Chapter 199

**Chapter 199: Takes Action!**

Linlin's expression darkened with irritation as she scoffed,

"Important business? What could be more important than having children?"

Roger could only sigh in exasperation. Newgate was busy adopting sons left and right, while Linlin was obsessed with having more children. What was happening to the world? Was the end goal of a pirate to play house?

He took a deep breath and said,

"Linlin, the Navy is expanding too fast. If this continues, there'll be no place left in the sea for us."

Linlin straightened up slightly, her eyes narrowing.

"Roger, is a man like you really giving up hope?"

Roger hesitated for a moment before responding,

"No, but I'm worried about the future of this world."

Linlin rolled her eyes, letting out a mocking laugh.

"Here we go again. I remember when you helped the Navy defeat Rocks—you were practically best friends with Garp."

Roger smirked at that, but his expression faltered slightly.

"Garp has been assigned to Impel Down. Who knows if I'll ever see him again?"

Linlin tilted her head. "Oh? Sounds like you're disappointed."

"Of course. Garp is a formidable opponent. Honestly, if the Navy were full of men like him, the world wouldn't be in the mess it's in now."

Linlin grinned. "Mamama… imagine, then, our paradise!"

Roger's smile stiffened. That wasn't quite what he meant. The reality was that if the world turned into Linlin's so-called "paradise," it would be doomed. But for now, he played along.

"Linlin, we need to act. At the very least, we have to remind those Celestial Dragons that these seas don't belong to them."

Linlin arched an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Oh? And what's your plan?"

Roger took a deep breath.

"You were part of the Rocks Pirates. Surely, you've heard of 'Laugh Tale,' haven't you?"

The atmosphere shifted instantly. Linlin's eyes widened, and a powerful aura surged from her.

"That place… does it really exist?"

Roger nodded slowly.

"You believe it does, too, or else you wouldn't be holding onto that red stone."

Boom!

Linlin attacked without warning. She snatched the hat from her head, revealing Napoleon, the living sword concealed within it. She swung down with immense force, her blade aimed directly at Roger.

But Roger's Observation Haki was at its peak. His sword was in his hand before anyone could blink, meeting her attack head-on.

Crack!

A burst of black and red lightning erupted between them, splitting the sky as the castle behind Linlin trembled violently.

Linlin shrieked, "Zeus! Prometheus!"

"Here, Mama!"

A thundercloud and a blazing sun emerged from behind her. Zeus transformed into a dark storm, while Prometheus ignited, casting a searing glow over the battlefield.

The Roger Pirates tensed as an ominous pressure filled the air.

While blocking Linlin's assault, Roger gritted his teeth.

"Linlin, calm down. I don't want to fight you!"

"Shut up! That Poneglyph belongs to me! I won't let you take it!"

Roger sighed. "Relax, I'm not taking it. I just need to see it."

"Dream on!"

Linlin's children had gathered, their expressions hostile. Seeing the rising tension, Rayleigh, Bullet, and the other Roger Pirates readied themselves.

### **Meanwhile, on Totto Land's Nuts Island…**

Charlotte Oven stood at the docks, watching the distant sky over Cake Island flash with red lightning. His mother was fighting. He wasted no time ordering his men.

"Prepare a ship! We're heading to—"

Rumble.

A deep, distant sound cut through the air. Oven turned toward the sea and squinted. A dark silhouette was speeding toward him, slicing through the waves at an unnatural pace.

It was a small boat, moving impossibly fast.

Oven smirked. "Who dares come here now? Do they think they're Roger?"

He chuckled, his hands glowing as waves of heat rolled off his body, distorting the air around him. The ground beneath him cracked, molten rock forming at his feet.

As the boat drew closer, Oven planted his hands in the seawater. Instantly, the ocean boiled, sending up clouds of steam. He intended to melt the approaching vessel before it could land.

But the boat didn't stop. It adjusted course slightly, cutting through the steaming water without slowing.

Oven scowled. "Reinforced, huh? They came prepared for me."

He took a stance, hands glowing brighter.

"Let's see how much heat you can handle."

The boat skidded onto shore. A lone figure stood on it.

Tall, imposing, with a relaxed yet deadly aura.

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Someone gasped.

"It's… it's Black Dragon! The Navy Admiral, Black Dragon!"

Carl.

Halfway through his flight, Carl had grown drowsy and summoned his personal vessel for a quick nap. When he woke up, he found Oven trying to "greet" him with boiling seawater.

He stretched his arms lazily and glanced around.

"Is it a trend now to use people as speed bumps?"

Boom!

Carl snapped his fingers. A shockwave rippled outward, and a circle of fiery explosions tore through the ground around Oven.

Blood sprayed.

A thick, red mist coated the shore as bodies collapsed.

Carl stepped off his boat, flexing his neck. The vessel vanished into the Black Bible. He peered down at Oven, who was embedded in the ground, groaning in pain.

Despite the impact, Oven was still conscious. He pushed against the boat, trying to free himself—

But Carl kept a firm foot on his chest, pinning him down.

The boat finally disappeared, and Oven scrambled up—only to immediately stumble and collapse with a loud crash.