Katakuri blew his top. Damn Xi Yan!

Does it matter?

"What?"

Katakuri paused for a moment, then asked, "What do you mean, 'Does this matter?'"

"I say, is this important to you?" Xi Yan said with a chuckle, "Don't forget what our captain did on Fish-Man Island."

Katakuri's face immediately darkened upon hearing this.

He certainly knew what the Straw Hat had done on Fish-Man Island, but was this bastard bringing it up now to escalate the conflict between them?

"Xi Yan..."

Galette whispered that if she could, she wouldn't want her brother's relationship with Xi Yan to sour.

Although the chances of them being together are slim, people... always have to hold onto some hope to live on.

Otherwise, a life filled with despair would have crushed her.

Xi Yan sighed upon hearing this, then explained, "Actually, the Navy already knew my identity back in Dressrosa, so whether I did that or not, the outcome wouldn't have changed."

Seeing that Xi Yan was willing to explain, Katakuri's expression improved considerably.

But when he thought about how the other person had explained it because of his sister, Katakuri's face darkened again.

Why am I suddenly so annoyed?

Forget it, I'll let it go for my sister's sake.

"It's good that you know what's going on," Katakuri said. "But now that we've been exposed, we need to figure out what to do next."

"Xi Yan, I'll tell Big Mom about this when I get back. I'm sure Big Mom 'll be willing to take me in..."

"Kaga ~"

Without giving Katakuri a chance to continue his nonsense, Xi Yan decisively ended the call.

Now that Galette's condition has been confirmed, there's no need to continue fighting.

Katakuri:!!!

Katakuri was completely stunned when he saw the Den Den Mushi stop working.

That bastard... how dare he hang up on him?

"Click!"

Katakuri veins immediately bulged, and his blood pressure shot up.

No matter what, he's Galette's brother.

Besides, what he said isn't wrong. You always have to think about a way out, otherwise it will be too late when it comes to a life-or-death situation!

Besides... if he joined the Big Mom Pirates, he could marry Galette, right?

But that bastard Xi Yan didn't even give him a chance to finish speaking... Does he think his sister isn't good enough for him?

Thinking of this, Katakuri was so angry that his Conqueror's Haki surged forth.

"Click!"

"Click!"

"Click!"

With a deafening roar, the henchmen began to fall to the ground one after another.

"Katakuri-gege, what are you doing?"

Galette, completely unaffected, looked at Katakuri with anxiety. Why had he suddenly unleashed Conqueror's Haki?

Could he be holding a grudge against Xi Yan?

"Nothing."

Katakuri forced himself to calm down and withdrew his scattered Conqueror's Haki, lest no one be able to use it later.

He then said, "It's just that the kid's attitude annoyed me a bit."

'This is not just some...'

Galette sighed inwardly. For Katakuri-gege's Conqueror's Haki, he must be incredibly angry.

But... why is Katakuri-gege so angry?

"Galette, did you already have some inside information?" Having calmed down, Katakuri looked down at his sister and said, "Otherwise, why would you suddenly go to Dressrosa?"

Katakuri has now come to his senses. Although Galette went there on a mission, given her strength, it's practically impossible for her to snatch the Diamond Fruit from Doflamingo.

Unless Doflamingo willingly gives the Devil Fruit to Galette because of his Big Mom.

But... he felt that this possibility was not high, otherwise Doflamingo should have offered up the Diamond Fruit the moment they made the call.

Therefore, he felt that something was amiss.

"This..."

Seeing that Galette was still hesitant, Katakuri's expression darkened, and he said, "Galette, are you even going to hide this from me?"

"No, Katakuri-gege, I just didn't know how to say it."

"Then just say whatever comes to mind."

Katakuri didn't put too much pressure on Galette, after all, she was his own sister.

Upon hearing this, Galette pursed her lips, mentally organizing her thoughts before replying, "I didn't receive accurate information; I only have some guesses."

"Guess?"

