Flying above Elbaf, Charlotte Linlin replayed her recent conversation with young Loki.
Now she finally understood what Harald had meant by "peaceful coexistence" at the banquet—
He actually wanted the naturally mighty Giant Race to abandon force!
To Charlotte Linlin, the idea was not only naïve but dangerously idealistic.
On these seas, renouncing strength is like snapping off your own fangs; peace exists only when you wield deterrence no enemy dares test.
Peace without power is a shell-less clam, inviting every hungry mouth.
Hadn't Elbaf survived precisely because of its overwhelming might?
Contrast that with Joy Boy's own people: the Bacania Tribe had all but vanished;
And the Fish-men who sided with Joy Boy appeared at every Sabaody auction the Celestial Dragons attended.
Wasn't the root cause simply insufficient strength?
In Charlotte Linlin's eyes, Harald's policy might buy temporary calm, yet it risked eroding the very battle spirit that defined the giants.
Such "self-disarmament" was perilous: a clawless giant could end up enslaved by the World Government.
Still, none of this concerned her for now. While Harald lived, the giants retained the confidence to probe.
"I'm here. So… where are you, teacher?"
Collecting her thoughts, Charlotte Linlin hovered over the area young Loki had indicated and murmured.
At the same moment her mighty Observation Haki unfurled like ripples, blanketing the village below.
Countless presences, strong and weak, surfaced in her senses.
Soon one sharp, vigorous aura—alive with vitality—caught her attention.
Its strength rivalled a Marineford Vice Admiral, standing out in this peaceful giant settlement.
"There."
Folding her Dragon Wings, she glided toward the great hall that emitted the aura.
Inside, huge beast-skins carpeted the floor, rough yet warm. Three bruised giant boys huddled beside a Female Giant, sniffling out their grievances.
The woman looked about sixteen or seventeen, tall and well-proportioned—athletic rather than bulky like most giant warriors.
A dark tattoo ran from her left temple, straight down past neck and torso, all the way to her ankle, lending wild, striking beauty.
She soothed the boys gently, voice soft but shrewd:
"You bad-mouthed Loki first, so he hit you, didn't he?"
"N-no, we didn't…" the children stammered, eyes darting.
Ripley sighed lightly, left it, and fetched a fragrant honey cake from a chest to share.
The sweet treat instantly diverted them; they wolfed it down, forgetting hurt and fear.
"Don't bad-mouth Loki on purpose again, understand?"
She glanced outside, sighed again and murmured,
"He… is a child who needs care too."
"Mm-mm! We won't!" they mumbled through mouthfuls.
"Good boys." She smiled, tousling their hair, eyes tender.
After seeing them off she turned to the window instead of tidying up, and said calmly:
"Friend who came to Elbaf today, please enter. Spying from outside isn't polite."
Admiration flickered in Charlotte Linlin's eyes beyond the window.
A true warrior indeed—strong and with keen Observation Haki.
She stepped from hiding, pushed open the window—door-sized to her—hopped inside and landed on a huge table.
Releasing her half-dragon form, she sat casually and introduced herself:
"Hello, first meeting. I'm Charlotte Linlin."
"Charlotte Linlin, the 'Dragon Swordsman' with a billion-berry bounty?"
Surprise flashed through Ripley's eyes, but stronger was the appraising curiosity reserved for peers. She replied openly:
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Ripley, as you can see, a biology teacher newly hired by Elbaf's Walrus Academy. What brings you?"
Her gaze lingered, partly probing, partly appreciative—such unique, overwhelming presence and near-perfect looks were hard to ignore.
Charlotte Linlin came straight to the point:
"I need a giant Crew member. A brat recommended you. Your strength impresses me—come with me, Ripley."
Ripley blinked, then laughed:
"That little rascal Loki? He's always causing me trouble, and now he's sold me off? He must really hate his teacher."
Her tone held wry affection.
Amusement faded into seriousness, challenge gleaming in her eyes:
"I'm honored you asked; it means my strength is recognized. However—"
She locked eyes with Charlotte Linlin:
"To be my Captain and earn my loyalty, you must have the power to make me submit!
I'd love to see just how strong the second woman ever to break a billion-berry bounty really is!"
As Elbaf's last true warrior of her generation, hadn't she once dreamed of sailing out?
Harald had been a battle-loving giant too, but after returning from his travels with a Female Giant named Etain, everything changed; he renounced force and sought coexistence.
At first she, like most giants, opposed him. Yet when famine struck and nations Harald had befriended sent aid, she began to think the path possible.
Under his influence, most giants quit warrior training; planned crew-mates and Captains gave up, leaving her unable even to assemble a basic crew.
Her distinctive markings already distanced some; finding companions became harder still.
That was why she watched over Loki—she understood the boy's plight.
But Loki's dislike of beautiful women, thanks to his mother, kept her at bay.
She tried recruiting on her own, yet few wished to serve under a Female Giant.
Gradually she slackened even her training; a few more years and the dream might die entirely.
Charlotte Linlin's offer thrilled her, but only strength would win her service; she bowed only to the strong.
Though she already sensed she was outmatched, she was an Elbaf warrior—she would never yield merely because the foe was mighty.
Charlotte Linlin's lips curved in a grin.
As expected: giant pride bends to no one. But that only made things interesting.
She hopped off the table, stood tall, and answered loudly:
"Good! Then let's find some open ground and you can judge for yourself whether I, Charlotte Linlin, possess the strength to earn your allegiance, Ripley!"
From the moment she saw the Female Giant, an irresistible urge to claim her as crew had stirred—perhaps tied to some past promise?
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