The Big Mom Pirates Submit

Someone opened their mouth, but no sound came out. Linlin's gaze swept over them, and they all closed their mouths again. Her gaze finally landed on Katakuri.

"Go tell the Uchiha people," she said, "The Big Mom Pirates accept the terms of submission."

Katakuri lowered his head slightly. He turned and walked out, and as he reached the door, Linlin spoke again from behind. She added a sentence, her voice softer than before.

"Katakuri."

He stopped and turned around.

"Let those who don't want to stay go. Don't stop them. They've followed me for so many years; in the end, let them choose for themselves."

Katakuri looked at her for a moment, then nodded.

"I understand, Mom."

Katakuri walked out of the castle, his steps slower than when he went in.

He walked down the cream-paved steps, his scarf covering the lower half of his face, revealing only his eyes.

His gaze swept past the scattered ships in the harbor and landed on the array of people in greyish-white uniforms on the shore.

Yashiro remained standing in the same spot, his hands behind his back, as if he hadn't moved at all.

Tekka stood beside him, head down, fiddling with the hilt of his sword, while Taoho and Qi whispered something a little further away.

Katakuri walked up to Yashiro and stopped a step away.

"The Big Mom Pirates accept the conditions of submission."

Yashiro glanced at him. "Your mother's decision?"

"My mother's decision," Katakuri said. "She asked me to convey it."

Yashiro didn't press further, but simply nodded slightly, as if he had expected this outcome.

He lowered his hands from behind his back, turned his head to Taoho behind him, and said, "Make a note of this. The Big Mom Pirates the Totto Land Waters submit."

Taoho pulled a thin booklet from his sleeve, opened a page, and wrote a few lines with a charcoal pencil. The sound of the pencil tip gliding across the paper was very soft, but it was exceptionally clear on the quiet shore.

"Where's the ship?" Yashiro looked at Katakuri again.

Katakuri slightly. "What ship?"

"Your ships," said Yashiro. "All the ships from Totto Land, big and small, how many there are, where they are moored, and who is in charge of them—all of this needs to be registered."

Those willing to join the Earthly Chief Guard will be enlisted along with their ships. Those unwilling to stay will have their ships transferred to the Uchiha Clan, but they may leave.

He paused, "But now that your mother has made this decision, there shouldn't be anyone else on your side who wants to leave, right?"

Katakuri did not answer immediately.

He remained silent for a few moments, then spoke.

"Most of the officers won't leave. I'm not sure about the crew, but I can ask."

"Ask away," Yashiro said. "Give me the list before dark. It should include who wants to stay and who doesn't want to leave."

Katakuri nodded and turned to walk back. He stopped halfway and turned back. "Mr. Yashiro."

The Yashiro tilted his head slightly.

"No one in Totto Land will rebel." Katakuri's voice was flat and even. "Mother has made her decision. In Totto Land, Mother's word is law. If she says to submit, then to submit. No one will dare to do anything foolish."

Yashiro looked at him for a moment. "Are you saying this to me, or to yourself?"

Katakuri's gaze shifted, but he didn't respond.

He simply lowered his head slightly, then turned and went up the steps back into the castle.

Yashiro watched his figure disappear behind the doorway of the cream-colored building before turning her gaze away.

"Do you think what he said is true?" Tekka asked from the side, still fiddling with the hilt of his knife.

"Really," Yashiro said. "He's not the kind of person who lies about things like this. If he says no one will resist, then no one will resist."

Tekka turned the hilt of his sword once and then sheathed it.

"That saves me trouble. I was thinking that if someone caused trouble, it would be a good opportunity to stretch my muscles."

Yashiro did not respond.

He looked up and glanced at the harbor.

The crew members of the Big Mom Pirates were still standing there, huddled together in small groups, whispering to each other.

Some people were pale, some had their heads down so their expressions were hard to see, and a few were huddled together, as if supporting each other.

They dared not speak loudly, but their unease was palpable in their posture and gestures.

Occasionally, someone would steal a glance at the shore, but their eyes would immediately dart back to the Night Owl Guard in their greyish-white uniforms.

Not long after, Katakuri reappeared.

This time, he was followed by a group of officials.

Perospero walked at the front, his lollipop replaced with a new one, his lips tightly pursed, his expression as if he hadn't quite swallowed his last breath, but he didn't say anything more.

Smoothie followed behind him, carrying her longsword, and showed no particular reaction as her gaze swept across the shore.

Cracker at the very back of the line, his head always down.

Katakuri walked up to Yashiro, took a stack of papers from Perospero, and handed them over.

"The list includes basic information on officers and key crew members. The number of ships, their berthing locations, and affiliations are also clearly stated. As for the remaining ordinary crew members, there are too many to list individually, so I've compiled a list of the personnel for each ship."

Yashiro took the stack of papers, flipped through them, and handed them to Taoho behind him. Taoho glanced at them, checked a few lines against the booklet, and nodded to Yashiro.

"Alright," said the Yashiro. "From now on, those ships in the port will be under the control of the Uchiha Clan. Your people can continue to stay on the ships, but their belongings cannot be touched. Once the reorganization plan is finalized, we'll arrange them as needed."

Perospero opened his mouth as if to say something, but Katakuri glanced at him from the side and he shut his mouth.

"And one more thing," Yashiro's gaze swept over everyone present, "I'll send someone to confirm with your mothers in person. It's not that I don't trust you, it's just a matter of procedure. Only when she personally agrees will this matter be considered settled."

Katakuri nodded. "Mom is waiting in the castle."

Yashiro tilted his head and said to Kei, "Go and explain the reorganization plan to her, and see if she has anything to say."

Qi responded and walked towards the castle.

He walked slowly, and the pale golden sunlight streamed through the gaps in the cream-colored buildings, falling on his gray-white uniform.

After Kai left, Yashiro turned to the last page of the list, pointed to a line and said to Katakuri, "It says here that more than 70% of the low- and mid-level crew members of Totto Land were lost in the Imu wave."

Of the remaining people, not many could fight, but quite a few could do the work.

After being assigned to the Earthly Chief Guard, most of them will not go to the front lines, but will stay in the local area of Totto Land to patrol the ports and protect the trade routes.

Go back and tell them, so they know what's going on.