Although Michael had already sensed Charlotte Linlin's wild and overwhelming primal aura through his Observation Haki earlier, he was still inwardly astonished.
Not because Charlotte Linlin had come to Wano to plead for Kaido's life…
But because her current state was completely different from before.
Back when Michael had cured her of her Gluttony Disorder, Charlotte Linlin, though not yet transformed into her "Big Mom" form and still maintaining the beauty that once rivaled Gloriosa, was already in decline.
By Michael's estimation, she should have gradually taken on her original appearance over the past few years.
But…
What Michael hadn't expected was that after he painstakingly eradicated the Gluttony Disorder and the side effects of the Soul Soul fruit within Charlotte Linlin…
She had actually begun to reverse-age.
This wasn't just flattery about an elderly person maintaining their youth—it was genuine "reverse aging."
As the wielder of the Seraphim Fruit and master of Holy Light, Michael's perception of life force was absolute.
Just as he had instantly sensed that Shiki, after removing the rudder from his head, had less than ten minutes to live…
The Charlotte Linlin of the past, though powerful, hadn't possessed particularly vibrant life energy.
This was what Michael had referred to as the side effects of the Soul Soul fruit.
While the lifespan absorbed through the Soul fruit allowed her to live longer, it also gradually consumed her innate vitality.
Long-lived yet frail—an eerie equilibrium.
This was also why, after the establishment of Whole Cake Island, she no longer required her subjects to surrender their lifespans.
But the current Charlotte Linlin, with her overwhelmingly vigorous life force and beauty indistinguishable from her twenties, symbolized this woman's strength and…
Anomaly.
"Before you tell me where Rocks' so-called 'great treasure' is, could you first explain what exactly happened to you?"
"This body, you mean?" Charlotte Linlin cupped her ample bosom and chuckled. "Ever since you cured my Gluttony Disorder, I've gradually transformed into this state. It's been so long since I've felt the vigor of my youth—I might've even grown taller…"
The moment Charlotte Linlin finished speaking, Michael immediately seized the crux of the issue!
That's right! Though Charlotte Linlin had always been exceptionally tall, she still fell short of the Giants' stature.
Giants stood at least twelve meters tall.
Charlotte Linlin, who had originally been just over eight meters tall, now stood at least ten meters tall…
"Charlotte Linlin, you should know there are many mixed-blood races in this world, right?" Michael pointed at her face and said.
"Although by bloodline you appear to be purely human, and your biological parents were completely ordinary humans... given your current condition, I can't help but suspect that somewhere in your ancestry, there was a hybrid of giant and human... In other words, your current state could be called a mutation of recessive genes... or a case of 'atavism.'"
"Atavism?" Charlotte Linlin pointed at her own face in disbelief, "You mean..."
"What I mean is, you seem to be... gradually growing into a true giant," Michael sighed.
"This would explain your rejuvenation... At sixty years old and converted it to a giant's lifespan, you'd essentially be a youthful girl under twenty..."
"A giant... I'm becoming... a giant?"
Charlotte Linlin was no fool.
As one of the strongest figures on the high seas, how could she not have noticed the significant changes happening within her?
But it wasn't until she heard the definitive answer from Michael—the man she regarded as the most authoritative on matters of "life"—that...
Charlotte Linlin... cried.
Not the monstrous wails and eerie sounds that could knock out everyone on Cake Island.
But silent, streaming tears.
Charlotte Linlin's lifelong actions could never be described as those of a good person.
But no matter what kind of person she was, she had always harbored a genuine sense of guilt toward the giants...
Of course, there was also her desire to bridge the gap with them and gain the military might of Elbaf.
But regardless...
Compared to other races, Charlotte Linlin had always felt an inexplicable yearning for the giants.
And this yearning stemmed from her childhood.
A massive body—only in Elbaf would she not be seen as a freak.
So deep down... she had always wanted to become a true giant.
Now, her dream had unknowingly been set in motion years ago, after a certain treatment.
Michael looked at this woman who remained enormous even while crouched, yet was strikingly beautiful, and couldn't help but reach out... to pat her finger.
"Hey, don't start crying yet. First, tell me about Rocks' so-called 'great treasure'... After that, you can cry here or take Kaido back to Whole Cake Island and cry there—whatever you want."
"You really are a man without a romantic bone in your body..." Charlotte Linlin looked down at Michael. "But that's exactly why I like you... Seriously, why not become my next husband? Don't worry, this time I won't abandon you! The two of us together could definitely produce the strongest child in the world..."
"I really have no interest in becoming your 38th husband..."
"Actually, it'd be the 43rd."
"Wow, you haven't slowed down at all these years!" Michael gave her a thumbs-up. "But no thanks, I'm not interested in married women."
"What a shame."
Charlotte Linlin wasn't surprised by Michael's refusal.
Then, she wiped away her tears and composed herself.
"How much do you know about Rocks?"
"He was insanely powerful. At God Valley, he fought against pirates, marines, and the Celestial Dragons all at once, then vanished without a trace."
"Good. The key point is that Rocks didn't die in battle, nor did he flee. He simply disappeared at God Valley."
"Disappeared at God Valley?" Michael frowned. "But weren't you all in the middle of a massive battle?"
"Battles aren't confined to one place without change..." Charlotte Linlin shrugged, recalling the past.
"After he vanished, we were forced into a crushing defeat... Otherwise, even if we had lost, it wouldn't have led to our complete disbandment."
"So, what does this have to do with Rocks' treasure? Isn't he already gone?"
"But recently, I've discovered... Rocks is still alive."
A faint smile curled at Charlotte Linlin's lips as she studied Michael up and down.
"And... he claims to have returned from many years ago..."
"To seek out..."
"An angel."
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