"The actions of the Marines seem a little strange..." Shin frowned.
At first glance, there was nothing unusual about their defensive patterns, but upon closer inspection, it was clear—the Marines were deliberately setting a net around the Whitebeard Pirates.
In theory, the current Whitebeard Pirates had grown significantly stronger. Meanwhile, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin had weakened, and Red-Haired Shanks remained a neutral force. Given these factors, it made sense for the Marines to focus on the Whitebeard Pirates.
However, Shin had a nagging suspicion that these actions were ultimately aimed at him.
Ever since he had left Mary Geoise, neither the Navy nor the World Government had directly confronted him. It was as if they were deliberately holding back, biding their time. And the most likely way for them to strike was through the Whitebeard Pirates.
Although the Whitebeard Pirates were powerful, if the World Government committed fully, eliminating them wasn't impossible—it would just come at a steep price.
After reviewing the intelligence, Shin knew there was little he could do. One could prepare for a thousand days against an enemy, but stopping an enemy for a thousand days was impossible. He would simply have to respond accordingly.
He also doubted the World Government expected how much stronger he had become in such a short time. When the time came, they might be in for a rude awakening.
Setting the documents aside, Shin calculated his available forces before turning his attention to Pudding.
"Pudding, do you think you can defeat Charlotte Linlin now?"
"Huh?!" Charlotte Pudding looked utterly shocked. "Captain Shin, what are you saying?!"
"I brought you two Devil Fruits from Impel Down—the Vampire Bat Fruit and the Flying Fox Fruit—and fused them with your current enhanced Mythical Vampire Fruit. Your current strength should surpass Charlotte Linlin's, right?" Shin said matter-of-factly.
"If you defeat Charlotte Linlin, I'll let you take control of the Big Mom Pirates."
"Even if you say that... I... I just..." Pudding hesitated, the shadow of her mother weighing heavily on her mind.
"You really don't want to return to the Charlotte family? Think about it. If you defeat Charlotte Linlin, you'll be the rightful captain of the Big Mom Pirates."
Pudding breathing grew heavier at Shin's words.
She was never a conventional member of the Charlotte family—rebellion had always simmered within her. But having spent years under Linlin's oppressive rule, she had developed a timid facade. It was only after joining Shin that her mischievous, rebellious nature had fully emerged.
Now, hearing Shin suggest overthrowing her terrifying mother, fear and panic flashed through her mind at first. But soon, another emotion surfaced—an exhilarating sense of challenge.
Defeating her mother and becoming the head of the Charlotte family... The thought took root instantly and grew like wildfire.
Pudding might not have been overly ambitious, but the Charlotte family meant everything to her. If she could take charge...
"Alright, enough giggling," Shin sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Your decision is obvious."
"Huh? Was I laughing?" Pudding asked in surprise, only to see Violet and the others nodding in unison.
"Ah... Well, I admit, your proposal is tempting, Boss." Pudding stuck out her tongue. "But still... my mother isn't that easy to defeat."
"Don't worry, I'll train you personally. Another week or two should be enough. It just so happens that the Charlotte family is holding a gathering soon—perfect timing for your challenge."
"Uh... but don't I have a biochip? Do I really need special training?" Pudding shrank back. She had never been the diligent type. Her Observation Haki was decent, but her Armament Haki was weak at best.
Considering she was Charlotte Linlin's daughter, her physical strength and talent were undoubtedly top-tier. But even after growing up within the Big Mom Pirates, her Haki training had remained subpar—a testament to her laziness.
Only after joining Shin's crew had she been forced out of her comfort zone, finally putting in the effort to train.
Her Haki had advanced rapidly, but it wasn't until Shin gave her the enhanced Mythical Vampire Fruit and implanted a biochip that her true growth began. With automatic training aiding her, she had only recently mastered advanced Armament Haki.
Now, combined with her Mangekyō Sharingan and Devil Fruit abilities, she had finally reached the level of a Yonko.
"On paper, your strength is above Charlotte Linlin's," Shin admitted. "But what you lack is real combat experience—especially against opponents of equal power."
"Your mother might be the laziest of the top fighters at sea, but in her youth, she battled countless monsters. Her combat experience and willpower are formidable."
"So, for the next two weeks, I'll focus on one thing—actual combat. I'll make sure you're fully prepared for a Yonko-level battle."
"But don't worry. With my healing abilities, even if you're on the brink of death, I can restore you instantly—without leaving any scars."
At that, the grin on Pudding's face froze. "That... sounds a bit extreme..."
Shin shot her an indifferent look. "Only those who survive oceans of blood and corpses can reach the top of the world. Every true powerhouse has come close to death more than once."
"Even a natural-born monster like your mother must have faced near-death battles in her youth."
Pudding pouted. Then, as if realizing something, she turned to Shin. "Captain, have you ever faced a true life-or-death crisis?"
Shin blinked. Hm... He thought back to his time in the Spade Pirates. He had been in a few tough battles, sure. But thanks to his ninja techniques and survival skills, he had never truly been cornered.
After all, escaping was a skill in itself.
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