In the grand hall.
Katakuri stared intently at Wilhelm and spoke in a deep voice, "I remember you stayed in the first half of the Grand Line for a long time.
After you built the Ark Proverb, something unfortunate happened—Shiryu of the Rain, the Chief Warden of Impel Down, defected.
The World Government claimed it was because he was afraid of being held accountable for killing prisoners without reason."
"But just a few days later, Smoothie told me that you managed to recruit Shiryu of the Rain, who now has a bounty of 500 million Berries."
From the moment Smoothie reported that Wilhelm had tamed Shiryu—a former Impel Down warden with a 500-million-Berry bounty—Katakuri found it suspicious.
Why would someone like Shiryu, once a high-ranking officer of Impel Down, suddenly abandon his position, defect, and then immediately join Wilhelm?
With Wilhelm's cautious nature, there's no way he would trust a powerful fighter like Shiryu so easily.
The World Government claimed Shiryu defected for killing prisoners indiscriminately, but what if that was just a cover-up? What if he was actually a spy sent by the World Government to infiltrate the Big Mom Pirates?
There was only one possible explanation.
Most likely, Wilhelm had secretly infiltrated Impel Down himself.
With his own strength and the terrifying ability of the Transfer-Transfer Fruit, he could've done it without anyone noticing.
If his Devil Fruit ability truly allows him to extract powers from others…
Then, knowing Wilhelm's bold and ruthless nature, he might have actually dared to do it.
After all, he even had the guts to invade Mary Geoise—the very heart of the World Government and home of the Celestial Dragons.
So what wouldn't he dare to do?
"…I knew I couldn't hide it from you."
Wilhelm didn't even try to deny it. He simply admitted it.
After fully understanding the power of the Transfer-Transfer Fruit, he knew it would only be a matter of time before someone as sharp as Katakuri figured it out.
Smoothie, who had been listening, was momentarily stunned before smiling in admiration. "As expected of you, big brother Katakuri! I didn't think you'd figure it out so quickly!"
"…"
Katakuri turned his gaze to his younger brother—the one who had inherited their mother, Charlotte Linlin's monstrous talent.
Not only that, but he also carried the blood of the Mink Tribe, making him even more gifted than most. He was always independent, always capable, yet now Katakuri found himself slightly surprised.
"So, big brother Katakuri, do you want to try it?"
Wilhelm stared at Katakuri and spoke bluntly, "To be honest, while a special Paramecia like the Mochi-Mochi Fruit is strong, even with Awakening, it still has its limits."
"But a Logia—like the Air-Air Fruit—is different."
"As one of the top Logia abilities, it's not necessarily weaker than Smoothie's Rumble-Rumble Fruit. It has the potential to push you into the ranks of true 'monsters.' Big brother Katakuri, with your incredible talent, you could become one of the strongest forces on the sea in the future."
"You're throwing a lot at me all of a sudden… my mind's a bit all over the place."
Katakuri took a deep breath.
He stared intently at Wilhelm, the twenty-second son of the Charlotte Family.
Forcing himself to remain calm, he hesitated before saying, "Especially with our battle against the Marines and those other guys coming up… making a decision like this isn't easy."
He had to admit—Wilhelm's words kept lingering in his mind.
The Air-Air Fruit was an incredibly powerful Logia ability.
He couldn't deny that he was tempted.
As someone who wielded the Mochi-Mochi Fruit, he understood its limitations better than anyone.
Sure, with strong Armament Haki, he could harden his mochi and easily crush invading pirates.
In comparison, the Mochi-Mochi Fruit wasn't weak.
But it all depended on what it was being compared to.
Even with its Awakening, his Devil Fruit only gave him strong offensive techniques.
But when facing the true monsters of the sea? That level of power wasn't nearly enough.
At the very least, right now, Katakuri knew he wouldn't stand a chance of holding back Big Mom for long if she went all out.
"Big brother Katakuri, with your talent, even if you gave up the Mochi-Mochi Fruit, I'm sure you'd be able to adapt quickly and master the Air-Air Fruit in no time," Wilhelm said with a grin.
"Especially with your ability to see a little into the future with Observation Haki."
"The Air-Air Fruit's Logia abilities, combined with the insane short-burst speed it grants—almost like teleportation—would be a perfect match for you."
"So, what do you think? Want to consider it?"
"Alright!"
Under Wilhelm's guidance…
After careful thought, weighing his options, and placing his absolute trust in his younger brother…
Faced with the temptation of the Logia-type Air-Air Fruit—one of the strongest Logia abilities—Katakuri finally made his decision.
After all, in this world, the true monsters of the sea…
Almost all of them wielded powerful Devil Fruits.
Take Sengoku, the former Fleet Admiral, for example. He possessed the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Buddha—a Mythical Zoan ability that transformed him into a towering golden Buddha.
Then there were the three rising Marine powerhouses, said to be the strongest candidates for Admiral—Vice Admirals Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji.
Each one a top-tier Logia user.
And among the infamous pirates of the New World…
There was Whitebeard—Edward Newgate—who wielded the Paramecia-type Tremor-Tremor Fruit. He could create devastating earthquakes and tsunamis, earning him the title of "The Strongest Man in the World."
Then there was Kaido of the Beasts, who possessed the Mythical Zoan Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, allowing him to transform into a massive dragon.
And of course, his own mother, Charlotte Linlin—Big Mom.
With the power of the Soul-Soul Fruit, she could rip souls from living beings and create bizarre Homies with unique abilities. Her body was as tough as steel, making her nearly indestructible—a true monster in every sense of the word.
All of them wielded overwhelming Devil Fruit powers.
If there was a way to grow even stronger, why settle for mediocrity?
Even if he might never reach the heights of Whitebeard or Big Mom—the strongest man and woman in the world—
With the Air-Air Fruit in his hands, would he really be any weaker than the future Admirals of the Marines?
At that thought, Katakuri, a man known for his decisiveness, made up his mind.
He stopped hesitating.
Looking straight at Wilhelm, he spoke in a deep voice, "I trust you. I leave my life in your hands, Wilhelm."
Wilhelm stood up, a faint smile on his lips. "I don't think you'll ever regret this."
Smoothie chuckled. "I'm really looking forward to it!"
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