An hour later, inside the main command tent of the Big Mom Pirates' base—
Having consumed so much energy during the recent chaos, Charlotte Linlin was devouring mountains of sweets, though she was growing increasingly impatient.
But when Head Chef Long Bread personally cut a slice of buttered toast and served it to her, she restrained her temper, opened her mouth, and ate it.
It was also time for Katakuri's daily dessert ritual, which he never missed.
Yet with the Big Mom fleet suffering consecutive ambushes and heavy family casualties, there was no way he could indulge himself at such a time.
It seemed today would be the first time in years that Katakuri would miss his sweets.
Finally, Perospero hurried into the tent.
When he saw that not only Mama was there, but also several of his siblings, his face turned pale.
Katakuri, Smoothie, Cracker, and also Minister of Beans Daifuku and Minister of Baking Oven were all present.
Everyone gathered in the tent was among the core leadership of the Big Mom Pirates' expeditionary fleet.
As for their eldest sister, Minister of Fruit Compote, she had remained behind on Whole Cake Island to guard against potential attacks.
The moment their eldest brother entered, every gaze turned toward him.
The one-sided slaughter had left the Charlotte Family's eldest son utterly humiliated—but he dared not hold himself with any pride.
He knelt before their mother in front of his brothers and sisters.
Cracker watched, feeling both pity and dread.
Not long ago, it had been him kneeling in that exact spot for the same reason.
He didn't dare speak up like Katakuri or Smoothie to defend Perospero.
He himself was still under reproach and barely safe—interceding now would be pure folly.
"Read," Charlotte Linlin ordered coldly.
Even though she knew Davy Jones was trying to sow discord between her and her children, her pride wouldn't allow her to help Perospero up.
He would stay kneeling.
Perospero lowered his head to the report in his hands, swallowed hard, and his trembling lips began to read:
"We… we've lost a total of thirteen ships… casualties are severe…"
"No need for useless details," Linlin said, swallowing a cream cake, having steeled herself.
"Tell me—who's dead?"
Perospero understood immediately.
Mama wasn't asking about the common crew or soldiers—she wanted to know which of her blood children had fallen.
Though it tore at his heart, he could only read the names one by one.
The 35th son, Yuen, who could use Moonwalk and whose staff could expand.
The 29th son, Joscarpone, who liked to wear a wide-brimmed black hat.
The 20th daughter, Prim, a mermaid of the octopus race.
The 17th daughter, Merize, who wore antlers on her head.
The 30th son, cadenza the "Minister of Mixtures," who fought with a round shield.
The 15th son, Newshi, the "Minister of Finance," who wielded a scythe.
The 11th son, Zickt (OC), the "Minister of Beverages," who fought with twin hatchets and pistols.
The Big Mom Fleet had never once fought a direct, full-scale battle against Davy Jones's fleet—
but after only three terrifying ambushes, thirteen Charlotte family members were dead, and sixteen ships were sunk.
Including the fallen Snack, the spark that ignited this "war between the new and old Emperors,"
the hands of Davy Jones and his subordinates were now stained with the blood of fourteen Charlotte children.
It was a catastrophe unlike any other in the history of the Big Mom Pirates.
In the past, even when facing Whitebeard Newgate, Kaido of the Beasts, Wang Zhi, or the Navy Headquarters,
not a single Charlotte child had died.
The only previous loss was the 23rd daughter, Charlotte Lola, the former "Minister of Chocolate,"
who vanished after fleeing an arranged marriage to the Prince of the Giants.
Other than that, the family tree of the current generation of Charlottes had always been whole and unbroken.
But in their clash with the Demon of the Deep, Davy Jones, they had suffered a grievous blow.
By the time Perospero finished reading, he could bear it no longer.
He bowed his head to the floor, trembling, tears spilling as he wept quietly.
His sobbing broke the dam.
One after another, the others were overcome as well.
Katakuri held himself together the best—
he looked up, his eyes red but dry.
Smoothie, Cracker, Daifuku, and Oven could not restrain themselves; their tears flowed freely.
Surely, outside the tent, the rest of the Charlotte siblings were also mourning, their grief uncontainable.
