-Real World - Whole Cake Island, Totto Land-
The Marine had set the precedent with Aramaki's voluntary joininh. Now every major organization was conducting similar analysis, desperately searching their own camps for individuals who might appear in the Sky Screen's future projections.
Everyone wanted reinforcements. Powerful fighters who would strengthen their faction. Nobody wanted to be left behind in the escalating arms race that the Sky Screen had triggered.
The Whitebeard Pirates and Red-Haired Pirates naturally abstained from these discussions. According to the Sky Screen, both Yonko crews would become history before the Mary Geoise Incident. Destroyed or disbanded. Their members scattered or dead. They wouldn't even get to taste the soup, let alone sit at the table for the main feast.
A grim reminder, some observers thought, that even the mightiest fall. The Yonko aren't immortal. Their empires aren't eternal.
But the Big Mom Pirates—Charlotte Linlin's sprawling family empire—had representation in the preview. Multiple members. Prominent positions in the Pirate Alliance formation. Which meant they'd survived whatever destroyed Whitebeard and Shanks, and remained powerful enough to matter.
That should have been cause for celebration.
Instead, it triggered an entirely different family crisis.
-Real World - Whole Cake Chateau, Main Conference Room-
Dozens of Charlotte Linlin's children crowded into the conference room, all focused on a single blown-up screenshot from the Sky Screen's preview. The image showed Charlotte Katakuri—eldest son, strongest warrior, pillar of the family—in his distinctive outfit standing on what appeared to be a ship flying Big Mom Pirates' flag.
Nothing unusual there. Katakuri leading family forces into battle was expected.
What wasn't expected was the small girl sitting on his shoulders.
She appeared young—maybe eight or nine years old—with dark hair and delicate features. Her posture was relaxed, comfortable, like this was a routine occurrence rather than a special privilege. And most tellingly, Katakuri's body language showed no stiffness or discomfort with her presence.
He's allowing her to ride on his shoulders. Voluntarily. Comfortably.
For anyone who knew Charlotte Katakuri, this was shocking behavior.
"So," Charlotte Daifuku began, his tone carrying brotherly teasing that barely masked genuine confusion. "Which lucky woman our perfect eldest brother manage to knock up? Because I genuinely can't imagine Katakuri marrying a woman, let alone fathering a child."
Several siblings laughed. The image of their stoic, duty-focused brother in any kind of romantic relationship was genuinely difficult to picture.
"The girl's on his head," Charlotte Oven pointed out, the fourth son leaning forward to study the image more carefully. "That's... intimate. Personal. The kind of thing you do with your own child or a sibling you absolutely adore. But Katakuri doesn't show favoritism that obviously. Even with us."
That was the crux of the issue. Charlotte Katakuri genuinely loved his siblings—worked tirelessly to protect and provide for them. But he maintained emotional distance from most. His affection was expressed through duty and protection rather than physical intimacy.
Sure, he had favorites. Siblings he was particularly protective of or close with. But he'd never—in anyone's memory—allowed someone to literally sit on his shoulders like that. The gesture was too casual, too familiar, too... parental.
"I maintain my previous hypothesis," Oven continued, his voice shifting from teasing to serious analysis. "That girl is Mother's newest child. Not Katakuri's daughter—his sister."
The room's energy shifted. Several siblings who'd been smiling at the "Katakuri has a secret love child" jokes suddenly looked thoughtful.
"Explain your reasoning," Charlotte Perospero demanded from his position at the head of the table. As the actual eldest child, he took these family matters seriously.
"First, timing." Oven ticked off points on his fingers. "The Devil's Child—Nico Robin—mentioned in earlier Sky Screen broadcasts that Mother apparently gave birth to another powerful child in the future. Gender unspecified, but the phrasing suggested recent birth. Five years is plenty of time for a child to reach eight or nine years old."
Several siblings nodded. That detail had been discussed before but not fully analyzed.
"Second, power scaling." Oven gestured at the preview image. "Look at Mother's bounty increase after the Dressrosa Incident. Smallest jump of all Four Emperors. Which suggests her personal combat strength doesn't increase much over five years. In terms of individual fighting capability, she's ranked last among Yonko by that point."
