Meanwhile, on Whole Cake Island.
“Mama, have you made your decision?”
“I have. This is the best choice.”
Charlotte Linlin grabbed doughnuts that were trying to escape, then tossed them all into her mouth in one go.
This was only the beginning. Along with splattering saliva and crumbs, a large amount of sweets followed, all being devoured.
“Kaido wouldn’t lie to me about something like this. Before the One Piece is truly found, our alliance won’t break.”
Hearing Charlotte Linlin’s words, Katakuri instead let out a sigh of relief.
He knew better than anyone that if Charlotte Linlin suddenly lost her mind and chose a more aggressive course of action at this time, the Charlotte Family would inevitably decline because of it.
“However, Katakuri, you still need to become stronger.”
The Big Mom Pirates had no shortage of manpower and were a massive force in the New World, but everything depended on who they were compared against.
Katakuri could handle most opponents, but he was still lacking when it came to top-tier battles.
Once these Emperors of the Sea got serious, even their senior officers couldn’t last long. Those who could avoid being instantly defeated by a single blow could be counted on one hand across the entire sea.
From this, one could see just how terrifying Kin’emon’s vitality was, comparable even to Nika.
“Mama, I will work hard.”
Crack, crack.
The sound of biscuits breaking rang out. Charlotte Linlin didn’t respond. Although she had voiced her expectations, she knew this was an extremely difficult goal for Katakuri; after all, he was already 48 years old.
If he could go further, he would have broken through that level long ago instead of remaining stuck until now.
Still, Katakuri was the child closest to the goal Charlotte Linlin desired. No matter what, she no longer had the chance to give birth to another and train them from scratch.
“The location is the usual one. Settle the matters near Whole Cake Island. This matter isn’t simple, I’ll have to go personally. If you go, that brat Kaido might not necessarily show you any respect.”
Calling her Linlin to her face but “old hag” behind her back; calling Kaido by name to his face but “that brat” behind his back. Kaido had perfectly learned some of Charlotte Linlin’s traits: one thing in person, another behind their back.
“Understood. But Mama, I have one more question. Where did you get this information? No one below mentioned anything about Kaido forming an alliance with Red Hair.”
“I bought it from that newly emerged Cross Guild. That red-nosed brat seems to have become someone extraordinary too…”
“Ah-choo!”
On Karai Bari Island, Buggy, who was being talked about, sneezed. The movement pulled at the wound on his face, causing him to grimace in pain.
“You’ve got some nerve, kid. Daring to do any kind of business.”
“Yeah, selling news about Kaido and Red Hair to Big Mom. Impressive! You clearly don’t have much ability, yet you still dare to meddle in the affairs of those three monsters.”
Hawk Eyes was carrying his blade, and judging from the mark on Buggy’s face, that injury had clearly been made by Hawk Eyes slapping him with the flat of his sword.
For Buggy to make Hawk Eyes use his main weapon, that’s quite an honor.
As for the other injuries, they were obviously Crocodile’s doing.
All of this was because he had sold the information. Aside from their own people, the only one who knew the details of Kaido and Red Hair was Buggy.
Back then, Red Hair gave him a way out, and afterward, Crocodile, who was retreating, picked up these people who had nearly been shipwrecked along the way.
“It was just a bit of information. It’s not a big deal, right…”
“Not a big deal? I don’t want anything to do with those monsters right now. While they’re busy with their own affairs, we should be focusing on development—not like you, actively getting involved with them.”
Seemingly still dissatisfied, Crocodile stomped on him again before finally sitting back down in satisfaction.
“The Cross Guild has at least made a bit of a name for itself now. Given the current situation, that’s enough for now. But Hawk Eyes, you should understand Red Hair better. What do you think he’s trying to do this time?”
“No idea. Logically, he’s not someone who forms alliances casually. If he really intends to ally with Kaido, then something must have happened that we don’t understand.”
“Isn’t that the same as saying nothing?”
“Hey, hey, at least give me some face. Shouldn’t you be asking me about this kind of thing?!”
At the mention of Shanks, Buggy perked up immediately. Right now, Buggy was trying hard to prove his own worth. He wanted the two in front of him to understand that aside from his reputation and manpower, he was still valuable.
