This was the photo of Carmel that BIGMOM treasured most.
Normally, she would personally wipe it carefully with a handkerchief. When the nun's smile became clearer, her mood would improve, and she wouldn't allow even a speck of dust to settle on it.
But now.
BIGMOM, whose rationality was gradually fading, no longer cared at all.
"Want, want, want..."
Her pacing grew increasingly frantic, her eyes bloodshot, and her lips began to twitch uncontrollably as she descended into a state of madness.
"That brat who can reverse aging..."
BIGMOM let out a scream, her voice filled with a morbid craving, "I want her! Perospero! Do you understand? If I can get her, I can become young and beautiful again!"
To be honest, she didn't understand why she felt this way either.
At the last Tea Party.
She had tried to keep Bonney but failed. Yet when they parted, she had felt only a slight regret, mostly composed and at peace.
The bloom of youth.
That was something she had lost long ago and had long grown accustomed to!
Back on Rocks' ship, even when facing the peerlessly beautiful Empress Shaki, she hadn't felt the slightest envy, confident in her own strength and charm.
It was the same now!
What did it matter if she had aged? Did it change anything? She was still the Sea Emperor who shook the New World, the fearsome "BIGMOM" Charlotte Linlin!
But...
But...
Why was it that, half a month after the Tea Party ended and Bonney's ability fully wore off, the face of her youth began haunting her day and night like a nightmare?
Especially whenever she looked in the mirror...
Seeing her wrinkled, aging face reflected back, the craving for that age-reversing power grew stronger, almost driving her insane.
Why?!
"Is it you, Sister?"
As if struck by a realization, she whirled around, her massive hand grabbing the photo of Carmel beside the mirror. Her bloodshot eyes fixed on the nun's kind smile in the picture.
"Mamamama! I understand now! Even you couldn't bear it anymore, could you? You pity me, you love me, you don't want Linlin to look even older than you, right?"
BIGMOM suddenly began to chuckle softly, her voice turning gentle yet laced with a bone-chilling distortion.
"That must be it, yes, yes... Sister, you never left, you've always been with Linlin... All these years, Linlin has missed you so much, so much... Why won't you talk to Linlin...?"
"So I must become young again, even younger than before, as young as that little brat Bonney! Then Sister will recognize Linlin! You'll pat Linlin's head like in the Lamb House, smiling and saying..."
Her voice faded to a whisper as she sank into a strange, trance-like state.
Her children below exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to interrupt.
"Mother..."
Her eldest son Perospero broke out in a cold sweat, a deep unease rising in his heart.
He had never seen Mama in such a state before—not even during the worst bouts of her Food Craving Sickness had she ever been like this.
His earlier assumptions had been completely wrong.
Mama's desire to reclaim Bonney wasn't just about possessing the power to restore youth and vitality. Beyond that, buried even deeper in her heart, was an obsession that had festered for fifty or sixty years—could it be that she wanted to completely revert to her childhood form?!
The more Perospero thought about it, the more it sent chills down his spine.
When the Food Craving Sickness struck, they could always rush in vast quantities of food to soothe her. But if Bonney wasn't brought back, how could they possibly satisfy this insatiable, maddening craving of Mama's?
The entire Totto Land would be destroyed because of this!
"Report!"
At that moment, the castle doors were flung open, and one of the Charlotte Family's children rushed in, dropping to one knee and announcing loudly:
"Report, Mama! Miss Beverny has returned with the target! She requests an audience—may she enter now?"
Hearing this, Perospero and the others present finally exhaled in relief, their tension easing.
"Mamamama! She's finally back!" BIGMOM suddenly raised her head. "Where is she?! Bring her to me now!"
Bzzzt!
No sooner had she spoken than the walls of the castle hall shimmered with a green glow. An ancient-looking door abruptly materialized on the wall.
"No need for an escort, Lady Linlin. If I wish to enter this Whole Cake Castle, I can step in at any time."
The golden-haired Beverny stepped gracefully through the door, smiling. "But it would be far too rude not to announce myself first. For a Sea Emperor like you, utmost respect is only proper."
