CHAPTER 20

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Explosions roared across the battlefield as Charlotte Linlin stepped onto the deck, her towering figure casting a shadow over her crewmates. The sea was a chaotic inferno, engulfed by the relentless bombardment of the Wang Zhi Pirates and their allied fleets.

A formidable pirate armada—nearly 2,000 men strong, with dozens of ships large and small—had surrounded the island, unleashing indiscriminate cannon fire. Neither the ports nor the towns were spared from the onslaught. Occasionally, an unfortunate pirate vessel would be torn apart in the crossfire, sending wreckage and bodies plummeting into the waves.

Linlin's expression darkened.

What is all this about?

She knew that Wang Zhi had consolidated his power on Hachinosu, the infamous Pirate Island, after the fall of the Rocks Pirates. Many former Rocks members—both elites and nobodies—had either joined his forces or pledged allegiance in exchange for refuge. Wang Zhi was a well-known pirate, but compared to true monsters like Edward Newgate (Whitebeard) and Shiki the Golden Lion, his strength paled.

And yet, here he was, launching an all-out assault.

Is he abandoning his own stronghold?

The sheer number of enemy ships covering the sea made retreat nearly impossible. Given their speed, if Linlin's crew attempted to escape now, they'd be ensnared by the encircling fleet in no time. Sometimes, sheer numbers alone were enough to tip the scales.

Right on cue, several cannonballs hurtled toward them.

A powerful figure suddenly leaped into the air—Beta, one of Linlin's officers. With a swift kick, a crescent-shaped shockwave slashed through the sky, detonating the incoming projectiles midair. A series of fiery explosions illuminated the battlefield.

Linlin clicked her tongue in irritation. I need my own damn ship.

Leaving Beta to hold the line, she turned on her heel and strode back to the captain's cabin. Right now, the best course of action was to let the opposing sides tear each other apart and strike when the time was right.

But what intrigued her was the reason behind this war. What kind of treasure or secret was worth risking their entire base for?

She recalled how she had captured Saga Rido earlier but hadn't bothered using her Soul Pocus to extract his memories. Since they were already at the center of the storm, it was time to get some answers.

"Lina, bring Saga Rido in."

"Understood," Lina replied. Moments later, she returned with the architect in tow.

Linlin fixed him with an impatient glare. "Alright, Saga Rido. Talk. What's so important about this place?"

Saga Rido hesitated briefly before sighing. He knew there was no point in hiding the truth anymore.

"Two years ago, Domi Sith approached me to construct a grand palace here—an entire gourmet city built to be a paradise for food lovers. Naturally, as an architect, I was thrilled by the challenge."

His face momentarily lit up with nostalgic pride. For someone like him, what could be more fulfilling than designing a world-renowned masterpiece?

Linlin nodded slightly. The layout of the island was indeed remarkable, filled with innovative designs and dreamlike structures.

But then Saga Rido's tone shifted.

"However, during the construction process, Domi Sith discovered a unique plant on the island—one that no one had seen before."

Linlin raised an eyebrow. "A plant?"

Saga Rido nodded. "He ordered the creation of a specialized cultivation and research facility to study it. They call it the Miracle Flower."

Linlin's eyes narrowed. She had never heard of such a thing.

"This flower only blooms under the full moon," he continued, his voice lowering. "But it's dangerous. When it releases its pollen, prolonged exposure causes a strange affliction—green markings appear on the body, and if left untreated, the victim slowly turns into a plant-like corpse."

A chill ran through the room.

Linlin frowned. "Tch… This world is full of weird things, but that's one hell of a deadly flower."

Saga Rido continued, "However, when it blooms, it also produces a rare, non-toxic liquid. This is what Domi Sith was after."

Linlin had assumed the flower was being weaponized—perhaps as a poison or biological tool for warfare. But Saga Rido shook his head.

"No. It's something else entirely. The liquid from the Miracle Flower is refined into a drug called QG."

Linlin's interest was piqued. "And what does this drug do?"

Saga Rido took a deep breath. "It enhances the human body."

Now, that was interesting. Any pirate worth their salt knew the value of physical strength.

"When used alongside intensive physical training, QG accelerates muscle growth and overall development. What might take a normal person a year to achieve can be done in a fraction of that time."

Linlin's eyes gleamed. No wonder Wang Zhi wants this place so badly. If this drug really works, it could be a game-changer.

But then, Saga Rido hesitated before adding, "However, at its current stage, QG is only effective on ordinary people."

"…What?"

Linlin's excitement faded instantly. She scowled.

So after all that, this so-called miracle drug is useless for real monsters like her?

High development costs, scarce raw materials, dangerous side effects, and only minor benefits for weaklings? What a waste.

Saga Rido saw the disappointment in her face and quickly spoke up.

"Wait! You can't underestimate its potential, Lord Charlotte! Even if it's ineffective on the strongest fighters, it allows basic combat units to be trained far more quickly. It could mass-produce elite soldiers!"

Linlin tilted her head. That was… marginally more interesting.

But in her experience, elite soldiers still couldn't stand against true powerhouses. Against a monster like Whitebeard or the Golden Lion, it didn't matter how many grunts you had—they'd still be wiped out in an instant.

Then, a new thought struck her.

She stared at Saga Rido. "Wait… How do you know so much about this drug? You're just an architect."

Saga Rido hesitated before answering.

"My daughter told me."

"…Your daughter?"

"Yes. She's a scientist specializing in drug research."

Linlin's eyes widened slightly.

A scientist? Now that's something valuable.

The pirate world's greatest minds—like Dr. Vegapunk—were either controlled by the World Government or hidden away by powerful factions. Anyone outside those groups was a rare asset.

"Domi Sith is cruel," Saga Rido added. "He doesn't care about human lives—only profit. My daughter saw this firsthand and…"

Saga Rido's voice grew desperate.

"Please, Lord Charlotte! Save her!"

Linlin remained silent for a moment.

A scientist like that… could be incredibly useful.

After considering her options, she grinned.

"Fine. I'll see what I can do."