[Affection Quest: Gain Charlotte Linlin's favor.]
[Rewards: Every 10 affection points increases cell activity slightly. At 80 affection: Armament Haki. At 100 affection: Advanced Armament Haki – Internal Destruction.]
[Current Affection: 10 (Friendly)
Charlotte Linlin: This is an old grandpa who's really close with Mother.]
Magnus had already planned to recruit Charlotte Linlin into his crew. Even without the system's quest, he would've actively worked to increase her affection.
But if it helped him grow stronger—who would say no?
Haki and all that were secondary. After all, he hadn't wasted these fifty-plus years. He already understood Armament Haki and even its advanced form: Internal Destruction.
What intrigued him more than Haki…
…was the cell activity boost.
After receiving several rewards, Magnus had gradually realized how potent this particular bonus was.
The most obvious change?
His metabolism had accelerated.
His once-loose skin was regaining elasticity.
And compared to two months ago, he looked noticeably younger.
At seventy years old, setting sail again—what was Magnus's biggest hurdle?
No one knew how much time a seventy-year-old had left.
Even if his internal injuries had healed…
Age remained a permanent disadvantage.
If he hadn't already eaten a Devil Fruit, he might've considered going after the Bat-Bat Fruit, the one that future "Red the Aloof" would seek out to regain youth.
But now—he didn't need that.
As long as his cell vitality kept improving, his youth could be restored naturally.
"You must be Linlin, right? My name is Magnus, captain of the White Wolf Pirates. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"And hello to everyone from the House of Lambs, too."
Despite his age, Magnus still retained the charm of his youth. Even as an old man, he was what people would call a handsome grandpa.
When he smiled, there wasn't the slightest trace of the fierceness expected from a pirate—instead, he looked like a kind, gentle elder from the neighborhood.
"Ah! So you're the captain of the White Wolf Pirates?"
Before Charlotte Linlin could reply, the giant girl with the headscarf beside her gasped, covering her mouth in surprise.
"Everyone says you're one of the strongest pirates on the seas!"
"Ahaha, I can't believe people still talk about me after all this time. But I'm not worthy of the word strongest anymore. If I want to become the king who rules the seas—I still have to get stronger!"
Not to mention—Harald, the current king of the giants, wasn't any weaker than Magnus.
And Harald was still in his prime. Ten years was nothing to a giant.
Ten years ago, Magnus had been able to fight him to a draw—but now? Not so sure.
Still, Magnus wasn't discouraged.
Because this was only the beginning.
He would first regain the power of his prime…
No matter the era, pirates always spoke of the Pirate King—the one who reached the Final Island.
But to reach that place, one had to do more than stand out among other pirates and gather the Poneglyphs—they needed the power to break through the Navy's blockade.
To defeat a Navy Admiral—that was the bare minimum.
Even at his best, Magnus had fallen short of that level. He could protect himself, sure, but defeating them? No chance.
"My name's Geltz! I love you little folks!"
Despite being a little girl, she was three times taller than Magnus, and her eyes sparkled as if she were staring at the most fascinating toy.
"Geltz! Don't be rude!"
Magnus had been in the village for a while when Ripley finally arrived, carrying the Black Pearl.
She dropped the ship down.
Even with giant-level stamina, running several dozen kilometers while carrying a ship larger than herself left her panting.
Geltz tilted her head—then suddenly widened her eyes.
"Wait! Ripley-nee, you joined the captain's pirate crew? But didn't Grandpa Yorlur and Grandpa Arlur want you to join the Giant Warrior Pirates?"
"Tch. Who knows when those two captains will return?" Ripley shrugged. "What, am I supposed to wait my whole life?"
All she'd heard were tales from the elders about the glory days of the Giant Warrior Pirates. But she'd never seen them with her own eyes.
In contrast—the White Wolf Pirates were right here in front of her.
Geltz looked worried. "Ripley-nee, you're going to get scolded…"
"Hehe, I don't care! I'm a member of the White Wolf Pirates now! If someone wants to scold me, they better ask my captain first!"
With a grin, she shoved Magnus in front of her, leaving him helpless.
"Ripley, you're trying to get me in trouble."
"What's the problem? It's not like anyone in Elbaf can beat you, Captain!"
Ripley clearly wasn't afraid of consequences.
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
An old giant wielding a sword came storming toward them, furious.
"You brat! Get your butt back home!"
Faced with the old giant's attack, Ripley quickly grabbed Magnus as a human shield, running circles around him like a game of tag.
Yorlur, the old giant, fumed as he chased them in circles.
He really considered swinging down and cleaving this little punk in two.
How dare he lure away his adorable great-great-granddaughter!?
"Bokakaka! Yorlur, don't make a fool of yourself in front of our guest. Ripley's all grown up now. Whatever choice she makes is her own."
Arlur, with his more bushy and fluffy beard, seemed much more level-headed and easy to get along with compared to Yorlur, whose beard was like a waterfall.
"Hehe, Grandpa Arlur is the best!"
"…Still, we really should call Dorry and Brogy back. It's been nearly thirty years, hasn't it?"
"Bokakaka! Whoops—forty already?"
The old giants laughed heartily. For beings who lived far longer than humans, thirty or forty years was nothing.
"Hey! Yorlur, Arlur! You two plan to just stand there all day?"
Magnus noticed Linlin staring blankly into space and had to interrupt their chat.
That green sparkle in her eyes—
Everyone knew: the easiest way to raise Charlotte Linlin's affection was very simple.
Just as he spoke, the text on the system panel flickered.
[Charlotte Linlin Affection +30]
[Current Affection: 40 (Close)]
Charlotte Linlin: Grandpa must be a really good person!
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