Having spent three months with Reno day and night, Carmel thought she knew him very well.
But the Reno in front of her now seemed like a completely different person from the one in her memories.
Especially the look in his eyes—it gave her a chilling feeling.
Only now did she realize that the look she saw back at the House of Lambs wasn't an illusion.
Carmel forced a smile onto her face. "Reno, has something happened??"
"Where is the gift you prepared for Linlin? Why don't I see it??"
While speaking, she put distance between herself and Reno.
Sensing something was wrong, Pandora flew out and circled around Carmel.
"Hehehehe... Carmel, are you still pretending even now??"
"There are only the two of us here. As long as you kill me, Linlin becomes an orphan. Then you can sell her to the World Government, can't you??"
"With Linlin's talent, the money you get will be enough for you to retire in luxury."
Reno slowly approached Carmel. With every sentence he spoke, more hairs stood up on Carmel's body.
"You... How did you know??"
Exposed, Carmel looked at Reno with horror and disbelief.
These were her secrets. Apart from her, no one knew.
How did Reno know?!!
"Find it incredible, do you??"
"If it weren't for you, those children wouldn't have been reduced to tools for the World Government!"
"You damned scum!!"
At this moment, there was not a trace of a child about Reno. His every gesture was like that of a scheming adult.
"You... So you knew all along!!"
Belatedly, Carmel finally realized this was Reno's trap. "So you lured me here on purpose today??"
"You really are a calculating brat. But..."
Carmel's steps suddenly halted, and she stood her ground.
The next second, the warm smile on her face vanished completely, replaced by pure ruthlessness.
"Hahahahaha... Reno, even if you know, what can you do??"
"If Linlin were by your side, perhaps I'd be wary. But look around—it's just the two of us here."
"Since you know my secret, what do you think I should do??"
With a ferocious expression, Carmel looked like a demon. Sensing the killing intent radiating from her, Pandora surged with power, emitting scorching flames all over its body.
"Don't worry. After I kill you, I'll sell Linlin for a good price."
"Pandora, kill him!!"
At Carmel's command, the little sun Pandora puffed up its cheeks and spat out a ball of scorching fire, flying towards Reno.
Just as she thought Pandora's attack would easily finish Reno off, she saw Reno extend his right hand and grab the fireball directly.
With a light squeeze, the fireball exploded in his hand, turning into countless sparks that dissipated into the air.
Reno's hand, which had held the fire, remained completely unharmed.
"A Devil Fruit this god-tier, and you developed it into this? I think you've really wasted your life all these years."
"This... How is this possible?!!"
If Reno's performance just now was merely surprising, then now...
She truly felt a chill rush from the soles of her feet straight to her skull.
"Pandora! Increase the firepower! Burn him to death!!!"
Refusing to believe it, Carmel gritted her teeth and roared loudly.
"Yes, Mama!!" Sensing the killing intent from Carmel, Pandora shouted. Its whole body bristled, and the flames grew many times more intense than before.
"DIE!!!"
Transforming into a massive fireball, Pandora charged straight at Reno.
"Kid, let's see if you die this time!!"
Confident in Pandora, Carmel breathed a secret sigh of relief. Fire of this magnitude was enough to burn Reno to ashes.
Even from a distance, Reno could feel the high temperature rushing towards him, illuminating his face in red.
"Carmel, you are not worthy of this Devil Fruit."
As he spoke, Pandora had already arrived in front of Reno. However, before it could react...
A pitch-black hand reached out and grabbed it directly.
"Let... Let me go!!!"
The crushing force squeezing its body twisted Pandora's face. It struggled, trying to break free from Reno's grasp, sending tiny sparks flying.
"Mama, save me!!"
"Save you?? Your Mama can't even save herself, and you expect her to save you?!"
BANG!
The moment his words fell, Reno squeezed hard, crushing Pandora alive.
The flames slowly extinguished in Reno's hand, as if signaling that the countdown to Carmel's life had begun.
"You... You can use Armament Haki?!!"
"You were pretending all along?!!"
No matter how stupid Carmel was, she understood now.
Reno had not only seen through her conspiracy long ago but had also been hiding his strength from the very beginning.
"Realizing it now... isn't it a bit late??"
With a smile on his face, Reno advanced on Carmel again.
"By the way, I forgot to tell you. My talent is on par with Linlin's."
"My strength is even greater than Linlin's!!"
"You... Reno, no! Don't kill me!!"
Terrified, Carmel stumbled over a tree root in her panic.
"Reno, I promise you, as long as you let me go, I will never do this kind of thing again."
"I won't sell those children to the World Government anymore. Please, let me go!"
Her intense will to survive forced Carmel to kneel before Reno without any dignity, begging for her life.
If he was stronger than Linlin, she wouldn't stand a chance even if she gave it her all.
"It's too late for that now. Go to hell and repent to the children you sold!!!"
"Half Burial!!!"