Waiting on Cake Island for a Beating?

Perhaps recalling things from the Roxx Era had put Charlotte Linlin in a bad mood.

Still, she seemed fairly capable of regulating her emotions. After eating two more pieces of cake, she returned to her usual state.

She said nothing more, sipping juice as she watched Ortolan stand there, lost in thought.

As if remembering something, Charlotte Linlin glanced toward Katakuri again and waved without speaking. Katakuri immediately understood what she meant. After nodding, he quickly left the room.

Perospero had nothing better to do. He seemed curious about these secrets as well, so he stood to the side and listened to their idle chatter.

After a while, Ortolan looked at Charlotte Linlin again and asked, "So what you mean is, if I fall into that berserk, chaotic state during a full moon, and someone can use overwhelming violence to beat me out of it, then after enough times, I might find an opportunity to gradually gain control over that power?"

Charlotte Linlin smiled and nodded. "That's right. That's my answer for you, brat."

Thinking it over carefully, it did seem possible. Before he turned ten, because his old man had been able to keep him in check, Ortolan remembered feeling as though he could gain further control over Sulong.

But after turning ten, that feeling had disappeared. Instead, he grew wilder and more irritable each time. The feeling of losing control only became worse and worse.

Could this be the punishment for being spoiled too much? Ortolan muttered inwardly.

Perhaps because his old man had spoiled him and couldn't bear to hurt him, his condition had not only failed to improve over the years, but had continued to worsen?

Yes. The reason Ortolan wanted to solve this problem as soon as possible was not merely because he lost control during full moons. It was also because the condition grew more severe as time passed.

Over the past few years, he could feel his temper becoming increasingly volatile in everyday life. At the slightest provocation, he wanted to vent his violence!

He was worried—worried that his condition would spread beyond the "full moon." After all... when Charlotte Linlin's Food Addiction flared up, it did not care whether there was a full moon or not.

If his condition became impossible to control in the future, would it develop into the same pattern Charlotte Linlin had now?

Even without a full moon, would he enter that utterly crazed state at certain times for no reason at all?

The thought was terrifying. When Charlotte Linlin's Food Addiction erupted, she truly had no reason left. She could kill even her own sons without hesitation, and she might even eat people!

If his condition developed that way too, it would be terrifying. He might hurt the people around him while unconscious—people he cherished, perhaps even... eat them?

Recently, Ortolan had continuously practiced so-called "spiritual" cultivation through blacksmithing, fishing, and similar activities, hoping to keep his violent temper from worsening further.

For now, it had some effect, but it could never cure him.

As Ortolan pondered these matters, Charlotte Linlin set down her juice and smiled. "This world is dangerous and cruel, Ortolan..."

This was the first time she had called Ortolan by his name since they met.

Ortolan looked up at her. Charlotte Linlin continued, "Perhaps defeating Katakuri once made you proud. And there's no denying that Katakuri is indeed outstanding. But in my eyes, both he and you are still only seedlings..."

If you can't find the book by its title, try searching for the author. It may simply have been renamed!

After first meeting Katakuri and regaining consciousness, Ortolan had indeed felt proud of that for quite some time. After all, that was Katakuri, not some insignificant grunt. Though he had defeated him in an unconscious rampage while transformed, Ortolan felt that even without that transformation, his strength was no weaker than Katakuri's.

At eighteen, defeating Katakuri was certainly something worth celebrating.

But Ortolan also agreed with Charlotte Linlin's words. Twenty-year-old Katakuri, facing Charlotte Linlin at the peak of her power, probably could not even withstand one of her hands!

As for himself, against a top-tier powerhouse like Charlotte Linlin, he could probably only last a little longer than Katakuri.

As Ortolan considered this, Charlotte Linlin continued, "You both still need to keep growing, keep making yourselves stronger. Only by mastering greater power can you gain the strength to protect yourselves in this cruel and dangerous world..."

At that, Charlotte Linlin paused slightly. A strange look appeared in her eyes as she softly said, "But you, my son Ortolan... the stronger you become, the fewer people there will be with the violence to match or surpass you. And the rarer such violence becomes, the harder it will be to cure your violent condition..."

"What are you trying to say?" Ortolan interrupted Charlotte Linlin's persuasion.

Charlotte Linlin smiled, unconcerned by his rudeness, and continued gently, "I'm telling you that I, Charlotte Linlin, possess the overwhelming violence needed to crush you. My violence is your medicine, Ortolan..."

"There's more than just you on these seas with the power to crush me. There are plenty of people as strong as you, and some are even stronger!" Ortolan said.

There were countless powerful people on the seas. Ortolan had some strength now, but that was all. There were far too many people capable of defeating him.

And there were others with strength comparable to Charlotte Linlin's. Those stronger than her included Shiki, Whitebeard, Roger, and others.

"But can you trust them? If violence is your medicine, would you dare entrust your life to their hands, Ortolan?" Charlotte Linlin asked calmly and evenly.

Without waiting for Ortolan to answer, she continued, "Those people are outsiders. They are not worthy of trust. As for me... although many unpleasant and regrettable things have happened between us, you cannot deny that my blood runs through your veins. I am your mother, Ortolan. Whether by blood or by interests, I need you. If you return to my embrace, then the stronger you become, the stronger our Big Mom Pirates will become. We are family. We are blood relatives who can trust one another!"

Ortolan had to admit that Charlotte Linlin's words made quite a bit of sense.

There were indeed many powerhouses capable of rivaling Charlotte Linlin, but would Ortolan dare entrust his life to them?

What if they beat him to death?

Compared to them, Charlotte Linlin probably would not beat him to death. From that perspective, she truly was more trustworthy than the others.

Just then, Katakuri returned from outside, seemingly carrying a small box in his hand.

When Charlotte Linlin saw him, she first nodded, then said to Ortolan, "You do not need to rush into any decision. Whether you refuse or agree, you should think it over carefully. There are only a few days left until the full moon. You can stay here and experience it for yourself once. Only then can you draw a conclusion and see whether the method I mentioned is effective..."

Ortolan was briefly stunned, then nodded. "Alright."

That was true. So far, everything had only been what Charlotte Linlin said. He needed to verify the actual situation himself. The full moon was approaching, so he would take a vicious beating on Cake Island and see whether his condition showed any signs of improvement.

Once he had reached a conclusion, he could consider what Charlotte Linlin had just said.