Straightforward and Cute
Charlotte Linlin had just stepped out of the laboratory when one of her younger siblings came running toward her, panting slightly.
"Big Mom! A report for you—the Fifth Division Captain of the Golden Lion Pirates has arrived!"
"Hmm?" Charlotte's eyes widened in surprise.
She and Dasok the Twin-Bladed Swordsman weren't familiar with each other. What was he doing here?
At the recent banquet held aboard the Golden Lion's flying fortress, they hadn't even exchanged a single word.
She couldn't figure it out.
"Go on, get back to work!" she instructed before heading straight to the port of Lati Island.
Moments later, Charlotte arrived and spotted Dasok. He stood motionless, gripping his twin swords, his face devoid of expression—like a lifeless sculpture.
There was something unnerving about his stillness.
Charlotte had never been fond of dealing with Golden Lion's crew. The Sky Pirates were an unpredictable bunch, and their leader, Shiki the Golden Lion, was an infamous wildcard.
Yet, Dasok's sudden visit left her uneasy.
She had no idea what kind of scheme he might be up to.
"Hello," she greeted, keeping her voice measured and calm, preparing to test his intentions.
"Okay," Dasok replied in a monotonous tone. Then… silence.
Charlotte blinked.
Huh? This guy's got the personality of a frozen fish. Cold as hell.
"Why are you here?" she asked directly, not wanting to waste time with pleasantries.
"Exchange," Dasok said, his voice flat.
His words were minimal, but the flicker of battle intent in his eyes told a different story.
"You… want to exchange swordsmanship with me?" Charlotte asked, unsure.
He had traveled all this way just to spar? That sounded ridiculous.
"Yes."
Another short, clipped reply. His unwavering gaze left Charlotte speechless.
This guy really doesn't like talking, huh?
Still, now that his intentions were clear, Charlotte felt relieved.
For a moment, she'd feared he had come with some crazy demand from Shiki—or worse, to challenge her in some kind of power struggle. She didn't want to deal with some random bounty increase or the Navy chasing her down.
Thankfully, this was just a duel.
And honestly, she was a little intrigued.
The dual-sword style was a fascinating technique, and sparring with different fighters was always beneficial.
"Fine," Charlotte agreed without hesitation.
The two of them moved toward the beach, one of Charlotte's usual training grounds.
It was the perfect place—secluded, far from prying eyes, and with enough open space for a serious fight.
As they faced each other, Charlotte observed Dasok closely.
The moment the battle began, his entire demeanor changed.
A second ago, he had been lifeless and dull. Now, he radiated lethal intent.
His stance lowered. His hands tightened around his blades.
Then—he vanished.
A sharp gust of wind cut through the air as Dasok's twin swords flashed forward in a blinding strike.
Charlotte reacted instantly.
With a single hand, she parried both blades, redirecting their force and sending Dasok skidding backward.
He flipped mid-air, regaining his balance with an agile twist, then immediately charged again.
"Ding! Ding! Dang! Dang!"
The metallic clang of clashing swords echoed, accompanied by the shower of scattered sparks.
Charlotte matched him move for move. She didn't rely on her sheer strength as a monstrous pirate but instead fought using pure technique.
This was a rare kind of battle—no Devil Fruit abilities, no overwhelming brute force, just swordsmanship in its purest form.
Dasok fought relentlessly, his blade work swift and precise. Though he hadn't yet reached the level of a true swordsman, his skill was undeniable.
After a long exchange, Dasok finally pulled back, breathing heavily.
Charlotte, on the other hand, remained completely composed.
She regarded him with newfound respect.
"You're still not a swordsman yet," she noted, "but your technique is solid. You'll get there one day."
Dasok said nothing, but Charlotte's Observation Haki picked up on the silent gratitude beneath his cold exterior.
He's not good at expressing emotions, huh?
"No need to thank me," Charlotte chuckled. "I learned a lot too."
Dasok raised his head slightly, his usually impassive face showing the faintest hint of surprise.
"...Okay," he muttered.
Charlotte blinked before bursting into laughter.
"This guy seriously has the shortest responses ever."
Still, she could tell that Dasok was a pure warrior—someone who pursued swordsmanship with his entire being.
And for that, she admired him.
"I look forward to the day you become a true swordsman," she said. "When that happens, let's have a real duel."
"...Okay," Dasok replied again.
Charlotte sighed in defeat. This guy really needs to work on his vocabulary.
After their spar, the two returned to the port.
Charlotte couldn't help but find herself more and more interested in Dasok.
Yet every time she tried to chat with him, his responses were… well, let's just say they weren't much of a conversation.
"Do you always talk this little?" she asked at one point.
"...Yes."
"Do you ever say more than one word?"
"...Sometimes."
Charlotte shook her head.
Seriously, this guy is something else.
She was surprised when Dasok decided to stay on Lati Island for a short while.
She didn't question it.
A pure swordsman like him wasn't the type to get involved in shady dealings or betray trust. He was simple—almost naïve in his straightforwardness.
Honestly, she wondered how someone like him had managed to survive under Golden Lion Shiki, a pirate infamous for his ruthless ambition.
Shiki wasn't exactly a kind man.
During the two days Dasok stayed, the two of them sparred occasionally. Over time, Charlotte found herself able to understand his cryptic responses without even using Haki.
It was strange.
She couldn't quite explain it, but it felt like some kind of unspoken bond had formed between them.
On the third day, Dasok approached her.
Without a word, he handed her a sea chart.
"Senfrevo Island," he said. "There is."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow, then suddenly understood.
"You mean… there's a famous doctor on Senfrevo Island?"
"Yes."
With that, Dasok turned around and left, his usual no-nonsense attitude unchanged.
Charlotte stared at his retreating figure, a small smile forming on her lips.
He had remembered.
She had only briefly mentioned in passing that she was searching for a renowned doctor. Yet Dasok had gone out of his way to find that information for her.
For someone so bad at expressing emotions, he sure had a kind heart.
Charlotte's gaze dropped to the sea chart in her hands.
"Senfrevo Island, huh?" she mused, tapping her fingers on the table.
She quickly made arrangements to set sail.
Before leaving, she entrusted Lati Island to Dasok's temporary care—partly because she trusted him and partly because she wasn't sure if she could rely solely on Ivan, who had just obtained a Devil Fruit, and Dal, the giant.
Besides, the Knights Guild was lurking in the shadows. She couldn't afford to take any chances.
As for asking Shiki for help?
Hah! Might as well pray to the gods instead.
With that, her mind was made up.
She set off toward Senfrevo Island, her thoughts lingering on her strange new acquaintance.
Dasok was simple. Straightforward. Uncomplicated.
Honestly… he was kind of cute in his own way.