This human trafficker really knows how to pretend.
Loki rolled his eyes, his gaze landing on Charlotte Linlin as he fell into thought. "My cheap dad won't make it back in time. Relying on me alone to suppress Linlin will be a bit difficult."
In terms of physical strength, Loki was confident that his Ancient Giant body was by no means weaker than the Iron Balloon.
But the five-year age difference was a gap difficult to bridge in a short time.
After probing over the past few days, he confirmed that Charlotte Linlin's immense strength was not inferior to his at all.
Once she succumbs to her Eating Disorder, her strength will surge, skyrocketing!
"Rely on a Devil Fruit? Leaving aside that the fruit's ability is unknown, I can't even get my hands on it right now."
Loki's gaze swept over the castle on the mountain.
Over the past few days, Loki had explored every corner of Orst Castle, the ancestral home of the Elbaf royal family.
His identity as a prince was enough for him to roam freely within the castle.
But the legendary fruit guarded by Elbaf has another guardian—[Iron Thunder].
That giant hammer named [Iron Thunder].
Suspected to be a weapon that has eaten a Devil Fruit, possessing self-awareness.
With his current strength, he still couldn't suppress that exaggeratedly heavy iron hammer.
He was too young.
"I can't even speak properly right now. Even if I did, Jarul and those elders wouldn't necessarily listen to me."
"It seems the most convenient way is to secretly feed Linlin to prevent the Eating Disorder from breaking out."
Loki mused to himself.
As an infant only a few days old, he should have a normal food supply during the Winter Solstice Festival.
Finding an opportunity to feed Linlin a little should delay the onset of her Eating Disorder.
If Elbaf is crazy enough not to feed an infant like him.
He might as well go crazy with Charlotte Linlin and get driven away.
As long as he makes sure Charlotte Linlin doesn't eat people.
Time flew by, and it was soon eight days later.
Elbaf's Sun Realm was also covered in a layer of white snow due to the arrival of the Winter Solstice.
Under the rising sun, it shimmered with brilliant light.
"It's the seventh day of the Winter Solstice Festival. Looks like we can pass it safely."
Loki, who hadn't slept all night, let out a long sigh of relief.
His feeding operation was very successful.
Charlotte Linlin did not go crazy on the night of the seventh day of the Winter Solstice Festival like in the original work.
By the next Winter Solstice Festival, he would have better ways to resolve all this.
Creak~
The door was pushed open, and Ida stepped into the room wrapped in an enticing aroma.
"Loki, you're up so early today."
Ida approached, bent down, and nuzzled Loki's cheek with a smile.
"Good morning, Mom." Loki responded with a smile.
He had initially chosen Ida with ulterior motives.
But getting along during this time.
Ida put him first in everything. Even if she occasionally saw his little tricks, she tolerated and concealed them.
Her protective heart was ten, even a hundred times better than his terrible biological mother.
He had already accepted Ida as his adoptive mother.
"Your speech is becoming clearer and clearer. Loki really is a genius baby."
Ida picked up Loki and walked to the living room, introducing as she went: "This morning we have pan-fried golden sturgeon, mashed carrots and potatoes, white bread, and elk milk sent from the Underworld by your friend."
Loki had already seen the ape face squeezing in at the door.
Loki gave this white giant ape a trendy name—King Kong.
"Roar~" King Kong greeted Loki excitedly upon seeing him.
Loki nodded in acknowledgement and paid no more attention.
His nose twitched slightly. Following the enticing aroma, he looked at the table in the living room.
On the tray on the table lay a golden, oily fish steak over a meter long.
Beside it were berries and mashed carrots and vegetables.
The staple food was steaming white bread, accompanied by milk served in a wooden bucket.
Hajrudin was lying on a corner of the table, staring eagerly at the food on the table, swallowing repeatedly.
"Eat, Loki."
Ida placed Loki on the seat.
