Big Brother, You've Gotten Me Killed

Perospero, as the eldest brother, perhaps because he was closer to Mousse, was too worried to think of the right words to comfort his younger brother. He unconsciously shifted two steps, his face full of anxiety.

But Mousse, a transmigrator with a mental age over forty, would not be hurt by Charlotte Linlin's thoughtless words. Besides, her assessment was completely wrong.

Mousse smiled confidently, puffed out his chest, and raised his head to look at his mother. Without the slightest fear, he retorted, "Mom, controlling books isn't some trash ability. What I control isn't just the physical books, but also the contents recorded within them!"

Perospero, his eldest brother, was the first to realize what this ability meant, and his worry immediately turned to delight.

But before his brother could speak, Mousse explained it himself. "As long as I touch a book, I'll instantly memorize all the information recorded in it. My efficiency in learning from books can increase a hundredfold!"

Aside from those illustrated guides to rare creatures and exotic beasts, Charlotte Linlin rarely read, so she naturally found it difficult to understand what that meant. Fortunately, her eldest son was there to explain.

Before Mousse could say anything, Perospero eagerly explained to his mother, his face full of joy. "Congratulations, Mom! With this ability, Mousse, who is already so smart, will definitely become the world's greatest scientist! Lick~"

Charlotte Linlin did not fully understand the significance of reading, but she did know something about the power of technology.

This oversized brat even harbored the same unrealistic expectations as ordinary children. Her eyes immediately lit up, and she clapped her hands as she laughed. "Mamamama! Mommy is so happy! The world's greatest scientist? Then you can definitely find a way to make humans bigger, right? Mousse, make all your brothers and sisters as big as Mommy. Then the whole family can sit equally around the dining table and eat together! You can definitely do it, right? Mousse? Mousse~"

Damn it, Big Brother, you've gotten me killed! Couldn't you wait before bragging? Great, now you've whetted Mom's appetite! I'm in deep trouble!

Human Gigantification was not something that could be achieved so easily. According to the original One Piece story, the World Government had researched it for centuries without success. Even Vegapunk, the genius scientist said to be five hundred years ahead of his time, had failed. M. Caesar Clown, who considered himself no inferior to Vegapunk, had simply given up from the very beginning and used the project solely to swindle Charlotte Linlin out of investment.

Even if Mousse had been smart since childhood and had obtained the Book-Book Fruit, he did not dare guarantee that he would one day surpass Vegapunk!

The greater problem was that, with Charlotte Linlin's childlike personality, she probably would not have the patience to wait that far into the future.

Of two evils, choose the lesser. Better to let Big Mom get angry now than lie and say I'm confident I can do it. What Big Mom hates most is being deceived. Even if I'm her favorite son, I might not escape death then!

Mousse's mind raced, and he quickly made his decision.

Mousse immediately put on a troubled expression and explained his difficulties to Linlin. "Becoming the world's greatest scientist isn't something that can be achieved just by having a photographic memory. You also need to understand and master the knowledge you've learned, then spend a great deal of time repeatedly experimenting and conducting in-depth research. Even if I really have that kind of talent, it would still take decades for me to reach that level, right?"

"Mommy is very patient. I can wait ten-odd years." Hearing Big Mom's reply, Mousse nearly cursed aloud. How had decades suddenly become ten-odd years?

And Charlotte Linlin had patience?

Mousse was afraid that before long, those "ten-odd years" would shrink even further into merely "a few years"!

But Mousse knew his mother's personality well. Confronting her head-on would not only anger her, but might also provoke her contrary streak.

Therefore, Mousse did not argue over whether it would take decades or ten-odd years. Instead, he took a roundabout approach and said as if trying to persuade her otherwise, "Don't worry, Mom. Once I finish my studies, I'll immediately begin researching this project. But to save time, it would be best to start some preparatory work first, such as finding Grandpa and Grandma and obtaining their blood samples."

The moment she heard her son mention "Grandpa and Grandma," Charlotte Linlin's expression turned incomparably gloomy.

Back then, her parents had abandoned the young Charlotte Linlin by the shore of Elbaf. Unaware that she had been deceived, she had foolishly waited for a long time. She would never forget that feeling of cold, hunger, loneliness, and fear, and she had never forgiven her parents for it.

Even after establishing Totto Land and becoming a ruler in her own right, Charlotte Linlin had never once considered searching for her parents.

It had even become a taboo in Totto Land. Even her children rarely dared mention "Grandpa and Grandma." Now that Mousse had openly touched the hidden pain in his mother's heart, Perospero's hair stood on end as he broke out in a cold sweat for him.

But since Mousse had already said it, he could not retreat. He took a deep breath, then said words that nearly scared Perospero into running for his life. "Mom, Grandpa and Grandma actually put you on the shore of Elbaf because they loved you."

"They abandoned me because they loved me?" Charlotte Linlin's eyes widened at once. She rose to her feet and stared coldly at the son who had once been her favorite. Powerful Conqueror's Haki surged out alongside her fury, and the children and subordinates present collapsed one after another.

As the future leader of the Sweet Commanders, Katakuri was only twenty-three now, but he had already awakened all three types of Haki, including Conqueror's Haki.

Even the demonic sound unleashed when his mother went berserk was something Katakuri could barely endure, much less this simple release of Conqueror's Haki. Thus, it was not surprising that he still appeared able to move freely.

But Mousse, who had only recently turned six, was also able to withstand it. That was rather unexpected. Could it be that Mousse's abnormally powerful soul could not only resist the Soul-Soul Fruit's power, but was equally effective against Conqueror's Haki?

"My twenty-fifth son, Mousse, is this what gives you the nerve to anger me?" But this only made Charlotte Linlin even angrier.

Soon, an even more terrifying aura emanated from Charlotte Linlin's massive body. Mousse, who had remained calm until then, seemed to suffer a heavy blow and was sent crashing to the floor!

Has it materialized? So even Mousse's powerful soul is useless? Could this be Mom's true strength? Katakuri's heart trembled at the sight.

The ability to directly inflict tangible physical damage—this should be a higher level of Conqueror's Haki, right? It was far stronger than the basic Conqueror's Haki he currently possessed!

After all, the basic role of Conqueror's Haki was merely crowd-control against weaklings. Even if it could inflict physical damage once released, that damage was negligible compared to its mental impact.

But the problem was that Mousse was only six years old. He was not some extraordinarily gifted monster like Katakuri.

Even though he had begun working hard after awakening his memories of his previous life and had trained diligently for nearly two years, his body was only a little larger than that of an ordinary child—roughly equivalent to a seven- or eight-year-old. That impact sent pain deep into his bones, and he nearly fainted on the spot.