After Garling finished speaking, he turned away, and the oppressive aura surrounding Otohime instantly dissipated.
Otohime, holding Shirahoshi, slowly got up from the ground. Before she could speak, the golden-armored guards arrived and escorted her and her daughter out.
Once Otohime and Shirahoshi left, Garling stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking up at the ceiling. He sighed softly and muttered,
"Carl, when will you finally awaken?"
...
Otohime and her daughter were led to Carl's chambers. Upon entering, the first person they saw was Lucia.
Eight years had passed, and Lucia had grown taller and more voluptuous, exuding a mature and icy beauty, like a thorny black rose. Even Otohime couldn't help but marvel at her stunning appearance.
Lucia had already been informed of Shirahoshi's arrival by Garling. She cast a cold gaze at Otohime and her daughter before asking,
"Which one of you is Shirahoshi?"
Her voice was as cold as an orchid in bloom. Otohime immediately pulled Shirahoshi forward and said,
"This is my daughter, Shirahoshi. May I ask..."
Before Otohime could finish, Lucia raised her hand, cutting her off.
"That's enough. Leave your daughter here, and you may go."
Otohime's face changed as she anxiously replied,
"Wait! At least let me speak to my daughter for a moment. And could I see Lord Carl first? How is he doing?"
Otohime felt no special attachment to Carl but was curious about his condition.
Lucia's expression remained cold. She glanced at Shirahoshi's innocent face and said in an unquestionable tone,
"You cannot see him just because you wish to. I will give you five minutes to talk to your daughter. Once the time is up, leave immediately."
Otohime tried to protest, but Lucia interrupted again,
"Your time starts now. Use it wisely."
Suddenly, the door to the bedroom opened, and a beautiful young woman with flowing, shoulder-length hair stepped out. Her pink hair was a darker shade than Shirahoshi's, and her demeanor was the complete opposite of Lucia's—radiating a cheerful, girl-next-door vibe.
This young woman was Ginny, now fully grown after eight years. She bore a striking resemblance to Jewelry Bonney but with a more mature and gentle demeanor.
Ginny curiously glanced at Otohime and Shirahoshi before turning to Lucia and asking in a clear, melodic voice,
"Lucia, who are they?"
Lucia's expression softened upon seeing Ginny. She explained briefly about Otohime and Shirahoshi, mentioning that Shirahoshi was someone Carl had specifically requested to be brought from Fish-Man Island.
Ginny nodded thoughtfully and said softly,
"So this is what Carl instructed. If only he could wake up to see them himself..."
Lucia's amber eyes showed a hint of sadness. She walked over to Ginny and said,
"Ginny, Carl will wake up. Let's talk inside."
Ginny silently nodded and returned to the bedroom. Lucia's face returned to its icy demeanor as she looked at Otohime. She gestured to the golden-armored guards and ordered coldly,
"When the time is up, escort her out."
"Yes!"
With that, Lucia gently closed the door behind her.
Inside the bedroom, Lucia and Ginny were joined by four other young women, each radiating her unique charm. These were Monet, Sugar, Robin, and Boa Hancock, all now grown into stunning adults.
Even among this group of beauties, Boa Hancock stood out with her unparalleled elegance and tall, statuesque figure. Her long, shapely legs alone could leave anyone breathless.
At this moment, Hancock was diligently tending to Carl, occasionally brushing her face close to his as she wiped his body.
However, Carl remained unresponsive, still in his long slumber. His upper body was bare, and the right half was covered by a layer of blood-red crystalline substance that extended up to the right side of his face, giving him an air of mystique.
Garling had called Dr. Vegapunk to examine Carl's condition. Vegapunk's diagnosis revealed that Carl's body was healthy, though his vitality was unusually vigorous.
As for the mysterious blood crystal covering Carl, Vegapunk had tried to take a sample for research but found it completely impenetrable. Even after exhausting all his tools and methods, he couldn't leave a single mark on the crystal.
Frustrated, Vegapunk had asked Garling to use a sword to chip off a piece. However, his ill-timed request—made in Lucia's presence—nearly cost him his life. Had Garling not intervened, Lucia would have torn him apart on the spot.
In the end, Garling used advanced Haki to carefully scrape off a fragment of the crystal for Vegapunk's research. However, even Vegapunk had been unable to uncover its secrets.
Hancock, noticing Lucia's arrival, stood upright and greeted softly,
"Lady Lucia."
Lucia gave a slight nod before approaching Carl's bedside with Ginny. Looking at Carl, she spoke gently,
"Master, Shirahoshi has arrived from Fish-Man Island."
Ginny added,
"Brother Carl, what is so special about Princess Shirahoshi?"
Carl, of course, gave no response. The two women, used to his silence, continued speaking to him softly.
But as they spoke, Ginny suddenly broke down. She threw herself onto Carl and began sobbing,
"Brother Carl, please say something! It's been so long since I last heard your voice!"
Hancock and the others stood silently, their eyes glistening with unshed tears. Even Monet and Sugar, usually composed, couldn't hold back their emotions.
Despite Vegapunk's reassurances about Carl's health, doubts lingered. If everything was fine, why had Carl not awakened? How much longer would this slumber last?
Seeing Ginny's despair, even Lucia, usually the most stoic, felt her composure falter. Carl was her everything—the person she had been with the longest.
She reached out, gently stroking the uncovered side of Carl's face. Her lips trembled as she whispered,
"Master, I miss you so much..."
Tears streamed down her face, dripping onto Carl's cheek. Lucia hurriedly moved to wipe them away, but in that instant, the blood crystal covering Carl's body emitted a dazzling crimson glow.
A faint voice escaped Carl's lips:
"Wait for me..."
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+210 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg