Maybe recalling the days of the Rocks era had put Charlotte Linlin in a bad mood. Still, her ability to regulate her emotions seemed decent—after downing two more slices of cake, she was back to normal.
She didn't say anything further, sipping her juice while watching Ortoren, who stood there deep in thought.
Then, as if something occurred to her, Charlotte Linlin glanced toward Katakuri and waved her hand without a word. Katakuri immediately understood and nodded before briskly leaving.
Perospero didn't seem too concerned. If anything, he looked intrigued by the secretive conversation and stood to the side listening in with interest.
After a while, Ortoren looked back at Charlotte Linlin and asked,
"So what you're saying is, if I fall into that frenzied state during the full moon, and someone can beat me out of it with overwhelming force—if it happens often enough, I might start to find an opening, a way to gradually gain control over that wild power?"
Charlotte Linlin smiled and nodded.
"Exactly. That's my answer, kid."
Thinking it over, it did seem plausible. Back before he turned ten, his old man had always been able to keep him in check. During those days, Ortoren truly felt like he was getting a handle on the power of the "Sulong."
But after ten, that sense disappeared. Instead, he became wilder and more irritable with each full moon—losing control more severely each time.
"Is this the price of being spoiled?" Ortoren muttered to himself.
Maybe it was precisely because his father couldn't bear to hurt him, always holding back, that his condition never improved—instead, it just kept getting worse.
Indeed, the reason Ortoren was so desperate to fix this problem wasn't just because he lost control under the full moon. It was also because, as time went on, the condition kept deteriorating.
These past few years, he'd noticed his temper getting shorter. Every little thing made him want to lash out!
He feared the condition would eventually spiral beyond the full moon trigger. After all, Charlotte Linlin's craving outbursts weren't tied to any lunar phase.
If he lost control in the future... would he end up like her? Would he randomly snap and enter that same kind of berserk madness, regardless of the moon?
Just imagining it was terrifying. When Charlotte Linlin's cravings took hold, she lost all sense. She'd kill her own children without hesitation—and might even eat people.
If his condition evolved into something like that, it would be a nightmare. He might end up hurting those around him without realizing it. People he cared about. He might even... eat them?
Lately, Ortoren had been training his "mind" through forging, fishing, and similar routines—hoping they could help rein in his worsening temper.
So far, it had helped a little. But it was no cure.
While he was lost in these thoughts, Charlotte Linlin set her juice down and smiled.
"This world is dangerous. Cruel, Ortoren..."
It was the first time she had addressed him by name since they'd met.
Ortoren looked up at her.
Charlotte Linlin continued,
"Maybe you were feeling a little smug after defeating Katakuri. I won't deny it—Katakuri is talented. But to me, whether it's him or you... you're both still just seedlings."
After that first encounter with Katakuri, once he came back to his senses, Ortoren had indeed felt pretty proud of himself.
After all, it was Katakuri—not some random lackey. Even if he'd taken him down while berserk, Ortoren believed that even without the frenzy, his strength was at least on par.
At eighteen, beating Katakuri?
Yeah... that was definitely something to feel good about.
Ortoren had to admit, he agreed with Charlotte Linlin's assessment. At twenty years old, even Katakuri likely wouldn't stand a chance against Charlotte Linlin at the peak of her power.
And as for himself—when facing a top-tier monster like her, he might only last a little longer than Katakuri, if that.
As he considered this, Charlotte Linlin continued speaking.
"You all still need to keep growing. Keep getting stronger. Only by mastering greater power can you gain the strength needed to protect yourselves in this cruel and dangerous world..."
She paused slightly, her gaze carrying a strange and unreadable depth.
"And you... my son, Ortoren. The stronger you become, the fewer people there are who can match or overpower your violence. And the rarer such overwhelming violence becomes... the harder it will be to cure your mania."
"What are you trying to say?" Ortoren cut her off before she could keep spinning her persuasive words.
Charlotte Linlin smiled, unfazed by his interruption. Her voice remained warm.
"What I mean is... I, Charlotte Linlin, possess the kind of violence that can crush you. My violence... is your cure, Ortoren."
"There are others out on this sea who can crush me. You're not the only one with that kind of power," Ortoren replied. "There are many as strong as you—and some even stronger!"
The seas were filled with powerful individuals. Sure, Ortoren was considered formidable now, but he knew full well there were plenty of people out there who could still defeat him.
Powerhouses like Shiki, Whitebeard, and Roger—there were those even more terrifying than Charlotte Linlin herself.
"But can you trust them?" Charlotte Linlin asked calmly, unhurried. "With violence as the cure, would you really entrust your life to people like that, Ortoren?"
Before he could answer, she continued,
"They're outsiders. Not worth your trust. But me... despite everything that's happened between us, all the pain and regret—you can't deny that my blood runs through your veins. I'm your mother, Ortoren. Whether you look at it from blood ties or from mutual interest—I need you. If you return to me, the stronger you grow, the stronger the Big Mom Pirates become. We're family. Blood that's meant to trust each other!"
Ortoren had to admit, her argument made some sense.
Yes, there were strong people who could rival Charlotte Linlin. But could he really entrust his life to them?
What if they went too far—what if they killed him?
Compared to that, Charlotte Linlin probably wouldn't go so far. In that sense, she was indeed more trustworthy than the rest.
...
Just then, Katakuri returned, holding a small box in his hand.
Charlotte Linlin saw him and gave a slight nod, then turned back to Ortoren.
"There's no need to rush into a decision. Whether you refuse or accept, think it over carefully. The full moon is only a few days away. You can stay here and experience it for yourself. Only then can you decide whether my method works."
Ortoren paused briefly, then nodded.
"Alright."
She was right. Everything she'd said so far was just words. He needed to test it for himself.
With the full moon approaching, he'd take the hit here on Whole Cake Island and see if his condition showed any signs of improvement.
Once he had a clear answer—then he'd consider Charlotte Linlin's offer.