Katakuri frowned. What guess?

"Yes."

Galette took out Xi Yan's Wanted Order and said, "For some reason, my intuition tells me that this guy might be Xi Yan."

"So... after receiving news that the Straw Hat Pirates were in Dressrosa, I decided to go and check it out."

"Just because of that?"

Katakuri frowned as he looked at Galette. Had he really gone all the way to Dressrosa to confirm something based solely on the assumption that the person might be Blood-Eyed Ninja?

Isn't this girl afraid something might happen to her?

"Yes, that's why."

"You must have seen that newspaper too," Katakuri said. "Two years ago, he was..."

"I know!"

Galette interrupted Katakuri, saying, "But I just don't want to believe he's dead."

"How could someone as Lihai as him, who is also immortal, possibly die at the hands of the World Government?"

"As it turns out, my thinking was right!"

Regardless of what others thought, she refused to believe that the man was dead.

Looking at his sister's stubborn eyes, Katakuri fell silent.

Then, feeling annoyed, he thought, "His own sister cares so much about him, and Xi Yan still acts like this... This bastard really doesn't know how lucky he is!"

Forget it, I'll let it go for now, out of respect for my sister.

Then, Katakuri said, "Aren't you afraid something might happen in Dressrosa?"

"If something had really happened then, I wouldn't have had time to rescue them."

Katakuri still felt a lingering fear when he thought about it.

Perhaps that bastard Doflamingo wouldn't dare to attack Galette because of their Big Mom, but Marine Admiral might not have that concern.

"I know, but if I don't come because I'm afraid..." Galette said, head bowed, "I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

"You..."

Katakuri pointed at Galette, then sighed helplessly.

As the pillar of his family, Katakuri sometimes feels really exhausted, especially when his younger sister is disobedient.

Then, as if he had thought of something, he subconsciously wanted to ask a question.

But he stopped abruptly when he was about to speak.

' Galette shouldn't have forgotten what her Big Mom said,' Katakuri thought to himself. 'So she must have asked Xi Yan if she was willing to return to Totto Land with them.'

But since Xi Yan didn't come along... that means Xi Yan refused again!

They rejected the Charlotte Family's marriage proposal once again... That bastard!

What's wrong with his sister that he's refusing to date her?

Is it all because of the Straw Hat Pirates?

Is this guy so sure that the Straw Hat will surpass their Big Mom's achievements in the future?

Forget it, now is not the time to think about such things. The most important thing is to figure out how to report the situation here to Big Mom.

Not only did they fail to obtain the Diamond Fruit, but they also failed to bring Xi Yan back after receiving his message... Under these circumstances, no one knows what Big Mom will do.

Thinking about this gave Katakuri a terrible headache.

"Galette, have you thought about how to Big Mom?" Katakuri asked.

"No."

Galette shook her head and said, "I don't know what to do now either."

Firstly, she couldn't defeat Xi Yan, and secondly... she didn't want to forcibly take Xi Yan away.

What she has always wanted is a relationship based on mutual affection.

As for how Big Mom will react?

She doesn't know either.

Katakuri rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache. His little sister had really given him a problem.

Honestly, that bastard Xi Yan is really something. If he was truly worried about their family, he could have brought Galette along privately...

No, how could he have such a rebellious idea?

After forcibly banishing the thought from his mind, Katakuri said, "When we get back, I'll report to Big Mom. Remember not to say anything out of line, okay?"

Even though she's their Big Mom, no one knows what the consequences would be if they angered her.

"I understand, Katakuri-gege..."

Galette nodded obediently. If Katakuri-gege could really come up with a solution that would satisfy both sides, that would be wonderful.

She can't think of any good solutions right now.

'It would be even better if I could stop Big Mom from causing trouble for Xi Yan and the others,' Galette thought to herself.

However, Galette knew that this possibility was not high, after all, that bastard Straw Hat had provoked their Big Mom before.

Thinking about this, Galette felt somewhat annoyed.

