Chiffon had witnessed Carl's terrifying strength firsthand. Even someone as powerful as Katakuri, who possessed Conqueror's Haki, could not muster a single thought of resistance in front of him. How could she stand a chance?
Knowing she was powerless to resist, she resigned herself and shut her eyes.
Shanks, however, seemed to have thought of something, his expression turning strange.
Under everyone's gaze, Carl narrowed his eyes and parted his lips slightly, emitting a sound wave. The wave passed through Chiffon's abdomen, transmitting the outline of a barely formed fetus back into Carl's mind.
In the next moment, Carl's hand, which was resting on Chiffon's stomach, instantly turned pitch black.
With a hum, Chiffon felt a sudden lightness in her belly and opened her eyes in shock.
Shanks also noticed that Chiffon's stomach had visibly shrunk, and he muttered inwardly—just as he suspected.
When the darkness on Carl's hand faded and he withdrew it, the others remained clueless about what had just happened.
After a moment, Chiffon finally realized something. She screamed,
"My child! Where is my child?!"
Her outburst left everyone stunned as they watched her descend into hysteria.
Carl frowned and casually pressed his fingers against Chiffon's neck. She instantly lost consciousness and collapsed backward.
Katakuri hurried forward to catch her. Sensing that she was still breathing, he secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Chiffon had merely fallen asleep.
Shanks swallowed and hesitantly asked,
"Did you... remove her child?"
Carl shook his hand dismissively and said,
"To be precise, I erased it. Ever heard of a painless abortion?"
"That... sounds ridiculously advanced..."
Carl smirked and said,
"Shanks, when your child is born, I can help deliver it. Imagine personally assisting in the birth of my niece—it would be a meaningful experience."
"Bro, are you joking? That technique of yours should only be used in cases of complicated labor!"
"What are you thinking? I can stop the bleeding. With me there, I guarantee your wife won't lose a single drop of excess blood."
"...You really are something else! I have no choice but to call you an obstetric master!"
"Keep it low-key."
The people around them blinked in disbelief, staring at the two brothers joking around—especially at Carl, who had just erased an unborn child as casually as one swats a fly.
After a while, Shanks glanced at Chiffon, who was still asleep in Katakuri's arms, and asked,
"What if she wakes up and continues making a fuss?"
Carl replied offhandedly,
"That's not your concern. She won't wake up until she has completely forgotten about Teach and the child."
Shanks suddenly remembered Carl's ability—his powers worked in ways similar to how Jesus Burgess, standing nearby, was currently dazed and confused.
When Carl and Shanks finished talking, Katakuri finally spoke,
"Carl, thank you for sparing my sister's life. I am truly grateful."
As for his now-gone nephew, Katakuri felt no attachment. After all, it wasn't even a fully developed human yet.
So when faced with the classic dilemma—save the mother or the child—Katakuri was firmly on the side of protecting Chiffon. As long as she survived, that was the best possible outcome.
Carl waved a hand dismissively and said,
"Your sister isn't really a pirate, and she gets along well with that little girl, Pudding. There was no need to kill her."
With that, Carl returned to his seat. Seeing this, Buggy immediately poured him a drink, his fear of Carl deepening after witnessing his powers.
Buggy couldn't help but imagine—if Carl could precisely erase a fetus while leaving the mother unharmed, then didn't that mean he could do the same to internal organs?
The thought of having his insides wiped clean sent a shiver down Buggy's spine, and he felt a phantom pain in his gut.
This was insane. This ability was far too sinister! And yet, it belonged to the so-called leader of "justice," the Fleet Admiral of the Marines!
It was just too surreal!
Buggy frantically complained in his mind, failing to notice that Carl was watching him with narrowed eyes.
"Hey, what are you thinking about?"
Carl's voice instantly snapped Buggy out of his thoughts. He was so startled he nearly wet himself.
Instinctively, Buggy turned pleading eyes toward Shanks. Seeing his old friend's pitiful expression, Shanks sighed and walked over helplessly.
"Stop scaring Buggy. He's a coward."
Carl tilted his head and asked,
"Am I?"
"He's terrified of you. Honestly, if you weren't my brother, even I—"
Shanks pursed his lips, his face full of relief as he shook his head and chuckled.
He took a seat beside Carl, took a swig of his drink, and gazed at the crescent moon in the night sky, murmuring,
"Can you tell me what kind of person he was? Or what he looked like? Do I resemble him..."
Carl knew exactly who Shanks was referring to but feigned ignorance and asked,
"Who?"
"You know who..."
"Nope."
Shanks stiffened before muttering,
"...Our uncle!"
"Watch yourself! Are you asking for a family punishment?"
Seeing the veins bulging on Carl's fist, Shanks immediately backed down. He shrank his neck and whispered meekly,
"I meant... our father..."
Carl scoffed and took a sip of his drink, eyes closed.
"You see that moon up there?"
Shanks blinked. "Yeah."
"Mm, his face shape looked kind of like that moon."
Shanks immediately shouted, "Nani?!"
Thinking of Garling's face, his expression turned odd. That bone structure was way too peculiar!
Carl shot him a sideways glance and smirked.
"I meant his hair and beard combined looked like a crescent moon. Pretty distinctive, don't you think?"
"That's still a little weird..."
Carl teased, "Hah. Once you see pictures of the previous family heads, you'll think Uncle Garling's hairstyle was relatively normal."
"Good thing we brothers don't have weird hair!"
"Heh. You probably take after your mother. As for me, it might've been that experiment's influence."
Shanks fell silent upon hearing this. Carl let out a small laugh and continued,
"It's all in the past. Now, about your father—he was one stubborn bastard..."
...
Meanwhile, in the Figarland estate,
Garling, fresh out of the bath, suddenly sneezed and frowned...
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+230 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg