The force of the clashing slashes forced everyone around to retreat, dodging the deadly remnants sweeping out in every direction. Only two figures remained unmoving in the center of it all, locked in a steady gaze, utterly ignoring the slicing aftershocks tearing through the air.
"Rosinante, brat… I have to admit, I may have underestimated you earlier. That last strike of yours packed quite a punch!" Charlotte Linlin suddenly broke into a grin, her tone strangely laced with approval.
"Are you mocking me? I know my swordsmanship is far from refined," Rosinante replied calmly.
"Precisely because your swordsmanship is so rough, I'm giving you praise," Linlin said with a chuckle. "To unleash such a powerful slash with such crude technique—your strength has already reached a respectable level. Seems your reputation in the Marine Headquarters wasn't entirely exaggerated after all."
"Heh… then I suppose I should thank you for the compliment," Rosinante said lightly.
Every member of the Big Mom Pirates froze when they heard Linlin's next words—so unexpected it left them momentarily speechless.
Was Mama… seriously making such an offer? Could it be that she still couldn't let go of his Sealing ability? No—this couldn't happen! That man was no longer someone even Mama could keep under control. If things went wrong, the entire Big Mom Pirates might just end up as his prey.
Perospero licked the candy staff in his hand, thinking to himself, but he didn't dare voice the thought aloud.
"Mama!" Katakuri's eyes widened with disbelief.
Rosinante, too, was momentarily taken aback by Linlin's offer—then he broke into laughter.
"Heh… heh… so you're still underestimating me even now? Do you honestly believe you can control me, or bend me to your will?" Rosinante's voice carried a sharp edge.
"Rosinante, your strength is indeed impressive—but only impressive," Linlin said. "Join my Big Mom Pirates, and I might even marry off my most precious daughter to you!"
"Unfortunately for you, I'm the captain of the Gray Kingdom Pirates," Rosinante replied with a faint smile. "Even if I were willing, my crew wouldn't be. So how about we end things here for today—let me return and discuss it with my men, then I'll give you an answer."
This was, after all, Big Mom's territory.
Individually, none of these people worried Rosinante. But if they all attacked at once, even he would feel the strain.
The world of pirates wasn't like some fantasy realm—no matter how strong you were, there was always the danger of being swarmed to death by the "ants." And here, those ants were anything but ordinary.
"Looks like I'll have to beat you within an inch of your life before you understand the gap between us," Linlin said coldly.
Though her temperament was childlike, she wasn't a fool—and she had no intention of simply letting Rosinante walk away.
As she spoke, a terrifying aura erupted from her body.
Sensing that oppressive pressure, Rosinante's expression grew serious as he unleashed a powerful aura of his own.
"This presence… it's strong. No doubt about it—Rosinante's already reached Admiral level," Perospero murmured.
Unlike Conqueror's Haki, which only signified potential, a person's aura often reflected their actual combat power. A rookie might awaken Conqueror's Haki at a young age, but that didn't mean they were strong yet—it only showed they had the potential to be.
Aura, however, was different. With the exception of a few special cases, you could gauge a fighter's true level from the force of their presence alone.
As the eldest son of the Charlotte Family, Perospero's judgment was keen. From Rosinante's aura, he could tell—Rosinante had truly stepped into the realm of Admirals.
In the New World, masters were everywhere.
But most of these so-called masters only reached the level of Vice Admirals or quasi-Admirals. Few ever broke through to true Admiral-class power.
The gap between quasi-Admiral and Admiral was like a colossal mountain hidden in the clouds—one that countless people could never climb in their entire lives.
Thus, while the New World overflowed with strong fighters, those at Admiral level were few and far between.
Even the Charlotte Family, with their monstrous genetic gifts inherited from Linlin herself, had never produced an Admiral-level fighter.
Katakuri had been the most promising… but now, that was no longer the case.
Perospero's words made every member of the Charlotte Family stiffen.
"Admiral? Impossible! Rosinante's still so young. No matter how talented, there's no way he's reached that level already," Daifuku said in shock.
"Exactly, Peros. I'll admit he might fight at an Admiral's level, but to have actual strength at that level? I'm not buying it," Cracker added.
Combat power and true strength were not the same. In this world of strange Devil Fruits, mastery over the right ability could allow someone to match an Admiral in battle—but that was like a rootless plant floating on water. It could never be considered genuine Admiral-level might.
Only when one's raw physical ability, combat mastery, swordsmanship, Devil Fruit control, defense, and power handling had all reached the same peak—only then could they be said to truly possess Admiral-level strength.
Perospero frowned, not entirely certain himself.
Admiral-class fighters were already among the most elite powerhouses in the seas. Even the Marines regarded their Admirals as their highest combat force.
Not even Big Mom or Whitebeard had truly gone beyond the scope of Admiral-level ability—though both stood at the very peak of it. Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi had allowed his battle power to surpass even that.
Within the Admirals, there were still distinctions—ordinary Admirals, senior Admirals, top-tier Admirals, and peak Admirals. Big Mom and Whitebeard both belonged to the last category.
If Rosinante had truly reached Admiral level—and with the power of his Gray Nation behind him—he now had the qualifications to contend for the title of Emperor of the Sea.
His chances of success would be many times higher than those of the so-called Supernova upstarts.
"Rosinante, I'll ask you one more time—will you join my Big Mom Pirates?" Linlin demanded.
Rosinante's only reply was to swing his sword in a sudden, domineering slash, sending the flying blade of energy straight toward her.
"This," Rosinante said coldly, "is my answer."