Katakuri barreled through the streets of Beehive Island like a locomotive. His long legs were moving so fast they almost looked like wheels, and his hard soles nearly struck sparks from the ground.
Roa hopped along behind him like a little frog. There was nothing he could do—he was only half as tall as Katakuri, and his legs were only half as long as his good brother's. If he wanted to catch up, he had no choice but to jump.
Though the posture was hardly graceful, Roa wore an intoxicated expression the entire time.
So delicious, Katakuri.
The more love one held in their heart, the more high-quality black aura they released when that love was wounded.
There wasn't much of it, but to Roa, it was a rare delicacy.
That feeling of both body and soul slowly transforming intoxicated Roa every time.
Even so, while intoxicated, Roa reminded himself that enjoying it was enough. He absolutely must not become any more obsessed.
Otherwise, sooner or later, he would become a puppet controlled by his own ability.
Roa followed behind Katakuri all the way to the harbor.
The harbor of Beehive Island was extremely lively. After all, hundreds of thousands of pirates gathered on the island. Apart from the permanent residents, plenty of pirates came and went every day. Otherwise, where would Roa get his feast?
In one corner of the harbor,
several thugs were celebrating.
"Hahahaha! Katakuri shouldn't dare act so arrogantly anymore, right?"
"That's right! We can't beat him, but surely we can deal with his family!"
"Katakuri looks like an eel, so of course he should have a disfigured little sister!"
"Haha, you're too cruel! Katakuri must still be hugging his ugly little sister and crying right now!"
The group was brimming with pride. Each of them held a bottle of liquor and drank merrily. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought they had accomplished some earth-shattering feat.
"So you're the ones who hurt Brulee!"
A voice as gloomy as ice that had remained frozen for a thousand years came from behind them.
The thugs turned around in surprise.
Katakuri slowly walked toward them, dragging his sharp trident behind him.
"Katakuri?"
The thugs froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Do you like the gift we gave you? This is what happens when you offend us!"
Another thug noticed the scarf wrapped around Katakuri's neck and laughed even harder. "Pfft, hahaha! Katakuri, you've finally learned your lesson! You should have covered that eel-like mouth of yours long ago! Don't you know how disgusting it is when people see it?"
Following behind Katakuri, Roa couldn't help exclaiming, "Oh! How impressive! As expected of Beehive Island's thugs—your courage is on the level of the Rocks Pirates!"
How arrogant!
That boldness—the way they completely disregarded Katakuri and the Charlotte Family—had earned Roa's approval.
"Go to hell."
Katakuri had no intention of wasting words. His trident suddenly turned into a black streak and pierced straight through one thug's stomach, sending him flying.
"Huh?"
The thugs hadn't even had time to react.
Katakuri pulled with his right hand. The mochi thread connected to the trident snapped taut, yanking the trident back.
Then he swung it. Its sharp edge instantly severed two thugs' necks. As their heads flew into the air, blood sprayed like fountains.
"Waaahhh!!"
Only then did the thugs realize what had happened. Terrified out of their minds, they screamed one after another.
"Wait! Wait, Katakuri!"
One thug fell to the ground in terror and waved his hands frantically. "It's a misunderstanding! It was all—"
"Mochi Bullet Stab!"
"Mochi Bullet Stab!"
"Mochi Bullet Stab!"
After several Mochi Bullet Stabs, the thugs were left as nothing but mangled corpses.
Most had been struck in half at the waist, leaving no intact bodies behind.
"What a pity."
Roa slowly strolled forward and looked at the hideous corpses before sighing. "Why didn't you torture them a little more?"
"You could have peeled off their skin, or used a wire brush to scrub the flesh clean from their bones."
Such a waste.
They had died too quickly and barely felt any pain, so the quality of the black aura was terribly low.
"I won't leave myself open again."
Katakuri's voice was cold, though only an hour ago he had still been cheerful. "I'll give every enemy the most perfect terror!"
He would never let Brulee's tragedy happen again.
He would make sure every enemy lost the courage to challenge them!
"Oh! That's cool, Katakuri!"
Roa looked up at his good brother in surprise. "Not only did you change your skin, you're even switching to a cold and aloof character setting? You'll definitely be popular!"
Looking across the world of anime and manga, the cold-faced, effortlessly cool male character was indeed more popular.
