Before the Winter Solstice Festival begins, to prepare for twelve days of fasting, the giants of Elbaf consume massive amounts of high-nutrition food—children included.
If it weren't for the strong constitutions of people in this world, just surviving so many days on nothing but water would normally result in serious illness—if not death.
Among them, the happiest eater was, without a doubt, Charlotte Linlin.
The giants were gathered around a colossal table, enjoying their last dinner before the solstice, but Linlin alone managed to devour most of the food on the table.
"Linlin, wait a second—you're eating too fast. There won't be any left for the others!"
Several giants reached out to stop her, but afraid of hurting her, they couldn't actually prevent her from eating.
This scene had been recurring over the past six months.
Whenever she saw something delicious, Charlotte Linlin would lose all reason—as if eating were the only thought left in her mind.
Even her most respected Mother Carmel couldn't stop her.
Naturally, Magnus couldn't sit by and watch.
His calm voice echoed at the table. Almost instantly, Linlin's hand—halfway to her mouth—froze in place.
Not just her—even the two giants seated closest to her broke into cold sweat.
Conqueror's Haki! (Haōshoku no Haki)
After six months of practice, Magnus had mastered focusing his Conqueror's Haki over a limited range, targeting specific individuals.
At that moment, in Linlin's eyes, Magnus looked like a stern father.
Instinctively, she stopped what she was doing.
"Linlin, don't eat so fast. As a young girl, you should carry yourself a little more gracefully."
Linlin didn't really understand what "graceful" meant, but she understood Magnus was telling her to eat slower. Snapping out of her gluttonous haze, she reluctantly put down the delicious dessert.
"A real feast is only joyful when everyone eats together. Linlin, it's not right to eat everything by yourself."
While Linlin was still young, Magnus felt it was critical to instill proper values—not let her grow into the future monster who pillaged and slaughtered without remorse.
Of course, as a pirate, there was a baseline.
He had to teach Charlotte Linlin what could—and could not—be done.
After being scolded by Magnus, Linlin instinctively looked toward Sister Carmel. Seeing her nod in agreement, she dejectedly lowered her head.
Often, when Linlin made mistakes, Carmel would excuse them with "she's just a child," choosing to forgive her.
Magnus, however, wasn't that lenient.
Right is right. Wrong is wrong.
If Linlin were just an ordinary girl, her mistakes might only hurt herself or those nearby.
But Charlotte Linlin was not ordinary.
As a future Yonkō (Emperor of the Sea), she was born with gifts others could only dream of. Compared to her, even Rocks' natural talent seemed insignificant.
After the final feast, Magnus called for Rocks and Lipley.
"During the twelve days of the Solstice Festival, the giants are at their weakest. To avoid external threats, they will increase patrols."
"I'll assist with the patrols as well."
Even though Magnus was a transmigrator, it didn't mean he was all-knowing.
After all, the storyline he remembered took place sixty years in the future. If this were a manga, Magnus's story would be the prologue to the prologue.
So at this point in time, he had no idea what might happen.
What's more, his very arrival had already thrown the world into chaos.
A butterfly flapping its wings could spark a storm across the ocean.
Magnus's wild actions could easily cause the story's entire future to unravel.
The simplest example?
If Magnus had disliked Rocks when they first met and simply killed him on the spot, then the future would never have seen the rise of the sea's most notorious tyrant.
So even though the original storyline said nothing major happened during this Winter Solstice—aside from Linlin's berserk episode—Magnus still chose to join the patrols.
And this, too, was a test for Rocks and Lipley.
"If nothing unexpected happens, when we leave Elbaf, I'll invite Linlin to become our fourth crew member. Your job over the next twelve days is to take care of her."
In the original story, Charlotte Linlin lost control due to Food Obsession Syndrome, destroyed half the giant village, and accidentally killed Jorul—the old giant who always disapproved of Magnus.
As a result, Carmel had to abandon the protection of the giants and rebuild the Lamb's House elsewhere.
Magnus wanted to prevent that.
"Charlotte Linlin? You mean you want that chubby brat to join us?" Rocks frowned with obvious displeasure.
"Captain, I know she's got some talent, but she's only five years old. If she joins our crew, aren't we going to be stuck babysitting her every day?"
Seeing his expression, Magnus chuckled but didn't explain.
Though Rocks had improved significantly over the past six months, Magnus was willing to bet: in a one-on-one, Linlin would win.
Yes—you heard that right.
Twenty-one-year-old Rocks couldn't beat five-year-old Charlotte Linlin.
First, try breaking her defense.
Even though her "Iron Balloon" body wasn't fully developed due to her age, neither Rocks—nor even Magnus, without getting serious—could guarantee they'd break through.
Looking at her future battles, from what Magnus knew, Linlin's defense had never once been broken, except for that one time she lost her powers on her own.
So Magnus never expected Rocks to be able to stop her if she went berserk.
"Lipley, I'm counting on you!"
"Mm! Leave it to me!" Lipley beamed and nodded. She didn't understand why Magnus cared so much about a little girl, but she could see clearly: over time, Magnus's spirit had grown brighter and stronger.
He had now become exactly like the man she met ten years ago.
The man she had always admired as her captain.
Maybe Magnus was just overthinking it. Seven days passed, and nothing happened.
Even Linlin, who normally would have gone berserk from hunger, seemed to have kept her urges under control.
Until the eighth day arrived…