One Piece: Starting in God Valley as a Slave

Roger exchanged a few blows with Linlin until her husband arrived with a large group, carrying a tray of freshly prepared desserts. Seeing the mountain of sweets, the irritable Linlin finally calmed down, and her aggressive stance softened.

Roger, who had no intention of a prolonged fight, quickly suggested a truce. Linlin snorted, put away Napoleon, and perched him back on her head. Roger sighed in relief and said,

"Linlin, if you're unwilling to show me, then let's leave it at that. Fighting holds no purpose."

Linlin, her gaze fixed solely on the desserts below, suddenly spoke,

"Hey, Roger, would you like to join my tea party?"

Roger was taken aback by the unexpected invitation. Seeing Roger hesitate, Linlin's expression darkened once more, and she glared at Shanks with a threatening look.

Much like how other pirate crews enjoy holding feasts, Linlin adored her tea parties. She'd invite not only her children but also a few outsiders. If anyone dared refuse, she wouldn't kill them directly, but she would target someone close to them.

Clearly, she had already marked Shanks as someone dear to Roger and was now considering him her target. Shanks felt Linlin's deadly intent; facing the towering Linlin, he was fearless, placing his hand on his sword and responding coldly,

"Don't look at me like that—I'm not afraid of you!"

Even Roger was momentarily stunned, as Shanks' stance reminded him of the Celestial Dragon, Saint Garling, from the Valley of Gods, as well as his recent encounter with Carl. Their temperaments were uncannily alike!

Meanwhile, perched atop a tall tower in the distance, Carl sat on Oven with a smirk, watching the scene unfold with amusement.

Just as Linlin was about to snap again, Roger raised his hand.

"Linlin, I'd be honored to attend your tea party. Why don't we start now?"

Long Bread, not wanting tensions to escalate, interjected.

"After all, we're on our own turf, if a fight breaks out, we'll end up suffering the most."

"Let's start then!" Linlin shouted, her impatience fueled by the aroma of desserts filling her mouth with saliva. She strode toward the garden, where the tea party would be held amidst blooming flowers and chirping birds. Roger and his crew followed her closely.

In the garden, tables and chairs were already arranged. The furniture, sized for Linlin's towering frame, made the smaller crew look like children seated at a play table. Nevertheless, they took their seats, as awkward as it felt.

Linlin settled onto her large chair, smiling cheerfully—a stark contrast to the crazed woman from moments ago. Raising her tea cup, she said,

"Let's begin!"

Roger lifted his cup in response, clinking it with Linlin's. The tea was pleasantly sweet, yet Roger's mind was elsewhere. Smiling politely, he conversed with her while secretly activating his ability to "hear the Voice of All Things," aiming to locate the final Road Poneglyph on Totto Land.

Roger's silent search went unnoticed, even by Linlin, though Shanks cast him a curious glance. The tea party proceeded smoothly, with Linlin savoring the calm and cheerful atmosphere.

Unbeknownst to her, Roger had thoroughly mapped out Totto Land, locating the Road Poneglyph's hiding place. Grinning slyly, Roger's expression didn't go unnoticed by Rayleigh, who leaned over and whispered,

"Roger, you already…"

Roger nodded with a grin. "Got the materials ready?"

Rayleigh subtly adjusted his cloak, revealing a roll of aged parchment tucked inside. This wasn't just any parchment—it was specifically for making rubbings of the Poneglyph, pre-inked to capture the text with a single press. They both knew Linlin would never allow them to take it openly, so they had prepared to make a quick rubbing instead.

Realizing that she'd never willingly let them see, much less take, the Poneglyph, they had decided to rely on a pirate's greatest asset: cunning.

Watching Linlin immerse herself in the party, Roger believed they had an excellent chance.

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+170 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg