At the news, Lina's eyes instantly reddened, and tears spilled uncontrollably down her face like a raging flood bursting through a dam.
Her body trembled slightly, but she soon drew a deep breath and tried hard to steady her emotions.
Holding back the grief surging within her, her gaze filled with complicated emotions, she slowly revealed the truth she had hidden for years to the somewhat bewildered Lilith:
"Lilith, I'm so sorry. Your mother was actually my older sister, Lia."
Lilith froze for a moment, but soon regained her composure.
She waited quietly for Lina to continue.
"Back then, after your mother Lia married Yabo, she happily gave birth to you.
"When you were three, filled with boundless longing for the outside world, they decided to leave Zou and go adventuring on the vast sea.
"I was only sixteen then. Because your mother and I looked exactly alike, as though we'd been cast from the same mold.
"And I really couldn't bear to see you crying so sadly, your little face covered in tears, so I told you I was your mother."
Lilith listened quietly, showing little surprise on her face.
Years of arduous training had made her will unshakable and her heart as strong as steel.
Besides, deep down, she had long had an inkling of the truth, but had never found the courage to confirm it.
Now, that gentle figure from her memories surfaced unbidden in her mind. Her mother Lia's warm smile and soft words seemed to be right before her.
Tears silently spilled beyond her control, sliding down her beautiful face and dripping onto the ground.
Yabo looked at Lilith with profound guilt, his eyes filled with self-reproach and regret.
He spoke weakly. "Lilith, I'm sorry. I failed to protect your mother and let her suffer so much. I couldn't stay by your side and watch you grow up, either."
Then he slowly turned to Lina, his eyes full of gratitude:
"Lina, thank you so much for all these years. You took care of Lilith and gave her warmth and love."
"How did you end up like this? And how did my sister die?" Lina asked again, holding back her grief, her voice trembling slightly.
Yabo gently closed his eyes, as though he had returned to those painful memories he could not bear to revisit.
Pain crossed his face as he slowly said:
"In the second year after Lia, our other companions, and I set sail, we encountered those devilish Celestial Dragons in a calm stretch of sea.
"That vile bastard saw us members of the Mink Tribe as playthings he could enslave at will. He wanted to make us his slaves.
"How could we possibly submit? We fought back, but we were outnumbered and captured by CP0.
"They took us to Mary Geoise on the Red Line, that place steeped in darkness and evil.
"There, we endured endless torture. Our bodies and minds were left utterly ravaged.
"Lia... those demons cruelly tortured her to death."
Yabo's voice carried deep hatred and pain. Every word seemed forced through clenched teeth, filled with fury toward the Celestial Dragons.
"I managed to escape this time while I was at the Sabaody Archipelago.
"For some reason, a sudden burst of Conqueror's Haki knocked out the Celestial Dragon who enslaved me and all his men.
"He was riding me at the time, treating me as his mount. Without hesitation, I seized the chance to kill him, then jumped into the sea and fled, heedless of everything else.
"I drifted at sea for who knows how long, weathering countless storms and dangers, before I finally returned to Zou."
Lilith had not spoken. She simply stood quietly, her body trembling slightly.
But Kakarot clearly sensed that her aura had turned extraordinarily cold. Flames of hatred filled her eyes, as though they would burn the entire world to ashes, and intense killing intent radiated from her.
Kakarot's expression darkened, his gaze cold and fierce.
The moment he heard the words "Celestial Dragons," Kakarot thought of those beasts who did nothing fit for human beings.
Lina made no attempt to hide her anger. Her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
She said through gritted teeth, "They'd better not give me a chance, or I'll definitely kill a few Celestial Dragons to avenge my sister and Yabo!"
"The World Government is very powerful. Don't act rashly.
"And I don't know whether any World Government agents followed me and found Zou.
"You must tell Lord Mao Changrong to be especially careful for the time being!" Yabo urged, using the last of his strength.
