The Golden City wasn't far from Whole Cake Island.
After just two or three days at sea, the Sweet Donut could already see Whole Cake Island rising at the edge of the horizon.
On the deck of the Sweet Donut, Ortoren held a Den Den Mushi, his expression puzzled as he spoke. "Poya Hancock has already passed Fish-Man Island? She wants to see me? Why? Didn't she already agree to become a Shichibukai? Is she in such a hurry to pay me?"
Out of respect for Rayleigh, and also because of their previous dealings, Ortoren had never planned to collect the 20 billion Berry Shichibukai guarantee fee from Hancock. He hadn't even mentioned it once.
"That, I don't know," Tokikake replied from the other end of the Den Den Mushi. "According to Admiral Kuzan, Hancock, as a Shichibukai, has some conditions and benefits she wants to discuss with you."
"Then you handle it for me," Ortoren said casually. "When I'm not around, you're acting in my place anyway. I'm about to reach Whole Cake Island, I don't have time to meet her. If she's patient, have her wait until I'm done dealing with things here."
With that, Ortoren quickly ended the call and stepped to the bow, gazing at the island drawing closer and closer.
With his eyesight, he could already make out figures at the docks of Whole Cake Island.
Gion stood there, draped in the Navy's coat of justice, Vice Admiral insignia on her shoulders, her belly already slightly rounded. In front of her were Ace and Robin, chatting and laughing with her. Beside them stood Rouge, also visibly pregnant, shoulder to shoulder with Gion, smiling as she talked.
For reasons he couldn't quite explain, the moment Ortoren saw them, a deep sense of calm settled over him. It felt as if only now had he truly become part of this world.
Before long, the Sweet Donut docked at Whole Cake Island's port. As soon as the gangway was lowered, Ortoren strode down the ship to greet them.
Gion and Rouge walked up as well, clearly happy to see him. Ortoren laughed heartily and said, "I really didn't expect the two of you to be pregnant at the same time…"
While Ortoren chatted with Gion and Rouge, Lucci nearby was excitedly talking with Robin.
"It's been a long time, Robin. How have you been?" Lucci said, a hint of pride in his voice. "I'm a proper Navy Captain now, and I serve by the Admirals' side on a daily basis." He even gave his shoulder insignia a little shake as he spoke.
Robin smiled and responded warmly, then said, "Once we return from Whole Cake Island, I'll be able to officially join the Marines. Senior Hina has already helped me process my service records. When we get back, I'll report to the Secretariat."
Katakuri also walked over to Ortoren and asked casually, "I've been asking you ever since we left Golden City. Have you decided on a name yet?"
"On Gion's side, it's a boy, so I was thinking…" Ortoren paused, then broke into a grin. "I still haven't decided. Hahaha. Let's talk about it later. I'll think it over properly. There's no rush anyway."
This was the capital island of Totto Land, so its medical system was naturally top-tier. By the time Ortoren had just come down from the Red Line Continent and learned about their situation, both of them were already more than two months along. After returning here, another two months passed. Altogether, it was nearly five months now.
Charlotte Linlin had long since confirmed the babies' genders. After all, these were her own grandchildren. How could she not take it seriously?
Gion was carrying a boy, while Rouge was expecting a girl.
Ortoren had been thinking about names for both of them throughout the journey, but even now, he still hadn't settled on anything.
As they stood around at the harbor, chatting idly in the sea breeze, a Navy warship slowly sailed in and docked nearby. Soon, Momonga and Smoker disembarked.
Smoker had already been transferred out of G-5 and reassigned to Momonga's G-12, serving as Momonga's aide. If the circumstances were right, he could be promoted to Vice Admiral at any time.
"How did you two end up here as well?" Ortoren asked, a little surprised.
Momonga laughed cheerfully. "We happened to be nearby. When we heard you were about to reach Whole Cake Island, we figured we'd come join the excitement. After all, this is where the leader of the New World will be decided. Of course we want to see it with our own eyes. And while we're at it, congratulations. You're going to be a father again!"
After chatting briefly with Ortoren, Momonga turned to talk with Gion.