The observation was uncomfortable but accurate. Charlotte Linlin's bounty had increased, yes, but proportionally less than Kaido, Blackbeard, or the emerging threats. The implication was that while she remained dangerous, she was being outpaced by rivals.
"So if Mother isn't getting stronger herself," Oven concluded, "but the family is still represented prominently in the Mary Geoise battle, then she must have produced a new source of strength. A child with exceptional potential who grows powerful quickly. That girl on Katakuri's shoulders? Perfect candidate."
Charlotte Brulee—one of the few sisters in the room—stepped forward, her voice carrying a woman's perspective that the brothers might miss.
"I agree with Oven," she said quietly. "That girl is almost certainly Mother's child, not Katakuri's. And I can tell you why I'm certain: look at how he's treating her."
She gestured at the image.
"That's exactly how Brother Katakuri treats me. The gentle patience. The protective positioning. The unconscious accommodation of her comfort. I've been on the receiving end of that behavior my entire life, and I recognize it instantly."
Brulee's voice carried an edge—not quite jealousy, but something adjacent. Complicated emotions about sharing her beloved brother's attention.
"She's a happy girl," Brulee continued, the words slightly bitter. "Getting to experience that level of care from our strongest brother. Must be nice being the favorite new sibling who doesn't have to share."
The room fell silent. Brulee's jealousy was unusual for her to express openly. It made the others uncomfortable—forced them to acknowledge that even in a family this large, affection and attention were limited resources that had to be distributed unequally.
Charlotte Katakuri himself sat on a sofa against the far wall, silent throughout the entire discussion. His posture was relaxed, his face neutral, his emotions completely controlled. If the speculation about his future relationship with this mystery girl bothered him, he gave no indication.
What is he thinking? several siblings wondered, studying him for any crack in the perfect facade.
Finally, Katakuri spoke. His voice was measured, carefully neutral.
"I may develop a good relationship with this girl in the future. The Sky Screen suggests as much. But I don't believe her birth will bring a qualitative breakthrough to the family's combat power. It's too early to bet everything on a woman."
The statement landed with uncomfortable weight. Several female siblings in the room stiffened. Even Brulee looked momentarily hurt.
"Brother—" she began.
"I love all my siblings equally," Katakuri interrupted, his tone softening slightly but remaining firm. "Brother and sister alike. You know this. But we must be realistic about combat potential."
He gestured broadly, encompassing both the room and the broader world beyond.
"Strong women in this world can be counted on one hand. Mother is exceptional—a once-in-centuries phenomenon. But even she required extraordinary circumstances to reach that level. Charlotte Smoothie holds the title of Sweet Commander, yes, but..."
He trailed off diplomatically. But everyone understood the implication: Smoothie's actual combat strength didn't match her position. She was competent, certainly. But compared to him or Cracker? Compared to male fighters of comparable rank? There was a significant gap.
"If this girl is Mother's child," Katakuri continued, "then I hope she proves me wrong. I hope she becomes a warrior who can stand beside me as an equal. But hoping doesn't change probability. Male fighters simply have higher ceilings in this world. That's not sexism—that's observable pattern across history."
The female siblings in the room couldn't fully argue. The evidence supported his claim, even if they hated admitting it. The strongest fighters—Roger, Whitebeard, Garp, Sengoku, the Admirals—were overwhelmingly male. Charlotte Linlin was the exception that proved the rule.
Charlotte Perospero cleared his throat, redirecting discussion away from the uncomfortable gender dynamics debate.
"Regardless of the girl's identity, let's examine our full representation in the preview. Five family members total in the Mary Geoise battle."
He projected the image larger, pointing at each figure.
"Charlotte Katakuri, confirmed. Charlotte Oven, confirmed. Charlotte Daifuku, confirmed. These three we expected—our strongest fighters after Mother herself."
His finger moved to the fourth figure: a muscular man with three eyes visible on his face.
"This individual is unknown. Three-eyed race—extremely rare. Maybe seen once in several centuries. The fact that he's standing with our crew, positioned near our members, suggests alliance or recruitment."
