The sky was clear, dotted with wispy clouds. The sea was a brilliant blue, blending seamlessly with the horizon. A gentle breeze rippled across the sparkling waves.
On the ocean surface floated a massive pirate ship with a bizarre design. It was colorful, covered in candy-like decorations, lacking any intimidating pirate aura—more like something out of a clown's dream.
Yet this was the pirate ship of the Big Mom Pirates—a vessel that once made countless pirates tremble in fear at its name!
Of course, with Charlotte Linlin's demise, the ship's reputation had plummeted. But as the saying goes, a centipede dies but never stiffens. The Big Mom Pirates were not the kind of crew that small-time pirates could afford to provoke.
Inside the spacious cabin was a round fish tank made of transparent glass. Mist steamed from within, and through the haze, a delicate figure could be seen. Clear sunlight streamed in through the half-open window, reflecting off the shimmering water and illuminating her graceful silhouette.
She had flowing, wavy pink hair pinned with a fish-shaped ornament, deep blue eyes shimmering with a dreamy glow, long lashes framing an exquisitely beautiful face, skin delicate and smooth, a curvy figure full and alluring—Shirahoshi.
But at this moment, her face was pale, filled with fear and unease. Her small hands pressed nervously against the glass, moving back and forth. Yet the space in the tank was limited. No matter how she swam, she was confined within the glass dome.
"Are you comfortable living here, dear mermaid princess?"
A cool voice suddenly echoed in the room.
Startled, Shirahoshi looked toward the source of the voice and saw a young girl with curly brown hair walking over slowly. She had a delicate and cute appearance, like a quiet girl next door—but the eerie third eye on her forehead completely destroyed that image.
This girl was Charlotte Pudding!
"W-Who are you?" Shirahoshi clutched the edge of the fish tank, panicking. "Why did you kidnap me?"
"It's our fault for not taking better care of you," Pudding said with a smile as she approached. "But I'm sorry—you'll have to stay here for a while."
"Why? Why do I have to be here?" Tears welled up in Shirahoshi's eyes. "I want to go home. I want to go home…" she cried, sobbing softly as large tears rolled down her cheeks.
Pudding's face showed a trace of irritation. "Stop crying."
But Shirahoshi only cried harder, sobbing sorrowfully like a weeping flower.
"Shut up!" Pudding snapped, her brows furrowing.
Shirahoshi flinched in fear, her whole body trembling. Her sobs stopped as she stared at Pudding in alarm.
Pudding's gaze turned cold. "As a mermaid princess, spoiled from birth and living in luxury every day—and now, the moment something happens, all you do is cry." Her tone grew contemptuous. "You've got a pretty face, but you're just a useless piece of trash."
Shirahoshi's eyes welled up again, and she bit her lip.
"What, not convinced?" Pudding sneered. "Or did I say something wrong? A princess of the Fish-Man race—just a pretty vase."
Shirahoshi's lips moved slightly, and she softly said, "I-I'm sorry..."
"Sorry?" Pudding suddenly grew angrier. "I kidnapped you, and you're apologizing to me? How stupid are you?"
"B-But…" Shirahoshi mustered her courage. "I made you angry."
"Do you even understand your situation?!" Pudding shouted. "You idiot!"
Shirahoshi seemed frightened, curling up into herself.
Just as Pudding was about to speak again, Smoothie suddenly burst into the room, her forehead beaded with sweat and expression grim. "Bad news—the Vinsmoke family is here!"
Pudding's eyes narrowed. "We should have evaded their surveillance. How did they find us?"
Smoothie's face darkened. "There was a traitor among our people. That's how we were discovered."
"A traitor?" A flicker of fury crossed Pudding's face. "Who was it?"
"That would be—"
Before Smoothie could finish, a voice suddenly rang out from outside.
"As your former ally, I advise you to surrender quietly. You are completely surrounded!"
Pudding and Smoothie rushed outside, and the sight before them made their pupils contract sharply!
A massive fleet had completely encircled them. As far as the eye could see, sturdy ships and powerful cannons blocked every exit, sealing off the entire sea. What's more, Pudding noticed that some of the Big Mom Pirates' own ships had turned their cannons on them!
Pudding's eyes grew icy as she suppressed her mounting fury. "What's the meaning of this? Are you all betraying me too?"
Under her cold gaze, the former Big Mom Pirates members avoided eye contact, turning their heads awkwardly—clearly guilty.
Pudding's gaze fell on a tall woman with long blue hair. Coldly, she asked, "Amande, even you are betraying me?"
Amande's expression froze, and her hand instinctively gripped the sword at her waist.
"The pitiful barking of a defeated dog—how unsightly. It's really hard to watch," said a slender figure who stepped off a ship, her lips curled into a smug smile as she looked down at Pudding.
She had short, slightly curly pink hair, delicate features, fair skin, and clear sea-blue eyes. Her long, slanted bangs cascaded like a waterfall, adding a touch of seduction. Her long legs and curvy figure exuded a mesmerizing allure.
"You're from the Germa family—" Pudding's eyes narrowed as she spoke in a deep voice, "Reiju?"
"I'm surprised the captain of the Big Mom Pirates still remembers me. I'm flattered," Reiju said playfully as she stepped forward. "Oh, I forgot—Big Mom is dead now."
