Chapter 186: Totto Land's Anomalous Rules
The more unattainable something is, the more one desires it. To Charlotte Linlin, Nanamo—the daughter who had completely escaped her control—was inherently the most unique among all her children.
Breaking free from her control was already enough to make Charlotte Linlin extremely dissatisfied, but the one who broke free just so happened to be the most outstanding of them all.
At first, Charlotte Linlin wanted to drag her back. But at the time, Nanamo herself had absolutely no intention of returning, and Charlotte Linlin simply lacked the power to force her.
As time went on, Charlotte Linlin became unwilling to mention the name, unwilling even to think about it. It got to the point where even Katakuri and the others were strictly forbidden from uttering it.
Those born after the God Valley incident didn't even know the name existed. In the Totto Land Kingdom, the name "Nanamo" faintly carried the flavor of an anomalous urban legend.
For everyone living in Totto Land, even Katakuri, these were rules that had to be strictly obeyed:
1. Charlotte Linlin is the absolute sovereign of this kingdom. When mentioning her name anywhere within the kingdom, please always maintain the utmost respect and never disobey her orders.
2. Charlotte Linlin has many outstanding children who collectively manage this wondrous nation. You are free to praise and adore every Minister here.
3. There is no eldest daughter named "Nanamo." The birth order of all daughters automatically shifts forward by one.
4. If you hear or see the name "Nanamo" in any setting—including but not limited to conversations, books, newspapers, or interactions with Homies—do not mention it to anyone else.
5. Absolutely do not ask or mention this matter to anyone, including other members of the Charlotte family. This is especially true if you notice certain older residents or Homies suddenly falling silent with stiff expressions.
If you are speaking with Charlotte Linlin at the time, or find yourself at a Tea Party with her present, may your soul be sufficiently sweet.
6. If someone brings up "Nanamo" to you and attempts to discuss it, that person has severely violated the kingdom's laws.
7. In certain old newspapers or vintage photographs on Whole Cake Island, you may see a blurry human silhouette covered by shoddy paint or directly chipped away.
That is not "Nanamo"; it is merely a poorly preserved piece of art.
Charlotte Linlin was actually someone extremely adept at self-hypnosis. After Kaido snatched the Devil Fruit from her hands, she selectively wiped parts of the incident from her memory, altering the narrative so that Kaido somehow owed her a massive favor.
But if someone were to insist in front of her that Kaido stole her fruit, the consequences would be entirely unpredictable.
And mentioning Nanamo in front of her would yield even more severe consequences.
"Mama, please endure it for now. This is your Tea Party, after all..."
At a time like this, only Katakuri dared to step forward and advise Charlotte Linlin. Due to the Soru Soru no Mi (Soul-Soul Fruit), displaying fear in front of Charlotte Linlin was an incredibly dangerous thing.
Through this fruit, Charlotte Linlin could steal the lifespans of others. The only way to resist this plundering was absolute fearlessness; as long as one's soul could overcome the sense of terror, their lifespan would not be taken.
If they couldn't control their fear, they might be drained of their lifespan even if Charlotte Linlin had no active intention of plundering it.
The current Charlotte Linlin hadn't yet entered her elderly years, nor was she suffering from one of her Eating Pangs, so she still possessed some degree of self-control. Although she caused a few "accidents," it ultimately didn't lead to overly disastrous consequences.
Perhaps because the Underworld broker merely mentioned the "Princess of Fish-man Island" without directly speaking Nanamo's name, the fallout remained somewhat manageable.
But as for this Tea Party, it could only be hastily brought to a close.
Meanwhile, on Fish-man Island, Nanamo was naturally unaware of the events transpiring in the Totto Land waters. At this moment, she was busy searching the nearby ground for something.
Only when she spotted a shiny gold coin among the scattered debris did a faint smile trace her lips.
This debris was the armor Bullet had formed around himself using the Clank-Clank Fruit. Once Bullet lost consciousness, the armor naturally disintegrated.
Due to the specific nature of the fruit, once the user lost consciousness, the assimilated objects wouldn't return to their original state; they would simply scatter freely. And here, Nanamo had successfully recovered her gold coin.
"H-How is this possible?! That guy Bullet... knocked out in a single hit?!"
Smack!
"Bastard Shanks! Why did you hit me?!"
"It hurts, so it seems I'm not dreaming..."
While Buggy was still doubting the reality of the scene before him, Shanks had already slapped Buggy on the back and was currently staring at his own palm, seemingly pondering the physics of action and reaction.
But Buggy clearly had zero interest in this scientific research. Just as the two were about to break into a brawl, Roger, who had just arrived, grabbed them each by the collar, putting an end to their squabble.
"Alright, that's enough from you two."
"Captain Roger!"
Originally, Roger was just taking a stroll, intending to purchase some New World necessities along the way.
Although they weren't lacking Log Poses on the ship, after years of sailing, their current Log Poses had long since been overwritten by other magnetic fields. Since Fish-man Island sold ready-made Poses, there was naturally no need to waste time waiting for theirs to set.
However, during his shopping trip, Roger's attention was drawn by the explosive Haki of the battle here, which was why he hurried over.
"Captain, Bullet was just... knocked out in one punch by that little girl!"
"I saw. But she's no 'little girl.' She just looks a bit young; she should be in her twenties by now. As for that punch just now... that was a combination technique used by the Giants. To think someone could execute it all by themselves..."
Roger had seen the powerhouses of the Giant race and even members of the Giant Warrior Pirates. Furthermore, among the formidable pirates of the New World, quite a few utilized Giant combat techniques.
Twin Generals: Ocean Sovereignty was the Hakoku (Nation's Might) spear executed as a joint attack by two people. Theoretically, the number of participants could be stacked infinitely, and it was precisely this power that forged the legendary might of the Giant race.
Roger had seen plenty of people execute joint attacks. But a person performing a combination technique entirely on their own? That was truly a first for Roger.
"I've bought the new Log Poses. Fish-man Island is quite convenient now; they have upgraded Poses with pre-recorded paths ready to go.
"I originally wanted to stroll around a bit more, but after making such a huge commotion, I suppose this trip to Fish-man Island should come to an end."
"Is it really over already?" Shanks asked.
"Yeah, is it really over already?"
Shanks felt a slight tinge of regret about leaving so soon. He hadn't yet fully appreciated this deep-sea island. But he quickly realized that the voice responding to him didn't belong to Buggy; it was an entirely unfamiliar voice.
The previously nonchalant Roger instantly dropped his casual demeanor, his expression turning solemn as he looked to the side.
"Nereus, it's been a long time."
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