[131] : The Charlotte Family

~ Support & Read 12 Advanced Chapters on Patreon

❁❁❁❁

The New World, the second half of the Grand Line, was the most treacherous and unforgiving sea in the world.

Its weather was unpredictable, shifting from scorching heat to blizzards in an instant, its magnetic fields far more chaotic than Paradise's.

Leaving Fish-Man Island, one could choose to land on one of the initial islands: Mystoria Island, or Raijin Island.

While Punk Hazard, where Vegapunk had once conducted his experiments, was also nearby—it wasn't on any official maps, and Arthur had no interest in it.

He pulled out a Log Pose he'd acquired on Fish-Man Island. His destination—Raijin Island, the most dangerous of the three.

The island's name—Thunder God Island—resonated with his own epithet. And its climate, perpetually stormy, mirroring his own powers—it seemed like a fitting place to start his New World journey.

He would claim this island as his own, a base of operations for his future conquests.

——

Raijin Island, shrouded in perpetual thunderstorms, its skies a canvas of flashing lightning and torrential rain, was accessible only with an umbrella—a bizarre requirement for an island in the Grand Line.

The rain, charged with electricity, formed a protective curtain around the island.

Five figures, young men and women with mature, hardened expressions, their heights exceeding twelve feet—emerged from the storm, their umbrellas shielding them from the downpour, heading towards a ship docked at the island's edge.

The ship's figurehead—a massive, grinning face—sang a cheerful tune, its Jolly Roger—a skull wearing a top hat with a feathery plume and bright red lipstick.

It was the Queen Mama Chanter of the Big Mom Pirates.

The figures approaching the ship were an odd bunch.

The leader, a tall, thin man with a long nose and an even longer tongue, wore a top hat adorned with lollipops, a red and white striped candy cane clutched in his hand.

It was Charlotte Perospero, Big Mom's eldest son, and the user of the Lick-Lick Fruit.

Beside him walked another young man, equally tall, with short, dark red hair, a muscular build, and long legs—Charlotte Katakuri, Big Mom's second son.

Katakuri's left arm and upper torso were covered in pink tattoos, a skull prominent on his arm. A scarf, resembling a flower, concealed his mouth. His overall attire exuded a dark, edgy vibe—black gloves, studded arm bands, black jeans, a white kneepad on his left leg, and studded black boots with spurs.

His eyes, like Arthur's, held a look of cool indifference, of someone used to looking down on others.

Next to Katakuri strode Charlotte Oven, his distinctive three-pronged hairstyle unmistakable. He had the build of a professional boxer, his bare chest covered only by a black cape, black gloves on his hands, and simple black pants.

Of the five, three were men. One of the two women bore a striking resemblance to Big Mom, a crown of fruit adorning her head. This was Charlotte Compote, Big Mom's eldest daughter.

The last member wasn't a Charlotte. She had a long neck, light blue hair, a wide-brimmed yellow hat adorned with trinkets and feathers, and a cigarette dangling from her lips. Her sharp eyes, visible beneath the brim of her hat, held a cold, predatory glint, reminiscent of Shiryu.

This was Amande of the Snake Neck Tribe, a long, thin sword—Shirauo—strapped to her waist.

The five of them boarded the Queen Mama Chanter.

"Who's next on the invitation list?"

"The Giberson Family? Big News Morgans?"

"I hear 'Thunder God' Arthur is on his way from Fish-Man Island. If we time it right, we can catch him when he surfaces. Should we deliver a Tea Party invitation?" Perospero, ever the talkative one, chattered incessantly.

"Mama wants to recruit him. A marriage alliance? Is she offering Compote? Brûlée? Or maybe Smoothie?"

The others were used to Perospero's rambling. Katakuri, his lower face still hidden by his scarf, said, "Deliver the invitation to Arthur. I'm…curious about the man who might marry my sister."

Katakuri valued family above all else. He was also the crew's strategist. The recent attack on Whole Cake Island, the loss of several of his siblings—it had shaken him. He was fiercely protective of his remaining family.

Oven and Compote remained silent, their expressions unreadable. Amande's eyes, however, gleamed with a barely contained bloodlust.

None of them were particularly old, some even younger than Arthur—yet they were already powerful figures in the New World.

Big Mom, despite her childish whims, had produced a formidable brood. Katakuri, in particular, born with extraordinary abilities, was already terrifyingly strong.

Whole Cake Island, having recovered from Shiki's attack, was slowly being rebuilt.

Big Mom, seemingly unfazed by the destruction of her dream, had resumed her usual activities, her focus on rebuilding her utopian nation, marrying, eating cake, and hosting tea parties.

"I'm a ship! I'm a ship!" The Queen Mama Chanter chanted its mantra, sailing towards the area where ships from Fish-Man Island emerged.

——

Deep beneath the waves…

Arthur's ship, having passed through the massive tunnel in the Red Line—a natural wonder or a feat of ancient engineering, no one knew for sure—emerged from the darkness.

Under Arthur's control, the vessel slowly ascended.

"The New World…" Arthur sat at the bow, sipping his sake.

His eyes gleamed with excitement, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Clashing with men like Whitebeard and Shiki—that's what the pirate life is all about. Hahahaha!"

He trembled with anticipation, his grip tightening on his sake gourd. This was his purpose—his destiny.

If he waited a few more years, these titans of the sea would be past their prime. The thrill of facing them at their peak—it wouldn't be the same.

——

On the surface, a battered ship, weathered by the New World's unpredictable storms, drifted aimlessly.

"Captain, hang in there!"

"Yeah, Captain! We'll avenge our crew! We won't let Roger get away with this!"

"We should seek refuge in Whitebeard's territory."

The pirates, their faces streaked with tears, tried to comfort their captain.

Their captain, a man in his twenties with long hair, a spider tattoo on his forehead partially hidden by a black bandana, his sharp teeth bared in a grimace—sat slumped against the mast, his two swords, one large, one small, lying discarded at his feet.

❁❁❁❁

~ 12 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon

https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx

(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)