Chapter 88: The Four Emperors and Their Chief Strategist Are Eating Lemons
Today, the weather was sunny and bright.
A faint floral scent drifted along the roadside, and a beautiful giant bird passed slowly overhead.
In the village, beside a small house, a small wooden table held four teacups placed neatly at its corners.
Young Linlin, dressed in pink, sat obediently at one side, both hands wrapped around her cup as she gulped down her tea. She blinked sweetly and stared at Roy.
But the moment Roy turned his head to look at Toki, Linlin narrowed her eyes at Tsuru with a fierce glint.
Linlin feared Roy, yes.
But this little navy girl?
Not at all.
Tsuru gripped her teacup tightly, her eyes fixed on Roy and Amatsuki as they quietly showed affection. Her teeth clenched unconsciously.
Her gaze toward Roy was different now, and her gaze toward Toki had become openly hostile.
In Roy's casual terms:
Tsuru's affection for Harold Roy increases by 10.
Her affection for Amatsuki decreases by 10.
She didn't even realize she was beginning to feel jealous of Toki.
She was younger, gentler, and capable.
But Roy treated her like a boy. He sparred with her, trained with her, but rarely talked.
He didn't even tease or flirt with her like he sometimes did with others.
"How irritating," Tsuru thought bitterly.
The cup in her hands cracked with several sharp snaps.
Although many years later Tsuru would become the Navy's chief of staff, a brilliant strategist fighting beside Sengoku and Garp, the young Tsuru already carried a natural strength.
A small cup could not withstand it.
"Hm?" Tsuru sensed Linlin's glare and met it. She chuckled lightly, suppressing her own hostility.
"I'm sorry. I was too rash earlier. I apologize. Let's start over. I'm Tsuru."
She smiled and extended her hand.
Linlin froze, stunned. "W-what…?"
She had been openly hostile to this girl. Yet the girl apologized and smiled?
Linlin squinted at Toki, and her not-so-bright brain suddenly lit up.
She understood.
Toki was Roy's official girlfriend.
Linlin's rival.
Tsuru's rival.
That meant…
Linlin and Tsuru were not only enemies…
They could also become temporary allies against this wicked woman who had bewitched Roy's heart.
Yes.
That must be it.
Filled with delight, Linlin laughed and shook Tsuru's hand.
Tsuru smirked internally.
In Linlin's eyes, that smirk seemed kind and gentle.
"This stupid pirate is nasty, but she's also very gullible," Tsuru thought.
She was testing Linlin, and Linlin had lowered her guard immediately.
Which meant…
When Roy wasn't around, Tsuru could get close to Linlin.
And with physical contact, she could secretly use her Wash-Wash Fruit to cleanse Linlin's soul.
If Tsuru wanted Roy, she needed to transform his foolish little sister into a harmless, innocent girl.
Tsuru lifted her cup, a clever smile forming on her lips. A sly smile.
Staying around Roy had already influenced her cunning.
Toki sat quietly to the side, a breeze fluttering her blue hair. She took a gentle sip of tea, her eyes soft as she gazed at Roy.
To her, Roy was now the most important person in her life.
And similarly…
She looked at Tsuru and Linlin with the same warmth.
Toki thought, If only Roy could marry a few more cute girls.
She felt she would grow old someday, and she always worried about Roy.
She hoped there would be others to accompany her and take care of Roy when she couldn't.
Viewed one way, Toki was the gentlest and most considerate wife.
Viewed another way…
A normal girl would never encourage her boyfriend to be a flirt.
This was definitely not normal.
Meanwhile, Roy had entered full observation mode.
While cuddling Toki and showing affection on purpose, he carefully watched the other two girls and collected information like a human radar.
A true player solved problems early.
He would only chase a girl he liked.
He would never let affection grow where there was no future.
He knew perfectly well there was no future with Linlin or Tsuru.
Their jealousy and sudden affection set off alarm bells.
Their feelings were sprouting far too quickly.
He had to stop it now.
So Roy deliberately stared at Toki's body with exaggerated, playful interest.
If he made them dislike him, it would solve the problem.
But this was the wrong approach.
When a boy tries to push away girls who already like him, it can backfire.
Especially when the boy is handsome, capable, talented, clever, and already flirting without meaning to.
Roy forgot this.
He forgot he now looked good, moved confidently, and exuded natural charm.
Girls would approach him without hesitation, eager to understand him—
and sometimes…
Cough.
Some girls became very, very proactive when they liked someone.
Swish!
Both Tsuru and Linlin turned toward Roy's small hands rubbing Toki's fingers tenderly.
Envy.
Jealousy.
Irritation.
It all flared instantly.
One would become a Yonko.
The other would become the Navy's Chief of Staff.
Yet both felt a sting of longing.
"Am I not pretty enough?" Linlin thought, pinching her own body.
Right.
She was too fat.
"Why do you always distance yourself from me?" Tsuru thought, sharper and more self-aware.
She glanced at her hands.
Actually, her hands were very soft too…
Roy had forgotten something important:
Once a girl truly likes you…
You never know how boldly she might pursue you.
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