"Nani!!!?"
Even Ozz, usually all smiles and calm composure couldn't keep his cool after hearing that.
A vein bulged on his forehead as he stared daggers at the den den mushi with flaming red lips, his jaw clenched tight.
Yet on the other end, Big Mom seemed completely oblivious to his change in expression. She was still laughing in delight, clearly immersed in her own fantasy.
In her mind's eye, she had already imagined a pink-haired youth erupting with an overwhelming blast of Conqueror's Haki, sweeping all before him and crowning her as Pirate King.
"Ma ma ma ma~ A child born with both of our talents would definitely be an even greater monster than you, Ozz!
The power to rule the world is right in front of us!!!"
Thinking she was being deeply persuasive, Big Mom gazed at Ozz with eager anticipation, never mind that there wasn't a shred of excitement on his face.
She had no idea...
That in Ozz's mind right now, all he could think was: What the hell is this mess?
If he were in his twenties or thirties, he might have at least considered the idea.
But Charlotte Linlin had long since become a childbearing machine, and her figure was already starting to break down. Even if she wasn't as exaggerated as she would be in her fifties or sixties, her youthful beauty was long gone.
And Ozz? He prided himself on his refined tastes. He honestly didn't think he could stomach it.
Besides...
What was this about a bride price?
What the hell did she take him for?
Some kind of breeding stud?!
Veins were popping all over his forehead now. With a face like a brewing thunderstorm, Ozz growled coldly,
"Then just wait for me in Totto Land, Charlotte Linlin. I'm coming for you right now."
"Ma ma ma ma~ If you've come around, that's just wonderful."
Before Big Mom could finish, Ozz slammed the receiver down. He hadn't even controlled his strength properly almost cracked the den den mushi's shell.
"So... you're saying you're going to accept her offer?"
Mihawk asked with his usual impassive face, as if completely unaffected by Ozz's grim expression. There was a flicker of amusement at the corners of his mouth, as if he might even be on board with the idea.
Meanwhile, Little Croc was puffing on a cigar with a look of utter disdain.
"Meh... I've got no objection. If that's what you're into."
Ozz: "..."
Boom!!!
"You two think this is some kind of joke?!"
A high-end dining table was reduced to splinters in an instant. Ozz's face was dark as the abyss, and his voice thundered with rage.
Mihawk calmly caught his plate midair, making sure the steak didn't hit the floor. He didn't seem the least bit surprised by Ozz's explosion.
Little Croc just raised an eyebrow, a few tick marks popping on his forehead.
"Hey, you're not seriously planning to start a war right now, are you?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Easy for you to say. Even if you're charging in solo, prepping for war, managing the fallout, taking over territory none of that's something you can just toss off in a sentence."
"Whatever. Details like that can be sorted later."
Without sparing Croc another glance, Ozz, casually rich and completely unconcerned with protocol pulled out an Eternal Pose already set for Totto Land.
With his full power engaged, the Oro Jackson surged forward like a ghost through the sea.
Croc let out a sigh.
"You're a real piece of work..."
"Ma ma ma ma~ This is just wonderful!!!"
"Kids! Prepare for a tea party! We're welcoming a very special guest the Black Emperor, Ozz!!!"
After hanging up the den den mushi, Big Mom gleefully devoured two more servings of cream puffs before giving her orders to start preparations.
Her children, seeing that she was still in high spirits, all breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, the top masterpiece of the Charlotte family, Katakuri, stepped forward.
He had a bad feeling about this whole thing, but seeing how happy his mother was, he didn't say anything. He just promised to take care of everything.
"Don't worry, Mama. We'll handle all the arrangements for the tea party."
Big Mom looked down at Katakuri's reliable, composed face and nodded in satisfaction.
"Right, bring in all our underworld partners too, Katakuri.
I promised Ozz, after all!"
Katakuri gave a quiet nod in agreement. At this stage, the Big Mom Pirates' dealings with the criminal underworld were still in their infancy nothing like the deep ties they'd have twenty years from now.
So even if she had to abandon a few cakes, it wasn't a big deal.
After giving her orders, Big Mom happily returned to her sweets.
Meanwhile...
There was no way something as big as Big Mom hosting a tea party to welcome Ozz could stay completely secret.
Aside from her endless homies, the various races that called Totto Land home numbered in the tens of thousands an eclectic mix of all kinds of people.
And among them were plenty of spies, slipped in by rival factions.
Once the news spread through the grapevine, every single intelligence agent rushed to report back to their masters absolutely ecstatic to get such high-value intel.
Two monsters born strong by nature, coming together... Of course this meeting was going to draw attention from every corner of the sea.
"What kind of conspiracy are those two cooking up now?!"
In the Marine headquarters meeting room, Brannew pinned up the bounties of two of the sea's greatest emperors as he briefed his colleagues on the situation.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed the table with a grim face, his eyes locked onto the bounties.
As the room simmered in tension, Brannew flipped through the latest reports and hesitated.
"According to the newest intel, Charlotte Linlin has invited the Black Emperor Ozz to Totto Land for a... um..."
He paused awkwardly, then continued.
"...to have a baby."
"Nani!!!???"
Before anyone else could react, the two vice admirals had already shouted in unison.
"That damned Ozz! He never lets the world have a moment of peace!"
Kuzan spoke quietly, his tone unusually serious.
"A child born of two monsters of the sea... That kind of abomination would be the greatest threat to justice. It must be eradicated before it ever draws breath."
The one who said this, voice cold and utterly devoid of mercy, was Sakazuki. To him, bloodlines like that were evil incarnate even if the child was just a baby, he'd never hesitate.
But then came a long, drawn-out voice with a smug, infuriating tone.
It was Borsalino, filing his nails with a clipper as he spoke lazily.
"Oh~ two monsters of the sea, how romantic~
But you know~ the World Government hasn't given us permission to intervene~"
The whole room went silent.
And then the Fleet Admiral reminded everyone,
"That's correct. And in fact, the World Government's response is
support."
"From what I've heard, they've already formed a special task force,
ready to retrieve the child full of potential from Charlotte Linlin and deliver it to the highest authorities."
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