Those who had died were kin they had lived with for decades.
The sorrow was unbearable—and irreversible.
Chef Long Bread, seemingly deaf to the emotion around him, calmly continued assembling dessert sandwiches in one corner of the tent.
He had long grown numb to death and parting—
his only concern now was satisfying Charlotte Linlin's appetite.
The somber air in the tent lingered, heavy and unbroken.
Linlin sat, face shadowed, listening to the weeping all around her.
Her eyes narrowed, then suddenly she slammed her massive fist down on the table beside her.
CRACK—
The long table shattered, sweets scattering across the floor.
It was a terrible waste, but it silenced the sobbing instantly.
"What are you crying for?!" she roared.
"Will your tears bring them back?! What I want is revenge, not to see you bawling from dawn to dusk hoping to drown Davy Jones in your misery!"
The children all froze, then lowered their heads, struggling to steady themselves.
Long Bread approached to gather the ruined pastries off the ground, his face stiff with tension.
Katakuri, hardened by countless battles, was the first to recover.
He looked toward Perospero and saw that his elder brother was still kneeling, slumped, utterly defeated.
Within the Big Mom Pirates, Katakuri and Perospero often acted as their mother's strategists, her think tank.
But now, Perospero was broken—mute and powerless.
Davy Jones's scheme had half succeeded.
Katakuri felt both sorrow and fury.
Someone had to stand up—to steady morale and point the way forward.
If they fell apart now, they would lose before the next battle even began.
Since his brother could not do it, it had to be him.
Katakuri rose from his seat and knelt before Charlotte Linlin.
At once, every gaze turned toward him.
"Katakuri," Linlin said with satisfaction, nodding. "You have an idea?"
"Yes, Mama." Katakuri lifted his head.
"I believe we must not fight Davy Jones at sea."
"These three ambushes have taught us the most painful lesson—the ocean is his domain, and it gives him every advantage."
Moreover, due to the attacks on their supply fleet, much of the plundered resources had been lost—including large quantities of ingredients needed to make Mama's sweets.
Neither Perospero nor Katakuri had dared mention this, fearing an immediate outburst.
In short, Katakuri understood—they could not afford to drag this out.
They needed a swift, decisive victory.
If the dessert stores ran out and Mama's cravings went unsatisfied—
if her hunger pangs were to awaken—
it would become a nightmare for friend and foe alike.
Daifuku, the third son, with his yellow buzz cut and his twin puffed shoulders like great spheres, stood and agreed with his brother:
"Yeah, Mama! We have to drag them onto land and fight there!"
Oven, the fifth son and Daifuku's triplet brother, frowned.
"But Mama, our territory and Davy Jones's domain are separated by open sea. They won't just let us cross it. What are we supposed to do—fly?"
The tent fell silent.
Many of them could fly using their Devil Fruit powers or by Moonwalk,but how could they possibly transport entire ships and armies that way?
Once again, everyone fell into uneasy quiet, unable to find a solution.
Then suddenly, Katakuri's eyes lit up—he had it.
He raised his head.
"Mama, I have a way—one that requires almost no effort, and will let our vanguard slip into Davy Jones's territory without anyone knowing."
"Oh?" Charlotte Linlin tilted her head, then realized what he meant.
"You intend to use Brûlée's Mirror-Mirror Fruit, don't you?"
Charlotte Brûlée, Linlin's eighth daughter, could traverse the Mirror World at will—
and she was also Katakuri's dearest little sister.
At once, everyone understood Katakuri's plan.
They nodded silently. It was clever—risky, but brilliant.
"Yes," Katakuri confirmed.
"Once we confirm where Davy Jones's forces are stationed and identify a weak point in their defenses—
if Brûlée can get close enough, she can open a mirror passage for us straight into their base."
"When that happens," he said, voice hard with resolve,"our forces will descend like divine retribution—and Davy Jones will be caught completely off guard.
Then, we'll wash away our shame in blood!"
Hearing this bold yet meticulous plan, everyone's spirits finally lifted.
Even Perospero raised his head, and in his eyes burned once more the flames of vengeance.
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