The banquet was proceeding merrily.
Bright had been invited by Charlotte Linlin to sit at her table and enjoy the banquet alongside the senior officers of the Charlotte Family.
Charlotte Linlin's attitude had become remarkably kind, like a benevolent old grandmother next door, chatting and laughing happily with Bright.
Although the other officers at the table looked displeased by her behavior, there was nothing they could say.
After all, the entire Charlotte Family was ruled by Charlotte Linlin alone.
While conversing with Charlotte Linlin, Bright reviewed the past two days' actions.
In the end, Charlotte Linlin had only wanted to use him to threaten Fish-Man Island. Once he lost that value, the threat would no longer stand.
The overall plan had been to make Charlotte Linlin believe that he had nowhere else to turn and could only rely on her to protect himself.
He had contacted Brother Jinbe in advance and asked him to reach Neptune and the Whitebeard Pirates in waters far from Totto Land.
Neptune would cooperate, while Whitebeard would be informed of the situation and asked to call at the appropriate time.
That had been enough.
Once Charlotte Linlin learned that even killing him would not let her take Fish-Man Island—and would instead do Whitebeard a favor—her choice had been obvious.
Then all he had needed was to display a little of his own value. That had been the finishing blow.
At that point, Baccarat and Tanaka had basically become unnecessary. Bright had been certain of it.
But it had not ended there. If he had been forced to remain on Whole Cake Island, then none of his plans would have meant anything.
So Bright still had to return to Fish-Man Island and seize control of that country.
Charlotte Linlin might hesitate, but she would realize that