Charlotte Linlin did not give him any chance to speak.
The moment she stepped onto Zeus, she flew straight toward a pink pirate ship in the distance.
"Linlin! You're back!"
A man's voice rang out from the deck.
Rainer was still held in Linlin's arms, pressed against a softness that almost rivaled his own chest. Looking down, he saw a thin, small-framed man wearing a chef's hat standing on deck.
That had to be Streusen.
Charlotte Linlin ignored Streusen's greeting and instead called out to the navigator.
"Rorot, bring that ship alongside. They've joined our crew!"
"And Streusen, hurry up and prepare a feast. We're celebrating today."
"Celebrating?"
Streusen looked at Linlin and Rainer in confusion.
"A wedding feast, of course! I've found myself a husband, Streusen!"
Charlotte Linlin burst into loud laughter.
"Let me introduce you. This is Rainer. From now on, he's mine!"
The smile on Streusen's face stiffened.
He instinctively adjusted his chef's hat, pressing down hard enough that the brim bent slightly. The muscles in his long, thin face twitched more than once.
"Husband?"
His voice turned hoarse.
Linlin paid no attention to his reaction. Her fingers traced lightly along Rainer's cheek.
"That's right. From today onward, Rainer belongs to me!"
Her booming voice echoed across the deck with unquestionable authority.
"Streusen, what are you standing there for?"
"Go prepare the banquet!"
Streusen's body stiffened. He lowered his head deeply, letting the chef's hat shadow his expression.
"Yes, Linlin."
His voice was low and rough, tinged with disappointment.
He turned and walked away, steps slightly unsteady, his back carrying a trace of loneliness.
Rainer saw everything clearly.
The moment Streusen turned around, the look he cast toward him was filled with jealousy and coldness.
Rainer did not care.
In these seas where the strong ruled and the weak endured, strength was the only truth.
No matter how much Streusen resented him, before Charlotte Linlin he was nothing more than a subordinate.
Besides, Streusen's strength was only moderate. He was merely a Cook-Cook Fruit user. Rainer, on the other hand, would continue to grow stronger.
More importantly, the system's judgment was clear. The stronger the woman, the more points she provided.
He wondered how many points Linlin would give him.
Tonight.
He would find out tonight.
A subtle heat flickered in Rainer's gaze as he looked at Charlotte Linlin. Any man would recognize that look.
Linlin seemed to sense it. A flash of satisfaction crossed her orange-brown eyes.
She liked strong men. Especially one from a rare race like Rainer. If they could have children of the same race, that would be even better.
"Hahaha! Boys, move!"
"Bring out the best wine on the ship! Roast all the meat!"
"Tonight, we drink until we drop!"
At her command, the ship erupted in thunderous cheers. Pirates rushed to prepare the celebration.
Before long, Rainer's first wedding banquet began.
Long tables filled the deck. The scent of roasted meat blended with rich wine, filling the air.
"Congratulations, Boss! You've found a fine husband!"
"Haha! The Boss has good taste. Big Brother clearly isn't ordinary!"
"Come, Big Brother, let me toast you!"
The pirates raised their cups, faces full of enthusiasm and faint flattery, crowding around Rainer and Linlin.
Though it was their first time meeting him, they treated him with surprising warmth.
Rainer refused no one. He lifted his cup and drained it in one gulp.
The strong liquor burned down his throat, leaving a fierce, satisfying heat behind.
"Good! That hits the spot!"
Seeing his boldness, Charlotte Linlin laughed even louder. She wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him close.
"That's more like the man I chose!"
She lifted an enormous barrel of wine and drank straight from it. Her long pink hair swayed with the motion, wild and untamed.
Held in her embrace, Rainer felt nearly half his body sink into her soft yet powerful frame. Her faint fragrance mixed with wine surrounded him.
He felt his blood quicken.
The feast grew louder and more chaotic. Pirates devoured meat, guzzled wine, and sang wildly off-key. The entire deck drowned in celebration.
Only one person stood apart.
Streusen moved through the crowd carrying trays of elaborate dishes, but his smile looked more painful than tears.
Each time he served a plate, he could not help glancing at Rainer in Linlin's arms, jealousy burning in his eyes.
No one paid him any attention.
All focus remained on Charlotte Linlin and Rainer.
After several rounds of drinks, night fell.
A faint flush colored Linlin's cheeks. Her orange-brown eyes glistened, slightly hazy with intoxication.
Suddenly, she slammed a barrel aside with a loud bang.
The noisy deck fell silent.
"You all keep drinking!"
She stood up, her voice a little huskier from wine, which only added to her allure.
"Rainer and I have private matters to attend to!"
Before anyone could react, she scooped him up effortlessly.
Rainer felt an irresistible force lift him from his seat.
"Come, my Rainer!"
Linlin grinned broadly, white teeth flashing, desire and possessiveness plain in her smile.
Holding him in her arms, she strode toward the captain's cabin under the watchful eyes of the entire crew.
"Woo!"
"All hail Boss Linlin!"
After a brief stunned silence, the deck erupted in louder cheers and whistles than before.
At this point in time, Linlin was not yet the tyrant she would later become. There was still a bold, heroic spirit about her. Her temper was not as unstable, and she remained approachable to her crew.
At the edge of the crowd, Streusen stood frozen with an empty plate in his hands. His face had gone pale, his eyes hollow with despair.
The plate in his grip creaked.
"Rainer…"
Bang!
The heavy wooden door to the captain's cabin was kicked open.
Charlotte Linlin carried Rainer inside and hooked the door shut with her foot.
The room fell into darkness, save for a strand of moonlight spilling through the porthole and outlining a massive bed.
The next moment, Rainer felt a dizzying shift and landed heavily on the soft mattress.
Before he could react, a towering shadow covered him.
Linlin approached the bed, bracing her hands on either side of him, looking down from above.
Under the moonlight, her long pink hair cascaded around them. A few strands brushed against Rainer's face, sending a faint tickle across his skin.
Her orange-brown eyes glowed in the darkness like twin flames, filled with burning desire.
"Let me see what's so special about your rare race, Rainer."
Her warm breath carried the faint sweetness of cake and wine as she pressed him down.
A mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
Detected: Charlotte Linlin possesses strong desire for intimate contact. System skill Body Adaptation has activated automatically. Please prepare, host.