, leaving the scene in complete chaos.

Only Sister Carmel had seemingly allowed herself to be eaten by Linlin, leaving behind a complete nun's habit.

Streusen said that Sister Carmel seemed to have transformed into her naked body, flown out of the nun's habit, and entered Charlotte Linlin's mouth.

That was why Streusen had been so wary of six-year-old Charlotte Linlin, not daring to approach her at all.

Houka suspected that Sister Carmel had used the Soul-Soul Fruit's power to enter Linlin's body.

Sister Carmel might truly not be dead!

After all, Prometheus, the sun created by Sister Carmel, had never dissipated and had continued following Linlin.

Prometheus the sun had a personality practically identical to Carmel's—treacherous and cunning.

Meanwhile, Zeus, the thundercloud created by Linlin herself, was fundamentally very kind.

Streusen had his own opinion as well. He believed Sister Carmel had underestimated the extraordinarily gifted monster that was Linlin.

Something seemed to have gone wrong with Carmel, and she was currently unable to completely replace Linlin.

However, Linlin's personality had already begun gradually changing toward Sister Carmel's.

Perhaps Sister Carmel's soul was already merging with Linlin's soul, until the two would eventually become indistinguishable.

Streusen had actually considered cooperating with Sister Carmel rather than simply with Linlin.

Houka had not expected Streusen to be so shrewd.

He seemed to have long seen through the true natures of both Sister Carmel and Charlotte Linlin.

He could cooperate with the cunning Carmel, and he could just as easily deceive the simple Linlin.

No matter which of them took control of that gifted steel body, Streusen could profit from and exploit her.

In short, Charlotte Linlin's current situation was that Linlin's soul still held the lead, while Sister Carmel was gradually eroding it and fighting for control.

"Grow up? But I'm already grown up!"

Charlotte Linlin looked at the small-statured Houka. Even Newgate was shorter than she was.

"When you can bear the pain of losing everything, you'll know."

Houka considered how he could completely resolve the problem of Sister Carmel.

If he completely erased Sister Carmel's soul, would Linlin's Soul-Soul Fruit Ability disappear as well?

Their souls seemed to have already become tangled together and fused.

This truly was a major problem.

"The pain of losing everything? Could it be... could it be..."

Charlotte Linlin seemed to realize something, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Could Sister and all the other companions already be dead?

She could not accept that outcome, and her aura showed signs of spiraling out of control.

Affected by Charlotte Linlin's emotions, Prometheus the sun changed from a yellow sphere into a blazing fireball.

Zeus the thundercloud also changed from white into an enraged black thundercloud.

"Calm down, Linlin! Sister Carmel isn't dead!!"

Houka hurriedly spoke up to stop Linlin before she lost control.

Sure enough, upon hearing Houka's words, the simple Charlotte Linlin immediately calmed down and revealed a delighted smile.

Prometheus the sun and Zeus the thundercloud both returned to normal.

"Really, Houka? That's wonderful! I knew Sister was all right."

Charlotte Linlin was overjoyed, while Houka had already made up his mind that he had to change this unstable bomb.

He would take Sister Carmel's place!

He refused to believe that, after Carmel and Linlin had only spent a year together, he could not replace Carmel's false affection.

"She must be all right. Look, wasn't the Prometheus she created perfectly fine?"

Houka continued soothing Charlotte Linlin.

At the side, Newgate noticed something suspicious amid Charlotte Linlin's unexplained frenzy and Houka's comforting words.

That flame beside Linlin was actually a creation of the previous ability user?

How was that possible?

Could the Soul-Soul Fruit Ability be so advanced that even creations made by its power could be inherited?

Or perhaps...

"That's right, Prometheus is fine, so Sister must be fine."

Charlotte Linlin instantly became convinced of this, believing that one day she would find Sister Carmel again.

"Then what did Houka mean when he said I needed to endure the pain of losing everything?"

Charlotte Linlin continued questioning him.

"Before she took you in, Sister Carmel had already adopted many orphans. She couldn't give up caring for all the other orphans just for you."

"Linlin, you're already a good child who can stand on her own. You don't need Sister Carmel to care for you anymore."

"Sister has to care for more orphans all over the world. Sister doesn't belong to you alone."

"You need to try accepting that Sister has disappeared, so she can care for other people without worry."

"That might mean losing Sister. Do you understand?"

Houka could only tell a kind lie to properly fool this emotionally unstable, chubby girl.

"So Sister is taking care of other orphans. No wonder she hasn't come back for me."

"I can already take care of myself. I'm a good child, but I still want to see Sister..."

After learning about Carmel, Charlotte Linlin's eyes were full of joy, but her mood gradually sank again.

Sister did not belong to her alone, but to everyone.