Boom!
Black lightning, like a roaring giant python, tore through the sky and finally struck down fiercely upon a ship filled with elderly people.
The wooden hull vanished within the black lightning. With its keel snapped, the ship, carrying Liji and his crew, was swiftly swallowed by the churning waves and sank into the icy depths of the sea.
On the deck of the st. freya, Charlotte Linlin had just withdrawn her slender hand from her nodachi, her gaze shifting to Lilith, who was nearby flipping through a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
"Captain!"
At that moment, Mia walked over, carrying a struggling little girl in her hand. There was a distinct dark bruise-like mark on the girl's neck.
"Let go of me! Let go of me! I can walk on my own!" The little girl, like an annoyed wildcat, twisted and struggled with all her might, but she was completely unable to escape the large hand that held her fate from behind.
Mia reported helplessly, "Captain, while we were taking inventory of the supplies, we found her in a crate brought up from the port. I don't know when she managed to sneak in."
The finances and material reserves of the Heavenly Calamity Pirates had always been managed by the meticulous and cautious Mia; such an oversight left her feeling somewhat frustrated.
"Oh?" Charlotte Linlin raised an eyebrow with interest, lifting the little girl into her palm and examining her closely, as if observing a figurine.
Standing in Charlotte Linlin's palm, the little girl was clearly panicked, as if seeing someone of Charlotte Linlin's massive size for the first time. Her eyes held obvious fear, yet she still tried to look up to see the face of the person before her.
"Someone actually isn't afraid of pirates and dared to sneak onto the ship? Little girl, you've got quite a lot of nerve, don't you?" Charlotte Linlin's voice held a hint of amusement.
Looking closer, Charlotte Linlin noticed that the girl had messy, dark red short hair and a set of sharp teeth that were utterly mismatched with her youthful face. These were clearly not the features of an ordinary human child.
This appearance... looks a bit familiar? Is it that person? But the gender seems wrong?
Gazing at the wild little girl before her, a trace of familiar doubt rose in Charlotte Linlin's heart.
"Little girl, what's your name? Why did you sneak onto our ship? What are you trying to do?" she asked, her voice carrying an air of scrutiny.
"Kuri! My name is Kuri!" The little girl seemed to suppress the fear in her heart as she looked up to meet Charlotte Linlin's gaze, her eyes stubborn and determined.
"I want to join you! I want to be a pirate!"
Kuri? It couldn't really be "him," could it? But considering that things like souls do exist in this world, such a change wasn't entirely impossible.
But being born so early and even changing gender... could it be the influence of my butterfly wings flapping?
Upon hearing the name "Kuri," Charlotte Linlin's suspicions became a bit more certain.
Beside her, Mia advised gently, "Little girl, being a pirate isn't a game; it's very dangerous. You should go home and find your parents."
"I don't have parents anymore!" Kuri's small face was instantly shrouded in sadness and hatred, her sharp teeth clenched tight.
"They were all... all killed by those loathsome pirates! I want to get stronger! I want revenge! Since you didn't kill those people, then I'll wait until I'm strong enough and slaughter them myself!"
She didn't know that the Liji Pirates had already been sent to the bottom of the sea by Charlotte Linlin; she only assumed that the Heavenly Calamity Pirates had let them go for some reason, which she perceived as some sort of unwritten "rule" among pirates.
"Then wouldn't joining the Marines be better?" Charlotte Linlin countered.
"They're too weak, a bunch of guys who only care about seeking pleasure!" Kuri retorted excitedly, but then she seemed to think of Captain Scott, who had fought to the death to protect civilians. Her tone softened slightly as she added,
"Although... there are plenty of good people among them. But they won't teach me real skills because I'm a girl! They'd only send me to logistics or just kick me out!"
"Ma~! Interesting, truly interesting!"
Perhaps this is fate, Charlotte Linlin thought to herself, looking at the tiny figure in her palm whose eyes burned with the flames of revenge and unyielding will.
"Since you have such resolve and hatred, then fine! From today on, you shall be my child!"
"Wh... What! You bastard!"
Kuri was stunned for a moment, then roared at Charlotte Linlin in anger, thinking the other was mocking her.
She had overcome her inner fear and spoken with the resolve of being killed! If you won't take me in, then don't! Why must this person play such a cruel joke!
"What! Captain Linlin is taking in a child!" These were the surprised cries of other nearby Crew members upon hearing this.
"What!" Gloriosa, also looking surprised, seemed to think of something. A glint of cunning flashed in her eyes, and she immediately leaped lightly into Charlotte Linlin's palm.
A gentle smile appeared on her beautiful face as she looked at Kuri, reaching out to softly stroke her dark red short hair, speaking in a coaxing tone:
"Good child, hurry and call me 'Mama'."
Seeing the reactions of the people around her, which didn't seem like they were joking, Kuri finally realized that Charlotte Linlin's previous words weren't a mockery, but that she truly intended to take her in.
But... her parents had just died a tragic death, and she was single-mindedly focused on avenging them. How could she so easily accept a strange pirate as her mother!
At this moment, Gloriosa quietly leaned into Kuri's ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Remember that loud clap of thunder from before? That was the sound of Linlin using her ability to sink that pirate ship. Liji and the others are already at the bottom of the sea.
She just didn't want us to see a scene that was too cruel, so she dealt with them quietly. Your revenge has already been taken by Linlin. So, hurry up and call her 'Mama'!"
Gloriosa winked suggestively, hoping Kuri would understand her "good intentions." However, Kuri, immersed in her own thoughts, didn't notice Gloriosa's little scheme to obtain the title of "Mama."
My revenge... has it already been taken?
Kuri's little head processed this information. If that was truly the case... then calling someone "Mama" didn't seem... entirely unacceptable?
She looked up, gazing at Charlotte Linlin, and tentatively called out, "Ma... ma?"
Hearing this, several black lines instantly appeared on Charlotte Linlin's forehead. She did want to take in this child, but what she wanted to be was the "Papa"! After all, she was a man before she transmigrated!
Gloriosa was also instantly covered in black lines. She clearly wanted Kuri to call her, Gloriosa, "Mama"! That way, wouldn't she and Linlin become a couple!
"Call me Papa!"
With a head full of black lines, Charlotte Linlin corrected her in a tone that brooked no argument, while simultaneously shooting a fierce glare at Gloriosa.
Having been glared at by Charlotte Linlin, Gloriosa shrunk her neck guiltily and, pouting, hopped onto Charlotte Linlin's broad shoulder, attempting to use cuteness to gloss it over.
"Eh?" Countless question marks seemed to pop up over Kuri's little head. She looked at Charlotte Linlin in confusion and asked timidly:
"Bu... But aren't you a girl?"
"What? A woman can't be your Papa?" Charlotte Linlin narrowed her eyes, a dangerous expression appearing on her face that said, "I dare you to say no."
"Y-You can." Kuri shrank back, frightened by Charlotte Linlin's appearance, and answered in a small voice.
"So..." Charlotte Linlin's expression remained unchanged as she continued to stare at her.
"otousan!" Seemingly sensing some invisible mortal threat, Kuri immediately straightened her small body and shouted out with all her strength, loud and firm.
The dangerous expression on Charlotte Linlin's face softened. She extended the index finger of her other hand and gently stroked Kuri's dark red short hair, her tone mild:
"Mhm, good. My good so... daughter."
I almost said it wrong; I subconsciously treated this little one as Katakuri.
Charlotte Linlin silently corrected herself in her heart.
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