Off to the side, Smoker said to Ortoren, "Admiral, when Vice Admiral Gion and Lady Rouge were confirmed to be pregnant again, everyone in the New World Navy who heard the news was incredibly excited…"
Hearing this, Ortoren felt something was off. Momonga's reaction was strange too. Gion and Rouge were pregnant, yet he looked even more excited than Ortoren himself. Back in Golden City, Isshō had reacted the same way when he heard the news, overjoyed as if he were the one becoming a father. If he hadn't been tied up with other matters, he probably would have rushed over to see it in person.
And it wasn't just them. Ortoren had shared the news with his friends and acquaintances as well. Spandine had been thrilled. Huo Shaoshan, Strawberry, and the others all said they would make time as soon as possible to come visit.
Now looking at Smoker, the smile on his face was completely genuine, brimming with happiness.
Ortoren was honestly baffled. My wife is pregnant. Why are all of you this damn happy?
Just as Ortoren was about to ask what was going on, Smoker spoke with a sigh of emotion. "In the past, even though Young Master Ace was around, to be blunt, the seas are unpredictable. Anything can happen. On top of that, with the major undertaking we're about to embark on… If you didn't have a strong line of descendants, those of us following you would sometimes feel uneasy. Now that we've heard this news, we finally feel reassured. That's why everyone is so happy."
Only then did Ortoren understand.
So that was it.
To be honest, Ortoren had never really thought about these things. He still felt young, and with the possibility of finding Pure Gold someday, who knew how long he might live? So whether it was Ace, or the two children Gion and Rouge were carrying this time, he had never seriously considered the issue of succession.
But just because he didn't think about it didn't mean others wouldn't.
Everyone in the New World Navy was loyal to Ortoren himself. One man, yes, but also the head of a family.
Especially since Ortoren came from the Charlotte family, a superpowerful clan. That background made things even more complicated for the New World Navy. It had its advantages, but also its downsides.
The advantages didn't need explaining. The downside was that the vast majority of New World Navy members didn't really acknowledge the Charlotte family.
If Ortoren were to suddenly die due to some accident, would the New World Navy follow the Charlotte family's arrangements? Impossible. Their loyalty was to Ortoren alone. At that point, the most likely people to inherit Ortoren's authority and influence would be Gion and Ace, not the Charlotte family.
But relying on just Gion and Ace wasn't enough to fully reassure everyone. For them, the more children Admiral Ortoren had, the better. With that many children, surely some would grow into capable figures. Surely there would be ones worth pledging loyalty to, worth nurturing.
Only if Ortoren had multiple heirs could the integration of the New World Navy and the Charlotte family truly continue. Otherwise, the moment something happened to Ortoren, the entire unified power structure of the New World would collapse in an instant.
At the same time, Smoker's words made Ortoren sense another unspoken wish of the New World Navy.
They wanted him to become king.
Ortoren had never tested the waters or asked directly about this within the New World Navy.
But now, even though Smoker hadn't said it outright, the meaning behind his words was already clear.
What ordinary Navy Admiral would anyone care about having children?
And no one would pledge loyalty to you, then pledge loyalty to your children afterward.
Only when everyone already saw themselves as your personal retainers, loyal to you as an individual rather than to external titles like Admiral or Fleet Admiral, would they start thinking about succession.
Smoker was the stubborn, sharp-tongued type. If even he had mentally prepared himself, if even he had started thinking this far ahead, then Ortoren didn't need to ask what the other senior officers of the New World Navy were thinking.
Only now did he realize that when he had informed his friends and associates about having another child, their enthusiasm, excitement, and joy had essentially been a response. They were telling Ortoren where they stood.
At the time, Ortoren hadn't thought that deeply about it. He had only felt they were a bit too excited and hadn't given it much more thought.
Now, with Smoker's explanation, everything became clear.
Every officer under his command was already thinking about earning merit by following the dragon.
And in truth, having reached this point, Ortoren had no choice but to keep moving forward. Even if he wanted to stop, those beneath him would push him onward, urging him to create greater benefits for everyone and carve out a broader future.
"Sigh… you people are really making things hard for me," Ortoren sighed inwardly.
At this moment, the prerequisites and early signs of donning the imperial yellow robe had already begun to appear.