Reactions from All Sides

As it turns out, it's best not to oppose a power you don't understand—otherwise, you'll die a miserable death. Just like Charlotte Linlin, lying at Kaguya's feet like a dead pig—literally a dead pig.

What was supposed to be a duel had turned into a one-sided massacre.

Hey, hey—stop it! This wasn't even a fight!

After looting vast amounts of treasure and Devil Fruits—practically emptying all of Big Mom's vaults—Kaguya left, thoroughly satisfied.

As for the remnants of the Big Mom Pirates? Those cowardly little underlings hiding in fear? She couldn't be bothered to chase them down.

That would be far too demeaning. It's not like she was bored enough to waste her time on them.

They were just small fry anyway. Who cares whether they lived or died?

But if any fool was stupid enough to come after her for revenge, Kaguya wouldn't mind sending them underground to keep their dear mama company.

Not long after Kaguya's departure, news of the Big Mom Pirates' destruction spread like wildfire, causing a global uproar.

The Big Mom Pirates had been wiped out?

How was that even possible?

If someone had said that out loud, most people would have scoffed at it.

The Big Mom Pirates—what were they?

One of the world's four strongest pirate crews, boasting overwhelming power. Their captain, Charlotte Linlin, was a top-tier powerhouse, able to stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Whitebeard, Kaido, and Shanks.

Even the World Government had no way to deal with her.

And yet, this pirate crew that gave the Navy so many headaches had been destroyed by Kaguya—completely on her own.

Many didn't believe it. They just laughed it off, thinking it was a baseless rumor circulating in the streets.

But when someone secretly went to the Big Mom Pirates' base and saw the ruins—the broken walls, the countless corpses strewn about, the utter devastation—they finally believed it.

The Big Mom Pirates had really been annihilated.

Once the news reached the entire world, people were left wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

It was simply too unbelievable.

Even Fleet Admiral Sengoku was left speechless for a long time upon hearing the news.

The Big Mom Pirates were just... gone?

He had only sent Kaguya to investigate—how could he have known this girl would be so straightforward and wipe out the entire crew?

What did that say about Marine Headquarters, which had struggled against the Big Mom Pirates for years with heavy losses? Were they all fools?

Aboard the Moby Dick, ship of the Whitebeard Pirates—

"That girl actually took down Big Mom?" Whitebeard let out a hearty laugh. "Not bad at all! She's someone I had my eye on—hahaha!"

He raised a massive bowl and downed its strong liquor in one gulp.

Even with tubes stuck in his body, Whitebeard's bold nature hadn't changed a bit.

"Hey, hey, Pops, this really isn't the time to be laughing," Marco said anxiously. "She's with the World Government—aren't you worried she'll come after us next?"

"Come after us?" Whitebeard grinned. "She's just doing her job—catching pirates. What's wrong with that?"

"But Pops, aren't you even a little worried?" Marco pressed. "She took down Big Mom all by herself without a scratch."

If Kaguya had merely defeated the Big Mom Pirates, that alone would've been terrifying.

The Whitebeard Pirates had clashed with them many times in the New World—even gone to war. They knew exactly how strong they were. Big Mom wasn't an easy opponent.

And yet, such a formidable enemy was wiped out overnight by Kaguya. How could they not be concerned?

Could they really withstand her?

Though the fall of the Big Mom Pirates brought some joy, it also stirred a sense of shared dread.

Looking around at his subordinates, Whitebeard saw their worried faces, filled with unease and even a trace of panic. He set down his large bowl and shouted, "Sons, has your long life of comfort made you forget the courage to fight?"

Everyone jolted in place.

"Have you forgotten our past?" Whitebeard's eyes burned fiercely. "We've been through countless battles. When have we ever backed down?"

The crew clenched their jaws and tightened their fists.

"And now, just because we face a strong enemy, you cower?" Whitebeard said solemnly. "If that's the case, you don't deserve to be called my sons."

Hearing his words, everyone's faces flushed with shame at their earlier fear.

They were part of the Whitebeard Pirates. Whitebeard was their old man—and he had never backed down. How could they, as his sons, bring him shame?

Suddenly, one crew member stepped forward and shouted, "No way!"

"That's right!" another yelled, clenching his fist. "We're not afraid!"

"You're kidding, right? Just a tough enemy, that's all!"

"Yeah! We're not cowards!"

"If she dares to come here, we'll take her down!"

Fired up, they raised their fists, shouting loudly, the fear from earlier completely gone.

Whitebeard looked at his excited sons, a grin forming as he burst into laughter. "That's more like it! These are my sons! Now then—let's have a feast!"

"Yeah!"

Everyone cheered with joy.

"Wait, Pops, your body—you can't drink!"

"Hahaha! What does it matter? Come on, my foolish sons—let's drink!"

Marco looked quietly at the bold and boisterous Whitebeard and let out a breath of relief. Leaning against the ship's railing, he smiled.

To lift morale with just a few words—he truly was the man known as the strongest. Whitebeard was indeed a man worthy of his loyalty.

As for the other factions, their reactions to the shocking news varied.

Aboard the Red Hair Pirates' ship, Shanks's expression remained calm. He was as carefree as always, laughing and drinking with his crewmates, seemingly unaffected by the news.

Yet no one noticed that, in the shadows, Shanks had subconsciously gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Elsewhere, upon learning the news, Kaido flew into a rage. In his fury, he destroyed seven or eight pirate crews and even obliterated three small islands. Wherever he went, corpses littered the ground—a truly terrifying sight.

At Marine Headquarters, they initially didn't believe the report, thinking it was false intelligence. But once it was confirmed that Big Mom had indeed been eliminated, the whole place erupted in excitement.

