Chapter 236: Banquet
Chapter 236: Banquet
The battle between the two sides raged on for three days.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
"Kulala la la la!"
"Have a party!"
Charlotte and Whitebeard finally stopped fighting, both panting heavily before bursting into laughter.
At this moment, both looked disheveled, their clothes stained and slightly tattered.
The pirates under their command fared no better—exhausted and battered, but alive.
Not a single person had died despite three days of intense combat.
---
However, it was clear that the Rockefeller Pirates held the upper hand throughout the fight.
That balance shifted only when Kozuki Oden rejoined the battle.
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Three days earlier…
Oden had been knocked unconscious by Charlotte's Demonic Slash, rendering him useless for the first two days.
It wasn't until the third day that he regained enough strength to fight.
But the moment he leapt into the fray, Barrett blocked his path.
---
Barrett faced both Marco and Kozuki Oden alone, transforming into his Devil Form to hold them off.
He barely managed to keep up, but it was clear he couldn't last much longer.
The entire battle now hinged on these three titans.
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Everyone watching knew the truth:
Barrett couldn't win against two powerhouses simultaneously.
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Realizing how ugly the fight would become if it continued, Charlotte and Whitebeard exchanged glances.
Without a word, they both lowered their weapons.
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"Enough! Stop fighting!"
The captains of both crews roared in unison.
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Silence fell.
Pirates on both sides froze, breathing heavily, their weapons hanging loosely by their sides.
But the silence was soon broken by a thunderous cry:
"Have a party!"
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Laughter erupted from both sides as tensions melted away.
Pirates began unloading supplies from their ships, setting up a massive banquet on the shore.
Charlotte and Whitebeard sat together by the crackling bonfire, mugs of sake in hand, watching the festivities unfold.
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"Kulala la la la!
"Charlotte! It's been too long since we last crossed blades!
"Why now? You've been hiding on that island for years. What made you finally set sail?"
Whitebeard asked, taking a hearty swig of sake.
---
Charlotte chuckled, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Hahahaha! Honestly? I got bored.
"I told you before, didn't I?
"My dream is to sail around the world with my family.
"Now that the ship's ready, I'm finally chasing that dream."
---
Whitebeard burst out laughing.
"Kulalalala!
"Looks like even you can't resist chasing your own dream, huh?"
---
Charlotte didn't respond immediately.
He quietly sipped his sake, watching his children play nearby.
After a long pause, he smiled softly.
"Yeah… I guess it's finally time."
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Whitebeard followed Charlotte's gaze and spotted the group of children running around, laughing happily.
"Won't you introduce them to me?"
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Charlotte glanced at Whitebeard, then called out:
"Kids! Come here!"
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The children, most four or five years old, had been playing with Kozuki Oden, climbing all over him like monkeys.
Hearing their father's call, they immediately scampered over.
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Seeing the seven or eight children, Whitebeard's face softened into a fatherly smile.
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"Kids! This is your Uncle Whitebeard. Say hello!"
Charlotte instructed.
"Hello, Uncle Whitebeard!"
The children chorused sweetly, except for Esdeath and Caesar, who stood silently with crossed arms.
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"Kulala la la la!"
Hearing them call him "Uncle", Whitebeard laughed heartily, slapping his knee.
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"Introduce yourselves!"
Charlotte nudged them forward.
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The children stood in a line, puffing out their little chests.
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"My name is Tesla! I'm seven years old!"
"My name is Robert! I'm five years old!"
"My name is Sif! I'm five years old!"
"My name is Deidara! I'm five years old!"
"My name is Eve! I'm five years old!"
---
Whitebeard chuckled, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Hello, little ones!
"Do you want to be my sons?"
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"Oi! Newgate!
"Are you seriously trying to steal my kids right in front of me?!"
Charlotte barked, pretending to be outraged.
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"Kulalalala!"
Whitebeard roared with laughter.
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Nearby, Marco, Jozu, and Vista couldn't hold back their amusement.
Even Kozuki Oden, still bandaged and bruised, clapped in delight.
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"Alright, go play!"
Charlotte waved the children off.
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Like clockwork, the kids rushed back to Oden, bombarding him with endless questions.
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Charlotte sighed.
Even if I dislike Oden's recklessness, I can't deny the man has charm.
In mere hours, he's already won over all my children…
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Turning back to the fire, Charlotte spotted Esdeath and Caesar still standing silently.
"Come here, you two!"
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They hesitated but eventually approached.
Charlotte gestured toward Whitebeard.
"This is my eldest daughter, Esdeath, and my eldest son, Caesar."
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Whitebeard grinned.
"Kulalalalala! Hello, little devils!"
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"Hmph!"
Esdeath lifted her chin proudly, refusing to speak.
"Uh… hello?"
Caesar mumbled, barely able to keep his eyes open.
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"Straighten up!"
Charlotte snapped.
"This man is your father's old friend!
"Especially you, Esdeath!
"Whitebeard held you in his arms when you were a baby! Show some respect!"
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"Oh…"
Both quickly lowered their heads, chastened.
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"Kulalala! Charlotte, don't be so hard on them!
"Kids will be kids!"
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Charlotte sighed, raising his sake cup in a toast.
"I've spoiled them too much.
"Both are troublemakers, through and through."
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"They're children.
"They'll grow out of it."
Whitebeard replied, waving dismissively.
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"Hmph!
"I'll grow up strong enough to defeat you, old man!
"Then Dad will finally acknowledge me!"
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The entire camp froze as Esdeath boldly declared her challenge.
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Whitebeard blinked.
Then—
"Kulalalalala!"
The Strongest Man in the World threw back his head and howled with laughter.
---
Everyone followed suit, their laughter echoing across the island.
Even Charlotte couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.
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"Children truly speak without restraint."
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"Enough talk!"
Whitebeard stood, raising his sake cup.
"Let's drink! Eat! And make merry!"
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The banquet erupted into full swing.
Plates of roasted meat, fresh seafood, and fruits covered the long tables.
Barrels of fine sake were cracked open, the rich aroma filling the air.
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Whitebeard personally carried over a special bottle and carefully poured it into Charlotte's cup.
"Kulala la la la!
"Charlotte, this is the finest sake I've collected over the years.
"I wouldn't share it with anyone else!"
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Charlotte's eyes gleamed.
"Really? Then I'd better savor it!"
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"Kulalala!
"Careful, though!
"I doubt you can handle it without passing out!"
---
"What?!
"Who are you looking down on?!
"I'm not stopping until I'm wasted tonight!"
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Charlotte downed the entire cup in one gulp—
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And immediately choked, eyes bulging as the liquid burned down his throat like fire.
"Damn it!
"That was way stronger than I expected!"
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Whitebeard laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
"KULALALALALA!
"That's what you get for bragging, you fool!"
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