Belo Betty, who had been deep in thought for a long time, finally returned to her senses.

“Betty, how did it go?”

Yamato and Kuina stared at her eagerly.

She held the key to one of the greatest ambitions of their crew—granting everyone eternal youth.

“I’m confident that within a year, I will develop the Immortality Surgery,” Belo Betty said with certainty.

“Heh, that means we can stay with the captain forever!” Yamato excitedly scratched her head.

Even the usually cold and composed Kuina allowed a small smile.

“Let’s go tell the captain the good news!” Yamato was already impatient.

After taking a few steps, she suddenly remembered something. “Oh right, I almost forgot this Devil Fruit.”

She picked up the Mythical Zoan Daibutsu Fruit, which had been lying on the ground for a long time, and turned toward the port.

Golden Emperor Gray, who had been frozen in shock like a statue, suddenly snapped out of it.

Raising his hand, he called out, “W-wait a moment!”

“What do you want?”

Gray stared at them. “That Devil Fruit… I obtained it first. It’s mine!”

“What do you mean, yours? The one who killed Sengoku was the captain. This is his loot. Say another word and I’ll smash you,” Yamato threatened, waving her kanabo.

Gray instinctively took several steps back in fear.

“Tch.”

Yamato scoffed before walking away.

Under the stunned gazes of the gathered pirates, they left.

The Mythical Zoan Daibutsu Fruit ultimately fell into the hands of the Sun and Moon Pirates.

Behind them, Golden City lay in ruins.

The ambitious plans of Golden Emperor Gray had completely collapsed. Not only had he failed to accomplish his goals, but he had also lost everything. The other pirates gave him sympathetic glances but no longer entertained thoughts of forming an alliance with him.

One by one, they left.

And soon, news of what had transpired spread across the seas.

“Dammit! Dammit!”

Golden Emperor Gray seethed with fury, powerless to do anything.

Some of his subordinates, including Carina and Baccarat, approached him, their expressions downcast.

Carina, in particular, stared blankly at the fading figures of Yamato and her crew.

Her eyes were filled with envy.

Women on the seas were naturally at a disadvantage. Most had to rely on powerful figures just to survive in the cruel world of piracy.

The appearance of Yamato and her comrades had changed that.

For women like Carina and Baccarat, they had illuminated a path—a road where women could carve their own legend on the seas.

“Nami sure is lucky,” Carina thought, feeling envious of her former companion.

Before, she had mocked Nami for clinging to a childhood promise.

Now, she realized that Nami had been far luckier than herself.

“If only I could join the Sun and Moon Pirates…”

The thought took root in Carina’s heart.

Even though she had never met Kuke, she felt an overwhelming sense of admiration and respect for him.

“But how do I join?” Carina frowned, troubled.

“Maybe I can use Nami… I need to find Nami.”

She suddenly thought of her old friend, and the urge to take action grew stronger.

But then, she hesitated.

The Grand Line was a brutal place, and she had narrowly survived countless life-threatening situations just to make it from the East Blue to the New World.

She no longer had the confidence or courage to make the journey back on her own.

“If only someone could help me…”

She glanced around at the other people near her.

Who could she use?

Then her eyes landed on Baccarat.

She too was staring at Yamato’s departing group, her gaze filled with longing.

“Baccarat’s Luck-Luck Fruit… she could help us avoid danger.”

Carina quickly formulated a plan.

Meanwhile, in Totto Land

The Vinsmoke family sat stiffly on a couch, their expressions a mix of confusion and unease.

“They’re making us wait?”

“They look down on us too much. We are Germa, after all!”

“Big Mom’s family isn’t even an Emperor crew anymore. Father, why do we need to seek an alliance with them?”

The sixteen-year-old Vinsmoke brothers grumbled in dissatisfaction.

They had barely started negotiating when their hosts had abruptly left.

It was beyond disrespectful.

“Silence,” their father, Judge, snapped, casting a cold glare at his sons.

Though Germa had once ruled the North Blue, Judge knew a great deal about the current balance of power in the New World.

“Big Mom’s crew is no ordinary force. They used to be one of the Four Emperors, and though they no longer hold that title, their influence surpasses some of the current Emperors. Their captain, Charlotte Linlin, is still alive and has joined the Sun and Moon Pirates, one of the Four Emperors.”

Judge explained further, “The Sun and Moon Pirates wouldn’t bother allying with us. This is the best we can manage—to gain a connection through Big Mom’s family.”

“Father, the Sun and Moon Pirates are just one of the Four Emperors. Are they really worth this much effort?”

Reiju furrowed her brows.

She had yet to witness the true power of the New World.

Having been raised as warriors of Germa, she and her brothers still carried an air of arrogance, unafraid of the Four Emperors.

“If we associate with the Sun and Moon Pirates, we will never have to fear anyone again,” Judge said fervently.

He thought back to the rumors he had heard years ago, events so incredible that even now, they seemed surreal.

“Reiju, if you could join the Sun and Moon Pirates, it would be perfect,” Judge said, glancing at his daughter.

If she succeeded, Germa would stand at the pinnacle of the seas.

Reiju remained silent, merely observing her father’s excitement.

She grew even more curious.

What kind of person was Kuke to command such reverence?

Outside, chaos erupted across Whole Cake Island.

The entire crew scrambled to action, preparing the highest level of welcome.

This was why they had abruptly abandoned their negotiations with Germa—something of far greater importance had arrived.

“Hurry! Hurry!”

“Mom is back! And Kuke is here!”

“We must welcome the Sun and Moon Pirates with the highest honors!”

Hearing the commotion, Judge and his children were stunned.

Their eyes widened in disbelief.

“It’s really them? The Sun and Moon Pirates have arrived?”

Judge’s irritation at being ignored vanished, replaced with overwhelming excitement.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“The legendary Four Emperors…”

Reiju, too, was intrigued.

Even without her father’s reaction, the arrival of an Emperor was enough to make her curious.

“We must go and greet them at once!”

Judge hastily led his children toward the port.

The harbor was packed.

Katakuri and his siblings had arrived long ago, standing in solemn reverence, waiting for the Radiant Eclipse to dock.

“It feels like only yesterday… finally, we can see Lord Kuke again,” many of them murmured.

“Yes… everything Lord Kuke has done… it still feels like yesterday. I can’t believe so many years have passed.”

“He is our greatest pride as pirates. Throughout history, who else has slain the rulers of the World Government?”

Katakuri said nothing, his eyes filled with respect.

The Radiant Eclipse docked.

“Is that… Mother?”

Katakuri and his siblings were stunned as they saw Charlotte Linlin disembark.

She was now in the prime of her life.

Her body was that of a twenty-three-year-old, vibrant and full of life.

Katakuri and the others froze.

They were completely dumbfounded.

“Mom…?”

Cracker and the others hesitated.

“I am not your mother,” Charlotte Linlin said coldly. “I am Charlotte Linlin.”

She was now a lone woman, no longer tied to her past.

Katakuri and his siblings: “…???”

As Kuke stepped forward, two young girls rushed up to him—Pudding and Flampé.

“Lord Kuke, can we join the Sun and Moon Pirates?” Flampé asked boldly, dragging Pudding with her, eyes shining with anticipation.

“If you want to board, then come along,” Kuke replied, smirking.

The ship was missing a youthful presence after all.

——

DONT FORGET POWER STONE

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep