Michael, although he had already sensed the wild and overwhelming primal aura of Charlotte Linlin through Observation Haki just moments earlier, was still shocked inside.
Not shocked that Charlotte Linlin would come to Wano to plead for Kaido…
But shocked that Charlotte Linlin now was completely different from before.
Back when Michael cured her eating disorder, Charlotte Linlin hadn't yet turned into her Big Mom form and still maintained that beauty once comparable to Gloriosa, but her condition had already deteriorated. According to Michael's estimation, within a few years she should have gradually turned into the appearance she had in the original timeline.
However…
What Michael didn't expect was that after he spent great effort eliminating the eating disorder and the side effects of the Soul-Soul Fruit from her body…
Charlotte Linlin actually began to reverse-age.
Not the kind of polite exaggeration used to flatter middle-aged people, but true "reverse growth."
As the wielder of the Seraphim Fruit who controls Holy Light, Michael's perception of vitality was absolute.
Just like he had once instantly sensed that Golden Lion, after tearing off the helm, had less than ten minutes of life left…
Charlotte Linlin previously, though powerful, did not have especially vibrant life force.
This was what Michael had described as the side effect of the Soul-Soul Fruit.
Although the lifespan stolen through the Soul-Soul Fruit allowed her to live longer, it also gradually devoured her original life force.
Long-lived yet internally frail—a strange balance.
This was also why, after Totto Land was founded, she no longer required her citizens to pay lifespan.
But now, Charlotte Linlin—whether it was her overly abundant life force or the beauty identical to her twenties—both symbolized her strength and…
Her strangeness.
"Before you tell me where that so-called Great Secret Treasure of Rocks is, can you explain what exactly happened to your body?"
"You mean this body?" Charlotte Linlin cupped her overflowing curves and laughed. "Ever since you cured my eating disorder, I gradually began transforming into this appearance. It's been so long since I felt the youth and vigor of my younger days… I even feel like I've grown much taller…"
The moment Charlotte Linlin finished speaking, Michael immediately grasped the key point.
Exactly! Although Charlotte Linlin had always been unusually tall, she was still short of giant height.
The giants were at least twelve meters tall.
While Charlotte Linlin had originally been just over eight meters, she was now at least ten meters tall…
"Charlotte Linlin, you should know that the world has many mixed races, right?" Michael pointed at her face.
"Although judging by your bloodline you're purely human, and your biological parents were normal humans… your current condition forces me to suspect that somewhere in your ancestry, there was a giant–human hybrid. In other words, what you're experiencing now can be described as a recessive genetic mutation… or an 'atavistic' phenomenon."
"Atavistic?" Charlotte Linlin pointed at her own face in disbelief. "You mean…"
"I mean that you seem to be… gradually growing into a true giant." Michael sighed. "That also explains your rejuvenation… Sixty years old, converted to giant lifespan, is basically like being a girl not even twenty years old…"
"Giant… I'm becoming a giant?"
Charlotte Linlin was no fool. As one of the strongest beings on the sea, how could she not notice the drastic changes happening inside her?
But only after hearing the definitive answer from the man she regarded as the greatest authority on 'life'…
Charlotte Linlin cried.
Not the monstrous wailing that could knock out everyone in Cake Island.
But silent, wordless tears.
Charlotte Linlin—her entire life's deeds were far from anything resembling a good person.
But regardless of what she was, she had always carried genuine remorse toward the giant race… and yes, she did seek to mend the divide so she could gain Elbaf's powerful army.
Still…
Compared to other races, Charlotte Linlin had always held a mysterious longing for the giants.
A longing born from her childhood.
Only in Elbaf could a body like hers not be treated as a freak.
So from the bottom of her heart… she wanted to become a true giant.
And now, her dream—because of a treatment years ago—had already begun to come true.
Michael looked at the woman who—even squatting—was still enormous, yet overwhelmingly beautiful. He couldn't help reaching out…
And patting her fingertip.
"Well, don't cry yet. First tell me about that so-called Great Secret Treasure of Rocks… then whether you cry here or drag Kaido back to Totto Land to cry is up to you."
"You really are a man with no sense of romance…" Charlotte Linlin looked down at Michael. "But that's exactly the type I like… Honestly, why don't you become my next husband? I promise I won't abandon you this time! If we combine, we could surely give birth to the strongest child in the world…"
"I'm really not interested in becoming your 38th husband…"
"Actually, 43rd."
"Good lord, you really haven't taken a break these years, huh!" Michael gave her a thumbs-up. "But no thanks, I have zero interest in married women."
"What a pity."
Charlotte Linlin wasn't surprised by Michael's refusal.
She wiped her tears and regained composure.
"As for Rocks, how much do you know?"
"Very badass. In God Valley he blasted Marines, pirates, and Celestial Dragons all at once, then disappeared."
"Good. The point is that Rocks didn't die, and he didn't run away. He vanished inside God Valley."
"Vanished in God Valley?" Michael frowned. "But weren't you all in the middle of a big battle?"
"Battles don't just stay in one spot forever…" Charlotte Linlin shrugged as she recalled. "After he vanished, we were forced into collapse… otherwise even if we lost, it wouldn't have ended in total disbandment."
"So what does this have to do with Rocks' secret treasure? Didn't he already disappear?"
"But recently, I discovered something… Rocks is still alive."
Charlotte Linlin smiled faintly, looking Michael up and down.
"And… he claims that he returned from years ago…"
"To search for…"
"An angel."
-----------
Fanfic is finished. 583 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg