"Sooner or later?"
"Auntie Linlin, you're making it sound like I'm going to die."
"Why not now?"
Just as Charlotte Linlin flared up in fury, Ragnar's calm voice echoed faintly.
"Now?"
Charlotte Linlin turned sharply, her ferocious face momentarily showing a flicker of doubt and anticipation.
Obviously—
At this moment, she was hoping Ragnar would say exactly what she longed to hear.
"The Navy has planted five nails in the New World."
"From G1 to G5—five branch bases."
"Now G1 is destroyed, Whitebeard is rushing back to defend, Red Hair is licking his wounds, two of the Navy's three admirals have fallen, and one of the two admiral candidates has also gone down… Auntie Linlin, who do you think decides the fate of the New World now?"
Ragnar met Charlotte Linlin's gaze and slowly uttered two words:
"We do."
He didn't wait for her response.
Those two words were like a divine proclamation—calming her rage and igniting ecstatic joy.
"Mmmmm… Navy…"
Charlotte Linlin turned to stare silently toward the G2 branch's direction, then grinned broadly.
Even her own children felt a chill run down their spines at that smile.
"Ragnar, I like you more and more."
"I don't know what kind of damned luck Kaido has—his kids just keep getting better."
"If you were my son, I'd want to hand over the Big Mom Pirates to you!"
After Ragnar soothed her fury with just a few words, her tone turned sour with jealousy.
She had many sons.
Some among them were kings and heroes.
Like Charlotte Katakuri, standing beside her.
Her most prized creation—master of all three types of Haki.
She had always been proud of Katakuri…
Until she met Ragnar.
"Mom!"
Hearing Charlotte Linlin's unfiltered admiration for Ragnar, Cracker and the others nearby couldn't help but feel uneasy.
They were upset, envious, and jealous—but none dared show a hint of discontent.
Not toward Charlotte Linlin.
Not toward Ragnar.
"Auntie Linlin's children are quite remarkable too."
Ragnar's gaze fell on Katakuri.
"Well, well, listen to you—you really know how to talk. You're nothing like your reckless father."
Charlotte Linlin grinned, then abruptly shifted the subject:
"Ragnar, Kaido, let's form an alliance!"
She looked at Ragnar, then at Kaido.
"Don't ask me."
"I'm not the one in charge of the Beasts anymore."
"That's my son now."
Kaido didn't respond, but his eyes were fixed on Ragnar.
The meaning was clear.
Let Ragnar decide.
To Charlotte Katakuri and the others, this was shocking.
They were all children of the Four Emperors—so why was there such a gap between them?
"My son?"
Before Charlotte Linlin could speak, Cracker blurted out in shock.
Kaido—the strongest creature in the world—called Ragnar "My son"?
"Idiot. 'My son' just means the eldest son in the family—like first son, second son, youngest, etc.," Katakuri quickly clarified with a slight frown.
"Huh?"
Charlotte Linlin didn't say anything, but the flash of violence in her eyes was unmistakable.
She clearly didn't like being interrupted.
"Mom…"
Cracker's face turned pale. He looked at Charlotte Linlin, panic growing in his eyes.
Even among the Sweet Commanders, none dared act casually in front of her.
"Mom, please calm down."
"True Lord, Kaido sama, please forgive him."
"Cracker meant no disrespect. He simply misunderstood Mr. Kaido and lost his composure."
At the critical moment, Charlotte Katakuri stepped forward.
He first bowed to Charlotte Linlin on behalf of Charlotte Cracker, then offered his apologies to Ragnar and Kaido, and finally explained the situation.
Throughout the entire process, he remained composed—neither arrogant nor servile—showing the poise of someone who understood the balance between advance and retreat.
"Little brat, are you surprised that I, both a member of the Five Emperors and a father, would call my own son 'boss'?"
After Katakuri's explanation, Kaido wasn't angry. Instead, he looked at Charlotte Cracker with a faintly amused expression.
"Relax, I don't eat people."
"Your understanding isn't wrong."
"After all, I made it quite clear earlier—right now, the boss of the Beasts Pirates is my boss too. Not the other way around."
As he said this, Kaido gave Cracker a friendly pat on the shoulder.
Cracker, already pale with fear, collapsed onto the deck.
Not because he was weak-minded.
But because Kaido's words were simply too terrifying.
This wasn't a matter someone like a mere Sweet Commander could afford to mishandle.
If he misstepped, he wouldn't just offend Kaido—but all three of the Five Emperors at once.
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