In her right hand, she held a pink-haired little girl shackled with Sea Stone Handcuffs—Bonney.
"Let me go! Let me go! You evil woman!" Bonney struggled desperately, but under the Sea Stone's suppression, she had no strength to resist. Her small face was streaked with tears—clearly, she had been crying and resisting the entire way here.
"Mamamama! How considerate of you, little Beverny. As for Bonney… what a coincidence, we meet again!" BIGMOM could hardly contain herself. Her massive frame practically lunged forward as she crouched in front of Bonney, her wrinkled face nearly pressing against the girl's.
"At last… at last I can see Mother Carmel…"
Her thick, trembling hand reached out to touch Bonney's cheek, only for the girl to bite down hard on her finger.
"Get away from me, you old hag!"
Ugh, so salty—can't even bite through it! Bonney spat it out in disgust, then glared up fiercely like an enraged little beast.
"I knew it was you behind this! And to think I actually considered you a friend last time—I didn't see through your true nature, you rotten old crone!"
"How dare you!" Perospero frowned and stepped forward, only to be waved off by BIGMOM.
Far from being angered, the Four Emperor instead smiled warmly, almost dotingly.
"Mamamama, even Pirates have their principles, Bonney. Don't worry—no matter how you see me, I'm still willing to be your friend. In the days to come, I'll treat you well… until you're willing to stay with me forever…"
Her gaze suddenly shifted to Beverny. "You've done well, bounty hunter. Hey, Perospero—pay her double the reward!"
"Double? So that's one billion Berries?"
Beverny perked up, whistling in excitement:
"Whoo~! That's more than I've earned from all my jobs since last year. How generous, Lady Linlin! Thanks—working for you Sea Emperors really pays off!"
Perospero obediently brought over ten briefcases, while Bonney glared at Beverny:
"Don't get too cocky! Hey! You! You know you're working for a Sea Emperor, but have you forgotten that Xiano is also a Sea Emperor? Aren't you afraid of his wrath?"
"Xiano?"
BIGMOM burst into laughter beside them. "Mamamama, that brat… I have to admit, what he did at Sabaody was quite impressive. It reminded me of that man back in the day…"
"But precisely because of that, he's now the World Government and Marine Headquarters' top target. They'll retaliate against him at any moment."
BIGMOM clicked her tongue. "Forget the distant future—at the very least, he can't leave the Curtain Closer so easily right now. And he certainly won't tear apart the New World just to hunt down a small fry like you…"
"That's assuming the worst-case scenario."
Beverny raised her right hand, flipping her golden hair arrogantly. "My ability is one of a kind. No matter what, the Curtain Closer would never guess you're in Totto Land now, nor trace this back to me."
The moment Beverny finished speaking—
Brrring brrring~ Brrring brrring~
An urgent Den Den Mushi ringtone suddenly echoed through the castle hall.
"Hmm?" BIGMOM frowned and turned her head.
"I'll get it, Mama."
The eldest daughter, Compote, hurried over and answered the large Den Den Mushi on the table. Meanwhile, Beverny glanced at Bonney and casually covered her mouth.
The call connected, and the Den Den Mushi's appearance rapidly transformed.
Short, messy black hair, sharp sword-like eyebrows—these features alone weren't enough to confirm the caller's identity. But when the Den Den Mushi leaned forward slightly, its eyes radiating a bone-chilling coldness…
Almost simultaneously, the Charlotte Family members present paled, their minds flashing to a certain man.
"It's been a while since last year's Tea Party, Linlin."
A familiar, icy voice rang out, confirming their suspicions:
"By now, you should have guessed why I'm calling. Care to explain why you sent someone to kidnap Bonney?"
The entire hall of Whole Cake Castle fell dead silent.
Bonney's mouth was tightly covered, preventing her from making a sound, but the wild joy in her eyes was unmistakable—Ha! She knew it! Even if Kuma was too dumb to find her, Xiano would definitely come through!
