Chapter 182: So, What is the Price?
Star Lord's departure was as mysterious as his arrival.
But the shock brought by that strand of scattered starlight to the whole Totto Land wasn't small.
"Mama's soul was..."
On Cacao Island, Perospero held his head with both hands, his long tongue waving up and down like waves.
"...Here they come."
But now, Katakuri's expression was even more solemn.
"Coming? What's coming?"
Smoothie asked instinctively.
But just moments later, she suddenly realized the meaning of Katakuri's words.
Because she also heard Star Lord's instructions before leaving—he said, "I leave it to you."
Who that instruction was for, needless to guess.
And it was true.
The next instant.
ROAR!
HOWL!
The three heard the roars of the Phantasm Legion all over Totto Land.
The four Phantom Beast Lords who fought them until now retreated slowly.
Thunder flashed in the clouds above; Ryuji's (Dragon) figure appeared.
Sunlight poured through the broken clouds; Tori's (Rooster) figure flapped his wings and appeared.
Space door opened silently in the air; Nezumi (Rat) stepped out.
From the nearby "Dream Passage", Hitsujii (Sheep), Inoshishi (Pig), and Inu (Dog) walked out slowly.
"The Zodiac guys..."
Seeing this, Smoothie and Perospero reacted strongly—Haki surged on both, clearly prepared to fight.
But...
"..."
Next moment, Katakuri's trident blocked in front of them again.
He shook his head gently at his brother and sister.
Seeing this, Perospero and Smoothie froze.
But then, their Haki gradually dissipated.
Because after the instinctive stress response, they realized...
"Fighting us is meaningless."
Tori's bold laughter came out. "You should know this already."
Yes.
After Big Mom fell, although Homies still existed due to the Soul-Soul Fruit's property, they clearly lost their will to fight.
Even due to the dissipation of Charlotte Carmel's soul, their evil and violent personalities faded significantly.
Facing the Phantasm Legion, far more numerous and stronger than them, even countered by Inoshishi's "Underworld Cold", they had no chance of winning.
Not to mention "The Zodiac" in front of them.
Everyone in Totto Land witnessed with their own eyes just now—these few people defeated an Emperor head-on, forced her to flee, and finally killed her.
To be blunt—if fighting broke out again now, the result would definitely be their total annihilation.
So...
THUD!
Katakuri stabbed his trident into the ground.
Even facing such strong enemies, his back remained straight. "You are indeed very strong... I see no 'Future' where we can win."
"But if you came here just to mock us, that's unnecessary."
His voice was calm and steady.
"We are pirates... if our end is death by stronger hands, so be it."
As members of an Emperor's pirate crew, as pirates, they naturally had this resolve.
"Nice spirit."
Looking at Katakuri, Tori praised.
"Charlotte Katakuri... now that Big Mom is defeated, you should be the 'Captain' of the Big Mom Pirates."
He said.
Hearing this, Katakuri didn't speak.
Perospero and Smoothie behind him were silent too.
Big Mom fell.
But the "Big Mom Pirates" still existed.
After Big Mom's death, the successor wouldn't be Perospero—although he wanted to be, he knew it wouldn't be him.
In the entire Charlotte Family, the only one qualified to bear this responsibility... was Katakuri.
"You should have heard the Leader's words just now. We came to handle the aftermath—negotiate with you."
"...Negotiate?"
Katakuri asked deeply.
"Correct."
Tori spread his hands. "We aren't here to exterminate Totto Land. The source of this war... you should know well."
Hearing this, Katakuri pondered silently.
Perospero and Smoothie behind him looked gloomy too.
Actually, without Tori saying much, they understood upon seeing The Zodiac's arrival.
"The source of this war is Big Mom's declaration of war."
Tori stated the fact calmly.
Yes.
When Big Mom decided to declare war on The Zodiac officially, the war began.
And now...
"Big Mom is dead, and we aren't devils."
Speaking of this, Tori looked at Katakuri. "So, I give you a chance to end the war."
As he spoke, he nodded slightly to Hitsujii beside him.
Hitsujii raised his hand gently.
VMMM!
A seven-colored mirror reflecting images appeared in front of Katakuri and others.
Katakuri's expression changed abruptly without even needing to look closely.
Because in the mirror.
Charlotte Family members were tied up one by one.
"Brûlée, Pudding, Mont-d'Or..."
Katakuri's expression darkened instantly.
Yes—the Charlotte members in the mirror were either captured in this war or switched long ago.
Katakuri saw at a glance that except for the hardliners advocating war against The Zodiac, others were clearly alive.
"I know you don't fear death."
Tori said softly. "So, this is our bargaining chip."
