When I Join the Marines and You Become a Pirate, We'll Divide the World Between Us!

The moment Shiki fell, the entire New World was thrown into chaos. The instigators, the Roger Pirates, had vanished without a trace, but aside from them, nearly every major pirate crew in the New World was now at war.

Even the Whitebeard Pirates had been dragged into the mess. After all, fighting had broken out everywhere in the New World, and trouble found them wherever they went.

By the time Ortolan and Katakuri joined up with the Big Mom Pirates' grand fleet, Charlotte Linlin and Wang Zhi had already clashed once. In terms of strength, Charlotte Linlin held no particular advantage over Wang Zhi.

But luck was on her side this time. Since she had originally mobilized to deal with Shiki, Charlotte Linlin had gone all out, bringing every elite force under her command.

Wang Zhi, on the other hand, had only come to lend support. There was no way he would risk all his own assets fighting Shiki to the death for Charlotte Linlin's sake, so his fleet was far smaller than that of the Big Mom Pirates.

As a result, the Big Mom Pirates had held a clear advantage from the very first battle. And apparently, a group of fierce, burly men from the Beasts Pirates were steadily pushing forward behind Wang Zhi's forces as well. That ruthless bastard Kaido had also appeared on that stretch of sea.

Come to think of it, this was Ortolan's first time boarding Charlotte Linlin's Queen Mama Chanter. The entire ship had been given "life" by Charlotte Linlin's Soul-Soul Fruit, so it did not even require many sailors—it could sail itself.

Following Katakuri across the deck and into the second-floor cabin, Ortolan soon spotted Charlotte Linlin speaking with Perospero.

Whether he had arrived at an inconvenient time or Charlotte Linlin had arranged it deliberately, Ortolan found that none of his so-called "blood brothers" were on board this time either.

"Tell Amande's surveillance ships to stay close. Don't let Wang Zhi get away!" Charlotte Linlin ordered in a deep voice.

As she finished speaking, she heard them approach. Turning toward Katakuri and Ortolan, she said, "You're here?"

"Mother," Katakuri greeted her, while Ortolan nodded as well.

Charlotte Amande—if Ortolan remembered correctly—was theoretically his older sister, Charlotte Linlin's third daughter?

Without saying much to Katakuri or Ortolan, Charlotte Linlin continued, "Keep in closer contact with that Kaido bastard. Keep each other updated on your positions. Try to encircle Wang Zhi from both sides and trap that bastard in these waters. If he makes it back to Hachinosu Island, dealing with him will become troublesome!"

It was obvious that the ruthless Charlotte Linlin intended to seize this chance while Wang Zhi was "alone" and kill him outright.

Ortolan did not know what happened afterward, but he guessed they had failed. Wang Zhi was not someone so easily dealt with. In the end, he had likely returned to Hachinosu Island and reunited with his main force.

Katakuri and Ortolan waited off to the side for more than ten minutes before Charlotte Linlin finished speaking with Perospero. Perospero was busy too and had no time to chat with Ortolan. He merely nodded in greeting before hurrying away.

"I'm starving to death!" Once she was done with business, Charlotte Linlin grabbed the pastries from the table and shoved them into her mouth haphazardly.

No matter where she was, Charlotte Linlin always kept a variety of pastries nearby. Otherwise, if her Food Addiction acted up, things would become a serious problem.

After looking Ortolan up and down, Charlotte Linlin asked, "Did you eat that Devil Fruit?"

Ortolan nodded. "Yeah. I still haven't thanked you—"

"You're always so formal. It makes us seem like strangers!" Charlotte Linlin waved a hand, cutting him off directly.

Ortolan felt a little awkward. That was not an easy thing to answer.

Still, although he knew Charlotte Linlin was ruthless and hardly kind even to her own children, Ortolan genuinely appreciated the care and treatment she had shown him during this time.

Charlotte Linlin did not intend to make him respond. She continued, "I heard from Katakuri that you're considering joining the Marines?"

