However, establishing a country isn't that simple. Insufficient population has always been a major problem.
Although Al had suggested a solution, Totto Land, being in a remote location, lacked the intelligence to quickly learn which places had been invaded by pirates and where refugees needed saving.
Thus, Charlotte Linlin made a decision: to release the pirates who still yearned for the sea back into the ocean. The condition was that once they discovered an island that had been invaded by pirates, they were to make contact via a Den Den Mushi.
The departing pirates made a solemn promise that they would absolutely not break their agreement, but Milim was not optimistic about this.
Milim always felt that anyone with the word "thief" in their name was not to be trusted easily. But the final result greatly surprised her.
Although most of them wouldn't keep their promise, there was always a portion who would.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
A sound came from the Den Den Mushi next to the office.
This sound not only attracted Charlotte Linlin's attention but also drew the gaze of Milim, who was boredly reading a manga on the sofa nearby.
Linlin glanced at the Den Den Mushi and knew it was a call from one of the pirates she had released.
Answering the call, a deep voice came through.
"Queen Linlin, have you been well recently?"
"That depends on whether you can bring me good news," Linlin said with a slight smile, her tone gentle.
During her time as queen, Charlotte Linlin's temper had become increasingly gentle and approachable.
Perhaps this was the responsibility of being a queen. This responsibility had made Charlotte Linlin mature into a qualified ruler at an unimaginable speed, no longer the ferocious female pirate from the original story.
"I'm not sure if this counts as good news," the voice on the other end of the Den Den Mushi said, sounding somewhat indescribable.
Linlin paused. "Hearing you say that, I'm really curious."
"I'm currently on Bell Island. The residents here had all their property plundered not long ago."
"But what's strange to me is why they don't feel sad at all. In fact, they seem quite cheerful," the pirate captain said, unable to understand.
"If what you say is true, it's truly unbelievable. Could it be because of a Devil Fruit ability?" Hearing the pirate captain's strange words, even Linlin was full of questions.
To be happy instead of sad after being robbed of all their treasures... besides being under the influence of a Devil Fruit ability, Linlin couldn't think of any other reason.
"Queen Linlin, you should have an Eternal Pose for Bell Island, right?"
"Of course, we have one here!"
"Then I'll leave this island to you."
"Understood!" After saying that, Linlin hung up the Den Den Mushi and returned to her seat, her hand supporting her chin in deep thought.
At this point, Milim couldn't hold back any longer. She threw down her manga and slowly walked up to Linlin!
"Linlin, that island sounds really interesting. Let me go and bring the residents here."
Seeing Milim with "I'm very curious" written all over her face, Linlin was silent for a few seconds before suddenly speaking, "That island is strange. I'm not comfortable letting you go alone. I feel like you'll mess things up. You should take Al with you!"
Milim put her hands on her hips, puffed out her cheeks, and retorted, feeling a little underestimated, "Hey, hey! What's there to worry about? With my strength, how could I possibly mess up such a small thing?"
"Linlin, you're looking down on me too much, aren't you?"
"Oh dear! I misspoke. Milim, you're so powerful, how could you not handle these small matters? I'm just asking Al to go along to help you with some minor things!" Linlin skillfully began to soothe her.
"Since you put it that way, I guess there's no other choice," Milim replied haughtily, looking very pleased after being placated.
Easy peasy! Linlin thought with a secret smile.
...
Soon, Milim and Al set sail for Bell Island together!
Naturally, five or six large ships followed behind them for transportation.
On the ship, Milim picked up some delicious food and began to savor it, while Al stood beside her, feeling that things were not looking good!
At this moment, Al's heart was full of bitterness. Queen Linlin, you want me to manage the boss? Are you kidding me? If the boss gets willful, I have no confidence in persuading her.
The distance from Spring Island to Bell Island wasn't far. A normal ship could reach it in just two or three days. The ship Milim was on was in a hurry, so it sped up a bit.
After just over a day, they had already arrived at Bell Island.
Milim's eyes sparkled as she skipped onto Bell Island, pointing at the town as she ran, "The people on this island don't get sad even if their money is stolen! It looks super fun! Al, let's go!"
"Coming, boss!" Al, while directing the ships to dock, hurriedly chased after Milim.
The two soon arrived in the town but found that it was completely different from what the pirate captain had said. The villagers here all had long faces, and some were so emaciated from hunger that they looked like they could die at any moment.
There was no feeling of happiness at all.
"How can this be? Weren't they supposed to be happy?" Milim looked at the skinny villagers in confusion.
"Boss, how could anyone be happy after being robbed? There must be another reason for this. We'll find out after we ask around," Al said, looking at the scene before him, which reminded him of his own childhood when he didn't have enough to eat.
"Oh! Then let's ask." Milim had completely abandoned her brain and was too lazy to think too much.
In Milim's own view, apart from strength, nothing else was important. So, under normal circumstances, Milim wouldn't use her rusty brain.
Al was the first to approach an elderly villager and ask, "Old man, did something happen here?"
"Sigh!" The old man sighed and glanced at Al, clearly not wanting to explain.
Al took out 1,000 Berries from his pocket, handed them to the old man, and asked again.
This time, the old man looked at the money in his hand and finally spoke.
"What else could have happened? We were robbed by pirates, of course."
"But I heard that you were willing?" Al asked again.
The old man pursed his lips and said with some embarrassment, "We were willing at the time, but now we regret it."
This made Al even more confused. "If you regret it now, why were you willing then?"
"Sigh, the ones who plundered us were the Kuja Pirates, and the Kuja Pirates are undoubtedly the stars of the sea, the treasures of the sea," the old man said, his eyes filled with infatuation as he slowly recounted.
"At that time, I saw the captain of the Kuja Pirates, Gloriosa. Just one look, and I had already fallen deeply in love with her."
"I was willing to give her my all, including all my treasures. But after they left, it wasn't long before I regretted it."