Sister Carmelo is a good person.
Actually, calling her just a "good person" isn't enough.
She is a saint.
A great woman who is dedicated to saving homeless children, no matter who they are, and she has devoted her life to this cause.
But this is only what people see on the outside.
Monger still remembers the first time he met this old woman.
It was fifty years ago.
He was twenty years old and had only been at sea for two years.
He worked as a pirate hunter, saved a little money, and was full of hopes and dreams about the future.
Then, he was tricked.
A woman pretending to run a ship business scammed him out of one million berries.
One million berries, fifty years ago!
That woman was none other than the old nun Carmelo.
Who could have known?
More than ten years later, that same woman had become "Saint Mary" in people's eyes, a bridge between common people and giants.
When Monger heard this, he was so angry he almost went to Elbaf to expose her.
But to Sister Carmelo, Monger was like a stubborn old dog she couldn't get rid of.
She never forgot how Monger chased her for three years, forcing her to pay back the money.
Everyone said she had changed.
But Monger didn't believe it and warned her not to work with the World Government.
If she didn't send homeless kids to the World Government, would she support them for life? Even if it was hard and dirty work, it was better than being a pirate.
Besides, the World Government paid well.
After hearing Monger, Carmelo smiled.
"How could I let you down, great pirate Monger? Even if the kids and I starve because there's no money, I'm sure you won't care."
Hearing her joke, Monger's mouth twitched.
"I remember I left a lot of money."
"Is that enough? Do you think raising these kids is easy?"
Carmelo's Lamb House isn't just in the Giant Country, it has branches everywhere. The Lamb House only takes care of the most difficult kids.
"You can't be a dog for the Celestial Dragons!"
"The Celestial Dragons give the most!"
"Stinky old woman!"
"Dead old man!"
They stared at each other like lightning was about to strike.
"Gertz, is mother arguing with that old man?"
A chubby little girl asked, confused.
"Shouldn't she be?"
A little giant girl with a headscarf tilted her head.
"My parents usually fight like this. It means they have a good relationship, right?"
"Really?"
The chubby girl's eyes lit up.
"It's like Mom and Dad!"
"No!"
Both Monger and Carmelo turned and said at the same time.
"Huh?"
Both girls were surprised.
Monger then noticed the tall, chubby girl — almost as tall as a normal giant child.
Charlotte Linlin.
She was a normal person but had the body of a giant.
This was true talent, unlike Rocks, who had to work hard to get where he was.
Charlotte Linlin — if she grows up step by step, she will surely become a future emperor.
"Tsk, you noticed?"
Sister Carmelo lit a cigarette and motioned Monger to step aside with a frown.
"Why? You like this kid?"
Carmelo sneered.
"She's a true genius. Unlike ordinary people like you, who worked hard to get where you are, Linlin will become an admiral if she joins the navy."
Carmelo had known Monger for many years and had seen him grow from a weak pirate hunter into a great pirate.
She knew Monger had some talent, but at best he was just an ordinary man.
"Monger, you've been at sea so long. You should know there are geniuses in this world."
"It's not you and not me."
"Now that you're old, do you still want to keep chasing your pirate dream?"
Two months ago, Carmelo's words would have made Monger quiet.
But now, he laughed coldly.
"Why not?"
He looked to the sea with his head held high.
"The World Government hasn't made me surrender, the Navy hasn't defeated me, and the sea hasn't swallowed me. So why should time?"
"Then you can die outside."
Carmelo sneered and didn't try to persuade Monger. At his age, he was stubborn as a mule. If he died, so be it. They didn't get along, so why bother?
Monger knew this too, so he spoke honestly.
"Leave the kid to me. You can't take care of her."
"Impossible!"
Carmelo refused right away.
She looked at Monger with a mocking smile.
"If I can't take care of Linlin, do you think you can? You're a pirate. Do you want her to live a dangerous life like you?"
"Ten million berries!"
"Twenty million!"
"Deal!"
Monger said quickly, but Carmelo realized she had just sold Linlin for twenty million berries out of habit.
"Monger!"
"Shut up. The most I can pay is thirty million berries. I'll give you ten million every year. That's all I have."
Thinking about one-fifth of Farrell's bounty still unpaid, Monger felt a sting and looked at Carmelo coldly.
"Better not let me find out you really work for the Celestial Dragons. Do you know how much effort I spent to replace your boss?"
"Tsk, I should tell that kid Kong. He's about to be an admiral, and you're still a useless pirate."
Carmelo blew out a cloud of smoke.
"Don't worry, I keep records of kids sent to the navy. I try to find good parents for ordinary kids, but it's never perfect."
Carmelo was angry remembering this.
She thought she could lean on a big tree and work with the World Government.
In the end, it wasn't good. She had to deal with Monger and even bowed to him for the first time.
Because of her, Monger became a pirate captain known as the most vicious villain by the World Government.
That's how the name White Wolf was made.
Carmelo didn't know that without Monger, she would have been a liar turned child trafficker.
Now she still trades with the World Government, but with the Navy and one admiral.
Carmelo was right — being in the Navy is better than being a pirate.
"I'll leave Linlin to you."
The Lamb House's funds were low. Monger was a pirate, but Carmelo thought he was better than most.
He was a pirate, but spent money sending talents to the Navy.
"As long as you don't become a dog for the Celestial Dragons, it's fine."
That was Monger's simple bottom line.
Freak.
That's what Carmelo thought of Monger.
"Although I promised to let you take Linlin, whether she goes depends on you."
Carmelo smiled darkly.
"If you don't take her, I'll sell her to the Navy. I'm sure Sora will be happy to have another admiral's disciple."
"Hmph, don't underestimate me."
Monger sneered.
"Don't forget who cooked for you on the island when our ship crashed."
"Who do you think destroyed my ship?"
He got angry when he said Carmelo. It was just one million berries. Was it that serious?
Monger didn't want to care. They always argued when they met. Better not to talk if possible.
Charlotte Linlin.
As Monger walked to her, ready to slowly gain her trust and bring her to his ship, the system appeared.
[June 3, 1480, Haiyuan Calendar. This is your 65th day as a pirate. Unfortunately, not long after you became a pirate, you met the future Four Emperors, Charlotte Linlin.]
[At 25, she will have beauty beyond the sea and will be praised as the Pirate Queen.]
[You probably can't win, but maybe you can build a great relationship with her?]
Beauty? Pirate Queen?
Monger looked at the system's wo
rds and then at the five-year-old fat girl in front of him with a runny nose and a silly face.
System, you really deserve to die!
End of this chapter..