After all, according to the intelligence, this guy was born in the Holy Land.
Everyone from that place was twisted, weren't they? They just had to look at the slaves of the Celestial Dragons—young girls made up no small portion.
Perhaps he had picked up the same... "preferences" there.
Besides, his father wasn't exactly a saint either.
"You all..."
Though the three men hadn't said anything, their eyes and expressions said everything.
Miss Goldenweek was so furious she couldn't speak. But at the same time, a cold fear gripped her.
She was terrified that the Marine really did have such tastes.
That would be terrible!
...
Meanwhile, Vivi and Igaram had reached the deck.
Gin, Zoro, and Nami all turned to look at them.
The moment they saw the royal pair, they showed surprise and curiosity.
Lancelot introduced them to each other.
Perhaps due to their similar experiences, Nami felt great sympathy for Vivi, and the two quickly became familiar.
Soon, Lina emerged from the cabin and nodded to Lancelot, then leaned in to whisper in his ear.
"She's in the bath. If you go now, you're sure to witness the beautiful scene of a maiden bathing."
Hearing this, Lancelot raised an eyebrow.
He had to admit, just the thought made his heart race.
But Lina added, "Or perhaps tonight, Lina could join you both?"
"Huh?"
Lancelot was momentarily stunned, then couldn't suppress the wide grin spreading across his face.
A threesome—he hadn't tried that yet!
He gave her rounded bottom a light pat. "You understand me more and more. Tsk tsk... I'll be waiting for you tonight."
With that, he walked into the ship's cabin.
This entire scene left Vivi utterly dumbfounded.
She couldn't comprehend it at all.
How could a woman so willingly share her man with another woman? And even arrange it for him herself?
It simply... it shattered her understanding of the world.
Lina naturally noticed Vivi's expression and smiled faintly as she slowly walked up to her.
"Do you despise my actions? Look down on my character?"
"No... no..." Though Vivi indeed did, she would never admit it.
The woman before her was Lancelot's capable right-hand officer, and they would need her strength when dealing with Crocodile later.
Lina chuckled lightly again. "It seems that although you've experienced hardship, Princess, you haven't truly understood the suffering of this world. In this world, birth determines nobility and lowliness. Talent determines the future. The strong are respected."
Lina's gaze turned distant. "Although you have little talent and cannot become strong, you are a kingdom's princess, the sole heir to the throne. No matter how dire your circumstances, there will always be people like Igaram protecting you. But I... I was born a commoner, and my physical limitations restricted my talent. Yet I happened to be exceptionally beautiful, with a first-class figure... and most crucially, born with a natural allure."
She locked eyes with Vivi. "Do you know what happens to a woman like me in this world that values status and strength? Someone with no power, no identity, no status, yet who attracts men's gazes everywhere she goes?"
Vivi froze in place.
She then glanced at Igaram—indeed, no matter what, there would always be someone protecting her.
Not to mention that since birth, she had lived happily under her father's love and protection.
So although she had witnessed human suffering, she had never truly, personally experienced it.
For a moment, she didn't know how to respond.
Lina continued, her voice hardening, "At best, I'd be bullied by local thugs, or forcibly married off to someone with a little authority. At worst, I'd become a plaything for the powerful. Most severely, I'd be targeted by slave-catching crews... eventually auctioned off like merchandise. I might even have become a slave of the Celestial Dragons, suffering endless torment in a fate worse than death."
"Because of this, I stopped going outside after I turned thirteen. That year, I deeply understood what my appearance would bring me. If I hadn't been fortunate enough to be rescued back then, my life would have been ruined long ago. But now I'm twenty-three—a full ten years. I confined myself to a room for ten years. In those ten years, that room was my entire world. Do you know... what that feels like?"
"Hah..." At this point, Lina took a deep breath to calm herself.
But Vivi stood there completely stunned.
And not just her—Nami, Gin, Zoro, and Igaram all looked at Lina with increasingly complex expressions.
They had never known this before.
In their eyes, Lina had always been a strong, confident person.
They never would have imagined she had such experiences.
Ten years... confined to a single room.
Just thinking about it made them shudder!
One could only imagine how much suffering Lina had endured during those ten years.
Then Lina spoke again, her voice softer.
"The world is so vast, so beautiful, so fascinating. Yet I could only bind myself to that room. If not for him," she said, nodding toward the cabin, "I might have spent my entire life in that room. That feeling... I would rather die than experience even one more second of it.
Sigh... In this world, being born a commoner is itself a sin. Being weak is also a sin. And for a woman, beauty is likewise a sin. When you possess all three, this vast world offers you no place to belong."
"Although the Captain is lecherous—in that regard, he's not a 'good' man. But so what? He was the one who gave me the precious Zoan, allowing me to compensate for my shortcomings and achieve my dream of becoming a master swordsman. He was the one who helped me step out of that room and see the world beyond. He was the one who enabled me to compete with the strong. I'm no longer weak. I have the courage to face anyone."
"Moreover," she added, "he has shown great care for my family. They no longer suffer bullying. Even my untalented nephew was able to become a base commander in the East Blue. Not to mention, that Devil Fruit was originally obtained by his father through exhaustive efforts in the Holy Land at great cost. Such immense grace... Isn't it only natural that I choose to be with him? Isn't it only right that I obey him? By sharing his worries and thinking his thoughts... I can barely repay one ten-thousandth of his kindness."
At this point, Lina looked directly at Nami. "Although our experiences differ greatly, what we share is that he has shown us immense grace. He saved your entire island. A debt of gratitude we can never repay in this lifetime. So, Nami... if he were to ask for you, would you refuse?"
Nami was completely caught off guard by the question.
She never expected Lina to suddenly turn the conversation toward her.
She had never considered this question before, but now, thinking about it... if Lancelot really asked... would she refuse?
Probably not.
With such great kindness shown, saving her and her entire village... even if he were leveraging the debt, she would likely comply.
Besides, she thought, a blush creeping up her neck, although Lancelot is lecherous, aside from that, he really doesn't seem to have any other flaws.
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