A chilling aura slowly emanated from BIG MOM, sending shivers down everyone's spines.
"Oh no, Mama is angry!"
"She's even using Soul Voice!"
The executives of the BIG MOM Pirates instantly showed expressions of terror.
As her children and subordinates, they had witnessed Mama in this terrifying state countless times. Whenever she entered this frenzy, anyone who displayed even a hint of fear risked losing their very soul. She had, in the past, accidentally stolen the soul lifespan of innocent people in her rage.
Desperate to save themselves, the executives rushed to appease her.
"Mama, please don't be angry! We'll handle it!"
"That arrogant pirate—how dare he speak to Mama like that!"
"I'll kill him right now, Mama!"
They were frantic, ready to swarm the young pirate who had provoked their mother.
But before they could move—
"Heh."
A calm yet bone-chilling sound filled the hall.
"What?!"
Everyone froze and turned.
The man sitting opposite BIG MOM exuded an aura of deathly cold that rivaled hers.
Without warning, half of the massive banquet hall had frozen solid.
The air trembled. Even the Homies made from pastries and tea cups were encased in thick layers of ice.
"BIG MOM,"
The young man with short black hair tapped the table with his finger. His voice was calm, his eyes sharp with quiet dominance.
"Are you not used to speaking as equals? If it's a fight you want… I'll gladly indulge you."
Frost crept from beneath his fingertip, spreading slowly across the table toward Mama.
"Monster!"
"This guy's not just powerful—he's terrifying!"
"Shirogai, what are you doing?!"
One of the Sweet Commanders, Charlotte Katakuri, stood up, his gaze heavy and sharp.
"Are you declaring war on the BIG MOM Pirates?"
He could sense the killing intent in Shirogai's aura—the overwhelming, god-level cold that could annihilate most of the people in this room in an instant.
"If he releases that power, the consequences will be catastrophic," Katakuri thought grimly. He was about to strike when a gentle voice intervened.
"Mama, Shirogai San—perhaps there's been some misunderstanding?"
The Juice Minister, Charlotte Smoothie, rose gracefully from her seat beside Mama. Her calm tone cut through the tension like light through fog.
"Mama, you invited Shirogai here as a guest, not to quarrel with him, correct?"
"Mamamama~~"
BIG MOM's laughter boomed across the hall. Her oppressive presence faded, replaced by amusement.
"Mamamama~~ Shirogai, my dear, you misunderstood me."
Her enormous frame shook with laughter, her grin wide and brilliant.
"I only sent my people to the East Blue to look for information on how to contact your Straw Hat crew, yet rumors claim I wanted to take your friends hostage! What nonsense."
She laughed again, but her sharp eyes glinted with recognition.
The Devil Fruit power Shirogai wielded—it was unmistakably the Ice-Ice Fruit, belonging to Admiral Aokiji.
To BIG MOM, strength mattered most. And the man before her was a weapon sharp enough to cut even emperors.
"Misunderstanding, huh?"
Shirogai smiled faintly and withdrew his icy aura.
"If that's the case, then I suppose we can keep drinking."
He lifted his glass, his composure unshaken, and took a slow sip.
"Mamamama~~ Everyone, continue eating! Sing and drink happily!"
BIG MOM lifted her enormous goblet and downed the wine, the hall slowly returning to life.
"Hahaha, yes! It's all just a misunderstanding!"
The other executives forced awkward laughter, retracting their earlier hostility toward Shirogai.
"Shirogai-san, I toast to you!"
A soft, high-pitched voice chimed from the side.
A petite girl floated forward with flushed cheeks.
"I'm Charlotte Flampe, Mama's 36th daughter and the Honey Minister. I'm 13 this year. It's an honor to meet you, Shirogai-san."
(Holyyy Fvckkk, nothing's gonna happen between them...)
Shirogai smiled politely and raised his glass.
"The pleasure is mine."
"Mama, he's such a gentleman," Flampe thought excitedly. Mama, watching nearby, grinned wide with delight.
"Excellent, Flampe! If you can bring The Plunderer Shirogai into our family, your position will surpass even the Three Commanders!"
"You'll become one of my top executives!"
Flampe blushed deeper. After downing her wine, she leaned closer, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Shirogai-ssn, can you tell me about your adventures at sea? Mama won't let me travel—it's so boring here! I really admire strong people like you."
She smiled sweetly, her tone coy.
"In front of a cute girl like me, no man can resist sharing stories," she thought confidently.
But—
"Sorry, little one," Shirogai replied, his tone calm but distant. "I'm not interested in telling bedtime stories."
"Eh?!"
Flampe blinked, speechless, as he returned to eating as though she no longer existed.
He actually refused me?!
Her face flushed with frustration, and she turned away angrily.
"Pfft!"
A soft laugh came from the side.
Flampe snapped. "Pudding! Are you laughing at me?!"
The girl beside her, Charlotte Pudding, looked up innocently.
"Huh? No, I just remembered a funny joke. Want to hear it?"
"You—!"
Flampe clenched her fork so tightly it almost bent, glaring daggers at her sister.
"Pfft!"
Another stifled laugh came from the table. She turned again—only to see Shirogai smirking.
"Shirogai San! What's so funny?" she demanded, her anger giving way to curiosity.
Shirogai looked up, his smirk never fading.
"Heh. I just remembered a funny joke too. Want to hear it?"
Flampe froze, realizing he was teasing her.
"Pfft!"
Pudding giggled again behind her hand.
"Mama's guest," she whispered, "is quite entertaining."
______
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