Loki didn't stand on ceremony. He swallowed the fish steak in one bite, deliberately leaning in front of Hajrudin (￣～￣) chew chew chew.
"Damn it~"
Hajrudin closed his eyes in anger.
When the Winter Solstice Festival ends, he must ask his mom to fry ten fish for him to eat.
"That's the expression." Loki was satisfied. He lifted the plate and poured the side dishes into his mouth, finally gulping down the elk milk to wash it down.
"Such a good boy."
Although it wasn't the first time she saw it, Ida couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
He doesn't need to be fed, nor does he make a mess everywhere.
He never even called her for excretion.
In comparison, Hajrudin was really a little dummy back then; he had to take a bath after every meal.
"Goodbye, Mom!"
Finished, Loki picked up a piece of untouched bread, jumped off the table, waved to Ida, turned around, and mounted his King Kong mount.
King Kong understood and strode towards the Lamb's House in the West Village.
"Be careful, Loki."
Ida said goodbye, calling Hajrudin at the same time: "Hajrudin, take care of your younger brother; don't let him get hurt."
"Got it, Mom."
Hajrudin drank the hot water in his cup and followed listlessly.
Loki has a body that can survive in the Underworld.
Worrying about Loki getting hurt.
Mom, you might as well worry about whether I'll starve to death because of the Winter Solstice Festival.
...
West Village.
After witnessing the unfortunate Hajrudin dragging his hungry belly to continue training.
Loki knocked on the door of the Lamb's House: "Everyone, let's play hide-and-seek!"
Panda, a black and white panda Mink, shook his head: "No, too hungry to move."
"Prince Loki, who has the energy to play hide-and-seek with you?"
"That's right, we haven't eaten anything!"
"..."
Children of various races refused.
Only Charlotte Linlin, knowing she would get food again, chimed in excitedly: "Loki, Loki, I'll play with you!"
Loki blinked and ran towards the forest not far away. "Then you chase me first."
Linlin followed closely behind.
"Before, Linlin would be the first to say she was hungry even before the meal started. Now, after being hungry for seven days as well, why does Linlin still have so much energy? Isn't she hungry?"
"Yeah, that's so strange!"
The speaker had no intention, but the listener took note.
Jorul and Jarul, who were observing Hajrudin's training, frowned simultaneously.
Recalling Linlin's crazy appearance when eating Semla at the celebration before the Winter Solstice Festival.
Jorul and Jarul looked at each other and walked towards the forest together.
Prince Loki is young and doesn't need to be bound by the rules of the Winter Solstice Festival for now.
But Linlin is already five years old and should abide by the rules.
Deep in the forest.
A bonfire was burning into a pillar of fire. King Kong was holding two roasted whole wolves skewered from head to tail, turning them back and forth. The aroma of grease and char began to spread.
"So fragrant, so fragrant. Is it ready yet, Loki?" Linlin drooled, spinning in circles anxiously.
Loki handed out the cold, hard bread from his embrace: "Don't rush, eat a piece of bread first to cushion your stomach."
"Loki, thank you."
Linlin took it, swallowed it in one bite, savoring the sweet aroma of the bread, her eyes instantly turning into happy circles; "So delicious!!!"
Loki smiled: "You're welcome. Aren't we friends? Friends should help each other!"
"Mhm, mhm, Loki, you are my best friend." Charlotte Linlin replied with her mouth full.
"Then compared to Carmel?"
"..." Charlotte Linlin was stunned by this difficult life question.
Carmel is very good.
But Loki giving me food when I was hungry is also good.
So she gave her answer: "Loki, you are just as good as the Sister."
Loki couldn't help but curl his lips slightly.
Charlotte Linlin in her chubby girl era is just so easy to handle!
Next, he just needs to wait for Carmel to run away, and then logically keep Linlin.
"Roar~"
At this moment, King Kong, who was moonlighting as a chef, looked nervously at the dense forest behind him.
The figures of Jorul and Jarul squeezed out from the bushes, with Carmel following beside them.