Charlotte Linlin suddenly opened her eyes. Her massive hand subconsciously touched her uninjured chest, her eyes filled with the daze and disbelief of someone who had just escaped death. She clearly remembered how close she had been to the end just moments ago; she had distinctly felt a destructive Ki that made her very Soul tremble. Yet now, she was completely restored—perhaps even in better condition than before the fight.+4
She struggled to stand up from the bottom of the crater, her enormous body straightening once more, but the way she looked at Takuro had completely changed. The previous anger, arrogance, and calculation were all gone. In their place was a deep, primal dread and a complex emotion akin to total resignation.+4
She took a deep breath, her booming voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor as she spoke. "Ta... Takuro... I... I...".+2
She seemed about to say more but swallowed the words back. Finally, as if having made a monumental decision, a desperate gleam flashed in her massive eyes.+1
"I acknowledge your strength! Totto Land and my people will submit to you!" her voice suddenly rose, carrying the finality of someone burning their bridges. "But! I have one demand! If you don't agree, even if you kill me again, I will never yield! And my children will never truly pledge their loyalty to you!".+4
Hearing this, Takuro's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and the aura around him grew dangerous again. "A demand?" His voice held a hint of coldness. "What right does a loser have to make demands?".+4
Charlotte Linlin felt the invisible pressure, and her massive body instinctively took half a step back. A flicker of panic crossed her face, and she quickly waved her hands. "No! It's not the kind of demand you're thinking of! It's very simple! It's extremely simple for someone like you!".+2
"Speak," Takuro said concisely, his patience seemingly running out.+2
Charlotte Linlin took a deep breath as if gathering all her strength. She pointed a finger at Smoothie, who was standing nearby with a complicated expression, and shouted, "My demand is—you must marry my daughter, Smoothie!".+4
The Solidified Air
The air seemed to solidify instantly.+1
Everyone was stunned, including Smoothie herself. Her azure eyes widened abruptly, and her face showed a mix of shock, confusion, and a faint hint of expectation that even she hadn't noticed until that moment.+4
Takuro was also visibly taken aback; a clear expression of surprise appeared in his crimson pupils for the first time. He looked at Charlotte Linlin, who wore an expression suggesting he was getting a huge bargain, then looked at the tall, cold, and beautiful Smoothie, and raised an eyebrow.+4
"Huh?" he uttered, his tone full of absurdity. "Marry her? Why would I do that?".+2
Seeing that he hadn't immediately refused, Charlotte Linlin felt slightly relieved and quickly explained herself. Her tone carried the bluntness and realism unique to pirates.+4
"Does that even need asking?! You possess such immense power; you are destined to stand at the world's apex!" she yelled. "Since our Charlotte Family is submitting to you, we must have security! Marriage is the strongest bond!".+4
She pointed at Smoothie again. "Smoothie is one of my most outstanding daughters; she is powerful and beautiful—she is completely worthy of you! If you marry her, you will be the legitimate son-in-law of our family! This way, our interests are tied together. Only then will my children feel secure serving you! Otherwise, who can guarantee you won't discard us later, just like you did with Kaido?!".+3
Her logic was simple and stark—using marriage to exchange for the family's status within the new system. This was not born of maternal love, but of pure political calculation.+4
Whitebeard stood by with his arms crossed, letting out a deep, rumbling laugh. "Kurararara... Linlin, you certainly know how to scheme even when you're beaten".+3
Nico Robin watched the scene thoughtfully, murmuring to herself, "Consolidating rule through blood ties is indeed the consistent style of the Charlotte Family... I just didn't expect it to be used on the Boss".+2
Gion, meanwhile, wore an indescribable expression. She looked from Takuro to Smoothie, then back at Charlotte Linlin, feeling that this development was far beyond anything a Marine could have imagined.+4
The Agreement
Takuro was silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. He had no real concept of marriage and didn't see much meaning in the ritual itself.+1
But from the perspective of "saving trouble," Charlotte Linlin's words seemed to make some sense. If a marriage in name could make this group of troublemakers behave better, it wasn't exactly a loss. Besides, Smoothie was pleasing to the eye, and her power was decent for this world.+4
He turned to look at Smoothie and asked directly, "What about you? What do you think of this?".+2
Smoothie hadn't expected Takuro to ask her for her opinion. Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly composed herself, meeting his gaze with a hint of firmness. "The strong have the right to choose. I... will follow Mama's arrangements and respect your decision".+4
This statement both expressed her stance and returned the final decision to him. Takuro rubbed his chin, then looked at the expectant Charlotte Linlin and the surrounding family members who were holding their breath.+1
"Fine," he finally shrugged indifferently, as if agreeing to a trivial task. "Then it's settled".+4
He agreed so casually, as if he were not deciding on a marriage but simply ordering an extra dish from a menu.+1
Hearing this, a look of ecstatic joy instantly bloomed on Charlotte Linlin's massive face, as if she had won a crucial war. "Mamamama!!! This is wonderful! Wonderful!! From today onward, we are Family! Takuro, my son-in-law!".+2
The word "son-in-law" rolled off her tongue effortlessly.+1
The moment Smoothie heard him agree, a weight seemed to lift from her heart, yet an indescribable complexity of emotions surged within her. She lowered her head slightly, her ears feeling warm.+1
The surrounding Charlotte Family members had varied expressions—some felt relief, some were envious, and others were still bewildered. But regardless, a bond named "marriage," connecting Takuro and the Charlotte Family, was now established.+1
Takuro looked at the excited Charlotte Linlin and immediately poured cold water on her enthusiasm. "Don't celebrate too soon. We'll talk about a wedding later; I don't have time for formalities right now. Immediately, gather all your personnel and resources!".+2
His gaze sharpened, sweeping over Katakuri and the others.+2
"The ultimate goal—you are all aware of it now".
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