Ortolan finally spoke. "Yes, I've been considering it..."

Charlotte Linlin stared silently at Ortolan for a long while, her gaze carrying a deeper meaning. Then she raised a brow. "What are you thinking? Do you have a reason?"

As she spoke, she motioned for Ortolan and Katakuri to sit down.

Once seated on the sofa, Ortolan continued, "At first, I hadn't decided what I wanted to do. I was even more inclined to become a pirate, since all of you are pirates..."

Charlotte Linlin understood that this "all of you" referred to herself and Ortolan's old father.

Looking at it that way, Ortolan truly came from a proper pirate bloodline!

"Then why not become a pirate?" Charlotte Linlin asked with a smile.

"The reason I considered that at first was because I didn't feel much connection to any of you—to the Big Mom Pirates or the so-called Charlotte Family," Ortolan said with complete honesty.

Before coming to Cake Island, he had not felt anything extra toward Charlotte Linlin. She had merely been a stranger to him. But now, for Ortolan, who had once been alone, Katakuri was a good friend and a considerate older brother. Charlotte Linlin had not yet reached the point where he could accept her as his mother, but she was no longer a stranger either. Whether it was gratitude or a bond, when Ortolan searched his heart, he knew it was there.

Hearing this, Charlotte Linlin wore a rare expression of satisfaction. "Looks like I hold at least some place in your heart now. So that Goro Goro no Mi wasn't wasted on you after all."

Ortolan did not dislike such blunt words. On the contrary, he liked this kind of approach. If Charlotte Linlin had only talked about blood ties and family affection from the start, trying to bind him through those things, he would never have accepted it.

But while speaking of such things, Charlotte Linlin had also given him genuine care and tangible benefits. Ortolan would not repay that by being ungrateful.

Smiling, Ortolan continued, "So from where things stand now, if I enter the pirate world, the further I go, the more we will end up competing with each other. Looking at it overall, that isn't a very good choice."

If he became a pirate, then in the end he would either become the so-called Pirate King or one of the Four Emperors. But no matter which position he reached, he would be in direct competition with Charlotte Linlin—unless the two sides merged into one.

But one's position shaped one's thinking. If Ortolan joined the Big Mom Pirates now, it would not be a major issue. But if he reached Charlotte Linlin's level someday—the level of a Four Emperor—then how could a merger possibly be so simple?

Who would be in charge? Who would yield? And what would the officers under each of them think?

There were far too many problems involved. It would be a real headache!

"So you think the Marines are a better path for you? You become a Marine, I remain a pirate. Once I become the Pirate Overlord, and you sit in the position of Admiral—or even Fleet Admiral—not only will we have no competitive relationship, but there will be plenty of room for cooperation between us?" Charlotte Linlin asked Ortolan with a sly smile.

"From that perspective, that is indeed the case, isn't it?" Ortolan replied calmly, without trying to hide anything.

"You're right. Considering it that way, joining the Marines really is the most beneficial choice for both of us." Charlotte Linlin nodded in agreement.

Charlotte Linlin was extremely confident. She wanted to become the ruler of the seas, and she believed she could become the ruler of the seas. In this struggle for pirate supremacy, she believed she would be the one to go the distance and have the last laugh!

To be honest, this was the confidence a strong person—a leader of a powerful force—had to possess. If she did not even have the confidence to contend for supremacy, she might as well disband early.

If she became the ruler of pirates, while Ortolan, her son, stood at the pinnacle of the Marines, then who on these seas could still stand in the way of their ascent to that supreme throne?

As for which of the two of them would ultimately sit upon it, Charlotte Linlin did not spell it out. Everything would depend on the circumstances at the time.

Besides, there was no point thinking that far ahead now. How far they could go in the future—who could say for sure?

With that thought, Charlotte Linlin asked, "How do you want me to help you?"

That was right. Ortolan had come to see Charlotte Linlin this time mainly because he needed her help. Without it, someone with his background would have a hard time entering the Marines.