Kaguya, who had taken down the Big Mom Pirates, suddenly became a global sensation.

In every street and alley, people were talking about the legendary deeds of the inspector lady.

Before anyone realized it, Kaguya—possessing overwhelming power and stunning beauty—became an idol worshiped and adored by countless fans, including a surprising number of female admirers.

For instance, Ain was overjoyed, her big, pretty eyes sparkling. She was so excited she couldn't sleep, constantly asking when Kaguya would return, nearly ready to go find her herself.

As for Tashigi, while she outwardly acted indifferent, keen-eyed observers discovered that the item hidden beneath her pillow was none other than a Kaguya artbook.

Of course, Tashigi vehemently denied it—and even beat up the person who spread the "rumor." Whether that was out of anger or embarrassment... well, no one really knew.

"Kaguya really is an interesting one," Gion (Momousagi) said with a captivating smile that could take one's breath away.

"Vice Admiral Gion, about the upcoming training—"

"Double it."

"Huh?"

"If you can't finish training, forget about eating today."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Ever since Kaguya's astounding achievement, her training methods had been promoted across the Navy. As a result, the Navy's overall combat effectiveness had significantly improved. But obviously, not everyone could handle such intense training.

One only needed to glance at the Navy soldiers lying about in misery after their drills to see that.

But hey—she was the instructor.

Meanwhile, the subject of all this, Kaguya herself, was relaxing on a desolate and uninhabited island. After such long voyages at sea, things inevitably became boring, and it was hard to get proper rest.

Not that she was worried about some clueless thief trying to mess with her—anyone who dared disturb her had already been thrown into the sea as fish food.

What annoyed her more was the terrible weather of the New World. Especially when all her subordinates were completely useless.

Even hail falling from the sky had to be dealt with by her personally.

Just a chunk of ice, right? Smash it and it's done. Yet they actually woke her up over such a trivial matter. Kaguya was so irritated she almost tossed them into the ocean.

Fortunately for them, Kaguya was too lazy to sail the ship herself, so they were still useful. They narrowly avoided being fed to the sea—though not a beating.

After Charlotte Linlin's death, the Big Mom Pirates scattered like monkeys from a fallen tree. Not only did her subordinates flee, even her children fled in panic. The one thing that surprised Kaguya, however, was that little Pudding stayed behind.

Not only that, she quickly adapted to her new life—enthusiastically serving Kaguya tea, giving her massages, and sticking close to her like a little tail, her words sweet as honey.

Kaguya saw it all and was well aware of Pudding's little schemes.

She was still young—only around ten years old—with weak strength and no way to protect herself. If she had run off on her own, she'd have been doomed in the dangerous New World. Any random Sea King could have devoured her.

Worse, if pirates captured her, the outcome would be even more tragic—either sold into a brothel or used as playthings by the crew. Her fate would be unspeakably miserable.

When Charlotte Linlin was alive, her presence alone deterred everyone. But now, being her daughter only made Pudding a more enticing target.

In the end, without Linlin's protection, she was just a weak little girl.

If she wanted to survive, she needed a new protector—someone who could shield her from harm. And Kaguya, without doubt, was the best option.

So cunning at such a young age—definitely a scheming girl.

Kaguya smiled knowingly.

"Is there anything else you need?" Pudding asked sweetly. "Would you like some coconut juice? The juice here is really good. I also made your favorite dango. I hope it suits your taste."

"That won't be necessary," Kaguya waved her hand and sat up. "I want to ask you something."

"If there's anything you want to know, feel free to ask," Pudding replied with a soft smile. "I know this sea region very well."

"Why did you stay with me? I'm the one who killed your mother," Kaguya said. "Don't you hate me?"

As if she had expected the question, Pudding showed no panic. She quietly replied, "If you choose to be a pirate, you must be prepared to die. Pirates and the Navy are enemies. If one is killed, there's nothing to hate."

"Is that so?" Kaguya smiled slightly, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Pudding by the neck. "What if I kill you right now?"

Choked, Pudding found it hard to breathe. Her face flushed red as she bit her lip and forced out, "Even if you kill me now, I won't blame you. A girl like me, an orphan, could die at any moment. Dying now or later—it doesn't matter."

Because of the chokehold, her words came out broken and strained.

"If you say so," Kaguya said playfully, "I'll grant your wish."

She tightened her grip.

Pudding's delicate face twisted in pain, turning crimson as Kaguya applied more pressure—but she didn't resist.

As the pressure increased, Pudding realized something was wrong.

Her plan wasn't working.

Kaguya actually intended to kill her.

Panic finally surfaced on Pudding's face. She grabbed Kaguya's arm with both hands, her fingers digging deep into the skin. Her legs kicked wildly like a fish out of water, struggling desperately.

"Didn't you want to die?" Kaguya said with interest. "Then let me help you."

Still, she didn't let go—her grip only tightened.

Pudding's pupils contracted sharply. For the first time, fear overtook her. She tried to speak, but no words came out.

Gradually, she began to suffocate. Her face turned a deep red, her eyes rolled back, and a strangled ugh ugh escaped her throat. Her arms fell limp. Her legs twitched involuntarily.

Am I going to die?

Fear filled Pudding's gaze.

Just when she thought it was the end, Kaguya released her. Pudding collapsed to the ground, coughing violently and gasping for breath, clutching her chest as she inhaled fresh air greedily.

A moment ago, she truly believed she was going to die.

"Well? Still want to die?"

The melodious voice rang out, making Pudding tremble all over. She looked up in panic, her face pale and body shivering, eyes brimming with terror.

She was, after all, still just a little girl.

Kaguya reached out and lifted her delicate chin with a finger, smiling gently with narrowed eyes. "Little girl, I really hate it when people try to scheme against me—understand?"

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