She smirked. "I suppose it should be called the Pudding Pirates instead."
"What do you mean by that?" Pudding clenched her fists, her voice cold.
"Nothing much," Reiju replied with a seductive smile. "I simply mean that the glory of the Big Mom Pirates is gone forever. What's left now is nothing but a soulless husk."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Pudding shouted, suppressing her rage. "You think a few words from you are enough to defeat us? Don't be naive!"
"Naive?" Reiju flicked her pink hair back, a mocking glint in her pretty eyes. "You're the naive one. You didn't even realize you were being betrayed—how pitiful."
Betrayed?
Suddenly, a figure lunged from behind Pudding, attacking her back with lightning speed!
What?!
Pudding's pupils contracted. She tried to twist her body to dodge, but it was already too late!
Bang—!
With a heavy thud, Pudding was struck hard in the back. Her slender body flew through the air like a broken kite before crashing to the ground with a loud thump. She rolled several times before stopping, blood spilling from her mouth.
"I told you—you had no chance of winning. Why wouldn't you believe me?" Reiju walked over leisurely, her gaze like that of a predator eyeing its prey. Smirking, she said, "See? This is what happens when you don't listen. If you had surrendered, you could've spared yourself the pain."
Pudding raised her head, gritting her teeth, her eyes locked onto the one who had ambushed her. Through clenched teeth, she growled, "Why did you do this, Smoothie?! Why betray me?!"
The one who attacked her was Charlotte Smoothie, one of the Sweet Commanders!
"Betray you? I never swore loyalty to you. So how can it be betrayal?" Smoothie looked down on her with disdain. "You're too naive, Miss Pudding."
"Don't forget," Pudding said through gritted teeth as she wiped the blood from her mouth. "You're part of the Big Mom Pirates. How can you do something so disgraceful? How can you face Big Mom in the afterlife?!"
"Enough with that," Smoothie said coldly. "The Big Mom Pirates died with Big Mom. Don't think you can command me in her name. A little brat like you isn't worthy."
Pudding sneered. "And yet you used to follow my orders. Betrayal is betrayal—don't dress it up as something noble. You're no different from those shameless traitors."
Smoothie's expression darkened, her eyes gleaming dangerously. "Still mouthing off even at death's door. You're asking for it." She extended her hand, blue energy swirling around her fingers.
"Wait—"
Reiju stepped forward, glancing down at Pudding with mockery. "Is this how you treat Lady Pudding? That won't do. She looks far too unsightly lying on the ground."
She gestured to the sides. "Take our lady into her room. I prepared a spacious and comfortable suite just for her. I'm sure she'll love it."
Two guards stepped forward, one on each side, ready to seize Pudding. But just then, she suddenly sprang up from the ground, retreating quickly. In one swift motion, she drew two revolvers from behind her back and aimed them at Smoothie and Reiju.
Her gaze was icy. "You think capturing me would be that easy? No way I'm letting scum like you lay a hand on me!"
Bang bang—!
With two sharp gunshots, bullets shot out in a spiral flash of fire, streaking through the air like lightning!
Clang clang—!
Sparks flew everywhere!
The bullets collided with a gun holster, creating a burst of brilliant sparks—they were easily deflected!
And these weren't ordinary bullets—they came from large-caliber revolvers, powerful enough to penetrate an inch-thick steel plate.
"Cheap tricks," Smoothie stepped forward coldly. "You think after being by your side for so long, I wouldn't know your little tricks?" As she spoke, she flicked her five fingers, and with a faint swish swish sound, countless droplets of water shot out like a rain of petals falling from the sky.
Pudding's pupils shrank. She stomped the ground and tried to retreat quickly, but the droplets clung to her like maggots on bones—inescapable!
Pfft pfft pfft—!
"Aaah—!"
A cry of pain rang out as bursts of blood splattered from Pudding's body. She was sent flying again, landing with a loud thud as crimson blood soaked through her clothes…
"I told you, this is nothing but a dying struggle. It's useless," Smoothie said coldly as she walked up to her. "I know all your tricks. No one understands you better than I do."
"Is that so?" Pudding struggled to prop herself up with her arms, raised her head, and smirked. "But did you really think I never guarded against you?"
"What?" Smoothie's eyes narrowed.
"The truly naive ones…" Pudding stood up slowly, mocking them. "...are you!" As she spoke, she pulled a red button out from her clothes.
"That's—"
Smoothie's face changed dramatically. She lunged forward, trying to snatch the button from Pudding's hand!
But before she could reach it, Pudding had already pressed it!
BOOM—!
A deafening explosion echoed through the sky as the Big Mom pirate ship suddenly erupted in a violent blast. Blazing flames soared skyward, scorching waves rolled across the deck, and splinters flew in every direction. The massive ship split in half with a loud creak, groaning and cracking as it began to slowly sink into the sea.
Amid bloodcurdling screams, pirates were thrown into the air by the shockwave and the intense heat. They splashed into the sea like falling dumplings.
Reiju and Smoothie immediately withdrew as soon as they sensed danger, but they were still caught in the blast radius. Their faces were stained with ash, and parts of their clothes were scorched.
Smoothie gritted her teeth. "That damn woman… she ignited the powder magazine!"
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