As the second son of the family, Katakuri understood Charlotte Linlin better than most.
It wasn't just because he was born early; due to his immense strength, Linlin would often take him along for training and missions. This gave him far more time with her than his less talented siblings.
Linlin had a particular habit: she was exceptionally gentle toward children under the age of ten. She wouldn't even mind if they used her arm as a slide. If the children had ideas, she would listen—provided she hadn't already made up her mind on how to handle a situation. Once her mind was set, however, she ignored their opinions entirely.
If any other sibling had acted like Nanamo, Linlin would have long since slapped them unconscious and sent them home to reflect in isolation.
Maybe having a father... isn't such a bad thing?
The thought flashed through Katakuri's mind, but he quickly pushed it aside. He knew a bit about why Linlin acted this way. Based on her behavior and things Nanamo had told him, Katakuri had formed his own conclusion.
Logan respected his daughter's autonomy. If she chose to live with Charlotte Linlin in the future, he wouldn't stop her. This was Katakuri's general understanding of the situation, and it wasn't far from the truth.
Given that Linlin couldn't defeat Logan in a fight to take the child by force, she had resorted to this "soft policy."
"Listen up! You must respect your eldest sister just as you respect me! Whenever she comes here to play, you follow her lead! And as for today—none of you are to speak a word of this to Nanamo!"
This was what Linlin had told the older children while Nanamo was away, charging them with keeping the younger ones in line. When her "Hunger Pangs" weren't flaring and her sanity was intact, Linlin was a deeply calculating woman. Scheming and showing restraint was perfectly normal for her.
As for Nanamo herself, she didn't overthink things.
Primarily due to the gap in martial prowess, Nanamo had been raised by Logan and was naturally closer to him. Logan never forbade her from seeing Linlin; after all, in these chaotic seas, having two famous, living parents was a rare luxury.
Furthermore, life was simply better with Logan. She was his only child, and the Fish-Men and Merfolk who followed him treated her with great care because of her father. Just as Hermes addressed her as "Princess Nanamo," she truly lived like a little princess on Logan's side.
On the other hand, Linlin's brood...
Nanamo couldn't even keep track of them. Gloriosa had once described Linlin's reproductive rate as "popping popcorn"—every year there were new half-siblings. Popping over to visit like a neighbor was fine, but the thought of living with such a massive family made Nanamo's head ache.
After checking on the injured Brulee and playing for a while, Nanamo returned to Logan. Once she was gone, Linlin turned her gaze toward her son.
"Katakuri, between you and Nanamo, who do you think is stronger right now?"
"Mama... you know her situation. If I really fought her... I might not even be able to break through her armor."
Katakuri was momentarily at a loss for words. Facing Nanamo's "Iron Balloon" innate talent, the adolescent Katakuri simply had no solution. When your damage output is effectively zero, there is no way to win.
"Ma-ma~ Ma-ma~! It's only natural, she's the only child who inherited my physical defense."
Katakuri's answer was within Linlin's expectations. For a moment, she looked like a normal mother praising her daughter. But as she continued, her tone grew bitter.
"Children are supposed to stay with their mothers. That bastard Logan... if it weren't for him, how could Nanamo not choose me...?"
Katakuri remained silent. Even though Linlin hadn't yet become the "mad old hag" of her later years, this wasn't a topic he dared touch. Her moods were unpredictable; one wrong word could trigger her wrath.
A short while later, at Logan's base, Nanamo found her father in his study.
The shelves were lined with various books and picture novels. Titles like The Legend of Dracula, Dark Night, and Hotel Transylvania were visible—mostly vampire-themed works.
Unlike the slight unease she felt around Linlin, Nanamo was completely relaxed here. She hopped up and sat directly on Logan's desk.
"Dad, I'm back. Is something big happening? I saw a lot of people preparing the ships on my way in."
There were many pirates on the island, but they usually acted independently. This level of coordinated team activity was rare.
"Yes, you could say that. This event... marks the end of an era and a new beginning."
"An era?" Nanamo looked confused, not quite grasping the weight of the word, but she looked eager to jump in.
"It's too early. That is not a place you should set foot in yet."
"Oh, come on! Dad, I'm really strong. Ask anyone! Katakuri and I took out an entire pirate crew this morning!"
"Nanamo, it's different there."
Logan didn't know the exact details of God Valley himself—only the fragments of history he remembered from his past life. With his own power, he didn't fear the place, but taking Nanamo involved too high a risk.
"I get it..." Seeing Logan's expression turn solemn, Nanamo dropped the subject. His tone made it clear he wouldn't change his mind.
"Don't be discouraged. You just need more time. You're still too young. When the day comes, I will take you to see what the top of the world looks like. I'm holding a small meeting soon to arrange things; you should stay and listen."
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