Why did that guy provoke their Big Mom for no reason?

Now, the Big Mom Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates are truly at odds.

This will make things very difficult for her, the one caught in the middle.

'Why...'

"Carry all the unconscious ones into the cabin," Katakuri ordered. "We're heading back to Totto Land immediately!"

"Yes!"

"Katakuri-daren!"

The pirates, who were still somewhat conscious, immediately sprang into action.

Katakuri, on the other hand, grabbed Galette by the back of her collar and led her back to his ship.

After setting Galette down, Katakuri said without turning around, "Galette, I can't be sure what choice Big Mom will make, so... you should be prepared too."

"But no matter what, don't anger Big Mom, or even I can't protect you."

"I see."

Galette nodded slowly; she naturally understood what her Katakuri-gege had said.

But... she wasn't sure what choice she would make now.

Feelings are something... sometimes they really can influence a person's judgment.

"Is the call ending just like that?"

Seeing Xi Yan staring blankly at the distant sea, Merry leaned closer and said, "Aren't you going to say a few more words?"

Although Merry didn't understand much, Xi Yan didn't say more than a few words to Sister Galette.

Did you just end the call so abruptly?

"I was just checking to make sure Galette was safe," Xi Yan shook his head and said, "As for anything else... there's nothing more to say."

In reality, during the three days they spent together, Galette mostly initiated conversations; he himself didn't know how to chat with Galette.

Because he always had an awkward feeling, but Galette ignored Xi Yan's emotions from beginning to end and kept trying to find topics to talk about.

Perhaps in their view, opportunities are something you have to earn.

"I see."

Merry tilted her head and said, "But didn't you and Sister Galette get along quite well before?"

Although she hadn't paid any suspicious attention to them, every time she saw the two of them together, they seemed to get along quite well.

Every time, Sister Galette would be amused by Xi Yan and laugh non-stop.

As for what they were saying, she had no idea, because she didn't have the ability to eavesdrop.

After all, this is my partner; using my abilities to eavesdrop... that's not good.

You'll understand later.

Xi Yan didn't explain, but simply patted the little one's head, letting her figure it out herself.

"All right."

Merry didn't dwell on it. After all, she was just a child, so her curiosity came and went quickly.

"Oh, right."

Merry glanced at the Den Den Mushi and said, "Sister Galette's brother..."

"Katakuri."

"Yes, it's Katakuri." Merry asked curiously, "He fought Luffy's older brother Ace before, right? Who won?"

"It should be a draw," Xi Yan guessed. "Otherwise, Ace's people would have contacted us already."

If Ace were really defeated by Katakuri, Marco and the others would definitely call for help immediately.

But since the other party didn't call, it means that Ace wasn't the one who failed.

As for whether Katakuri defeated?

On the day the battle ended, Galette spoke to Katakuri on the phone, saying that if Katakuri had really been defeated, Galette wouldn't have reacted the way she did.

Therefore, he concluded that this battle between the two would likely end in a draw.

"Is Sister Galette's brother really that strong?" Merry exclaimed in surprise, "He can actually fight Ace to a draw?"

In her mind, Luffy was very powerful, and Luffy had said that Ace was even more powerful than him.

In this situation, Katakuri was still able to fight Ace to a draw... which is enough to show how strong the opponent was.

"Katakuri is a pirate with a bounty exceeding one billion, after all. Isn't it normal that he could fight Ace to a draw?" Xi Yan said helplessly.

Although Ace already had the title of Flame Emperor, he ultimately didn't reach the level of Four Emperors).

In this situation, it's perfectly normal for Teuchi a draw with Katakuri, the second-in-command of one of the Four Emperors Crew.

Of course, it's also possible that these two didn't fight to the death.

"That's true." Merry nodded, then said with a touch of longing, "When will I be able to reach a bounty of 1 billion?"

"Forehead..."

Xi Yan paused for a moment, then looked away and said, "Sooner or later, that day will come."