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Chapter 27: Wood Release Growth! Linlin's Scheme
Lotte stood quietly at the bow of the ship.
His expression calm as he gazed out at the boundless blue sea ahead.
With the continued increase in his mastery of Hashirama Cells,
Lotte could now preliminarily cast Wood Release without hand seals—no longer needing to rely on them like he did when he had only just begun mastering it.
Since he lacked chakra as a medium,
Lotte now expended physical stamina to perform Wood Release.
The stronger the Wood Release technique, the greater the stamina drain. Exceeding his stamina limit would even begin to consume his life force.
This was one of the key constraints limiting Lotte's ability to unleash powerful Wood Release techniques.
But the more he mastered the Hashirama Cells,
The less stamina the corresponding Wood Release would consume. If he achieved complete integration, he could even perform those terrifying Wood Release techniques from the original series.
For Lotte, this was simply a matter of time.
A smile curled on Lotte's lips.
Beside him, Whitebeard lifted a sake gourd and slung an arm around his shoulders, laughing heartily.
"Gurararara!"
"What are you grinning about, kid? Just one more day and we should reach that affiliated nation."
"Then you'll get to witness the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit!"
Lotte caught the scent of sake and narrowed his eyes, snatching the gourd from Whitebeard's hand.
"You only ever think about drinking. How much have you had these past few days? Leave some for me."
"Remember—this time we're only sending one ship. If we run into the military, it'll be troublesome."
"Aren't you worried about that at all?"
The target they had chosen this time
Was an affiliated nation called Lulusia Kingdom.
Located in the first half of the Grand Line—the region known as Paradise.
According to intelligence gathered by Captain Rocks,
Several World Government escort ships had recently appeared around Lulusia Kingdom.
Their purpose was almost certainly to guard the annual Heavenly Tribute.
As the pirate ship advanced,
Their movements naturally couldn't escape the World Government's watchful eyes.
But when the royal family of Lulusia Kingdom learned that the Rocks Pirates were coming,
As an affiliated nation, they immediately fell into panic.
Even though they notified the Marines immediately,
It would still take considerable time for any reinforcements to arrive.
Moreover, even Marine Headquarters had no effective way to deal with the Rocks Pirates—let alone the branches in the first half of the Grand Line!
If they came, they'd just be sending themselves to the slaughter.
Whitebeard laughed heartily upon hearing this.
"Gurararara! You don't need to worry about that at all!"
"I've already gotten intel on the internal situation of Lulusia Kingdom. Expecting their military to fight to the death for the royal family is impossible!"
"After all, they're just a bunch of incompetent fools..."
Hearing Whitebeard's explanation,
Lotte finally understood why Whitebeard was so relaxed.
Though Lulusia was an affiliated nation with its own military,
Years of oppressive rule had made the royal family deeply unpopular.
To prepare the massive Heavenly Tribute,
Lulusia Kingdom had essentially subjected its citizens to severe exploitation.
In reality,
Aside from a few resource-rich major kingdoms,
Most affiliated nations maintained their status by squeezing their own people dry.
In these countries,
Working 996 would be considered a blessing.
So expecting the military and citizens to help the royal family resist the terrifying Rocks Pirates
Was simply impossible!
As he spoke further,
Whitebeard couldn't help but sigh,
His tone turning somewhat low.
After all, Whitebeard himself had been born in a non-affiliated nation too poor to pay the Heavenly Tribute and thus unable to join the World Government.
Such non-affiliated nations, lacking protection,
Often became lawless islands overrun by pirates and human traffickers.
After his homeland was destroyed,
More and more children became unfortunate orphans,
Whitebeard among them.
So even after setting sail as a youth,
Whitebeard had never forgotten that land.
Even without family left,
He continued sending supplies and money back to his homeland.
That was why he took this Heavenly Tribute mission especially seriously.
If they could seize that wealth,
Perhaps his homeland could become a better place.
Lotte was well aware of Whitebeard's past.
Despite his carefree, drinking appearance,
None of the sake he drank was actually bought with his own money.
It was either brought from the Rocks ship or gifted by Neptune from Ryugu Palace.
What a miser.
But Whitebeard quickly pulled himself together.
He looked around at the surrounding pirates and raised his voice with a grand sweep of his arm.
"Listen up, boys!"
"We're almost at the affiliated nation!"
"Anyone who finds the Heavenly Tribute will be heavily rewarded!"
As the words fell,
The pirates across the massive ship erupted in excitement.
Their faces lit up with wild joy, like caged beasts eager to be unleashed.
Just as Lotte and the others prepared to act,
...
Far away,
In the captain's quarters of another Rocks Pirates ship.
Charlotte Linlin sat with crossed legs, eyes narrowed, quietly observing Kaido before her.
"Kaido, do you know why I want you in my division?"
At this time, Charlotte Linlin was nothing like the obese figure from later years. Her tall, curvaceous body was absolutely stunning.
Lotte had been stunned the first time he saw her.
But the moment he recalled her later appearance, he immediately suppressed any such thoughts.
Even Charlotte Linlin found it puzzling.
That kid named Lotte showed absolutely no interest in her.
Kaido, however, lacked Lotte's self-control.
The young man couldn't help but repeatedly glance at Charlotte Linlin's ample chest.
Hearing Charlotte Linlin's question,
Kaido narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Not sure. Is there something you need?"
Honestly, Kaido couldn't understand why Charlotte Linlin—one of the strongest cadres—
Was approaching him, a mere newcomer.
From a talent perspective,
Lotte clearly had far greater potential.
Charlotte Linlin narrowed her eyes slightly,
A charming smile curling on her lips.
"Don't you want to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with that Lotte?"
"Doesn't being overlooked feel bad?"
With that,
Charlotte Linlin took out a secret box from the table and opened it.
What appeared before the two of them
Was a never-before-seen Devil Fruit.
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