Charlotte Pudding—a teenage girl with her own third eye currently hidden behind her hair—shifted uncomfortably when the three-eyed man was mentioned.
"Pudding," Perospero addressed her directly. "Any thoughts on why a three-eyed man might join our family specifically?"
All eyes turned to her. The girl flinched under the attention.
"I... don't know him," she said quietly, her voice small despite the large room. "I've never met another three-eyed person. I didn't even know others existed until the Sky Screen showed him."
"But you're considering possibilities," Perospero pressed. "The timing. Your age in five years. The arranged marriage to Vinsmoke Sanji. Perhaps this three-eyed man appears because of your connection to his race?"
Pudding's expression became guarded. "You're suggesting he comes because I'm here? That I somehow attract him to the family?"
"It's a theory," Perospero said diplomatically.
It's a theory I hate, Pudding thought bitterly. The idea that someone would approach me because of my race rather than... anything else about me.
Charlotte Pudding had developed profound insecurity about her three-eyed heritage. Mother Charlotte Linlin had produced her specifically hoping she could awaken the three-eyed tribe's legendary ability to hear the Voice of All Things. A child bred for utility rather than love.
Growing up isolated, mocked by some siblings for her appearance, treated as a potential tool by others... Pudding had learned not to trust affection from outsiders. Anyone who showed interest in her probably had ulterior motives related to her bloodline.
"If someone from my tribe joins the family," she said carefully, "I doubt it has anything to do with helping me. More likely he's after whatever power Mother thinks I can provide. Or he wants to use me to access that power for himself."
The cynicism in her voice was heartbreaking for those siblings who actually cared about her.
"We'll investigate," Perospero said, moving on. "For now, let's discuss the fifth member—the black-haired girl on Katakuri's shoulders. Working hypothesis: Mother's newest child, approximately eight years old in the future, possesses unknown but probably significant combat potential."
He looked around the room.
"Anyone have intelligence about Mother's recent... activities... that might result in pregnancy?"
Uncomfortable silence. Nobody wanted to discuss their mother's sex life.
"Right," Perospero continued. "We'll table that question. Daifuku, Oven, Katakuri—you three will be present at the Mary Geoise battle. Start preparing now. Training. Coordination. Planning for scenarios where you're fighting alongside Buggy's forces against twelve Marine Admirals."
The three men nodded seriously. The scale of that battle was intimidating even for warriors of their caliber.
"There's another consideration," Charlotte Oven said after a pause. "Technology. The Vinsmoke family possesses transformation belt technology that the Sky Screen revealed. Advanced genetic modifications. Weapons systems we don't fully understand."
Several siblings leaned forward with interest. This was safer territory than discussing bloodlines and gender dynamics.
"We're behind other Yonko crews technologically," Oven continued bluntly. "Mother's children are powerful but not scientifically sophisticated. Our strength comes from Devil Fruits and natural ability, not innovation. Meanwhile, organizations like Germa 66 have tools we can barely comprehend."
"The arranged marriage," Perospero mused. "Pudding to Sanji. Originally conceived for political alliance and bloodline manipulation. But perhaps we should also view it as technology acquisition opportunity. Access to Vinsmoke research. Integration of their scientific knowledge with our combat power."
"Assuming the marriage happens," Daifuku pointed out. "The Sky Screen hasn't confirmed whether it's genuine or fraud. We're already in contact with the Vinsmoke family, yes, but negotiations are ongoing. Circumstances could change."
"Then ensure they don't change," Perospero said firmly. "The benefits of integrating Germa technology justify significant effort. Make the marriage happen. Make the alliance stick. We need every advantage available."
Charlotte Pudding said nothing, but her expression suggested she had opinions about being traded like livestock for technology access. Opinions she knew better than to voice in this setting.
Charlotte Katakuri had remained mostly silent through the extended discussion, but now he spoke again—his voice cutting through the technological speculation.
"There's someone I want to meet," he said quietly. "Someone I want to train under, if possible."
The room went silent. Katakuri asking to train under anyone? Their strongest fighter, admitting someone might teach him something?
