Charlotte Linlin sneered inwardly, a glimmer of interest flashing in her purple eyes behind her sunglasses.
"The person behind this move seems to have quite the status and influence."
First, they used the pitiful appearance of an old man to exploit the softness and guilt in Gölz's heart, leading her away.
Then, catering to her interests, they easily lured Ripley away with the dazzling array of specialty delicacies in Dressrosa.
Every step was calculated perfectly, with clear objectives and swift action.
If she truly were a defenseless 'princess' who only relied on her giant guards to show off her power, being surrounded by these gun-wielding outlaws right now would indeed make her lose her composure and beg for mercy in terror.
Such an organized, premeditated action, capable of mobilizing local personnel for precise coordination, was definitely not something ordinary thugs or small Pirate Crews could plan and execute.
Add to that the way the surrounding passersby avoided them, filled with unspoken anger but not daring to speak out... Charlotte Linlin was almost certain that the person behind the scenes must be a local power in Dressrosa, and very likely one of the truly powerful figures holding authority in this country.
Even if they weren't royalty, they were bound to be closely connected with the top elites within the kingdom.
"Hey! Are you scared witless? My 'Great' Princess!"
The leader, a man with a scarred face named Sark, had to crane his neck back to see Charlotte Linlin's face, which was obscured by sunglasses. His tone was rough and impatient.
However, as he got a closer look at her exquisite jawline, which even the sunglasses couldn't completely hide, and the stunning peaks and graceful curves outlined by her magnificent dress, he couldn't help but gasp. A flash of admiration and greed crossed his eyes.
"Hiss—up close, you woman really are... incredibly beautiful. This skin, this figure... Damn, I'm starting to not want to hand you over to that old fat pig."
"Shh—! Boss! Watch your words!"
A clever lackey nearby changed expression and quickly lowered his voice to dissuade him.
"If these words reach Duke Ditet's ears, we're all finished! And... Big Brother, your child is still in Butler Abbott's hands!"
"Tch!"
Sark looked like he had been doused with cold water. A look of heavy disgust and resentment flashed across his face as he spat fiercely.
"That old fat pig does indeed keep a good dog under him!"
He vented this frustration onto Charlotte Linlin, shouting viciously:
"Well, Great Princess? Are you back to your senses? It's time to come with us! Or else..."
He brandished the gleaming rifle in his hand, the muzzle glinting coldly in the sunlight, and threatened with a fierce expression.
"I don't mind blooming a few bright flowers on that beautiful body of yours first! Although Duke Ditet wants you intact, I'm sure he won't mind a few minor bleeding wounds!"
"Tsk~ What a hassle."
Charlotte Linlin clicked her tongue lazily, her tone so flat that not a hint of fear could be heard.
"Lead the way."
Beneath her sunglasses, her brow furrowed imperceptibly. Now was indeed not the best time to act.
First, she wanted to see for herself exactly which death-seeking fellow dared to target her. If she didn't leave him with some 'unforgettable' memories, she wouldn't feel satisfied when sleeping at night.
Second, if a conflict broke out on the street now and she had to kill her way through, the commotion would be significant and would inevitably alert the Marines stationed on the island.
Once entangled by them, she wasn't afraid, but there were still many Crew members scattered across various parts of the island for fun, and it would be difficult to gather and evacuate everyone in a hurry. Now was not the time for a full-scale confrontation with the Marines.
"Oho? As expected of a princess, you certainly know how to read the situation!"
Sark was somewhat surprised to see her so cooperative, but then he was annoyed by her overly calm attitude.
"I just don't like the way you talk! It's so cold, without any awareness of being a prisoner! If it weren't for that fat pig specifically asking for you to be intact, I'd definitely show you what it means to be a prisoner!"
He waved his hand while grumbling: "Take her away!"
A group of subordinates immediately stepped forward, surrounding and 'escorting' Charlotte Linlin in a certain direction.
This procession paraded through the streets, naturally attracting countless gazes. Among them were many young nobles who had previously tried to pursue Charlotte Linlin.
However, when they saw the unique family emblem on these thugs' clothes, their faces turned pale. They all lowered their heads, looked away, or hurried off, not a single one daring to step forward and ask a question.
In the crowd, the bruised and swollen Eros struggled to rush out, but was held tightly around the waist by his old butler.
"Young Master! Calm down! That's 'Scorpion' Sark! He's the one who handles dirty work under Duke Ditet!"
"The Scorpion mark on their clothes is a warning! Although the Master is also a noble, he can't afford to offend Duke Ditet at all! You're just going to your death if you go up there!"
"Damn it! Damn it!"
The young master watched as the noble and beautiful 'princess' of his heart was escorted away like cargo. His fists were clenched so tight they turned white, and his nails almost dug into his flesh, his heart screaming wildly.
"Princess! Wait for me! One day, when I have power, I will definitely rescue you from that den of monsters!" At this moment, a twisted motivation took root in his heart.
Sark, the leader, was long accustomed to such scenes. He snorted proudly and took out a transponder snail to dial a number.
"Purupurupuru... Click!"
The transponder snail mimicked a slightly aged voice.
"How is the matter proceeding?"
"The person is in hand, everything went smoothly," Sark reported, then raised a practical issue.
"Only, Butler Abbott, where should we take her?"
"Up close, I realized this 'princess' is about nine meters tall! I don't have a ready-made place to hold someone of that size here."
"Nine meters?" Butler Abbott on the other end of the transponder snail pondered for a moment.
"Hmm... Indeed, the place where we held that Oni woman before was a bit small."
"In that case, take her directly to the Colosseum and lock her in the cell next to the male Oni 'Kaku'."
"That place was designed to hold the Giant Race; it's strong enough and large enough."
"Understood." Sark hung up the phone and waved to his subordinates.
"Turn around, head towards the underground entrance of the Colosseum!"
Duke Ditet? Abbott? Colosseum?
Charlotte Linlin silently noted these keywords, her gaze sweeping over the transponder snail in Sark's hand.
It seemed these were the masterminds.
As the small unit moved forward, the crowds on both sides of the street moved aside, their gazes filled with resentment, sympathy, or schadenfreude, yet none dared to step forward to stop them.
In broad daylight, the powerful could kidnap others so brazenly. It seemed the so-called land of 'Love and Passion,' the so-called peace and harmony, was merely built on the compliance of the majority—a paradise for a few privileged individuals.
Seeing this scene, Charlotte Linlin thought to herself.
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