Naturally, in the palm strike Charlotte Linlin had just unleashed, King Riku hadn't been able to withstand it. He wasn't a Devil Fruit User, nor did he have Hancock to save him. At this moment, his internal organs were shattered, he was gasping for air, and it looked like he wouldn't survive.
Seeing this, Violet recalled how Hancock had just used Yang Release Chakra to heal her. At that time, Violet, who had faced Charlotte Linlin head-on, had injuries likely even more severe than King Riku's, yet she had been completely healed by a single grab from Hancock.
Under these circumstances, with nowhere else to turn, Violet could only beg Hancock.
"Huh!? Why should I agree to your request? You're just a mere experimental subject; do you think your face is that important!?"
Hancock held her head high, ignoring Violet completely. Just looking at the battle between her and Charlotte Linlin, one could tell that this pirate empress didn't have much sympathy.
One must know that Hancock could have easily taken Charlotte Linlin into the Amenominaka Space to fight, which would have reduced the damage to Dressrosa. However, Hancock hadn't even considered such a problem while fighting, which showed she lacked such sympathy.
"Please... please, Benefactor! I, I am a Glare-Glare Fruit user. If you are willing to save my father, I will be willing to do anything for you! My ability is very useful!"
Violet bowed repeatedly to Hancock, blood streaming from her forehead. However, Hancock just lifted her head and walked past:
"You are a Devil Fruit User, but your father is not! I only need you as an experimental subject; if your father dies, then so be it!"
"Alright, Hancock! Don't be so rough!"
A wormhole tore open in the void, and Vegapunk walked out with two Charlottes. He glanced at the defeated Charlotte Linlin, then turned his head and said this to Hancock.
Violet could be considered a talent. Although the Glare-Glare Fruit couldn't compare to Vegapunk's satellites, its mind-reading ability was quite useful. Most importantly, Devil Fruits had infinite potential, and the Glare-Glare Fruit clearly still had a lot of room for development.
Not to mention that Violet, kneeling on both knees and lying on the ground at this moment, looked so pitiful...
Vegapunk, after all, was different from Hancock—not in terms of sympathy, but in terms of resistance to beauty. In Hancock's eyes, everyone other than herself and Vegapunk were ugly, but Vegapunk wasn't arrogant to that extreme degree.
Seeing a beauty like Violet, Vegapunk's originally sparse sympathy increased slightly. Of course, the main point was that Violet's request was merely a matter of convenience for Vegapunk; if it were too difficult, Vegapunk wouldn't have any extra sympathy to spare.
"Fine, for the sake of my darling, I will forgive your disrespect. Aren't you going to thank me yet?"
Violet was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized that among these people, Vegapunk was clearly the one who truly called the shots.
"Tha... thank you, Benefactor. My Lord, please have mercy and save my father! I am willing to do anything!"
Having realized this, Violet first thanked Hancock, then turned toward Vegapunk, her face full of pleading.
Violet knew in her heart that compared to a great beauty like Hancock, a man like Vegapunk was clearly more soft-hearted toward her.
Vegapunk glanced at King Riku, who was barely breathing, reached out, and input a bit of Yang Release Chakra to keep him alive, repairing his damaged internal organs and causing his complexion to turn slightly rosy.
Seeing her father's condition, Violet couldn't help but weep with joy. For the people of this world, as long as it wasn't a fatal injury that would cause death in a short time, most other injuries could be overcome with tenacious vitality.
However, before Violet could be happy for long, Hancock spoke up from the side:
"Hey, experimental subject over there, I remember you just said that if I saved your father, you would do anything, right!"
Violet's body shuddered slightly. She glanced at Vegapunk and lowered her head cautiously: "Yes... My Lord, I belong to you now!"
Come to think of it, Violet couldn't be considered a completely obedient girl. Having stayed in the Doflamingo family for so many years, even if she still had some kindness and bottom line in her heart, it didn't mean she was a complete pushover.
However... looking up at the still-unconscious Charlotte Linlin floating in mid-air, Violet felt it was better to keep her promise.
Even so, Violet couldn't say she regretted it. After all, it was a choice she had made herself, and at the very least, Vegapunk and his group were better than Doflamingo!
"However, um... My Lord... My father is in this condition now... I'm afraid he won't be able to leave Dressrosa..."
Hearing Violet's timid words, Hancock's eyes instantly turned fierce:
"What? Are you trying to go back on your word! Do you want me to tell you what happens to people who don't keep their promises!?"
"No, no, no, I just want to take my father to my niece!"
Violet shook her head repeatedly in fear and explained.
"Then hurry up; I don't want to stay in these city ruins any longer!"
Lowering her head, Violet's eyes clouded with gloom. A large part of these city ruins were caused by your own misdeeds, weren't they!
But having stayed under Doflamingo for so many years, Violet had long known what it meant to be a person who knows the times, and of course, she didn't dare to contradict Hancock.
"Alright, take us to find your niece! Hopefully, she's still alive!"
Vegapunk gave a casual order, then opened a space wormhole. Three huge robots appeared, grabbed the unconscious Charlotte Linlin—who was being controlled by Hancock and floating in mid-air—and carried her into the space wormhole.
Already severely injured and not yet recovered, she had then been subjected to a brutal beating by Hancock. This time, Charlotte Linlin wouldn't be able to recover without being unconscious for two or three days, and two or three days was enough time for those robots to neutralize this Four Emperors Big Mom, so Vegapunk didn't follow behind.
Violet nodded. When she looked at her father, she hesitated again. Although King Riku was quite old, he still had the appearance of a muscular man. Plus, with his serious injuries, Violet really didn't know how to move him.
"Leave it to me!"
Charlotte Katakuri, who had been silent all along, said calmly. He reached out, transformed his hand into mochi, wrapped it directly around King Riku, and carried him on his back.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Rexlent
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"