153. Surrender

My latest book One Piece: My 'Pokemon' Crew is now released.

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After the climactic battle, following rest and recovery bolstered by an abundance of blood dandelions, the soldiers of Wanokuni began to shake off the exhaustion of war. Their spirits lifted, and in no time, they were alive and kicking, celebrating their hard-earned victory.

The heroes of the Royal Court joined the revelry, especially Yamato, who was all smiles amidst the cheerful crowd. It seemed that her father Kaido's defeat had left no shadow on her bright demeanor.

However, the mood was starkly different on the special prison islands, where prisoners from the defeated factions were held. The expressions on their faces betrayed a storm of negative emotions: loneliness, confusion, worry, and panic. Though they had survived as prisoners, uncertainty about their future loomed over them like a dark cloud.

The plight of the Charlotte family was particularly grim. Once mighty ministers of Totto Land, their descent into captivity was a bitter pill to swallow. The losses they had suffered were staggering—not only their leader, Big Mom, but a significant portion of their family. Only one-third of the family had survived the battle.

But any thoughts of revenge were quickly quashed by the memory of Alex's overwhelming power. Fear of his strength was enough to extinguish even the faintest flicker of rebellion.

"Defeated once, fearful for ten years," was a sentiment that encapsulated the hopelessness of their situation. This battle had shattered their resistance and left them staring into the abyss of despair.

Amid this grim atmosphere, whispers and murmurs filled the air. Members of the Charlotte family huddled together, looking to their remaining leaders for guidance.

"Big Brother Katakuri, Big Brother Perospero, are you both alright?" Smoothie's voice broke the silence.

"I'm so scared of what's going to happen to us."

Perospero, his signature tongue habit unconsciously slipping forward, let out a sigh. His hands twitched, seeking the comfort of a lollipop he could no longer summon, a stark reminder of his loss. Glancing at Katakuri, who had remained silent, he finally spoke. "Katakuri, do you have any plan to get us out of this?"

As the strongest sibling, Katakuri was the one they looked to for leadership. After a long pause, he opened his eyes, a strange light glinting in his pupils. His voice was calm but resolute as he answered, "Even if we find a chance to sail these seas again, it will only be possible under the name of Wanokuni."

His words silenced the group. For the first time, the family saw the grim reality of their situation. Big Mom's tyranny had made enemies across the seas, and their survival hinged on aligning with the new order.

Surrendering outright was a bitter prospect, especially for those who had lived in the comfort and privilege of the Charlotte family's era of dominance. Many of them had grown complacent during the height of the Big Mom Pirates' power, enjoying lives of luxury without ever truly understanding the hardships of the seas.

Katakuri's voice cut through their conflicted thoughts. "The Flying General has already taken control of Totto Land. By imprisoning us instead of wiping us out, he's made it clear—our former territory will become part of Wanokuni's defenses.

"The lands are vast, but they lack sufficient manpower. If we surrender to Alex now, we might secure a chance to return home—if only in a diminished capacity. At the very least, we can inherit and protect what remains of our mama's legacy."

His reasoning struck a chord. Though their hearts were heavy, many of the Charlotte children, already resigned to their fate, began to align themselves with Katakuri's vision. In their minds, their elder brother now embodied the family's hope for survival and continuity, surpassing even their late mother in their trust and loyalty.

Even when the calm and stoic image Katakuri had maintained for years was stripped away, his resolve remained unwavering.

After some time-

"We would love to join!"

Bound by seastone handcuffs, Katakuri knelt on one knee before Alex, demonstrating a gesture of loyalty. 

"As long as I can protect my younger brothers and sisters, I will devote my life to Wanokuni."

His actions inspired the rest of the Charlotte family. Behind him, his siblings—most notably Perospero and Smoothie—followed suit, kneeling to pledge their submission. Their collective gesture marked a turning point in their fate.

As the group journeyed back to Wanokuni from the now-captured Totto Land, the events unfolded rapidly. By the next day, the majority of Big Mom's biological children—along with many of the Beast Pirates' officers—had chosen to surrender. Over 90% of them, in fact, opted for submission.

Katakuri's influence played a significant role in this, but for many, it was a decision based on the circumstances. The fear of Alex's overwhelming power far outweighed their desire to resist.

Alex, however, was aware of their true feelings. His Observation Haki allowed him to discern the truth with ease. Beneath the surface of their submission, there was a mixture of emotions—some resignation, but mostly fear. Alex understood that these were pirates, people who respected strength above all else. Using fear to control them would often prove more effective than fostering direct loyalty.

Prisoners, after all, had no right to negotiate terms. But as Katakuri stood at the forefront of the Charlotte family, his sincerity earned a response from Alex.

"Wanokuni will extend its influence to Totto Land, it will serve as a new territory under Wanokuni's protection, a newly incorporated force within our borders."

He cast his gaze over the assembled prisoners, addressing both the remnants of Big Mom's army and the Beast Pirates. "You may remain in Totto Land, responsible for its security and management. Your future—how well or poorly you live—depends entirely on the value you bring to me."

Having made his statement, Alex activated his Float-Float Fruit ability. Two figures were suddenly pulled forward through the air, landing in front of the group.

"Pudding!"

"Sister!"

The cries of alarm came from the Charlotte siblings as they recognized the trembling figures. One was Pudding, the wielder of the Memo-Memo Fruit, whose powers were crucial to the family's plans. The other was Ulti, formerly one of the Tobiroppo. However, Ulti's powers were now different from what they had been in the past.

Instead of the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Pachycephalosaurus Model, Alex observed that Ulti now possessed the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Okuchi-no-Makami, a divine wolf fruit. It was a power once associated with Yamato. Alex surmised that she must have acquired the fruit under Kaido's reign, perhaps even stealing it to secure her survival in the brutal hierarchy of the Beast Pirates.

Regardless of how she obtained it, Ulti's new abilities gave her tremendous potential. Alex noted her as a valuable asset who could be trained into an elite warrior.

"Don't be nervous, I've taken notice of your exceptional abilities. You'll remain in Wanokuni—not as prisoners, but as part of my forces."

"Of course, should you choose to disobey, you know as well as I do that Devil Fruit powers can be... transferred."