The battle ended quickly.
Reno had tested Linlin's growth over the past six months, and he had also tested his own.
Through the System, he shared Linlin's "Iron Balloon" talent and monstrous strength, making him one of the only two people on the sea with this ultimate gift.
If it were before, he probably wouldn't have been Roge's match.
But now, facing the combined assault of Linlin and Roge, he handled it with ease, expending no effort at all.
After the fight, his face wasn't flushed, he wasn't out of breath, and he was full of energy.
Linlin sat beside Reno, affectionately linking her arm through his. She giggled and said, "Big Brother, you're amazing! Linlin is no match for you."
"You did very well. This is just the beginning." Reno petted Linlin's head dotingly.
"Hehe, thank you, Big Brother! Linlin will work hard and will definitely not disappoint you."
Being petted on the head, Linlin was as docile as a kitten, enjoying it immensely.
"However..."
Suddenly, Reno frowned, changing the subject. "Linlin, was that 'Cliff-Severing Sword' move you used just now something you created yourself?"
"Yeah! Was it awesome??" Linlin tilted her head up proudly, fishing for Reno's praise.
"It was indeed impressive. But I know a move even more powerful than that."
"A more powerful move?? What is it?!"
"The Giant warrior technique: Ikoku (Sovereignty)!!"
"Ikoku?!"
"Cough, cough... I've heard of that move too."
Just then, Roge, who had been sent flying, staggered out of the forest.
"Are you alright?" Reno asked with concern.
Roge's condition was obviously much worse than Linlin's. His clothes were in tatters, his face was pale, and his aura had diminished significantly.
"Don't worry, Young Master. It's just flesh wounds." Roge waved his hand, not wanting to dwell on the topic.
"I've heard that this technique is unique to the giants and possesses immense power. It would suit Linlin perfectly."
Linlin's talent was even better than that of the giants. If she learned their warrior technique, its power would naturally be superior.
Reno firmly believed this.
In the original story, the giant captains Brogy and Dorry used it to punch a hole right through the giant Island-Eater goldfish. Its power was undeniable.
And that was without using Haki. If combined with Haki, how devastating would it be?
Linlin currently lacked a powerful warrior technique like this.
"The giants?? You mean the island Linlin went to before??"
"But will they teach me? Linlin isn't a giant," Linlin asked doubtfully, munching on a piece of cake she had found somewhere.
"Don't worry. I have a plan." Reno smiled gently, giving Linlin a reassuring look.
He had been planning this for a long time and was determined to succeed.
Of course, he was going to Elbaf not just for Ikoku, but also for a person: Mother Carmel.
Although Carmel was just a human trafficker, she possessed a god-tier Devil Fruit—the Soul-Soul Fruit (Soru Soru no Mi). Its ability allowed the user to create powerful Soul Homies.
In the original story, Big Mom commanded three powerful Soul Homies.
In Reno's view, the Soul-Soul Fruit wasn't the best fit for Linlin, but regardless, when such a god-tier fruit appeared before him, he couldn't just let it slip away. He had to find a way to get it.
With his current strength, killing Carmel wouldn't be hard. But once the host died, the Devil Fruit ability would vanish and reincarnate somewhere else in the world.
That was the problem Reno faced. He had to figure out a way to make the Soul-Soul Fruit reincarnate nearby.
It was difficult, but Reno had an idea in mind. He would only know if it worked after trying.
"Young Master!!"
Just then, a guard ran over from the other side of the island.
"What is it?" Reno asked.
The guard knelt on one knee and reported, "Young Master, anomaly detected in the northeast!"
Anomaly?!
Another pirate crew passing by?
He had experienced this several times over the past six months.
Taking the telescope from the guard, Reno looked towards the northeast. When he saw clearly what it was, his pupils constricted slightly, and the corners of his mouth curled up.
"It seems my luck has always been good."
On the sea, dozens of nautical miles away from Reno's island, two ships were sailing one after the other.
On the ship in front, a pale-faced young giant looked anxious as he steered his vessel at top speed. He kept glancing back, fearing the ship behind would catch up.
Obviously, his ship's power was inferior to the one pursuing him.
Although there was still some distance between them, the gap was closing with each passing moment. It was only a matter of time before he was caught.
The flag of the pursuing ship bore the image of a silver wolf's head with two crossed skull-handled swords beneath it.
Anyone familiar with the sea would identify it immediately as the emblem of the Silver Wolf Pirates.
"Hahahahaha! Hajrudin, stop struggling! Hand over all the treasure you got!!"
"Yeah, kid! You're pretty good at running, but let's see where you can run to now!!"
"Give it up, kid! It's still a long way to Elbaf. I won't let you make it!"
"Boys! Full speed ahead! Catch up to him! That brat got his hands on a lot of treasure just now!"
"Don't worry, Boss! He can't escape!!"
Several pirate lackeys stood on the deck, waving their swords and looking at the fleeing Hajrudin as if he were prey already in their grasp.
They loved this kind of cat-and-mouse game—letting the prey think they had a chance, only to catch up and slowly torture them until they died in pain and despair.
Captain Lester of the Silver Wolf Pirates walked to the front of the crowd with a large broadsword on his shoulder. He looked at Hajrudin ahead with bloodthirsty eyes, unconsciously licking his scarlet lips, and shouted loudly.
"HAJ! RU! DIN!"