“Now that you mention it, this red nose and Shanks were crewmates from the same era.”
“That’s true, but this guy is definitely the stain on Roger’s ship. Being so close to Roger and Red Hair, and he still didn’t learn a single good thing.”
Hawk Eyes and Crocodile had developed a kind of tacit understanding. At least when it came to mocking Buggy, they were perfectly in sync.
Buggy, however, relied on his thick skin to ignore their ridicule and began seriously laying out his analysis.
“No matter what, I understand Shanks better than you do. Sure, the guy’s a b*stard, shameless, always playing dumb, but…”
“Are you talking about yourself?”
“Of course not! You’d only understand how annoying he is after spending time with him!
In short, Shanks doesn’t make moves lightly. If he decides to step in, then either he’s fully prepared and believes he’s guaranteed to win…
…or it’s time to flip the table.”
Hawk Eyes and Crocodile exchanged a glance and chose to believe Buggy’s words.
From what Shanks had done during the battle on Bubble Island, it was clear that Buggy and Red Hair shared a deep bond. It was only natural that two people who had known each other since childhood would know some special secrets.
Moreover, what Buggy said aligned closely with Hawk Eyes’ own deductions.
“That would be quite a terrifying gamble. Do you have any thoughts on what happens next?”
Crocodile chose to believe Buggy, but immediately ignored him afterward and turned to Hawk Eyes instead.
He still stuck to his original thinking. Buggy could at most serve as a reference; his ideas themselves were unusable.
“No. But now isn’t the time for us to enter the game.”
“I think so too. And I’ve got a new idea, look here.”
“Alabasta?”
Following the direction Crocodile pointed, Hawk Eyes saw the large name.
“That’s right, Alabasta. Not long ago at the Levely, the king of Alabasta died and the princess went missing. That’s too much of a coincidence.
I spent a long time there before. Even though I failed, I confirmed one thing. Even if Pluton isn’t there, that country definitely holds a huge secret.
There are far too many historical ruins there. Beneath the sands, who knows how many things are buried.
Think about it carefully, the Levely was the beginning of everything. There’s definitely something wrong with Alabasta, and it’s related to the upheaval of the entire world.”
“So you’re suggesting we withdraw from the New World first?”
“No, no. If we leave now, it won’t be easy to come back. But this place has already drawn the attention of the entire world. At a time like this, wouldn’t it be perfect to send someone with very little presence to Alabasta?”
“Moria.”
“Exactly. That guy’s like a shut-in, he barely ever leaves. But his and his subordinate’s ability is extremely convenient, and in Paradise, their strength is more than enough.
He’s been doing even less than Buggy lately. We should at least give him something to do, right?”
“I think you’re right. Let them handle things over there.”
As he spoke, Hawk Eyes stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked outside.
“Oh right, remember to notify Moria.”
“Huh? Aren’t you going to do that?”
“No. My package has arrived, I’m going to pick it up. I’ll leave that to you.”
“Huh?”
Crocodile blinked in confusion. Among the three remaining pillars of the Cross Guild, he had always thought Hawk Eyes was the only normal one. Whether in mindset or strength, he far surpassed Buggy and Moria.
Now it seemed he had misjudged again. Hawk Eyes’ strength was unquestionable, but his lifestyle…
Waking up in the morning to tend the garden, spending the morning observing his baboons and sea cows, and in the afternoon going to pick up deliveries. No matter how you looked at it, he resembled a retired old man.
“Portable engine, single-person propeller, automatic fishing rod… alright, everything’s here.”
After checking the list, Hawk Eyes signed his name, while a group of Buggy’s subordinates eagerly carried the delivered items for him like devoted followers.
Not far behind them, Mr. 1 quietly recorded Hawk Eyes’ actions, seemingly intending to study how the Strongest Swordsman in the World trained in his daily life.
Unnoticed by Crocodile, the Cross Guild’s vibe was gradually beginning to warp.
At the shipping origin of the delivery, the Corviknight Taxi had already landed. After many years, Red Hair Shanks had officially entered Wano Country for the first time.
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