Chapter 215 — Falling Out
"Everyone, what just happened was merely an accident! The banquet will continue — there are still plenty of performances to come!"
Charlotte Perospero stepped forward quickly, trying to calm the awkward tension that hung over the hall.
Though it was humiliating that the Charlotte Family's attempt to use a fake bride to deceive the Giants had been exposed, none of the guests dared laugh. After all, few in the New World would ever mock the majesty of a Yonko.
"Oh? More entertainment?"
Crocodile tilted his head, a faint smirk curling at his lips. "Anyone else planning to get engaged? I only brought one gift."
Charlotte Linlin, having just cooled her rage, chuckled deeply.
"Well, well, well… if you want to marry one of my daughters, I might just agree."
"Forget it." Crocodile leaned lazily against his chair, his cigar glowing faintly. "I've no intention of becoming your son-in-law. If you've got another act, then get on with it."
Linlin laughed again. "Such a cold man. I really would've liked to make you family. But fine… we'll talk about that another time."
Then her gaze slid toward Ace — sharp and playful.
"Fire Emperor, you're quite the good boy, aren't you? Tell me, how about becoming my son-in-law? I can offer you the finest daughter among my unmarried ones."
Ace frowned. "Big Mom, if you called me here just to talk nonsense, then I've no reason to stay."
"Well, well, well! Such a rude brat," Linlin said with mock annoyance. But this time, she didn't explode. The next "performance" was tied directly to Ace, and she wasn't about to ruin her own plan.
She raised a hand toward one of her sons. "Mondor, my dear boy — bring him out."
"Yes, Mama!"
Charlotte Mondor stepped forward, clutching a thick, leather-bound tome. He opened it with a grin and muttered as he flipped through its pages, "Now, where did I put that one…"
Mondor had eaten the Book-Book Fruit — a power that allowed him to seal living creatures within the pages of his enchanted books, freezing their age and trapping them inside endless stories. It also granted him the ability to summon them out at will.
As Mondor flipped the pages, Ace felt an uneasy chill rise in his chest.
A terrible premonition gnawed at him.
"Ah! Found it!" Mondor said suddenly. He snapped his fingers — and with a whoosh, a glowing cage burst out from the pages, landing heavily beside him.
Inside the cage, chained and fuming, was none other than Monkey D. Luffy.
---
"Straw Hat!" Crocodile's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering in his expression. He hadn't expected to see that face again.
Their last encounter — in Alabasta — had ended with Luffy punching him into the desert. The memory still burned.
But seeing the young pirate trapped like a zoo exhibit… Crocodile couldn't help but feel a quiet, vicious satisfaction.
"Isn't that the rookie who's been making waves lately?!"
"The one who attacked Enies Lobby and declared war on the World Government?"
"Why's he in Big Mom's hands?"
"Idiot! That's the Fire Emperor's little brother!"
"Ohhh… so that's why Big Mom brought up 'bargaining chips.'"
"Luffy…" Ace muttered under his breath, his expression hardening.
So this was the source of his bad feeling.
He'd never imagined that the "surprise" Big Mom prepared — the one Katakuri said would surely interest him — would be his own brother.
"Ace!"
The sleeping Luffy jolted awake at the sound of his brother's voice.
He blinked, saw Ace — and then instantly began shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Let me out, you stinky old hag! I just wanted a snack! You're locking me up for that?!"
Linlin laughed her thunderous laugh, ignoring the commotion.
"Mamamamama! How about it, Fire Emperor? Surprised? I thought this little 'gift' might interest you."
Her grin widened cruelly.
"But if you want to take him away… you'll need to offer me a trade worthy of my satisfaction. Mamamamama!"
"Hey! You old witch!" Luffy shouted, grabbing the cage bars. "You're using me to blackmail Ace? You think I'll let you—?! Let me out right now, and I'll clobber you, you wrinkled hag!"
"Luffy, quiet!" Ace barked, his tone sharp. Then, glaring at Linlin, he asked coldly, "What do you want?"
Linlin pretended to ponder for a moment, tapping her chin theatrically.
"Hmm… I've heard you'd fight the world itself for your brother."
Her eyes glinted like molten gold.
"So let's make it fair — one brother for another. Bring me the head of Whitebeard, and I'll let your little brother go."
---
Gasps erupted across the banquet hall. Even the Charlotte siblings froze in shock.
Not even Katakuri had expected his mother to demand something so outrageous.
Perospero's jaw dropped. "M-Mama… are you serious…?"
BOOM!
A violent surge of will exploded outward.
Conqueror's Haki radiated from Ace like a wildfire, cracking the ground and shaking the tables. Guests fainted instantly, collapsing like dominoes. Even hardened veterans among the Charlotte Family struggled to breathe under the crushing pressure.
"S-such terrifying Haki…" Perospero stammered, sweat rolling down his temples. "It's like facing Mama herself when she's enraged…"
Katakuri's face tightened. Damn it, Mama… that condition—how could anyone accept that without bloodshed? Are you trying to start a war right here?
Ace's crimson eyes locked onto Big Mom.
His voice dropped into a deadly growl.
"Big Mom… you're looking for death."
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