CHAPTER 42

"Let's get down to business. We don't have time to waste playing games with you." Rayleigh took a few steps forward, his sharp eyes locked onto Charlotte Linlin with a wary gaze.

He was already preparing for any sudden moves. If Charlotte Linlin or Ayr showed even the slightest hostility, he would act immediately with the most effective countermeasure.

Ayr glanced at the Roger Pirates but didn't bother with small talk. He got straight to the point.

"It's nothing too complicated. Rocks wants to invite you onto his crew."

Though Ayr said it lightly, he knew that Roger would never accept such an offer.

Roger was a man who lived by his own rules—unruly, bohemian, a man who dreamed of freedom more than anything else.

If he joined Rocks, he would be bound by someone else's will, and for Roger, losing his freedom meant losing the very meaning of being a pirate.

Dreams, inherited wills, the changing times… none of these things could be stopped. The same went for the yearning for freedom!

Ayr understood this well, but since Charlotte Linlin was with him, he had to go through the motions.

Besides, Rocks had already made it clear—whether or not they succeeded in recruiting Roger, Ayr and Linlin would still receive a hefty one billion Bailey reward.

Ayr figured that as soon as Roger refused, he could simply leave.

"So, you're trying to recruit us?" Rayleigh's expression turned complicated at Ayr's words.

"Hahaha… I appreciate you both coming all this way to ask, but our Roger Pirates will never serve under anyone. Go back and tell Rocks—I, Gol D. Roger, have no interest in being part of someone else's crew."

Roger's eyes held firm resolve, his lips curling into a confident grin as he looked directly at Ayr.

"Alright then, Roger. Since that's your answer, we'll—"

Ayr was about to say that they would take their leave.

After all, Roger had refused, and there was no reason to linger.

He also didn't expect a fight to break out just because of this. It was supposed to be a simple conversation.

But then, something completely unexpected happened.

Charlotte Linlin suddenly let out a sneer.

"Oh? So you refuse? Then… none of you Roger Pirates need to leave this island alive."

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

The Roger Pirates froze.

What the hell?

There were only two of them, and yet they had the audacity to say something like that in front of the entire Roger Pirates?

Did the Rocks Pirates always act this arrogant?

Ayr stared at Charlotte Linlin in disbelief.

What the hell is this crazy woman thinking?

"Oi, Linlin, what are you doing?" Ayr whispered urgently.

Roger refused. That's it. They could just leave.

Rocks had already said that even if the recruitment failed, they'd still get a billion Bailey.

By picking a fight, Charlotte Linlin wasn't just making enemies of the entire Roger Pirates—she was dragging Ayr into it too!

Ayr had not signed up for this.

Charlotte Linlin, however, remained unfazed.

"Ayr, Rocks didn't say it outright, but you should know the rules by now. Anyone who refuses the Rocks Pirates… dies. That's how it's always been." She glanced at him and continued, "You didn't join from the start, so you wouldn't know, but that's just how it is."

Of course, Linlin had her own reason for doing this.

She wanted to prove to Ayr that she was far beyond an ordinary cadre—even beyond most of the main forces of the Rocks crew.

Ayr sighed in frustration.

"Rules, my ass. If Rocks wanted Roger dead, he'd come deal with it himself."

Ayr was already regretting bringing Linlin along for this mission.

Since when had she ever cared about following rules?

And even if this was a rule, they could just leave now and let Rocks handle it later.

Did she really think two of them could take on the entire Roger Pirates?

"The Roger Pirates aren't worth Captain Rocks moving personally. The two of us are more than enough," Linlin said with confidence.

Ayr's face darkened.

You're so full of yourself. Don't drag me into this!

"NAPOLEON!!!"

With a single command, the hat on Charlotte Linlin's head morphed into a massive, menacing sword.

"I'm here, Mama!" Napoleon roared, transforming into its battle-ready form.

Charlotte Linlin fixed her gaze on Roger.

"I'll give you one last chance. Join the Rocks Pirates… or be destroyed."

Roger remained unfazed.

"The will of the people… is unstoppable!"

Charlotte Linlin's eyes flashed with aggression. She wasted no more time and coated Napoleon in a dense layer of Armament Haki before charging forward.

"Charlotte Linlin, the most dangerous woman at sea? Fine then, let's see what you've got!"

Roger coated his sword in Armament Haki as well, and the two clashed in an instant.

"BOOM!!!"

A deafening shockwave erupted as their weapons collided. The impact sent ripples of force surging through the battlefield, shaking the ground and sending dust flying.

Sparks crackled violently where their blades met. The air itself seemed to vibrate from the sheer pressure.

Charlotte Linlin's expression shifted.

What the…?

She could feel it—Roger's raw strength. His Haki was overwhelming, pressing down on her like an unstoppable force.

She had underestimated him.

She had assumed that, since Roger had only recently arrived in the New World, he wouldn't be all that strong—even with a bounty of 1.8 billion.

But in this brief exchange, she realized the truth.

She wasn't just struggling against him—she was actually at a slight disadvantage!

"Hah! As expected of a Rocks Pirate cadre—you're strong!" Roger laughed.

Their weapons clashed repeatedly, the impact sending shockwaves across the battlefield.

But after just half a minute of fighting, Roger had the upper hand!

The Roger Pirates' crew erupted in cheers.

"Hah! So this is the strength of the so-called Rocks Pirate?"

"She might have a higher bounty than Captain Roger, but he's clearly stronger than her!"

"They really underestimated us—thinking they could take us down with just two people?"

"Yeah, and that other guy—Ayr, right? He's only got a 900-million bounty! Rayleigh and Jabba alone could handle him easily!"

Morale surged among the Roger Pirates.

Victory seemed inevitable.

Charlotte Linlin was struggling against Roger, and Ayr hadn't even made a move yet.

Ayr sighed deeply.

Why am I even here…?

"AGAIN!!!"

Charlotte Linlin roared, gripping Napoleon tightly as she charged at Roger once more.

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