Luffy cast an empty look at Uta.
"How's your ability working?" he asked casually.
"Hmm… it feels… a little strange," Uta replied, tilting her head. "I don't feel any special change, but it seems like I can now create a permanent virtual space."
Luffy blinked, visibly surprised.
Seeing his expression, Uta puffed up proudly. "Hey~ Luffy, what do you think?"
Luffy couldn't help but pinch the girl's cheek.
"Ah! That hurts!" Uta yelped, rubbing her face before pouncing on him playfully.
If it weren't for his Observation Haki sensing someone's approach, she might have ended up getting "devoured" right then and there.
"Luffy, what do you want me to do?" came Robin's calm voice as she entered.
Robin and Vivi had arrived together in the living room — only to find Luffy and Uta sitting on the couch, clothes a bit disheveled.
Uta's face turned crimson in an instant.
Smirking, Luffy pulled out two Awakening Fruits and handed them over.
"Eat these. They'll awaken the full potential of your Devil Fruits."
The two women exchanged a glance — then nodded and ate them without hesitation.
Almost immediately, their powers surged to new heights.
Vivi's fruit awakened first: now she could permanently alter the climate of any area she wished.
It was similar to the legendary battle between Akainu and Aokiji that had turned Punk Hazard into a frozen inferno for eternity.
As for Robin, her awakening was even more extraordinary. Now, any part of her body could sprout from anything — not just tangible surfaces.
In other words, her body parts could appear out of thin air, anywhere in existence.
She could even create multiple clones of herself in an instant — perfect copies, indistinguishable from the original. Not even the sharpest Observation Haki could tell them apart.
At that moment, before Luffy's eyes, three Robins appeared at once.
Even with all his Haki, he couldn't sense which one was real.
If one Robin was already heaven itself… then three Robins might as well be paradise.
Sensing his thoughts, Robin chuckled softly.
"Fufu~ Luffy, what exactly are you thinking?"
Luffy grinned, tilting up the chin of the Robin nearest to him.
"Come to my room later and you'll find out."
Before Robin could reply, Nami arrived — with Law walking in beside her.
Luffy gave Robin a playful wink and handed another Awakening Fruit to Nami.
Her awakening turned out to be similar to Vivi's, granting her near-total control over weather patterns.
Law, on the other hand, stood there, slightly bewildered.
"Captain… what do you need from me?" he asked.
"Has Katakuri done anything unusual?" Luffy asked in return.
"No, actually. He's been behaving himself."
"Good. Then tell him to get ready — he'll be returning to Big Mom soon."
Luffy smirked. "I want you to deliver a message for me. Take my letter and send it to Whole Cake Island."
Once upon a time, he would've just stormed into Big Mom's territory himself.
But now there were rules — a bit of pirate etiquette to follow. And honestly, he wasn't in the mood for a fight.
"I understand. When should I depart?" Law asked.
"As soon as possible," Luffy replied.
Law nodded. "Got it."
He didn't bring his whole crew — just Bepo.
Once aboard the Polar Tang, the submarine raced through the sea, guided by the Eternal Pose.
It took only a single day to reach the waters of Totto Land.
But the moment he entered Big Mom's territory, a reconnaissance ship detected him.
The vessel — shaped like a cake, unmanned, and armed with cannons — quickly relayed the alert.
Soon, a dozen more surrounded the Polar Tang.
Then, a much larger pirate ship appeared.
On its deck stood a slender middle-aged man with sharp features, heavy makeup, and a massive candy staff in his hand. Narrowing his eyes, he gazed at the distant submarine.
"It's the Straw Hat flag, Lord Perospero," said a subordinate behind him.
"Hehehehe… that's the captain of the Fourth Division of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet — Trafalgar Law of the Heart Pirates," said Charlotte Perospero, licking his candy stick with a grotesque grin.
"He must have come for a 'formal exchange'. At least that Straw Hat brat understands a bit of etiquette."
It was traditional among pirate emperors: before meeting another Yonko's crew, one must send an emissary in advance.
A simple Den Den Mushi call wasn't enough — the Marines might be listening.
"Guide the ship to them!" Perospero ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
Moments later, the ships aligned side by side.
"I am Charlotte Perospero, Minister of Candy of Totto Land and officer of the Big Mom Pirates," he declared.
"Now, tell me — what brings you here?"
"I came only to deliver a message," Law said calmly from the Polar Tang's deck.
"Just a message, huh? I can't let you in so easily—"
But before he could continue, the Den Den Mushi on his belt began to ring.
When he picked it up, a deep, commanding voice echoed through:
"Let him in," said Charlotte Linlin.
"Yes, Mama," Perospero replied immediately.
He exhaled sharply and turned back to Law.
"You go alone. The bear stays on the ship."
"Bepo, wait here," Law instructed.
"Be careful, Captain!" Bepo called as Law leapt lightly onto Perospero's deck.
The Heart Pirates watched silently as their captain disappeared toward Whole Cake Island.
Before long, Law stood within Big Mom's grand hall — surrounded by her most powerful officers.
If it had been in the past, he might not have survived even one of them.
"Mamamamama… So you're Trafalgar Law?" Big Mom's laughter filled the air like thunder.
Seated on her queenly throne, her enormous frame loomed forward, crimson eyes gleaming.
"Yes, I am—"
Before he could finish, Linlin unleashed her Conqueror's Haki, the air crackling with invisible pressure.
She grinned coldly. "I'll give you one chance. Leave the Straw Hat Fleet and serve under me… or you can walk out of this room."
Law fell silent for a moment, remembering the Awakening Fruit that Luffy had given him.
Then, slowly, a smirk formed on his face.
"Why would I abandon the Straw Hat Fleet?" he said, his voice calm but defiant. "I'm the captain of the Fourth Division — and I'm not leaving. But if you want a fight…"
He took a step forward, eyes blazing.
"…then I'll fight."
---
(End of Chapter)