By contrast, someone like Roa—a cheerful little sun—was less well-liked.
Katakuri didn't answer. He merely fell silent.
After a long while, he finally spoke. "Roa, let's end the Pirate Hunt here."
"Huh?"
Roa complained, "Then what about my afternoon tea?"
The corner of Katakuri's mouth twitched beneath the scarf. He retorted instinctively, "Who cares about you?!"
"But is this really all right?"
Roa said with interest, "Even the Rocks Pirates have never lacked challengers."
They had just taken down a provoker a moment ago, after all.
Katakuri lowered his head to look at Roa. After a moment of silence, the boy spoke in a low voice, his eyes filled with confusion. "Roa, what should I do? I never want to see my brothers and sisters get hurt again."
Roa understood his confusion perfectly. Aunt Linlin's family education had been a complete failure. She had focused only on giving birth, while education had basically been left to free-range upbringing.
Katakuri, who had lacked guidance while growing up, had become confused without even knowing whom to ask for answers.
At times like this, it was time for Big Brother Roa, the confidant, to make his entrance.
"Katakuri."
Roa jumped up and patted his good brother on the shoulder. He said earnestly, "Blindly protecting them won't do. Don't be too arrogant, my friend. True love means letting them grow alongside you."
Katakuri was stunned.
Roa continued, "You can't even beat me, yet you're talking about perfect terror and protecting everyone? That's a little funny."
"You!"
Katakuri's eye twitched. He emphasized, "I've become stronger! If you don't believe me, let's fight right now!"
"No way. I already told you, I'm a pacifist."
Roa grinned. "How about trying to rely on your family a little? No matter how strong one person is, there will always be times when they can't reach everything in time."
"But if all your brothers and sisters become strong, and all your brothers and sisters love one another, wouldn't that be a true wall of bronze and iron?"
The confusion in Katakuri's eyes gradually faded, and his former brilliance swiftly returned.
"I understand!"
The boy tore off his scarf. "You're right, Roa! I know what I have to do now!"
"Good."
Roa nodded in satisfaction. "Remember, you owe me again. If I ever need anything, even if you're dead, you'll have to come back to life and help me."
"How am I supposed to come back to life?!"
How far could Katakuri grow now that he had let go of his inner knot?
If he truly became a top-tier powerhouse, Aunt Linlin, would you still be able to lead the Charlotte Family in peace?
This was truly something to look forward to.
More than a week passed in the blink of an eye.
One noon, Roa had finished lunch and was napping on the throne in the arena when a sudden boom woke him.
"Huh?"
Roa's sleepy face was full of confusion. "What's going on?"
Even the ground was trembling.
Judging by the direction of the sound, Roa turned his head and gazed toward the towering skull building in the distance.
Could one of the commanders have started a fight?
And they hadn't called him for such a good thing?
It looked like he was going to have a huge feast today!
"Lord Roa."
Dylan hurried over. "Boss Rocks and the others are back!"
"The captain?"
Roa's eyes lit up.
If the captain had gotten into a fight with someone, it would be a truly spectacular scene.
However, by the time Roa hurriedly flapped his wings and landed in front of the skull building, the battle had already ended.
A huge hole had appeared in the middle section of the building, while a large number of broken stones lay scattered across the ground. It seemed someone had been blasted out from inside the building.
Roa turned his head.
Uncle Whitebeard was sitting on a chunk of rubble. The second-in-command of Beehive Island was covered in blood, and he silently pushed away Stussy, who was trying to treat his wounds.
"Newgate!"
Stussy stamped her feet anxiously, her eyes red as she cursed, "That idiot Rocks! How could he do this to you?!"
"It's none of your business."
Faced with the charming and alluring Stussy, Whitebeard's voice was cold and hard. He paid her no mind.
"Newgate!"
Stussy immediately burst into tears. "I'm just worried about you!"
"Unnecessary!"
Whitebeard remained cold.
Roa grinned. What kind of idol drama was this?
Aunt Stussy really didn't understand.
Which top-tier powerhouse who had made a name for themselves on the sea had a perfectly intact family?
But still—
"What exactly happened here?"
Roa rubbed his smooth chin.
Why had Rocks beaten up Whitebeard?
"Roa!"
A cheerful voice rang out.
Roa looked up. Two people walked out through the doorway.
"Aunt Linlin, Big Brother Kaido, you're back too?"
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