"Lilith, Daddy loves you! Lina, I'm sorry I didn't take good care of your sister!
"I hope you won't seek revenge. I only want you to live well!"
After saying those words, Yabo slowly closed his eyes, and the signs of life gradually faded from his body.
The clinic instantly fell deathly silent, as though time itself had frozen.
Then Lina's and Lilith's anguished sobs echoed through the room, filled with grief, anger, and reluctance to let go.
Lilith's eyes were red, her face streaked with tears. With all her strength, she hugged Kakarot tightly, her body shaking violently as she wept and let out muffled sobs.
Kakarot's heart ached for her. He gently placed his hand on her back to comfort her.
"Brother..." Lilith lifted her tearstained face, fury and hatred mingling in her eyes. Her voice trembled with boundless sorrow.
"The Celestial Dragons killed both my mom and dad. I never even got to really talk to them..." At that, her sobs choked off her words, her breathing rapid and uneven.
Lilith clutched Kakarot's arm, her nails nearly digging into his skin, and shouted herself hoarse:
"Brother, I want revenge! I'll make those Celestial Dragons pay in blood! I can't let Mom and Dad die for nothing..."
Kakarot hugged Lilith tightly in return, his voice low and firm. "Lilith, I'm here. Those Celestial Dragons have committed countless atrocities. They'll pay for what they've done.
"I'll be with you. We'll avenge your mom and dad!"
Lilith buried her head in Kakarot's chest, her sobs gradually growing quieter,
but her body still trembled slightly, as though only in Kakarot's embrace could she find a trace of security.
Kakarot looked at Lina, who had collapsed onto the floor, utterly grief-stricken, and reached out to gather her into his arms.
His voice was heavy but firm. "Aunt Lina, from now on, you can all depend on me. I'll always protect you!"
Feeling the two women sobbing helplessly in his arms, Kakarot's heart ached, and his anger toward the Celestial Dragons reached its limit.
After a long while, everyone held back their grief and prepared Yabo's body.
Once the funeral arrangements were taken care of, Kakarot told Mao Changrong of the possibility that the World Government might attack.
Upon hearing this, Mao Changrong's expression instantly grew grave. A trace of worry appeared in his eyes. Knowing full well the World Government's methods and ruthlessness, he dared not delay.
He immediately gathered the members of the Guard Corps and ordered everyone to heighten their vigilance and strengthen their patrols.
Tension filled Zou. Members of the Guard Corps darted through the forest like cheetahs, their sharp eyes watching their surroundings warily.
Meanwhile, on the sea not far from Zou, a small boat sailed silently along.
The sea breeze blew over the sparkling water, but the atmosphere aboard the boat was suffocatingly oppressive.
An agent spoke quietly into a Den Den Mushi. "Reporting, sir. I followed that escaped slave and found a giant elephant!"
Silence came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi, as though whoever was there was considering something. Then a cold voice spoke:
"The Mink Tribe lives on top of that giant elephant. Keep following it, and make absolutely sure you aren't discovered. We'll gather our forces and head over now."
"Understood!"
The agent gave a brief reply and hung up, his eyes fixed on the distant giant elephant like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness, ready to launch a deadly strike at any moment.
On the Red Line, at CP0 headquarters, the deputy chief of CP0 was livid with rage inside a lavish yet sinister room.
He paced back and forth, fists clenched, his face filled with anger. Through gritted teeth, he muttered to himself:
That damned Mink Tribe slave actually dared to kill a great Celestial Dragon. Someone so wicked must be destroyed!
With that, he abruptly activated his Den Den Mushi and roared into the receiver, "Immediately deploy ten elite CP0 agents, fifty regular CP0 members, and five hundred other agents! Set out at once!"
A grim, battle-ready response came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi. The deputy chief angrily hung up, bloodlust gleaming in his eyes, as though he could already see Zou's destruction.
A crisis was quietly closing in on Zou, while the island's people silently prepared for the coming battle.
Before you continue