Chapter 656: Charlotte's Operation!
News like that naturally reached the ears of the Four Emperors.
"Mom, are we really not going to get involved?" Katakuri asked bluntly.
"Just like those pirates said."
"If we don't move now, we might not even be able to keep up."
The rumors spreading across the sea were not baseless.
The Dragon Hunter Pirates had been live broadcasting. Even though they had vanished in Wano for a while, Morgans resumed the coverage again in short order.
Right now, the Dragon Hunter Pirates were inside the Calm Belt, and their Eternal Ship was also heading straight toward the Calm Belt.
On top of that, the information Ryuunosuke passed through Morgans had dragged what should have remained secret into the sunlight, letting the entire world watch.
"Captain Ryuunosuke's target is God," Charlotte Linlin said, her voice heavy.
"That kind of existence is beyond our reach."
"We hold our territory. That's enough."
"Katakuri, Perospero, Oven."
"You must complete the reforms across all systems in our territory, and do it fast."
"After that, we will unite everything into one massive business circle."
"There must be a perfect loop between outside trade and internal supply."
"We don't need to worry about anything else."
Charlotte Linlin still remembered what happened before.
If it were not for Ryuunosuke, she would be dead.
Her body and her power had been used as a vessel for Adam's liberation.
Even now, thinking back on it made her breath tighten.
Getting involved in something like this, one careless step, and death was guaranteed.
Whether it was a Yonko, a Warlord, a Guardian, or an Evictor, it did not matter.
The Dragon Hunter Pirates were beyond common sense.
In a situation like that, the best choice was not to meddle.
Stay out.
Prepare.
Survive.
"Alright, Mom," Katakuri answered.
"We'll go prepare right away."
No one argued further.
If anything, it was a good thing that their mother thought this way now.
They had territory, manpower, resources, and strength.
Given all that, what they needed to do was raise the entire kingdom to a higher level.
When the storm arrived, they would protect their own country, and that would be enough.
Katakuri stepped outside.
The moment he did, he contacted Morgans.
"Mr. Morgans. This is Katakuri."
"Oh?" Morgans sounded amused.
"Linlin's son? What is it? Need something?"
Morgans was currently analyzing the Dragon Hunter Pirates' actions.
He was even finalizing their route, and it was giving him a headache.
Just as he was about to take a break, Katakuri's call came through.
"We have decided to open our doors to all nations," Katakuri said.
"Mr. Morgans, I want you to publicize this."
"Open?" Morgans repeated.
"Is Linlin certain?"
"If there are no racial restrictions and you aren't setting people up to be eaten, then I can guarantee plenty will come running for your protection."
He spoke with curiosity.
Even if the Four Emperors were no longer the absolute peak of the high seas, they still stood at the top of this world.
There were always nations and people desperate enough to seek asylum.
"There are no conditions," Katakuri replied.
"Only a time limit."
"It will close after two weeks."
"Perospero will arrange someone to deliver payment to you."
"This is troublesome."
"Don't be so formal," Morgans said, laughing.
"Linlin and I are friends too."
"If you need it, I'll help."
"Alright. I'll publish the notice right now."
After Morgans finished speaking, he hung up.
The smile on his face disappeared the instant the call ended.
Confusion replaced it.
Over the years, Charlotte Linlin had never softened her stance toward the sea.
More importantly, loosening entry requirements like this was a huge move.
Morgans quickly edited the announcement and blasted it out across the ocean.
…
Back inside Charlotte Linlin's territory.
"Linlin, are you backing out?"
A dark figure appeared, voice cold, threatening.
The meaning behind its intention was obvious.
"Backing out?" Charlotte Linlin did not even lift her eyelids.
"No."
"It's not that I changed my mind."
"Our deal ended the moment you used me as Adam's vessel."
She spoke indifferently, as if the figure's arrival did not matter at all.
"This is my fault," the shadow admitted.
"I thought you could handle it."
"If you could digest part of Adam's soul, your strength would rise dramatically."
"I just didn't expect Adam to trick you."
The figure explained calmly, but the urgency underneath was impossible to hide.
Charlotte Linlin's help was extremely important.
Otherwise…
"So what you're telling me," Charlotte Linlin said, lifting her eyes, mockery in her gaze, "is that the incident that nearly killed me was just a misunderstanding?"
If it were not for the Dragon Hunter Pirates, she would already be dead.
And now, in this situation, the shadow's excuse was that it had miscalculated?
Charlotte Linlin did not accept that.
"Linlin," the shadow said slowly, "you must have felt the changes in your body."
"That was not just a misunderstanding. My prediction was not wrong."
"As long as you can absorb that energy, then…"
It stopped speaking, waiting for her answer.
Others might not know, but Charlotte Linlin did.
The changes in her body, and even the listless look she wore now, were not truly weakness.
They were the result of something fundamental shifting inside her.
Her temperament had changed after that transformation.
"I want a clone of Adam," Charlotte Linlin said, opening her eyes fully.
Her condition was direct.
The shadow grinned.
It already knew she would not let go of power.
Someone like Charlotte Linlin did not stay unmoved when strength was within reach.
"I brought it," the shadow said.
"Only you can absorb something like this."
"By the way, you know the giants are heading this way, right?"
Charlotte Linlin's expression changed immediately.
Her calm face turned sharp, and murderous intent spilled out.
"I know."
"They're mine."
"If you even think about touching the giants, don't blame me for turning on you."
The shadow paused.
Then it spoke with an awkward tone.
"I have no interest in giants."
"They're just a slightly larger race."
"Yes, they carry traces of Adam's essence in their bodies, but they are far inferior to Adam's avatar."
"Fine. I'm leaving."
With that, the shadow vanished.
Where it disappeared, a tree branch remained behind.
That branch was Adam's alter ego.
.....
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