Orochimaru steadily took the cheese umbrella, feeling the warmth of its body through his palm, and the rich milky fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose.
Orochimaru sighed, "What a generous and kind person."
He remembered from that blue star person's memories that Nami seemed to like 'Zeus'...
Orochimaru's gaze passed over Mama, looking at Zeus behind her, a meaningful glint flashing in his eyes.
Zeus seemed to sense something, shivering for no reason. It looked left and right, an unsettling feeling of being watched by an unknown entity rising within it.
Orochimaru slowly narrowed his eyes, his gaze returning to Charlotte Linlin, his voice low, with an undeniable certainty: "Now, Linlin... Perospero is back. It's time for us to discuss our deal."
As Orochimaru's words fell, a tense atmosphere seemed to permeate the air. The surrounding noise seemed to quietly fade away at this moment, and everyone's eyes were unconsciously drawn to the subtle tension between the two.
Charlotte Linlin heard Orochimaru's words, paused for a moment, then burst into her characteristic laughter, instructing Brulee, "Mamamama... Brulee, gather your brothers and sisters. Afternoon tea time has arrived!"
Her eyes sparkled with a different light as she asked with interest, "When did you find out?"
Orochimaru's expression was calm, his gaze fixed on Charlotte Linlin. At this moment, she had shed her benevolent facade, revealing the Haki and ruthlessness befitting a Four Emperors.
Orochimaru looked at the umbrella in his hand. "Hmm, not bad. I like it."
"You are the Four Emperors Charlotte Linlin, not a kind old woman by the roadside.
For pirates with no blood relation to you, if your friendliness was merely moderate, others might understand it as you valuing talent and seeing their potential.
But the enthusiasm you showed me was simply too much, making it hard not to be suspicious."
Orochimaru paused slightly, then continued:
"Furthermore, Katakuri is your most valued son, exceptionally strong, and widely renowned in the Pirate World.
For him to follow me without any reason, like a nanny...
Anyone who isn't an idiot would notice something was off. Oh... my Captain doesn't count."
Charlotte Linlin seemed startled by these words, blinking her eyes several times before suddenly turning her head to look at Katakuri.
At this moment, her face was filled with confusion, and she exuded a bewildered air.
"I just told Katakuri to watch you, not to be your nanny!"
In an instant, the scene seemed to be paused, falling into an utterly awkward silence.
Orochimaru's originally clear analysis was caught off guard by Charlotte Linlin's blunt rebuttal, leaving him momentarily unsure how to respond.
Suddenly, everyone's gaze focused on Katakuri. Even Perospero, Oven, and others who arrived later looked at Katakuri with confusion.
Under everyone's scrutiny, Katakuri's figure appeared particularly conspicuous.
The colorful sack beside him now looked somewhat strange.
Being stared at by so many eyes, even he, who was usually composed, couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable. He shifted his body slightly, trying to alleviate the awkwardness.
Katakuri himself couldn't understand why he felt such an inexplicable sense of worry for Orochimaru, as if the other party was a younger brother he couldn't stop worrying about.
Unconsciously, he just... He couldn't possibly say it was paternal love overflowing, could he?
But facing the probing gazes of Charlotte Linlin and everyone else, he didn't know where to begin, so he could only bite the bullet and stand silently, hoping this awkward situation would pass quickly.
Just as the situation reached its peak awkwardness, Charlotte Linlin clapped her hands and broke the deadlock with a loud laugh: "Everyone, sit down! Don't be so stiff! I called you here, firstly, to meet this new friend, and secondly, to discuss a business deal!"
As she spoke, she casually walked to the main seat and sat down, waving her hand to signal everyone to take their seats.
The tense atmosphere instantly relaxed a bit. Everyone found a seat, their gazes sizing up Orochimaru.
Cracker, who was confused, frowned and looked Orochimaru up and down, unable to fathom what was so special about this person that Mama would look at him differently.
He scratched his head and couldn't help but say, "Mama, isn't this the first mate of the Straw Hat Pirates?
The third son of the Vinsmoke Family, who was brought back earlier, should be with them, right?
Shouldn't we be enemies with the Straw Hat Pirates? Or are the Straw Hat Pirates planning to surrender to us?
Or, are you planning to marry one of our sisters to him?
But he looks too short, so small, and doesn't seem to be a special race. Is he 15 years old?
Can he do it? Does he have the ability to marry?"
Orochimaru, who was slowly sipping from a regular teacup, silently put down his cup upon hearing Cracker's words.
His eyes, calm yet with a hint of coldness, looked at Cracker not far away, and he said coldly, "I only represent myself now. If Luffy and his crew come to Cake Island to rescue someone, I will stand by his side without hesitation."
"After all, dipping biscuits in milk should taste good."
"What flavor of milk do you want to die in?"
After hearing Orochimaru's words, Cracker's face instantly darkened. His hand uncontrollably reached for the sword at his waist, and his whole body exuded a rising anger. His eyes wide, he glared fiercely at Orochimaru, shouting, "little brat! You're provoking me!"
As these words came out, the already tense atmosphere was instantly ignited, becoming confrontational. A hint of gunpowder seemed to permeate the air.
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's previously calm face instantly turned cold, his gaze as icy as a blade. His golden vertical pupils stared directly at Cracker, with an intensity that seemed to pierce through him. "Who are you calling a little shorty!!!"
Katakuri, seeing this, frowned slightly. His gaze moved back and forth between Orochimaru and Cracker, seemingly pondering how to quell this sudden conflict.
Just then, Brulee seemed to have discovered something astonishing. As a sister, she very thoughtfully raised her hand high.
"Um... Orochimaru, Brother Cracker said 'little brat', after all, he's already 45 years old."
This sudden remark instantly made the tense atmosphere a bit subtle. Everyone's attention was drawn to Brulee's unexpected "translation," and the scene became a bit comical and awkward at the same time.
Only then did everyone belatedly realize that the esteemed Biscuit Minister Cracker was actually initiating a fight with someone who looked like a child.
Daifuku burst into unrestrained laughter, slapping his thigh as he laughed, the wrinkles on his face all squeezed together: "Cracker, you're really something! Arguing with a child, aren't you afraid of being laughed at by everyone if word gets out!"
These words were like a spark, igniting everyone's laughter. The surrounding area immediately filled with laughter, with brothers around them doubling over in mirth, some even shedding tears of laughter.
Orochimaru looked at this group of guys, whose average height exceeded four meters, grinding his teeth, veins bulging on his temples.
"I! Am! 19 years old!"
Actually, he still held back a thought: if he counted his previous life, he would be 90 years old.
After all, saying it out loud would probably make it even more pathetic. Damn this Pirate World.
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