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Chapter 65 - CHAPTER 65

"Old hag, if you don't want someone to die, then wipe off that disgusting look and keep your drool to yourself."

  Kaido's voice was cold, but there was an undercurrent of unease as he faced Charlotte Linlin. After all, he still owed her a top-tier Mythical Zoan — the Azure Dragon Fruit. That Linering debt made it hard to meet her gaze, especially when she looked at him like that.

  If this had been back in the Valley of the Gods, he wouldn't have cared about being stared at. But after all these years, if not for the debt of the Azure Dragon Fruit, he might've already smashed a Raimei Hakke into her face.

  "Mamama~! Look at you getting all flustered!"

  Charlotte Linlin wasn't angry in the slightest. In fact, she looked pleased — like Kaido's reaction confirmed her thoughts.

  "Still so shy after all these years, little brother. Don't take it the wrong way, I just thought... wouldn't it be nice to have a child together again?"

  "Ahem, Mom. Please—your image," Katakuri interjected, stepping up with a whisper, his face twitching slightly. He could already read the expression in his mother's eyes — and it had nothing to do with war or alliances.

  "There are a lot of people watching... Can we maybe not talk about making babies right now?"

  "Don't forget why we're even here."

  "Hmm? You're right," Linlin nodded thoughtfully. "Katakuri, you're always so proper. I'll save it for later."

  With that, she turned her attention to Kaido's adopted son — the rumored Qilin child.

  "Auntie Lin!"

  Ragnar's voice cut through the tension like lightning. His expression remained aloof and proud, but the words themselves carried weight.

  "R-Ragnar... what did you just call me?"

  Charlotte Linlin blinked. Of all the reactions she'd expected from Kaido's child, this wasn't one. Given how arrogant Kaido himself was, she thought his kid would be even worse.

  Even Yamato, who was standing nearby, had only given her a slight nod. But this Qilin brat—Ragnar—had addressed her with genuine respect.

  "Yamato, call her."

  Ragnar didn't explain, he simply looked to Yamato.

  "Oh... Auntie Lin," Yamato said awkwardly, bowing her head slightly.

  After a moment, she asked in confusion, "Ragnar... who is she to you?"

  She knew Ragnar well by now. He gave no face to anyone — not Red-Hair Shanks, not even Whitebeard. He'd start a war without blinking. So why show courtesy to Charlotte Linlin?

  Ragnar answered calmly:

  "I asked you to call her that not because she's one of the Five Emperors. It's because she once helped the old man."

  "When he was just an apprentice on the Rocks Pirates, she looked out for him... even gave him the Azure Dragon Fruit."

  "She might be a Yonko now. Or not. That doesn't matter. What matters is — she earned the name 'Aunt Lin.'"

  Just like Yamato expected — Ragnar didn't bow to power.

  He didn't give respect to Red-Hair, even threatened to destroy his whole crew.

  He clashed with Whitebeard without hesitation.

  But when it came to family...

  When it came to debts that mattered...

  Even if it was Big Mom — he would show respect.

  His cruelty was for his enemies.

  His strength, for his crew.

  His respect... was for those who'd earned it.

  "Hmph."

  Kaido snorted at the exchange, but didn't say a word. He neither objected nor supported it. But deep down, he understood.

 Obviously, he not only accepted Ragnar and Yamato's way of addressing Charlotte Linlin, but also tacitly acknowledged the kindness she had once shown him.

  Though he often scoffed at the so-called favors Charlotte Linlin liked to bring up, deep down, he was someone whose bark was worse than his bite.

  Back during their time in the Rocks Pirates, Linlin had genuinely looked after him. When the crew disbanded, it was she who gifted him the Mythical Zoan-type Azure Dragon Fruit — the very foundation of what would later become the Beasts Pirates.

  He had never forgotten that favor.

  Otherwise, in the future — when Linlin was captured in Wano by the Three Calamities and restrained with seastone chains due to her alliance with Luffy — he wouldn't have gone against their objections and personally ordered her release.

  Nor would he have risked himself to save Charlotte Linlin multiple times during the chaos of the Wano War.

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