The pirates on the deck tightened their grips on their weapons, nervously watching the colossal figure approaching. The air was thick with a suffocating pressure, making even breathing feel difficult.
At that moment, a tall figure suddenly burst forth from the opposing pirate ship. Charlotte Linlin stood atop Zeus, a white cloud created by Homies, tightly clutching her Famous Sword Napoleon. The massive blade was completely engulfed in the scorching flames of Prometheus, gleaming dangerously under the sunlight. Her laughter echoed across the sea like thunder, sending chills down everyone's spines.
She cut through the sky at an astonishing speed, heading straight for Kaidou's position. Her figure left an afterimage in the air, like a lightning bolt splitting the heavens.
Facing this sudden attack, Kaidou snorted coldly and without hesitation grabbed his giant Spiked Club Hassaikai. He stomped forcefully on the ship's bow, causing the entire vessel to shake violently, the deck planks groaning under the strain. Using this reactive force, Kaidou shot upward like a cannonball to meet the approaching Charlotte Linlin.
The tremendous impact force instantly sank the pirate ship several meters. The pirates on deck, caught off guard, fell to the ground one after another. Some unlucky ones even fell directly into the sea, splashing water everywhere. The sea surface immediately fell into chaos, with shouts and screams rising one after another. Yet none of this could stop the clash between the two rulers of the seas.
The next instant. The Spiked Club and long sword collided mid-air, red Conqueror's Haki transforming into lightning that rampaged around them. The powerful impact directly stirred up massive waves that spread outward, while the clouds in the sky began to churn violently before splitting apart. The collision of these two forces seemed to tear through space itself, distorting the surrounding air. Ships on the sea were tossed about by the shockwaves, distant seagulls scattered in fright, and pirates with insufficient strength around them all fell unconscious.
"The sky, the sky is splitting." Even though it wasn't their first time witnessing such a scene, the pirates who saw this were still utterly shocked. Their faces were filled with disbelief, some even rubbing their eyes, doubting what they were seeing. Yet the scene before them was real—the sky appeared to have been cleaved by an invisible giant sword, revealing a profound darkness.
After this single exchange, the two didn't continue fighting but instead withdrew their weapons, simply confronting each other in mid-air.
"Mamamama, Kaidou, it's been years, and you've indeed grown stronger," Charlotte Linlin said to Kaidou with loud laughter.
Kaidou looked at the nearly nine-meter-tall beauty before him, finding it hard to imagine what she would look like thirty years later. This was one of the peculiarities of the pirate world—the more beautiful a woman was in her youth, the more grotesque she would become in old age.
"Wororororo, Linlin, long time no see." Seeing that Charlotte Linlin had come with no ill intent, Kaidou had no intention of fighting her either. After all, Charlotte Linlin could be a potential ally to recruit in the future.
"Of course, I came here specifically for you," Charlotte Linlin said to Kaidou.
"Oh?!" Kaidou responded.
By now, Charlotte Linlin's pirate ship, the Queen Mama Chanter, had drawn close, and the two pirate ships came to a halt side by side on the open sea.
The sea wind howled, causing the flagship of the Beasts Pirates to sway gently on the waves. The fading glow of the sunset cast long shadows of everyone on the deck.
Kaidou's massive frame sat firmly in the main seat on the deck, his thick right arm resting on his knee while his left hand gripped a Wine Gourd. Beside him stood his capable subordinates—Sebastian, Enel, Kawamatsu, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi—all watching the visitors across from them with solemn expressions. The sea breeze whipped at their clothes, making them flutter noisily.
Opposite Kaidou, Charlotte Linlin's enormous figure occupied half the deck space. Her signature pink long hair fluttered in the sea wind, a faint smile playing on her lips. Her sharp eyes glinted dangerously in the sunset.
Behind her, the elites of the Charlotte family stood in a line: the eldest son, Perospero, licking his candy cane; Katakuri, with his arms crossed; and Daifuku and Oven, vigilantly scanning their surroundings. The air was thick with palpable tension.
"Linlin, what brings you to me this time?" Kaidou asked bluntly, tilting his head back to take a swig of strong liquor. Drops of alcohol trickled down his beard and fell onto the deck with soft pattering sounds.
"Mamamamama~" Linlin let out her characteristic laugh, but her eyes grew increasingly sharp. "Kaidou, is this how you treat me? Don't forget, you still owe me a huge favor." Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of her seat, each tap causing the deck to tremble slightly.
Kaidou's eyes instantly turned dangerous. He set down the Wine Gourd, the metal making a dull thud against the wooden deck. "Enough, Linlin!" he growled. "I seized that fruit myself—it has nothing to do with you." He was referring to the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Type, Azure Dragon Form he had snatched during the chaos at God Valley, the very Devil Fruit that had granted him his current immense power.
Linlin's smile vanished. Her massive body leaned forward slightly, casting a shadow over most of the deck. "Kaidou, even pirates must uphold some sense of honor," she said, her voice suddenly low and threatening, as if freezing the very air around them.
Kaidou fell silent for a moment, his thick fingers unconsciously rubbing the Wine Gourd. He recalled how Linlin had often looked out for him during their time in the Rocks Pirates. Yet, in the midst of the God Valley melee, he had taken advantage of the chaos to ambush her and steal the Devil Fruit from her grasp. Though plundering spoils was commonplace among pirates, betraying a former comrade went against the unwritten rules of their world.
"Linlin, what do you want?" Kaidou asked directly.
"So these are the crew members you recruited? Why are they all just kids? Did you really conquer Wano Country with them? Fishmen? Mink Tribe?" Charlotte Linlin ignored Kaidou's question, instead looking at the executives beside him and asking, "Where are the rest of your subordinates? Where's that King?"
"Enough, Linlin. King is my right-hand man, and all of them are my brothers. I suggest you keep your schemes away from them, or don't blame me for being impolite." Kaidou stated directly, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Mamamama, fine then, since you put it that way. Kaidou, the Sea Stone circulating in the underworld lately came from you, didn't it?" Charlotte Linlin asked Kaidou, a shrewd glint flashing in her eyes.