"Buggy the Clown," Katakuri continued. "His teaching methods... they're extraordinary. I've been analyzing the Sky Screen broadcasts carefully, studying how his students develop."
He leaned forward, intensity entering his normally neutral voice.
"Consider Monkey D. Luffy. Started with the Gomu Gomu no Mi—one of the most ridiculed Devil Fruits in existence. Rubber powers. Useless against most serious opponents. But under Buggy's instruction..."
Katakuri's eyes gleamed with something approaching awe.
"Luffy bypassed normal development stages entirely. Went from basic Fruit usage directly to Domain Expansion—a technique that shouldn't be possible for someone at his experience level. He manifested a Space where his abilities become absolute. That's not normal progression. That's genius-level instruction combined with innovative training methodology."
Several siblings who'd watched the Dressrosa broadcasts nodded. Luffy's Domain Expansion had been genuinely shocking—far beyond what his age and experience should allow.
"Or consider Kozuki Momonosuke," Katakuri continued, warming to his subject. "Possessed an artificial Devil Fruit—a pink dragon created by Vegapunk. Inferior copy of Kaido's genuine mythical power. Weak. Incomplete. But after Buggy's 'Carp Leaping Dragon Gate' training program..."
He paused for effect.
"The artificial fruit evolved. Transformed from flawed replica into something genuinely powerful. Momonosuke's dragon changed from pink to red, gained full capabilities, became strong enough to potentially fight Kaido on equal terms. A copy competing with the original because the training fundamentally altered the fruit's nature."
Katakuri sat back, his expression thoughtful.
"I have the Mochi Mochi no Mi. A Paramecia-type with unusual properties—semi-fluid transformation, environmental manipulation, combat applications I've developed over decades. But I've plateaued. Reached the limits of what I can discover through solo training."
He looked directly at Perospero.
"If I could study under Buggy the Clown for even a few months... if I could learn his methodology for pushing Devil Fruits beyond their apparent limitations... I believe I could reach Admiral-class strength. Could break through the ceiling that's been containing me."
The room absorbed this confession. Their strongest fighter, admitting inadequacy. Acknowledging someone else's superiority in the specific domain of Devil Fruit development.
"It's about creativity," Katakuri explained. "Buggy doesn't just make people stronger. He makes them think differently. Use their abilities in ways that shouldn't be possible but somehow are. That's what I need—not more raw power, but expanded perspective on what my fruit can do."
Charlotte Perospero considered this carefully. "You're suggesting we approach Buggy directly? Request training as part of our alliance for the Mary Geoise battle?"
"Exactly. We're already working together for that conflict. Why not leverage the relationship for mutual benefit? I improve my capabilities, which strengthens our family's combat power, which benefits the overall alliance."
It was logical. Pragmatic. The kind of strategic thinking that made Katakuri valuable beyond his fighting strength.
"I'll bring it up when we establish formal communications with the Pirate Alliance," Perospero agreed. "Frame it as investment in our partnership's success rather than personal favor."
Katakuri nodded gratefully.
The meeting continued for another hour, covering logistics and speculation and contingency planning. But the core conclusions were clear:
The mystery girl was probably Charlotte Linlin's newest child. The three-eyed man was connected to Charlotte Pudding somehow. Technology acquisition from Vinsmoke family was strategic priority. Katakuri wanted to train under Buggy the Clown.
Five family members would fight at Mary Geoise.
And in this world where strength determined everything, only by becoming stronger could they protect the family empire that Charlotte Linlin had built.
Survival of the strongest, Katakuri thought as the meeting finally adjourned. Not the most numerous, not the most connected. The strongest.
Which means I need to get stronger. Need to push past my current limits. Need to learn from the only person who seems to understand how to do the impossible with Devil Fruit abilities.
Buggy the Clown. The man who turns mediocrity into excellence. Weakness into strength. Limitation into innovation.
If I can learn even a fraction of his methods...
The thought trailed off into determination.
Charlotte Katakuri would become Admiral-class. Would break through his plateau. Would become strong enough to truly protect his family when the battles came.
Whatever it took.