Chapter 416: Charlotte vs. Charlotte Linlin
If word of this spread, how would others see her?
Whitebeard and Golden Lion would mock her for bullying the weak.
Meanwhile, Caesar returned, flying back after incinerating the defenders of Biscuit Island with a single Heat Breath.
"I'm sorry, Dad! I let Cracker escape!"
He landed beside Charlotte and admitted his failure with a bow of guilt.
Charlotte glanced at him and said calmly,
"Don't stop training your Haki."
"Yes, sir!"
Caesar sighed in relief. His father wasn't angry.
With the battle over, Carter marched to the port and hoisted the Rockefeller Pirates' flag high over the flames—officially declaring Biscuit Island under new rule.
"Continue. We'll sweep the nearby islands one by one."
Charlotte studied the sea chart, issuing orders.
"Understood!"
Voices echoed in unison.
After Charlotte had left the central New World, Charlotte Linlin had taken nearly everything.
Even World Government allied nations had fallen.
Her greed knew no bounds.
Of the New World's fragmented central islands, only those near Kame Island and the windless zone around Wano remained untouched. The rest were under her banner.
Charlotte had no intention of splitting his forces—he would retake territory island by island, forcing Charlotte Linlin to come to him.
As the Rockefeller Pirates advanced:
Biscuit Island.
Cream Island.
Wine Island.
—one after another, food-themed islands were captured and claimed.
Far across the sea…
Charlotte Linlin, charging forward with her fleet, was losing her mind.
Cracker, bandaged head to toe, looked up at Katakuri with worry.
"Brother Katakuri…"
"It's alright. As long as Mother's here, nothing will happen to us."
Katakuri's tone was calm, but firm.
When Cracker returned, even their own crew barely recognized him beneath the burns.
When Katakuri learned it was Caesar who had done it, he silently etched the name into memory.
The Rockefeller Pirates pressed through territory—until finally, in an unexpected corner of the sea…
They encountered the Big Mom Pirates.
The two fleets stared at each other across a thousand-meter gap.
As Charlotte laid eyes on Linlin, he almost wanted to wash his eyes.
"She's really… become that fat?"
She looked nothing like her younger self—now bloated and monstrous.
Linlin, for a brief moment, was dazed by Charlotte's unchanged appearance.
It reminded her of their time on the Rocks Pirates.
"Mamamama! Charlotte! Long time no see!"
She waddled forward to the bow of her ship, grinning.
"Haha! Yeah, Linlin. It's been, what—over a decade? You've really changed…"
Charlotte forced a smile.
Behind him, Caesar muttered:
"That giant old woman is Charlotte Linlin?"
Even the crew whispered in disbelief.
This was the woman who stirred chaos throughout the New World?
Linlin, gripping Napoleon, spun the blade and called out,
"Leave my territory now. For old times' sake, I'll let it go."
Charlotte raised his sword, the Seven-Star Blade glowing in his hand.
"Leave the New World center… and I'll spare you."
"You dare talk to me like that!? Elbaf Spear—Ikoku!"
She swung Napoleon down, unleashing a devastating shockwave.
The sea split beneath its force.
Charlotte narrowed his eyes, raised his glowing sword, and slashed upward:
"Youkai Slash!"
The two attacks collided midair.
A massive explosion rocked the seas.
"Mamamama! Not bad. So you've gotten stronger! No wonder you dare speak to me this way now."
Linlin looked at him warily.
Back on the Rocks crew, she had considered him strong—but not enough to concern her.
Now, even from that one clash, she felt it—his strength was real.
"If this is all you've got, you can't stop me."
Charlotte replied coldly.
Linlin didn't attack again. Instead, she made an offer:
"Charlotte, how about we join forces? I'll give you half the central New World. Together, we strike Whitebeard and take his land. You know it's the richest in the sea now. What do you say?"
Charlotte narrowed his eyes.
He knew what she was playing at.
It was true—under Whitebeard's rule, the war-torn back half of the New World had become peaceful and prosperous. Far more than the central region or the ruined front half.
But Charlotte felt nothing for her offer.
Why fight Whitebeard? He owed Charlotte a favor.
If anything, an alliance would be with Whitebeard—not Linlin.
He gently shook his head.
"I refuse."
The air grew tense.
The pressure was tangible.
"You… rejected me again."
Linlin's voice was as cold as ice.
Charlotte stood tall.
"Enough talk. Either you back down—or I die here. Fight me."
"Zeus!"
"Here, Mama!"
Thundercloud Zeus rushed beneath her feet.
She charged forward with her blade raised.
Charlotte disappeared in a flash and reappeared in front of her.
"Charlotte!"
Linlin swung Napoleon downward.
Clang!
Steel met steel.
The impact rocked the sea.
Charlotte felt the overwhelming force behind her blade.
It was the first time he felt true pressure from an opponent's raw power.
The two were blasted apart.
Linlin, standing on Zeus, quickly steadied herself.
Charlotte, who couldn't fly, used Geppo to bounce across the air, landing on a nearby island.
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