Choosing Wano's Candidate; Meeting Again / A Conversation with the Straw Hats; Robin Speaks of Hope

Dongze frowned but did not press the matter. The Straw Hat Pirates would arrive soon anyway, and history would probably stay on course. Big Mom might even chase them out to sea. With the Totto Land Kingdom's central figure gone, spreading his ideas would be much easier.

"I hear you've captured the Straw Hat Pirates' cook?"

After a brief hesitation, Smoothie told him what her mother had planned.

"Yes. Mom wants to gain the power of Germa 66!"

Dongze chuckled and glanced at her.

"Heh. At least you're honest!"

Smoothie gave a rueful smile.

"What good would hiding it do in front of you?"

"Once the Straw Hat Pirates leave, you can put people to work on it. Charlotte Linlin will almost certainly go after them. You could choose to stay behind."

Smoothie froze. Dongze's words had left her baffled.

"What do you mean, sir?"

At some point, Dongze had turned toward the window. Silver light shone in his eyes, and a mysterious aura lingered around them.

Smoothie looked up and caught sight of his eyes. She shuddered involuntarily. They were terrifying. Beneath that gaze, she felt as though she had been stripped bare, standing there without a single secret left in her heart.

An inexplicable feeling rose in her, too: he seemed to have seen the future. That was far more frightening than her brother's ability. Katakuri could see only a short way ahead, while this man seemed to have seen years, perhaps even decades, into the future.

"Exactly what I said. The Straw Hat Pirates aren't as strong as the Big Mom Pirates yet, but they won't meet their end here. With a little help from someone behind the scenes, your mother will chase them across the seas. When that happens, you can choose to stay."

After