Kuma stood frozen in place, warm liquid uncontrollably welling up from his eyes.
Ever since his father died, he had endured the suffering of his race and the malice of the world alone; it had been too long, far too long, since he had felt the protection of someone standing in front of him.
This sudden, unprompted protection, coming from a legendary and notoriously fearsome Great Pirate, felt more real than any false pity.
"...Why?" he asked softly, his voice trembling.
Charlotte Linlin twisted her neck, making a crisp "crack" sound, pointed her nodachi at Saturn, and said without turning her head:
"Since when do I need so many reasons? When This lady does things, I do them because I want to. If I don't like what I see, I deal with it."
"I'm not the type to have grand dreams about saving the world or liberating the masses; that's too much trouble. But... protecting a kid's dream? That's something This lady is willing to do."
"However, This lady isn't helping for free. From today on, you brat are my'son'! Do you hear me?"
This was the main reason Charlotte Linlin had given up easily accessible treasure to rush over here and block Saturn.
Disliking an old man bullying a child was one thing, but more importantly, she recalled memories from before she transmigrated—
Kuma's "Paw-Paw Fruit" teleportation ability, Ginny's exceptional intelligence-gathering skills, and Ivankov's gender-bending ability... these three people all held significant value to her.
Compared to those inanimate treasures, living talents were the true treasure.
Especially that big-headed kid, Ivankov... although she felt the possibility of turning him into a man was low, she still wanted to try.
Besides, who said you could only turn women into men! Couldn't you turn men into women too? Like that purple-haired guy who was always too serious... Charlotte Linlin felt that the regret of Zephyr being a man could be resolved.
"What are you still standing there like a fool for? Go find your companions!" Charlotte Linlin waved her hand dismissively, shooing away the still-dazed Kuma.
"...Thank you!" Kuma took one last deep look at the tall, pink-clad back, as if to carve this moment of warmth and protection into his soul.
Immediately, he hesitated no longer. Enduring his pain, he turned and stumbled toward the direction where he had been separated from Ivankov.
Saturn watched this scene expressionlessly from beginning to end. Only after Kuma's figure disappeared into the fire and smoke did he refocus his gaze on Charlotte Linlin and speak slowly:
" 'Queen of Thunder', Charlotte Linlin. You are very special."
Without waiting for Linlin to respond, he continued, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry: "Where did you obtain the Devil Fruit ability you possess...?"
As the core of the World Government, which had held the reins of power for eight hundred years, they had records of most of the powerful Devil Fruits known to the world.
However, the ability Charlotte Linlin displayed, which combined the form of a "dragon," was not within their records.
This power gave him a feeling completely different from ordinary Devil Fruits; it was more special, more... difficult to define, just like a certain fruit they had been searching for all along.
"Who knows?" Charlotte Linlin shrugged nonchalantly, her massive Dragon Wings slightly retracting,
"Maybe it was in some dream, or maybe it grew legs itself and ran right in front of me."
Looking at Saturn opposite her, Charlotte Linlin temporarily extinguished the thought of attacking immediately.
The opponent also possessed an immortality ability. To truly kill him, she would likely need to use that final resort, "musou isshin," which consumed a massive amount of stamina.
But if she did that, her stamina would be nearly depleted. In the chaotic battlefield of God Valley right now, that was not a good situation.
Saturn seemed unbothered by Charlotte Linlin's evasion. His eyes, calm as an ancient well, stared at her as he made a proposal:
"With your strength and uniqueness, you are qualified to transcend the mundane. The World Government can grant you the status of 'World Nobles,' becoming a true member of the 'gods.' You would enjoy supreme privileges and the possibility of eternal life. How about it?"
Become a Celestial Dragon?
Charlotte Linlin didn't even have to think about it. Her face revealed undisguised disgust and mockery as she scoffed:
"Become that kind of disgusting scum? Are you kidding me!! Treating living people as prey to be shot, showing off the number of slaughters as competition points... you want This lady to learn behaviors that only animals—no, things even worse than animals—would commit?!"
In her mind, she uncontrollably flashed back to memories from her past life—the history of the horrific massacres committed by a certain island nation on the land of China.
The "hunting game" of the Celestial Dragons before her was so similar to that dark period of history! Old and new rage intertwined, and killing intent surged in her chest like boiling magma!
Swish—!
In her fury, she swung her blade again. A pinkish-purple sword aura, even more violent than before, tore through the earth and slashed toward Saturn!
Saturn's body was slashed open again, slowly recovering amidst swirling black energy.
"What's wrong? All talk and no action?" Charlotte Linlin pointed her blade at the ground, battle intent blazing in her eyes,
"Aren't you going to fight? You old thing!"
Saturn calmly brushed nonexistent dust off his kimono, as if it wasn't him who had just been slashed open. He admitted frankly:
"I am not your opponent, but you cannot kill me either. Fighting you to the death here is meaningless."
He took one last look at Charlotte Linlin, his tone returning to that indifference of someone who controls everything:
"You saving that Bacania Tribe today won't change anything. The extinction of races, the Order of classes—this is the trajectory of the wheels of 'history' for eight hundred years. Individual resistance will eventually be crushed."
Having said that, he ignored Charlotte Linlin, held his cane, turned, and walked away slowly, his figure soon blending into the pervasive smoke.
Charlotte Linlin did not pursue him, only watching coldly in the direction he had disappeared. She knew the other party was not speaking falsely; she currently lacked effective means to completely keep him there.
However, the rage pent up in her chest needed to be vented. Her gaze turned to a group of Marine Soldiers not far away, who were taking the opportunity to move treasure chests and seemed somewhat numb to the surrounding tragedy.
"If the Celestial Dragons are those two 'generals' who use human lives to compete..."
She muttered to herself, cold light flashing in her eyes,
"Then you guys who are just following Orders are the 'Wokou' who aid the evildoers!"
Boom!
Another sword aura whistled out. The group of Marines, along with the treasure chests they were carrying, were instantly blown over, leaving a chorus of screams and cries.
At this moment, Charlotte Linlin was in no mood, nor did she care to distinguish if any of them still possessed a conscience.
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