"...What is the price?"
Katakuri calmed himself down barely.
"Everything."
Tori spoke directly. "We know most of Totto Land's wealth and treasures are hidden and managed by your family members managing various islands, plus all personal treasures of your members—handing them all over is the price you need to pay."
"Choose."
He said sharply. "Avenge Big Mom—continue fighting us until everyone dies."
"Or... save your remaining family and this country."
Hearing this, Perospero and Smoothie's expressions changed again.
They knew Tori was right.
As mentioned before, Totto Land's situation was special.
Whole Cake Island was the "Capital", the center of power.
But due to Big Mom's personality over the past decades and Totto Land's scattered islands nature.
Running the entire country couldn't rely on her overall management.
This was why the Charlotte Family had "Ministers" and corresponding management institutions on every island.
As an Emperor, the Big Mom Pirates' wealth was naturally astonishing.
But most of it was distributed to various islands and stored separately, known only to the Ministers, often with treasure storage and keys in different places.
There was a treasury on Whole Cake Island, but it only contained things most precious to Big Mom.
Like rare beast skins and bones, Poneglyphs, and nice-looking treasures, but mostly various sweets.
What Tori asked for now was this massive wealth extremely hard to gather together.
Mm—in fact, this intel was obtained by Inu after infiltrating the Big Mom Pirates.
Of course, theoretically, he could find the treasures one by one.
But clearly, unnecessary.
Because they knew what kind of person Katakuri was.
They knew what choice he would make.
"...Okay!"
And it was true.
Katakuri just looked deeply at Tori.
Then, he gave the answer without hesitation.
He was Big Mom's child, yes.
But Katakuri didn't acknowledge the monster who tried to sacrifice the entire Totto Land just now as "Mama".
In this situation, his choice was simple.
Protecting his beloved siblings and family, or dying holding those treasures—this question needed no thought.
The only thing making him hesitate was...
"About Mama's... Soul, is it also in the transaction?"
Speaking of "Mama", Katakuri's expression was rarely strange.
Mainly during the soul link process, he noticed—the "Mama's Soul" taken away by Star Lord was clearly a little child.
What did Star Lord take her for?
This was the answer Katakuri wanted to know.
"I cannot answer this question."
Tori looked at him. "We are just executives; we have no right to question the Leader's decision... but I can assure you, the Leader shouldn't hurt her."
"..."
Hearing this, Katakuri exhaled deeply. "I have no more questions."
"Very good."
Tori nodded satisfactorily.
"You have one month."
"In one month, someone will notify you of the transaction location."
After speaking, he threw a Den Den Mushi—Katakuri recognized at a glance it was an unmonitored "Pair Snail".
"...Thanks."
Katakuri nodded heavily, even saying thanks.
Of course, he wasn't a fool thanking someone after being robbed and beaten.
He said this because he caught the implication in Tori's words.
Collecting treasures didn't need a month—with his order, his siblings could hand over treasures in three days at most.
This month was time given by Tori for him to sort out domestic affairs and stabilize the situation.
Big Mom's death determined Totto Land's situation would undergo drastic changes.
Many pirates, especially other Emperors, might be eager to move.
But now, after this negotiation.
Before figuring out The Zodiac's true purpose and attitude, they shouldn't move in the short term—especially with "Big Mom's" soul taken by Star Lord, not confirmed "Dead" completely.
This period was the best chance for Katakuri and the remnants of the Big Mom Pirates to plan.
Seizing this window—although territory reduction was almost inevitable, Katakuri was confident in preserving most of the territory and citizens.
After all...
Just as he said.
Even without Big Mom, they were still the "Big Mom Pirates".
With them stabilizing the situation and focusing on defense... on the entire sea, pirates qualified to truly threaten them were still few!
"I said, we aren't devils."
Tori waved his hand casually.
Then, he turned around. "Everyone—Withdraw!"
As his words fell.
He spread his light wings, turning into a beam of light soaring into the sky.
At the same time...
In the sky, Ryuji flew away.
Nezumi cut open space casually, stepping in.
Phantom beasts and Hitsujii's group stepped into the Mirror of Dreams together.
Moments later.
Crack!
The Mirror of Dreams shattered, vanishing like a phantom dream.
When everyone looked at the live broadcast above again, they saw Neverland above Whole Cake Island turning into a Qilin again, stepping into the clouds.
In just a few breaths.
The six Top Executives of The Zodiac and all traces of war here vanished without a trace.
Totto Land's sea surface returned to calm at this moment.
"..." (x3)
But everyone in Totto Land knew.
On this sea.
The uproar caused by this "Major Event" had just begun.
☆☆☆
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