"Who's there?!"
Sensing the terrifying presence behind him, Barton's heart stopped. Instinct screamed at him to turn, yet he froze—because a deep-violet, wickedly curved tachi already rested against his throat.
The icy steel bit straight to the bone; he had never seen a weapon so bizarre and deadly.
The tachi was called Narukami Ken, better known as the Seven Thunders of Retribution: Narukami. Like "Mu," it was one of Charlotte Linlin's born blades, the only one of the three that radiated instant, unmistakable lethality.
The other two were useless—one never sharpened, the other robbing her of Remembrance the moment it left its sheath.
"Don't move." Charlotte Linlin's voice was cold, flat.
"You already know who I am. Release my people."
At the same instant her Conqueror's Haki crashed down on Barton, Mori, and Gins, an invisible mountain pinning their limbs.
Had those strange black waters not held Vina and the others hostage, Charlotte Linlin would have ended this with a single slash.
Barton swallowed, throat parchment-dry. "D-Dragon Swordsman… Charlotte Linlin!"
"Correct." Violet eyes lowered, her shadow swallowing him.
"Then hand them over."
He had guessed right—and terror and regret flooded Barton's mind: Mori, you idiot! This is all your fault! If you hadn't pushed me, I'd never have provoked this monster! Just a woman, I thought… but this pressure… it's like Captain Rocks in a rage!
For the first time he cursed his own sneering contempt for women.
Crushed by Conqueror's Haki, he almost blurted, "Y-yes, ma'am…"
"Captain, don't!" Nearby, Mori—pale yet frantic—shrieked, survival overriding fear.
"Let them go and we're dead! They're our only shield!"
Charlotte Linlin's brows drew together; killing intent flared.
The black-water-bound Vina yelled, "Captain, forget us—cut them down!"
Linlin obliged, shifting the tachi slightly; she needed the upper hand to save her crew.
A faint, cruel hum from the violet blade brushed Barton's skin and he shrieked, "W-wait! Lady Linlin! We're Rocks Pirates, all serving Captain Rocks—kin shouldn't spill kin!
Besides… I never meant to kill your people, just… ordinary pirate "friendly banter"! Yes! Let us sail away safe and I'll release them at once!"
Charlotte Linlin answered without hesitation: "Fine."
The speed of her agreement sparked every alarm in the cunning Barton's mind; he himself used that trick—promise mercy, strike when backs are turned.
Her gaze slid to Mori, the one who had dared object. "I'll let two of you walk," she said coldly.
"A newly promoted great executive still needs face. If all three swagger off unscathed, where's my reputation?"
That haggling reassured Barton; barter was the pirate way.
"Captain, pick me!"
"Captain, I'm your most loyal mate!"
Mori and Gins clawed for mercy.
Barton jabbed a finger at Gins. "Him."
He loathed Mori for bringing this calamity.
Mori's face bleached. "Barton, you coward! Trash! Can't even beat a woman—scared of skirts! You'll die ugly!"
Though aimed at Barton, the sneer still scorned Linlin. Her eyes iced; the violet blade flashed.
Shhk!
Mori's rant died as his head spun free, shock and malice frozen on his face. Blood fountained.
Barton and Gins sagged, legs water. They hadn't even seen the cut.
"Now release them and scram." Linlin flicked nonexistent blood from the steel, as if she'd merely gutted a fish.
Teeth chattering, Barton bargained, "L-Lady Linlin, swear by Great Pirate Davy Jones you won't strike! Then I'll free them!"
It was the only leverage left.
Her Conqueror's Haki surged, almost driving him to his knees.
"You think you can bargain? I can kill you where you stand."
He held on, voice cracking: "I-I'll release them as I retreat—step back, free one. Fair!"
He knew his Devil-Fruit power hadn't the slightest chance of harming her hostages under her gaze.
Charlotte Linlin snarled, "Do it—now."
Barton obeyed, inching backward, eyes never leaving her. For an instant the sight of her draconic beauty dazzled him; memory of death snapped him awake.
A pace back, the black water slid from Vina, splattering to the deck as oil. Vina darted to Mia and the others.
Step by step, retreat and release.
When every Damselette was free, Barton and Gins leapt to their own ship.
"Cast off! Full sail—go!" he screamed. The vessel spun and fled at top speed.
Vina clenched her fists, watching them go. "Captain Linlin, we let them escape?"
Standing at the rail, wings folding, Linlin answered evenly, "I said I wouldn't lift a hand."
The instant the words left her lips a red bolt of sky-splitting lightning lanced down from the horizon and smashed the fleeing pirate ship.
BOOM—!!
Even across the waves the blast rolled; the ship shattered into a fireball and sank.
Only then did Linlin resume human form; the red-crackling Narukami Ken faded. She turned to the stunned girls and declared, dead-pan:
"See? Even heaven couldn't stomach them. So mind you stay good girls."
Babs's little daughter Jia asked innocently, "So heaven's lightning for bad people is red?"
The childish question broke the tension; laughter swept the deck.
Mia ruffled Jia's hair. "That's right. Heaven's lightning for villains is red."
She finished silently: Because Captain Linlin is our heaven.
Linlin crouched, dabbing the black puddle, rubbing it, sniffing. A thoughtful gleam lit her eyes.
"Petroleum… In my last life that idiot Barton could've been an oil tycoon instead of a pirate. Shame."
The murmur vanished on the wind, a regret no one else could understand.