Charlotte Linlin had a total of 46 sons and 39 daughters.
Right after Smoothie said those words, a large group of people began emerging from all around.
Some were standing, while others were still young enough to be carried in arms...
Counting carefully, there were exactly 46 sons and 39 daughters.
Michael's lips twitched.
What was this? The ultimate case of becoming an instant father?
He'd only ever entertained the idea of piloting a Gundam, but never acted on it.
Precisely because he wanted to avoid situations like this!
While he did have many 'daughters' who genuinely regarded him as their father, at least those daughters didn't pose any significant age-related issues!
But among Charlotte Linlin's children, about one-third were around Michael's age or even older than him!
Even Smoothie, who had just spoken those words, was only seven years younger than Michael!
This was ridiculous!
Even if he really did get involved with Charlotte Linlin...
Just imagining Perospero and Katakuri calling him "father" or similar titles...
Made his whole body go numb.
No thanks!
"Wait, what exactly do you mean by this?" Michael's lips twitched. "Aren't you afraid Linlin might turn around and kick all you filial children off Cake Island?"
"We siblings are just curious," Perospero finally sighed, explaining with his long tongue hanging out.
"You know how it is. Ever since Whole Cake Island truly became a formal nation, Mom has been playing the role of a virtuous monarch... Yet this time, she's been away from Whole Cake Island for so long because of your business with Kaido..."
As the eldest son spoke, the others nodded in agreement.
"And of course, there are those like Smoothie with overly active imaginations, thinking you might become Mom's 43rd husband," Katakuri sighed, pressing his forehead in frustration. "On their behalf, I apologize to you."
"What do you mean 'overly active imagination'! Aside from Michael-san, have you ever seen another man who gets along with Mom so well? All those other husbands were just breeding tools! Clearly, Michael-san is the real deal! Can he honestly say he feels no desire for Mom at all?"
Smoothie exploded with a rapid-fire string of words.
As for Michael...
He fell silent.
He really couldn't say that.
After all, Charlotte Linlin's face was exactly his type.
So after this awkward silence, Perospero and Katakuri suddenly rushed forward and grabbed Michael by the shoulders.
"Hey! Michael-san! Say something! Your silence is practically a confirmation!"
"If you confirm this, then Perospero and I will become complete clowns!"
Michael turned his head away, his expression carrying a hint of apology.
'Sorry, Perospero. Sorry, Katakuri.'
'Can't blame you guys. It's all because your mom is too sexy.'
However, this farce didn't last long.
When Charlotte Linlin placed the last remnants of God Valley in her garden, she noticed Michael hadn't followed her yet, so she turned back to look for him.
She happened upon her children surrounding Michael in a tight circle.
Their eyes were filled with curiosity and excitement, as if observing a giant panda.
"Hey! You little brats, have you finished your assigned tasks yet!?"
With that one sentence from Charlotte Linlin, the commanding presence of both the family matriarch and ruler of a nation was fully displayed.
Her children immediately scattered like startled birds and beasts.
Only the Sweet Commanders and the eldest son remained.
"What exactly happened here?" Charlotte Linlin scanned the remaining faces, then pointed at Smoothie.
"Number Fourteen! You explain!"
Though Smoothie was indeed the fourteenth daughter of the Charlotte family, making this address technically correct,
Michael couldn't help but visualize the "Fourteenth Prince" from historical dramas and nearly burst out laughing.
As one of the Sweet Commanders, holding military authority while being extremely young...
Seems like there's nothing wrong with it?
"Mom! I just wanted to ask... Is Michael-san going to become your forty-third husband, and our father?"
Smoothie's words left Charlotte Linlin momentarily stunned.
It wasn't because Smoothie was curious about the relationship between Michael and her, but rather the term "father."
After all, the Charlotte Family was centered around Charlotte Linlin herself.
The previous forty-two husbands were no different from breeding tools.
Not only did Charlotte Linlin have no feelings for them, but even most of her children felt little affection for their biological fathers.
So hearing the word "father" come from their mouths was quite peculiar.
"Unfortunately, though I had such thoughts, Michael mercilessly rejected me."
"Eh!? Rejected!?" Smoothie covered her mouth in shock. "Someone actually dared to reject Mom..."
"Enough! Are you done yet?" Michael spread his wings and flew toward Charlotte Linlin's castle.
"I'm going to find Rocks first."
"Ah... Mom, does this mean Michael-san is shy?" Smoothie looked up at the soaring Seraphim and said.
"Smoothie, let's not bring this up again in the future."
Charlotte Linlin patted Smoothie's shoulder.
"At least until he completes that task... Our relationship is purely that of cooperative allies."
...
"Oh, your efficiency is quite impressive."
Rocks, who was holding a watering can to tend to the flowers, turned his head and saw Michael descending from the sky.
This man, who once dominated the seas and left both the Marines and other pirates helpless, had now completely transformed into a smiling old man who spent his days basking in the sun and watering flowers.
Michael could even detect an air of "benevolence" on his face.
"Just how much have you been through in the future?" Michael said with a sweatdrop. "Who turned you into this?"
"A man who lost all his power, along with an arm and a leg, will inevitably be crushed by reality, no matter how ambitious he once was." Rocks smiled.
"Regret won't change anything. So I'm quite satisfied with my current life... The only thing that differs from my expectations is that Linlin, who once distrusted me the most, is now willing to provide for me in my old age."
At this point, Rocks couldn't help but sigh.
"Time truly is a miraculous thing."
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