Meanwhile, the Charlotte siblings exchanged stunned glances, their faces filled with disbelief.
This matter had been top-secret within Totto Land—none of the other officers knew except for them. Even Beverny, the one hired for the kidnapping, had been contracted through the most discreet channels. How could the other side have pinpointed the culprit and come knocking so quickly?
BIGMOM's expression darkened.
Her gaze swept the room, first locking onto Beverny, but she soon frowned and looked away—it couldn't be her. So… had another one of her children betrayed her?
Another Lola? More than one?
"Mamamamama!"
She suddenly burst into exaggerated laughter. "How utterly baffling, Xiano! I was actually quite pleased to hear your voice at first, but then you start with this absurd interrogation right off the bat, Bonney? Since when have I—"
"Enough."
A cold voice cut through from the other end of the Den Den Mushi. "At least act like a Sea Emperor, Linlin! Own up to your actions! What's the point of putting on an act at a time like this?!"
"..."
BIGMOM fell silent.
Shame, fury, longing—all these emotions swirled in her eyes.
Finally, when her gaze swept past the photograph of Carmel beside her, all hesitation was replaced by a flash of ferocity.
"It was me! Mamamama! So what?"
She bared her teeth, slowly straightening to her full height.
"I want that brat! I want her by my side until the day I die, and no one can change that! Don't think just because I showed you some courtesy at the last Tea Party, you can place yourself above me, Xiano! Who the hell do you think you are, daring to speak to me in that tone?!"
So what if you've gained recognition and risen as a new Sea Emperor?
That title...
She's held it for decades!
From the days when Rocks' era hadn't yet seen its sunset, Charlotte Linlin has always been one of the most formidable forces ruling the seas!
Her painstakingly built Totto Land, her vast fleet, her illustrious Emperor Crew with its elite officers—
How could some newly formed faction possibly compare?!
Mama! Truly, Mama! The surrounding Charlotte children trembled in awe, their faces filled with reverence.
Facing the interrogation of another Sea Emperor with such unyielding dominance—this was why they could endure Mama's ways and still adore her!
The other end of the line remained silent for a few seconds.
"So, you're not planning to return Bonney, nor even bothering to explain?"
Xiano's icy voice came through.
"Spare me that naive talk! If I can't return Bonney to you, then any explanation is pointless, isn't it?"
BIGMOM cackled. "Mamamama! I'm a Pirate, Xiano! When I take something I want, I don't give it back!"
"You keep insisting you're not a Pirate, but if you live in the New World, in this era, you'll have to play by Pirate rules! If you want Bonney back, come and take her by force!!!"
The Den Den Mushi's expressionless face twisted into a sinister grin.
"Honestly, I'm glad to hear you say that... Seems I don't need to hold back for old times' sake anymore."
"Wait for me in Totto Land, in your stronghold, Charlotte Linlin! You want to use Bonney's power to regain your youth? No need—I, Xiano, can make you young again myself!!!"
Click.
The call ended. BIGMOM stared coldly at the Den Den Mushi, silent for a long while.
"Mama..."
Perospero waited before daring to speak, wiping sweat from his brow. "Does that guy mean he's going to—"
"What, didn't you hear, idiot? He's coming to visit!"
BIGMOM crushed the receiver in her grip, erupting into wild laughter.
"Mamamama! How exciting! Hey, little ones, get ready immediately! Our Totto Land is about to welcome the most distinguished and worthy guests since its founding!"
——————
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In the Fleet Admiral's office at the top floor.
"The selection for the Warlord of the Sea positions—the Holy Land has urged us for the second time to finalize the list."
Sengoku rubbed his temples, looking thoroughly exhausted. "We can't delay any longer.
At the same time, the CP department has submitted a candidate recommendation—a rather troublesome fellow..."
"Who?"
Sitting across from him was Admiral Akainu, who had just returned to headquarters the previous night. For some reason, his expression was darker and more sullen than usual, and he had even lit a cigar—a rare sight—clenched between his teeth as he coldly exhaled smoke:
"That Weevil guy?"
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