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Chapter 6 - Chapter 6

"So you're saying Charlotte Linlin is on this very island right now?"

"Yes. You could say almost the entire main force of the Big Mom Pirates is gathered here."

"To make sure the plan goes smoothly, Mama even paid a hefty price to invite the Beasts Pirates to act with us."

Two Emperors teaming up—guess they really think highly of him!

But Kaido's here too?

Come to think of it, we're old acquaintances.

Back in the day, that guy got nabbed by the Navy all the time; the science division saw him plenty.

I've still got a sample of his lineage factor, actually.

The artificial Devil Fruit project has been underway for years now, and that mutt Caesar actually dared to sell me out.

Fine. Let him and Queen keep tearing each other to pieces.

"I've got an idea—one that'll let Linlin repay the price of asking the Beasts to move this time."

"Please tell me. I'd be deeply grateful."

"I've heard Kaido is obsessed with Zoan-type Devil Fruits."

"That's right."

"Then send Caesar Clown to him."

"The Government's been pouring effort into artificial Devil Fruits for years. They've finally made some headway."

"That can be made artificially too?" Katakuri was genuinely shocked.

"If a gigantification serum can hit the market, why would artificial Devil Fruits be impossible?"

"But for now, only the Zoan line has been cracked."

"As a participant in the project, Caesar naturally has a grasp of the method."

"He's a half-baked hack, but that's more than enough to satisfy Kaido."

"And you?"

"My mind's entirely on the gigantification serum. I didn't take part in the artificial Devil Fruit project."

"Understood. Thank you for the tip—I'll contact Mama at once."

Out on the battlefield, Charlotte Linlin—at the absolute peak of her physical prime—was cutting down gods and Buddhas alike.

Unlike the glamor of her youth, she now radiated hard-edged ferocity.

Her opponent, Kizaru, was only a Vice Admiral at this point, far from his future peak.

Naturally, he was a notch below Charlotte Linlin in strength.

But with only him as the strongest stationed on the island, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and try to fend off this most terrifying of monsters.

He looked a mess, but with the speed of the Glint-Glint Fruit, he could barely keep things even for a moment or two.

"Kowaine—no wonder they call you the most fearsome woman on the seas."

"So much pull you even brought the Beasts along."

"You do realize what your actions mean, don't you?"

"Are you looking to go to war with the Navy—or even the World Government?"

He slipped past a massive slash from Charlotte Linlin, turned, and hovered in midair.

He crossed his arms over his chest, hands forming OK signs.

"Yasakani no Magatama (Eight-span Magatama)!"

Countless dazzling light bullets poured down on Charlotte Linlin like a storm.

"Yapping nonstop and all you do is dodge. If you've got guts, fight me head-on!"

"If you win, Mama will let you have a little fun!"

"Prometheus!"

"Here, Mama." A savage-faced great fireball appeared in Charlotte Linlin's right hand and roared to life the instant she grabbed it.

"Tenjin no Hi (Heavenly Fire)!"

She hurled Prometheus into the path of the light bullets, and he swelled in a blink—

Becoming a colossal fireball that blanketed half the sky.

The barrage vanished into Prometheus's flames.

"Spare me. I really don't want to fight you," Borsalino muttered, watching her swat aside his big move like a fly. His heart sank.

How was he supposed to play this game?

Even so, he drew the Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi (Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven), ready to take her on up close.

Lose the fight if you must, but don't lose the pose.

A man's drawing a paycheck, after all.

Borsalino prided himself on "loving his job."

The so-called elite agents were the real dead weight.

That freak Kaido was whack-a-mole-ing them into the floor.

One after another, they strutted like they were above everyone else.

And in the end… they were nothing.

 Fleet Admiral Sengoku, sir, when are you getting here?

Any later and this fierce old lady might wring me dry.

Just as Kizaru hefted his light blade and steeled himself—

"Biri biri, biri biri…"

"Click." Charlotte Linlin pulled a Den-Den Mushi from her chest and answered.

"Mama, the mission is complete."

"Also, Dr. Hughes asked me to pass along: Caesar Clown holds the know-how for artificial Zoan Devil Fruits. You can tell Lord Kaido to take him as payment for this operation."

"Well done—truly my finest child."

"Treat Dr. Hughes well for me."

"Caesar, huh? An unexpected bonus."

"Kaido, boy, that makes you owe me one this time. Mamamama…"

She smiled like a victor, eyes cutting to the already-paused Kizaru.

They hadn't bothered to hide the call; he'd heard every word.

Great. Dr. Hughes has been kidnapped.

This… really blows the roof off.

He knew full well what Dr. Hughes—on the verge of cracking gigantification—meant to those Five old men.

The World Government would be furious.

And as the direct commander of the Marine Science Unit, he'd be in for severe questioning afterward.

Might even get demoted; if they docked his pay on top of that, it'd be the worst.

As for them setting sights on Caesar Clown—if he could be traded for Dr. Hughes, Borsalino would personally go drag Caesar out.

Leak artificial Zoan tech?

Others might not know, but he did.

Old friend Vegapunk had failed.

If you told him Dr. Hughes had mastered it, he'd believe the man had the chops.

Caesar?

Bottom of the bottom.

Most likely he'd bragged to Dr. Hughes in private and cooked this whole thing up.

Right—Vegapunk!

He couldn't be allowed to get caught in this mess too.

Otherwise those old men might just drop dead from rage.

Then again, with those five, their breath-holding skills were probably good enough.

Headache just thinking about it.

Borsalino no longer wanted to fight. He just wanted to get to his old friend fast and stash him somewhere safe.

"Brats! The fight's over. Form up!"

With the target secured, the operation was a complete success.

She couldn't wait to get back to Whole Cake Island and meet her dear Dr. Hughes.

Also, she needed a plan—one that would bind Hughes tightly to totto land's great ship.

(End of Chapter)

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