Rux D. Carl

In Charlotte Linlin's room, the two of them watched the sun slowly rise in the distance.

"Alright, no more this morning."

Carl spoke first. Today, he was going to tell everyone his name, then have Charlotte Linlin's children take his surname.

To be honest, Carl had never told anyone his real name before.

"Alright, get up."

Although Charlotte Linlin still wanted more, she knew today's business was important. They also had to set sail afterward, so she didn't protest and got up right away.

Carl got up first. He planned to go out to the open sea and hunt a Sea King for today's gathering.

"Once you're up, gather the children in the dining hall. I'll go catch a Sea King to help you build up your strength."

"Got it, Carl."

Charlotte Linlin looked a little bashful. She was standing right in front of him, getting dressed, and Carl's body reacted immediately. But he knew there were more important things to do today, so he hurriedly chided little Carl in his mind: Get a grip today.

Carl quickly pushed open the door and went outside. He was afraid he'd lose control and turn into a wolf if he stayed any longer. That wouldn't do.

"Mamamamama!"

Seeing Carl flee in such a hurry, Charlotte Linlin smiled sweetly.

Hunting a Sea King wasn't particularly difficult for Carl now.

He walked to the shore and dove straight in. It didn't take long for him to find a Sea King hundreds of meters long. A mere burst of Conqueror's Haki knocked it unconscious, and its body floated to the surface. Carl then dragged it back to the kitchen on Charlotte Linlin's ship.

"Chef, make today's meal extra lavish. Use this as the main ingredient."

After dragging the Sea King into the kitchen, Carl spoke to the chef.

"Thank you, Lord Carl."

"What are you waiting for? Get to it."

Streusen, the head chef, thanked Carl while ordering the other chefs to start carving up the Sea King.

Seeing the chefs get to work, Carl turned and headed to the family meeting hall.

When he entered the family meeting hall, he saw a huge round table in the middle. Charlotte Linlin was seated at the far end, and there was a place on her left that had clearly been saved for Carl.

The other seats around the table were already filled with children. Some of the younger ones were in strollers, with maids standing beside them to look after them.

"Mamamamama!"

"Carl!"

When Charlotte Linlin saw Carl enter, she stood up, walked over, and pulled him along to the seat on her left.

"Today, I have something else to announce."

"From now on, Carl will be your father."

After seating Carl on her left, Charlotte Linlin smiled faintly and looked around at everyone present.

"Father!"

Perospero was the first to stand and call out to Carl.

"Father!"

"Father!"

The children who could talk all stood up and called out to Carl.

"Alright, alright. Sit down, everyone."

Carl smiled fondly and pressed both hands down, motioning for them to sit.

"No matter who your fathers were before, from today onward, your father is me, Rux D. Carl."

Charlotte Linlin looked utterly shocked. She hadn't expected Carl to be a member of the Clan of D.

She was shocked because she knew a little about the Clan of D. But the very next moment, she smiled proudly. After all, Carl was her husband now.

Besides, she was a pirate. She didn't care about any of that.

The children present had no idea what the Clan of D meant, either.

They were simply happy to finally have a real father.

"From today onward, your names will all begin with Lux."

"Of course, you mustn't tell anyone about the D in your names."

Carl had told everyone his name and asked them to take his surname, but the time wasn't right yet. They would have to keep the D in their names a secret for a while—possibly for decades.

"Then from now on, I'll be Lux-Perospero."

Perospero understood what Carl meant right away. After all, he would later become the brains of the Big Mom Pirates.

He was certainly no dummy.

The younger brothers and sisters present began thinking up their new names, too.

The lively part came next, as they introduced themselves to one another.

Lux-Katakuri, Lux-Daifuku, Lux Comport, and so on...

While they chatted, the kitchen staff brought out the delicious dishes.

"Let's eat!"

Once all the dishes had been served, Carl smiled at everyone and spoke.

"Alright, I'm digging in!"

Katakuri was the first to start eating with gusto, and the others soon followed his example.

Looking at their innocent smiles, Carl thought about how, by the time the story began, none of them had turned out particularly handsome.

After thinking it over, Carl decided to teach them the Five Elements Fist. It would help them build a solid foundation and keep them from growing up to look as odd as they did in the original story.

Mealtime passed quickly, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

After the meal, Carl called Clay over.

"Lord Carl, what did you call me here for?"

The moment Clay arrived at Charlotte Linlin's base, he asked why Lord Carl had summoned him.

"I'm in a relationship with Charlotte Linlin now, so her children are my children, too. Secretly teach them the Five Elements Fist."

Clay froze as soon as he heard the first half of what Carl said.

He was stunned. He hadn't expected Lord Carl to be with Charlotte Linlin...

After his shock, he felt pleased. Lord Carl and Charlotte Linlin together would make a powerful alliance.

Thinking about it that way, he decided this was wonderful news.

"But don't tell anyone about our relationship. We're keeping it secret for now."

Although Clay didn't know why Lord Carl didn't want their relationship to become public, he would keep it confidential.

"Don't worry, Lord Carl. I won't tell another soul."

Clay knew that if Lord Carl had said this, there must be things he wasn't allowed to know.

He didn't dwell on it.

"Good. I'm glad you understand."

Carl felt relieved. Clay was the only person by his side who could truly help him get things done.

"I'll leave it to you from here."

"I'll be setting sail soon."

"I can trust you to take care of things at home."

Seeing how loyal Clay was, Carl thought he should bring him back something from this voyage.

Carl then hurried to the port.

Charlotte Linlin and Newgate were already waiting there, ready to go.

"Big Brother Newgate, stay safe on the way."

"Gurarara!"

"Don't worry, Carl. You're the one who needs to be careful."

Newgate wasn't worried. With his strength, unless two or more Admirals came after him at once, he could always choose to leave the battlefield first.

Newgate's ship left the port first.

"Stay safe."

"You too!"

At the port, Carl and Charlotte Linlin shared a deep embrace and looked at each other with concern.

Perhaps they weren't worried about running into danger so much as being unable to see each other for a while.

Being lovesick really was frightening.

Each of them set sail for their own destination.

As the ships slowly left the port, he wondered if he'd been too impatient ever since joining the Rocks Pirates. Why did it feel like he never had any time to stop and rest?

Or was the Rocks Pirates of the original story in the middle of a major expansion at this point?

Watching the port grow smaller in the distance, he put those thoughts aside and turned to walk into the cabin.