Streusen, the chief instigator, was being pummeled by a scowling Fang Huo and "Golden Lion" Shiki.
This little runt was the one who'd urged Charlotte Linlin to run away!
"Had enough?!"
"Or do you want to play a round of Davy Back Fight!"
Rocks sent Charlotte Linlin flying with a kick; his berserk Conqueror's Haki infusion made even the "Iron Balloon" cough up mouthfuls of blood.
Charlotte Linlin stared in shock—this was the first time anyone had broken her defense since she'd set sail.
But she still refused to yield!
Her goal was to bring back Mother Carmel; how could she join someone else's pirate crew?
Charlotte Linlin used her Soul Power to heal rapidly and fought Rocks like a maniac.
When "Silver Axe" Fierce saw Charlotte Linlin revive to full health, he snatched the job from Rocks, and an intense battle erupted between him and the girl.
Rocks was slightly annoyed at "Silver Axe" for stealing his kill, but he let the two of them duke it out first.
"Silver Axe" had watched Rocks crush Charlotte Linlin effortlessly; once he stepped up, he discovered how terrifying the "Iron Balloon" really was.
His Armament-coated giant axe couldn't even scratch Charlotte Linlin's defense.
By now, Charlotte Linlin—utterly enraged by Rocks—had entered her most savage mode.
A horrific wail laced with Conqueror's Haki delivered a sonic mental blast straight to "Silver Axe."
Even the titanic strength "Silver Axe" prided himself on was completely overpowered by Charlotte Linlin.
Within half an hour, the frenzied Charlotte Linlin had beaten "Silver Axe" into a state of serious injury.
On paper, the 500-million-Berry Charlotte Linlin and the 400-million-Berry "Silver Axe" Fierce weren't far apart.
But in real combat power, Charlotte Linlin was a full cut above "Silver Axe" Fierce.
Probably even the current Fang Huo and Newgate couldn't suppress Charlotte Linlin.
Charlotte Linlin hadn't had her bounty updated in over a year—600 or 700 million wouldn't be out of the question.
"Pathetic!!"
Seeing a thirteen-year-old girl pirate beat "Silver Axe," Rocks spat, drew his blade, and took over the fight.
One slash sent the rampaging Charlotte Linlin flying.
"We surrender! We'll join!!"
While Rocks continued to pummel Charlotte Linlin, Streusen—already bruised and swollen from Fang Huo and Shiki—finally cracked under Fang Huo's torment and screamed.
"Linlin! Stop!"
"We've got intel on Mother Carmel!"
Terrified of dying, Streusen hurriedly stopped the berserk Charlotte Linlin.
He was even more frightened that Fang Huo also knew something about Mother Carmel.
He didn't want Charlotte Linlin killed by Rocks, and he definitely didn't want to be chopped up by Fang Huo himself.
For now, they could only join the Rocks Pirates and find a way to break free later.
Sure enough, hearing Streusen's yell, the red-eyed Charlotte Linlin quickly calmed down.
Fang Huo watched the scene, a meaningful gleam flashing in his eyes.
Streusen had been adventuring with Charlotte Linlin for six or seven years; replacing him as the girl's most trusted person would be tricky.
It wouldn't be easy!
Still, Fang Huo had his methods!
The Seven-Star Sword couldn't control Kings who possessed Conqueror's Haki, but influencing a mere cook like Streusen? Child's play.
Besides, Fang Huo had been developing techniques to transform followers with his Vampire Fruit ability.
"Don't try any tricks on me!"
Fang Huo's Seven-Star Sword pinned Streusen's shoulder as he flashed an evil grin.
"No tricks! None at all! We sincerely want to join the Rocks Pirates!"
Streusen's face twisted in agony, a flicker of crimson passing through his terrified eyes—almost imperceptible.
Driven by fear, Streusen now agreed to whatever Fang Huo said.
"You really have news of Mother Carmel?"
Charlotte Linlin looked hopefully toward Streusen and Fang Huo, even ignoring the dangerous Rocks.
"What the hell is going on now!"
Rocks was ready to beat Charlotte Linlin again, but damn Fang Huo—after effortlessly taming the little cook, he'd now also pacified the "Iron Balloon."
"Damn it!!!"
Clutching his bleeding chest, "Silver Axe" Fierce's cracked sunglasses couldn't hide the unwillingness blazing in his eyes.
Where do all these monsters keep coming from!
That bastard "Golden Lion" Shiki had steadily surpassed him, and now he couldn't even beat a girl pirate!
Heaven is unfair!
Monsters like Newgate, Shiki, and Charlotte Linlin not only had freakish talent but had also lucked into insanely powerful Devil Fruit abilities.
Why!
Why does Lady Luck favor those bastards!
Charlotte Linlin flew straight to Streusen and Fang Huo, questioning them anxiously.
"Linlin, trust me—staying with them will let us find Mother Carmel faster!"
Streusen forced the words out, still hiding the truth: Mother Carmel and the orphans had long since been devoured by this monster, Charlotte Linlin.
"Really? But didn't you say we had to avoid them because they'd stop us from looking for Mother Carmel?"
Charlotte Linlin accidentally sold Streusen out the moment she opened her mouth.
In an instant, Rocks's and Shiki's eyes toward Streusen brimmed with murderous intent.
These two had actually wasted so much of their time.
So they really had been deliberately dodging them!
"That was before we met them—now I realize Vice-Captain Fang Huo has prophetic powers."
Streusen quickly forced a laugh, fawning at Fang Huo, his eyes pleading for his life.
Having offended these ruthless men, only the mysterious Vice-Captain Fang Huo—who knew certain secrets—could save him now.
And instinct told him Fang Huo could indeed protect him, so he clung to the man immediately.
"You can prophesy?"
Charlotte Linlin's eyes lit up; she stared at Fang Huo with new longing.
That meant she could soon get news of Mother Carmel and reunite with her and the others.
"I can indeed foresee certain things!"
"The more contact you have with me, the more I'll see."
Fang Huo met Charlotte Linlin's eager gaze with a meaningful smile.
This super fighter was far beyond Streusen's control—so he would take charge himself.
"Then I want to stay with you!"
Charlotte Linlin answered without hesitation; she and Streusen had been wandering aimlessly anyway and found zero clues about Mother Carmel.
"Worororo! Not with Fang Huo—with the Rocks Pirates!"
Rocks raised an eyebrow; the little bastard Fang Huo was firmly securing his spot as the crew's second-in-command, the de facto First Mate.
Though he kept insisting there was no First Mate position on board, every Executive already treated Fang Huo as the First Mate.
Even "Silver Axe," who constantly grumbled, was gradually changing his attitude.
"Fine, I'll join!"
Charlotte Linlin replied carelessly; once she found Mother Carmel, she'd find a way to leave the Rocks Pirates.
Her goal and dream, after all, was to locate the Sister and build a wonderful nation where all races could live together.