Law remained perfectly calm in front of Big Mom.
This situation had already been anticipated before he came.
Linlin looked at him without saying a word.
The officers beside her raised their eyebrows in surprise, showing a bit of admiration for Law's courage.
He was still able to stay composed under the pressure of Big Mom's Conqueror's Haki.
As long as Law didn't make the first move to provoke her, Linlin couldn't do anything.
It wouldn't be one of the Straw Hats who attacked, but her.
"Ma–ma–ma–ma!! Such courage!"
Suddenly, Linlin burst into laughter, and the Conqueror's Haki filling the hall dissipated.
"This is a letter from Straw Hat."
Law appeared calm as he took the letter Luffy had given him from his pocket.
A tall, tanned, and well-built woman from the Longleg Tribe—with wavy white hair cascading down her back, bangs covering her right eye, sharp blue eyes, and full lips coated in silver lipstick—took the letter and handed it to Big Mom.
She had disproportionately large hands even for her size, and like all Longlegs, she was exceptionally tall, standing at 464 cm.
She was one of the Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates: Charlotte Smoothie.
"Mother."
Once Linlin received it, she immediately opened the letter.
As her eyes scanned the contents, Charlotte Linlin's face suddenly twisted in anger.
"That arrogant brat!"
Crushing the letter into a ball, Big Mom snorted coldly and said, "Call him."
"Yes, Mother."
A small white Den Den Mushi was handed to Law, and Linlin commanded, "Contact Straw Hat right now!"
Upon hearing that, Law immediately dialed the number.
---
At the same time, in Elegia, inside the castle's grand banquet hall—
A long table had been set up in the spacious hall.
Luffy sat at one end of it, facing the main door.
The seats were arranged according to gender—men on the left, women on the right—and every spot was filled.
Mr. 3 had prepared black tea and was serving cups to everyone.
"How does it taste this time, Captain?" he asked, stepping back like a waiter.
Luffy took a sip of the tea.
He had to admit—Mr. 3's tea-making skills had improved faster than his fighting strength.
That might actually be his main ability among the Straw Hats.
If he'd devoted all his time to brewing black tea, he probably wouldn't be able to use Haki now.
As that thought crossed his mind, the Den Den Mushi on the table rang.
Luffy didn't move, simply taking another calm sip of tea.
Mr. 3 answered at once.
Law's voice came from the other end:
"I delivered the letter, Captain."
"Thanks for your hard work," Luffy replied.
Then, the Den Den Mushi changed its expression, mimicking the next voice it transmitted vividly.
"Straw Hat... my son, is Katakuri doing well?"
"Katakuri, your mother's calling you."
Katakuri, who was a prisoner, naturally didn't have a seat at the table.
Standing behind Luffy, he said calmly:
"Mother, I'm fine."
Once he finished speaking, Luffy continued:
"Charlotte Linlin, is my request ready?"
"Hmph, come and get it yourself—if you've got the guts. Don't tell me you're afraid to come again?"
Hearing that, Luffy just gave a small smile.
"That's a low-level provocation. I'll be there soon."
After saying that, he gestured with his eyes.
Mr. 3 immediately hung up the line.
"Everyone, finish your tea. It's time to go pick up the red stone."
The moment he said it, the entire island of Elegia began to tremble lightly.
Then, slowly, it lifted from the sea and started moving toward the Totto Land region.
When the shaking stopped, Uta, who had been lying lazily on the table, suddenly regained some energy.
"Is it going to take long? How about I sing a song for everyone? New Era~"
Without waiting for anyone's reply, she started singing right away, ignoring whether the others wanted to listen or not.
Moria's mouth twitched as she covered her ears, showing clear annoyance.
Perona listened with sparkling eyes, completely absorbed.
Robin, quietly reading her book, sighed in mild helplessness.
Luffy suddenly felt drowsy, set down his teacup, rested his cheek on one hand, and slowly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he was still in the banquet hall—but no one else was there.
"What are you doing, pulling me into this world?"
Colorful musical notes shimmered before him, and Uta appeared with a soft chime.
She walked up to Luffy, sat down, and said brightly:
"Do you still remember that song from when we were kids?"
"When we were kids?"
'Where Does the Wind Go?'
Luffy recalled, "It was kind of sad."
"What's sad about it? It's a gentle song!"
Uta puffed her cheeks in mock anger. "I'll sing it for you now. This time, please listen carefully! Just this song—I want to sing it only for you~"
Luffy gave a helpless look as she began, realizing she had pulled him into this virtual world just to sing.
Before she could start, though, Luffy suddenly pulled her closer, making her yelp in surprise.
"Eh???"
Uta froze mid-motion, completely flustered.
Luffy smiled. "That's not the song I want to hear."
"Huh?"
Uta's eyes widened, her face turning red as she stiffened in embarrassment.
---
Meanwhile, back in the real world—
Uta, who had been singing, suddenly stopped mid-song.
Kaya, who had been listening intently, blinked in confusion and asked,
"Uta, your song was beautiful—why did you stop?"
Uta sat there, face slightly flushed, pressing her knees together under the table.
What is Luffy doing?!
She glanced at him shyly.
Luffy was seated at the head of the table, resting his cheek on one hand, eyes closed as if napping—but in truth, he was the one teasing her in the virtual space.
Though slightly annoyed, she couldn't help feeling a bit flustered doing something only the two of them knew, right in front of everyone else.
"I… I'll take a short break. Brook, could you sing a song for everyone?"
Saying that, she immediately ducked her head under the table, hiding her face—her expression betraying both embarrassment and defeat.
---
(End of chapter)