Katakuri's sudden kneeling made his younger brothers and sisters cry out in alarm:
"Brother Katakuri!"
Seeing the perfect elder brother in their hearts completely cast aside his dignity for their sake, the younger siblings' eyes immediately filled with pain and sorrow.
They had not even been this sad when their mother died.
After all, the temperamental, violent, bloodthirsty Big Mom had never been anything like a normal mother to them. Katakuri, however, had been an irreproachable elder brother.
Katakuri knelt on the ground. His younger siblings watched in grief, the government agents stood expressionlessly nearby, and Garen, who had just killed their mother, still held a bloodstained sword in his hand.
Standing amid such a scene, even Garen suddenly had the illusion that he was the villain.
"Katakuri."
Garen lowered his sword and asked in a deep voice:
"If you want me to show mercy, what price can you pay?"
Katakuri raised his head and looked Garen directly in the eye, answering without hesitation:
"Loyalty."
"I am willing to become your most loyal subordinate."
"Loyalty?"
Garen probed:
"I just killed Big Mom, and I even slaughtered more than ten of your brothers along the way."
"Can you truly submit to me wholeheartedly?"
Katakuri's expression changed slightly. Clearly, he could not remain unmoved by the deaths of those relatives.
Yet Katakuri's voice remained firm, carrying a conviction that was impossible to doubt:
"Once I make a promise, I will never break it."
"Please believe in my honor."
Katakuri was the old-fashioned kind of pirate, one who valued a man's honor above all else. His word was his bond, and a promise was worth a fortune.
Seeing such a man determined to submit to him, Garen could not help but feel tempted.
After the battle with the Big Mom Pirates, Garen, who