"Eh, me?"
When Chiffon heard Pudding mention "someone she could entrust her life to," her body clearly stiffened, and her expression turned somewhat blank.
"Yes. Isn't it that gentleman?" Pudding asked, her gaze clear.
Beside them, Bege awkwardly shifted his eyes away, embarrassment written all over his face.
Before meeting Chiffon, Capone Bege had always scoffed at the idea of "true love."
As the godfather who had ruled the West Blue's underworld, he had never seen marriage as a shelter from storms.
To him, it was nothing more than a bargaining chip exchanged for mutual interests.
Feelings had never entered the equation.
Yet the moment Chiffon entered his life, that heart of his, which he had thought was as solid as stone, began beating without warning.
He had fallen into the whirlpool of love and could not pull himself free!
Especially after gradually learning of the cold treatment and torment Chiffon had suffered inside the candy cage known as Totto Land, the protective urge in his heart spread like wildfire.
He wanted nothing more than to travel back through time, drag out his past self who had looked down on emotions, and pound that bastard straight into the ground.
But the most fatal problem right now was—he had indeed decided that Chiffon was the one.
But he had not formally confessed yet.
Even though Chiffon already knew how he felt, she had never given Bege a clear answer.
At that moment, Bege's heart began violently slamming against his chest.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
The mafia subordinates living inside the castle within his body, along with Law and the Heart Pirates temporarily hiding there, all raised their heads in horror.
They could clearly hear the man's heartbeat, heavy as thunder.
Bege was even trembling slightly. He held his breath, waiting for Chiffon's response to his feelings.
But Chiffon's next words instantly shattered that hope.
"What you're talking about… none of that matters right now."
Chiffon had no time to care about Bege, whose heart had just shattered at the side.
She suddenly grabbed Pudding's shoulders and spoke anxiously.
"Pudding! Right now, the most important thing is you!"
"Haven't you always wanted Mama's recognition more than anything? What you're doing now is personally destroying Mama's plan! If… if you're found out…!"
"Yes. Just thinking a little about what happens when Mama takes her anger out on someone makes my whole body tremble."
Pudding softly interrupted her sister.
She slowly raised her hand, her fingertips brushing over the thick bangs covering her forehead.
Beneath that shadow lay the source of why she had been called a "monster."
"But what I hate seeing even more is my own family being reduced to cold, dignityless tools for marriage alliances right in front of my eyes… Sister."
Pudding lifted her head, crystalline tears swirling in her eyes.
"Sister Lola once told me that marriage can be something you choose for yourself."
"I dream every day. I dream that one day, we won't be sacrifices for the family's interests anymore. That we won't be bound to the gallows by the blood curse called 'Charlotte.' That we can freely and fearlessly embrace the love we choose."
Pudding tried hard to squeeze out a smile, but tears burst down her cheeks, and her voice broke into pieces.
"I may still be young… but I long for that kind of free love too!"
"I hope… that in this life… I can meet someone who can love the real me, while I… happen to love him deeply too… someone who can take me away from this sweet and painful home."
"But I know that's impossible… My eye, my identity, they mean I'm destined to never escape Mama's grasp. So at the very least, I want to do my best to help those of you who still have hope…"
Pudding wiped at her tears, her smile heartbreaking.
At that moment, she had removed all her masks and revealed her truest self.
"Pudding…"
Chiffon looked at her younger sister's red, swollen eyes, filled with pain and longing, and the last line of reason in her heart collapsed instantly.
She rushed forward and pulled that slender, fragile body tightly into her arms.
"I'm sorry, Pudding… It's your sister's fault. It's our fault for being useless. Our weakness forced you to betray Mama in order to help us. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…"
Crack—
A crisp shattering sound rang out.
The cup in Capone Bege's hand broke in response, shards of porcelain stabbing into his palm.
He ignored the mess in his hand and simply stared at the two sisters leaning on each other through suffering.
After a long while, he exhaled heavily.
Countless dark cannon muzzles emerged from his body, and his tone became dark and resolute.
"As expected, I can't endure this anymore. What kind of man hides with his head tucked in like a coward?"
"I heard from Law that Cain, the main character of that banquet, is staying here because he needs Pudding's ability… In that case, let's act tonight."
He looked at Chiffon and extended his hand toward her, his eyes filled with unprecedented fervor and ruthlessness.
"Chiffon, come with me. We'll settle this matter and turn that banquet upside down!"
…
Meanwhile, on Yamato's side.
Originally, the trip to Wano should have taken only four days.
Unfortunately, Jack was still recovering, and Yamato insisted on personally piloting the ship.
Her subordinates had no way to stop her, so after stumbling their way forward for six days, they finally arrived.
"KAIDO!"
Yamato dragged the unconscious Jack behind her and rushed into Onigashima with chaotic steps.
Her shout echoed through the corridors.
Many Beasts Pirates subordinates saw her, but no one stepped forward to stop her.
Yamato charged straight ahead until she ran into King's outstretched black wings.
King descended in front of her and blocked her path.
"KING, MOVE. I'M LOOKING FOR KAIDO," Yamato stopped and demanded loudly.
"Young Master Yamato… Didn't you say you weren't coming back?"
King's voice was steady.
"Kaido-sama already left for Totto Land early this morning to 'pick you up.'"
"Nani?!" Yamato froze.
The hand gripping her kanabo dropped, and her face filled with stunned disbelief!
…
At the same time, on the waters of the New World.
Garp sat aboard his signature dog-headed warship, leisurely stuffing doughnuts into his mouth as he attempted to break his personal eating record.
His purpose on this trip was simple: head to Whitebeard's former territory and help Ace guard that land.
Right now, Sengoku at Marine Headquarters was probably buried under the chaos of selecting the next Fleet Admiral.
When Garp thought of the inevitable duel between Kuzan and Sakazuki, his expression grew a little heavier.
But he soon shook his head and sighed.
Those troublesome matters had little to do with an old man like him, who had already stepped back from the front line.
Still, with Kuzan's personality…
Garp's expression clearly became somewhat solemn.
Just then, a Marine on the lookout suddenly shouted,
"VICE ADMIRAL GARP! ABNORMAL SITUATION AHEAD! IT'S… IT'S THE RED HAIR PIRATES!"
That scream startled Garp badly.
He pounded his chest, swallowed the doughnut in his mouth, and shouted at the Marines.
"LOOK AT HOW SCARED YOU ALL ARE! WHAT'S THERE TO FEAR ABOUT RED-HAIR? BACK IN THE DAY, EVEN THAT BRAT'S CAPTAIN GOT BEATEN BY ME UNTIL HIS HEAD WAS COVERED IN LUMPS!"
As he spoke, Garp jumped up to a higher spot and looked out at the Red Hair Pirates' ship in the distance, puzzled.
"But what's with that speed? Why are they moving so fast?"
"Pass down my order!"
"Bring the ship alongside!"
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