After Mia had the crew scrub the last of the oil from the deck, she returned to Charlotte Linlin's side and asked,
"Captain Linlin, the deck is spotless. What do we do now—stay anchored here?"
Charlotte Linlin didn't answer directly; instead she looked toward Kurozumi Higurashi, who was trying her best to stay invisible.
"Kurozumi Higurashi, by the rules of the Rocks Pirates, if I want a territory of my own on Hachinosu Island, I have to seize it myself, correct?"
Kurozumi Higurashi bowed hurriedly. "Yes, my lady. Everything on Hachinosu Island follows the law of the jungle—territory, wealth, fame, all won and held by strength.
Even officers personally appointed by Captain Rocks can lose their turf if they're too weak."
Charlotte Linlin nodded, then turned to the island crouching like a colossal beast and declared, "Good—then we go ashore!"
"Go ashore?" Mia exclaimed, worry written across her face.
"But Captain Linlin, our group… right now we're nothing but dead weight. Should we really come with you?
With the Rocks Pirates' flag and your own 'Heaven's Judgment' banner flying, no pirate should dare bother us. Wouldn't we be safer staying aboard?"
"No. Everyone sets foot on that island," Charlotte Linlin said, voice cold and absolute.
"The climate of the Rocks Pirates is worse than you imagine. Here, greed and violence trump so-called rules. Even a great executive's kin, if too weak, can be dragged into an alley and humiliated or kidnapped.
Besides, until that flag's reputation is carved in blood, it's useless. If one crew attacked you, a second will come. So for now, you stay by my side."
Her words sent a shiver through the girls—yet also a surge of warmth. Led by Charlotte Linlin, nearly thirty of them, all young and strikingly pretty, stepped onto pirate-held Hachinosu Island.
Instantly they drew countless stares—covetous, curious, lecherous, astonished—spotlights of every kind fixed on this bevy of women so out of place.
"Hey, look at that! Where'd all these pretty things come from, strutting here like they own the place? Think we won't swallow them bones and all?" A yellow-toothed pirate leered.
"No idea… fresh meat? Some idiot's 'cargo' maybe? Heh-heh, top quality, though—check out that blonde!" Another rubbed his hands, gaze raking over Mia.
"That pink-haired giantess—man, what curves, what presence… if only I could—" A reckless pirate gawked at Charlotte Linlin, snickering—then trailed off, uneasy.
"Hold up… why does she look familiar?"
At that moment someone recognized the figure leading the way.
"Shut it, fool! That's Lady Kurozumi Higurashi up front!" A more seasoned pirate clapped a hand over his friend's mouth.
"If she's guiding them, then that pink-haired woman behind her might be…"
Though Charlotte Linlin's bounty and the nickname "Dragon Swordsman" were beginning to spread, not everyone had memorized her face.
Feeling the hostile stares and the frost gathering behind her, Kurozumi Higurashi sweated. Carefully she asked,
"Lady Linlin, which… which territory shall we claim?"
She prayed the woman wouldn't target a core domain of one of the mighty executives; whichever way the fight went, the guide would pay for it later on Hachinosu Island.
She had already sensed that Charlotte Linlin, displeased by her earlier wavering toward Shikaku, now loathed her.
Charlotte Linlin had taken an immediate dislike to Kurozumi Higurashi's stereotypical "good-life" attire, and the woman's clear tilt toward Shikaku during the earlier clash had sealed that contempt.
She was only kept alive because she still had value as a 'guide.' But since she had helped her, she didn't mind returning the favor for Kurozumi Higurashi within reason.
After a moment of thought, Charlotte Linlin said, 'To Whitebeard's turf.'
'Whitebeard's turf?!' Kurozumi Higurashi groaned inwardly, nearly jumping in fright.
'Damn it! Did she clash with Newgate on the island earlier? That wretched Stussy Bakin!'
Having been unconscious for a long time, she had no idea how Charlotte Linlin and Newgate had interacted. Now she assumed Linlin was planning to seize Newgate's territory—dragging a bunch of deadweight along to do it! If the two sides really fought, it could easily turn into a life-or-death battle!
Gritting her teeth, she cautiously advised, 'Lady Linlin, perhaps… we could choose somewhere else?'
'Newgate's turf is remote, and he doesn't care much for treasure, so it's rather barren—hardly worth taking. I know a few spots that, though smaller, have decent environments…'
'Enough!' Charlotte Linlin cut her off impatiently, her voice turning icy.
'Quit the chatter! You lead the way, and if you keep rambling, I won't mind swapping for a smarter guide!'
The chill made Kurozumi Higurashi feel as though she'd plunged into an icy abyss; she had no doubt the woman would act on her threat.
'Y-yes, ma'am! Right away, Lady Linlin—this way, please!'
Just as they changed direction and headed toward one side of the island, some thugs—driven by lust and too ignorant to recognize Charlotte Linlin—finally lost patience.
A towering, drunk pirate staggered into their path, grinning to reveal a mouthful of rotten teeth, arms wide as he lunged to embrace Mia and Sia at the front:',''Heh-heh-heh… pretty things! Come let big brother hug you—I'll show you a good time!'
His movements were lewd, his tone frivolous, dripping with contempt for women, as though they were toys to be fiddled with at will.
Yet his filthy hands never even brushed the girls' clothes.
Charlotte Linlin didn't lift a finger; she merely paused, her cold violet eyes sweeping over him as though looking at a corpse.
Just a glance—paired with the crushing pressure of Conqueror's Haki!
'Urk!'
The drunkard's lascivious grin froze. Eyes rolling back, foam at the lips, he collapsed as if struck by an invisible hammer—out cold on the ground.
'As expected, most pirates are trash with no idea of their own limits,' Charlotte Linlin said in disgust.
In less than a day she had already lost count of how many pirates she'd cowed or killed with her Haki.
Now she understood Rocks's recruitment method: those chosen that way might not be the strongest, but they certainly weren't stupid.
In an instant, the street's crude laughter and obscene chatter died.
Silence—so deep you could hear a pin drop.
Every watching pirate drew a sharp breath; disdain and greed turned to horror.
'C-Conqueror's Haki?!'
'With just a look…'
'I remember now! Pink hair, giant build, leading a group of women—it's the new great executive, the Dragon Swordsman Charlotte Linlin!'
'Right! Her! They say she fought Shikaku to a standstill on the island today!'
'Heavens—nearly provoked a big shot!'
'Scram!'
Recognizing Charlotte Linlin and witnessing her unreasonable might, the pirates' attitudes flipped one-eighty.
They lowered their heads, scrapped every improper thought, eyes turning respectful—even fearful—clearing a wide path and never again daring to ogle the beautiful girls.
Seeing the once-arrogant pirates now trembling like quails, the girls of the Heavenly Punishment Division felt a pride and security they'd never known.
They straightened unconsciously, trailing close behind Charlotte Linlin's towering form, gazing at her with burning eyes.
This was their Captain! A single look had terrified these vicious pirates!
Kurozumi Higurashi dared not slack off again and obediently led the way.
Charlotte Linlin remained expressionless, as though she'd merely swatted a fly, and strode on toward their destination with her crew.