Build The Strongest Family in the Prirate World

With a heavy thud, Big Mom's massive body crashed to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust!

The once-majestic Cake Castle was now in ruins, littered with wreckage and bodies everywhere.

The grand dining table was broken, and the once-delicious food was now covered in dust and blood.

Morgans, who had barely escaped with his life, touched his head. But then his eyes sparkled with excitement as he started taking photos again.

Everything that had happened today was enough to shock the entire world. This was the kind of big news Morgans dreamed of reporting!

In his photos, the Cake Castle lay in ruins. Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors, was on the ground, bleeding heavily. And in the midst of it all, two figures were locked in an intense standoff.

With Big Mom defeated, the once-powerful allies, led by Katakuri, turned their focus on the man who had just helped them—"The Ocean Disaster" Gangplank!

Now that the battle between Gangplank and Big Mom had ended, the victors began to pick sides. Shipping King Umit, Warehouse King Giberson, the Loan Shark King Du Feld, and even Stussy—who had barely managed to escape unharmed—all quietly positioned themselves behind Gangplank.

These figures always chose to side with the winner.

With Big Mom defeated, Katakuri and the others realized they were no match for Gangplank. Tension filled the air, and it seemed like a brutal fight could erupt at any moment.

But then Gangplank holstered his pistol and sheathed his scimitar. With a loud, mocking laugh, he turned to Katakuri and the others, saying:

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

"Why so serious?"

"I told you, I came here to join forces with Totto Land!"

"Everything here now belongs to me,"

"I declare that Totto Land will be renamed Bilgewater!"

"And I am the King of Bilgewater!"

"So, what do you say? Want to join me?"

Gangplank's words made Katakuri and the others furious, especially Perospero. His face twisted with anger as he shouted:

"You killed our mother, and now you want to take over Totto Land and force us to serve you?"

"Do you take us for fools?"

"With Mother gone, I will be the new ruler of Totto Land, and we'll defeat you!"

"The Charlotte Family will rise again!"

Perospero had always dreamed of taking control of Totto Land after Big Mom's fall.

"Defeat me?"

"Don't make me laugh!"

Gangplank's mocking grin disappeared in an instant as his Conqueror's Haki burst forth, shaking the area with its sheer intensity.

Before anyone could react, he moved in a flash and grabbed Perospero by the neck!

Katakuri's warning came just a second too late.

Seeing the future doesn't mean you can change it. 

Perospero struggled desperately as Gangplank's iron grip tightened around his neck. He clawed at Gangplank's hands with both of his own, but it was useless—he couldn't break free. 

Katakuri prepared to step forward to save his brother, but before he could act, Gangplank casually tossed Perospero aside like trash. His voice was cold and cutting as he spoke: 

"What do you think you are?" 

"Just a pack of losers?" 

"Surrender, or die. Is this really such a hard choice?" 

Gangplank's words made Katakuri and the others seethe with rage, their expressions growing darker by the second. Meanwhile, Umit, Stussy, and the other underworld figures exchanged sly, knowing smiles as they watched Perospero's humiliation. 

None of them would hesitate to help Gangplank crush the Charlotte family completely. 

With Big Mom defeated, these underworld rulers were eager to cozy up to the new Four Emperors. After all, maintaining good relations with someone of Gangplank's status was crucial for their survival.

They had once allied with Big Mom to avoid provoking the wrath of the other Four Emperors. But now, Big Mom was gone, and their loyalties shifted with the tide. 

Compared to the true Four Emperors, these so-called kings of the underworld were far weaker. 

Gangplank's overwhelming strength had already proven he could wipe out Perospero—or anyone present, for that matter—save for Katakuri. 

Then Gangplank's voice cut through the tense silence once more: 

"Oh, and let's not forget—Big Mom isn't dead. Yet." 

He locked eyes with Katakuri, his tone sharp and serious. 

"Katakuri, do you really want to see your mother, your brothers, and your sisters all die before your eyes?" 

Gangplank's gaze bore into Katakuri as he continued: 

"Come. Join me. Be my right hand." 

"Carry my flag and lead the Charlotte family to conquer the seas under my name!" 

"And I'll make you a promise. You'll have the chance to challenge me whenever you want. The day you defeat me, all of Bilgewater—everything I own—will be yours!" 

"Now, choose. Will you stand by my side, or will you and the entire Charlotte family die here today?" 

Among all of Big Mom's children, Gangplank knew Katakuri was the one worth winning over. If Katakuri joined him, the rest of the Charlotte family would likely follow. 

Defeating Big Mom was just the first step—Gangplank also sought to claim the full power of the Charlotte family. 

Meanwhile, at the port of Whole Cake Island, Cracker, Oven, and Daifuku led an army of Homies to crush the 5,000 pirates Gangplank had sent. These pirates were falling back in defeat, unable to hold their ground. 

From the start, they had only been pawns—bait to distract Big Mom's forces. 

Gangplank's cold, calculating nature meant he didn't care about the losses suffered by these expendable recruits. 

The pirates who had truly earned his trust—the ones who had followed him from the West Blue to the New World—had already been placed in key positions, safe behind the waves of disposable minions.

Until all the pirates recruited from the New World are eliminated, the ones personally chosen by Gangplank will not face heavy losses.

Of course, Gangplank only shared his plan to attack Big Mom with Gragas and Pyke. He didn't tell anyone else.

If more than two people know a secret, there's a 50% chance it will be leaked.

And if all of Gangplank's subordinates find out, then the entire pirate world is guaranteed to know.

Among Gangplank's crew, there are likely spies from the major powers.

After Gangplank finished speaking, Katakuri's expression turned serious. Meanwhile, Shipping King Umit and Warehouse King Kibotson glared coldly.

Perospero and the others quickly gathered around Big Mom, whose chest was still moving slightly.

If Big Mom isn't dead yet, there's still hope for the Charlotte Family.

No matter how ruthless Big Mom is, if she regains consciousness, she can still act as the backbone of the family.

Her cruelty is nothing compared to the unforgiving world of pirates.

"Why?"

"Why did you let Mom go?"

Katakuri stared into Gangplank's eyes and asked in a low voice.

He couldn't understand it. Nobody would let a dangerous enemy live.

Especially since, as long as Big Mom is alive, the Charlotte Family and Totto Land will never truly submit to Gangplank.

"Why? Because I've never considered Big Mom worth my time!"

"The current Big Mom is no match for me!"

Gangplank laughed and said,

"Besides, if I killed Big Mom, would you still be willing to serve as my right-hand man?"

"Hahahaha!"

Just as Gangplank finished speaking, Big Mom, whose chest was still faintly rising, suddenly opened her eyes. They were filled with confusion and innocence.

Big Mom as everyone knew her was gone, but the person now awake was just a child—Charlotte Linlin, with a mind stuck at the age of a few years old.

Although Gangplank's ghostly machete pierced Big Mom's head, it didn't kill her outright. Instead, it wiped away a large portion of her soul.

Leaving her alive in this state was the best decision for both Gangplank and Duke.

Duke needed the power of the Soul-Soul Fruit.

If Big Mom died, who knows how long it would take for the fruit to reappear somewhere in the world?

Using the Soul-Soul Fruit just for combat or creating Homies from food seemed like a waste.

Duke believed Homies—who never got tired, could think for themselves, and worked without supervision—were the best workers anyone could ask for.

If someone wanted to create the perfect factory, Homies were the answer.

An entirely automatic factory!

No capitalist would ever have to worry about their profits again.