"Woohoo…"
In an unknown sea in the New World, high above the ocean—thousands of meters in the sky—on the enormous floating fortress Atlantis, two days had passed since the negotiations with the Five Elders had concluded.
After returning to Totto Land and arranging various matters, El took a small group of the Fallen Angel Pirates, including Linlin, and set off toward Wano Country.
"Mama~ma, Streusen's desserts are still the softest and most delicious compared to the ones outside," Linlin said with delight.
In the dreamland, where bubbles floated through the air, she sat on an oversized swing. With a big smile, she accepted the pastries delivered by a Homie servant.
Holding two massive desserts, one in each hand, she happily enjoyed her snacks. Suddenly, she looked toward El, who was lounging on a Bubble Homie not far away, and asked, "By the way, El-oniichan, about your negotiations with the World Government… didn't they offer too little?"
"Compared to what we gained before, it does feel like less," El admitted with a shrug, chuckling lightly. "But that's to be expected. They're already wary of us and won't cave so easily anymore."
"Besides, the priority right now is to secure enough time for Totto Land to stabilize and grow. Everything else is secondary," he added with a gentle smile, reaching out to affectionately ruffle Linlin's hair. "And Linlin, you need time to grow too, so you can become my true right hand."
Under the agreement reached with the World Government:
The 200+ Celestial Dragons abducted by the Fallen Angel Pirates would be released over five years.
A ransom of 5 billion berries per Celestial Dragon, payable only in gold.
A total of 50 Devil Fruits would be delivered, including one Mythical Zoan or Logia Fruit per year.
The World Government would immediately release all Hell Trading Company personnel in custody and agree not to interfere with or suppress the operations of the Hell Trading Company in its member nations or affiliated territories.
The Navy would be forbidden from attacking, intercepting, or detaining ships flying Totto Land's flag, and no fleet or force would be permitted to invade Totto Land's waters or islands.
These terms ensured the Fallen Angel Pirates wouldn't face unnecessary interference in the coming years, allowing Totto Land to grow stronger.
As for trouble-seeking pirates, they posed little threat. If they encountered difficult enemies that Rock, Moss, Stussy, or Hajrudin couldn't handle, other top crew members like Linlin, Alfar, the Lady Demon Irma, or Cyril Oka could step in without El needing to intervene.
The World Government's willingness to allow the Hell Trading Company to operate freely was primarily driven by concerns over possible attacks on their Heavenly Tribute transport ships.
As part of the agreement, the Fallen Angel Pirates promised not to explicitly or covertly attack World Government-affiliated vessels or naval fleets.
With both sides wary of each other's power, they established a tenuous understanding, ensuring a "honeymoon period" of peace.
That said, El wasn't naïve enough to believe conflicts wouldn't arise. Minor skirmishes were inevitable but acceptable, as long as they didn't escalate beyond certain limits.
"Mhm! El-oniichan, I'll do my best!" Linlin beamed, her crescent-shaped eyes sparkling with determination.
She took another bite of her cake, then handed the rest to El. "Do you want to share?"
"You…" El pinched her cheek with a chuckle before taking a bite.
"Heehee…" Linlin closed her crescent-shaped eyes, grinning with satisfaction.
"Linlin, that's not fair! I want some too!"
A towering figure approached with a smile—it was Gerd, whose growing belly and slightly plump frame made her look a bit more rotund than before.
As a giant, Gerd extended her massive hands and gently lifted Linlin as if holding a child, a smile lighting up her face. The Sun Homie Prometheus and Thundercloud Homie Zeus hovered around her like playful children, their expressions just as cheerful as they followed at her side.
"Gerd, you're awake..."
El greeted her warmly, noticing her refreshed and relaxed demeanor after waking up.
It was worth mentioning that, thanks to the powers of her Soul-Soul Fruit, Gerd had ensured her unborn babies absorbed ample nutrients from her body. In just over a month, her pregnancy was already showing.
Dr. Kureha had even confirmed that she was carrying twins—a boy and a girl.
El, with his unique ability to sense, could "hear" the two vibrant lives growing within Gerd. Their energy was far stronger than that of ordinary fetuses, a sign of their exceptional health.
"Damn you, Gerd! How dare you get pregnant before me!" Linlin pouted, crossing her arms as she glanced at Gerd's prominent belly.
Turning her head away with a huff, she stuck out her tongue and made a silly face.
"Linlin, no need to be jealous. One day, you'll be pregnant too."
Gerd's eyes sparkled with amusement. She chuckled and said, "And don't forget, we agreed that our children would have two mothers. You'll be their 'Mommy Linlin' too."
"Hmph, who's jealous? Mommy Linlin? Then that makes you Mommy Gerd!" Linlin huffed in mock annoyance but couldn't hide the grin tugging at her lips.
Unable to resist, she reached out and gently touched Gerd's belly, her expression softening with curiosity. "How much longer until the babies are born?"
She had been utterly amazed—and slightly envious—when Dr. Kureha announced Gerd was carrying twins.
"About five more months," Gerd replied, patting her belly with a tender smile. "Though I could use my powers to speed up their growth, Dr. Kureha advised against it. She says it's best to let them stay in the womb for at least six months."
"So from pregnancy to birth, it only takes half a year? That's so fast!" Linlin's eyes sparkled with envy.
Ordinarily, pregnancies lasted ten months, and for giants, it was likely even longer. But Gerd was already halfway through in record time.
"Twice as fast as normal, I'd say," Gerd laughed, her eyes narrowing into a smile.
"Hehe, that means I'll get to meet the babies soon and become Mommy Linlin!" Linlin's earlier irritation vanished without a trace.
Hugging Gerd's belly, she broke into a bright, innocent smile, her excitement overflowing. "I can't wait!"
"Alright, Linlin, Gerd, you two settle down. Don't jostle the babies," El said with a chuckle.
Seeing the two women so close and playfully teasing each other, he couldn't help but smile warmly. However, he gently reminded them not to get carried away.
Turning his attention, El addressed Streusen, who had just emerged from the colossal castle that served as both kitchen and navigation hub. "Streusen, how much longer until we reach Wano?"
Although much of Totto Land's palace had been relocated to Cake Island with the help of Saul, El had kept one large castle aboard Atlantis as his residence.
With plans to rebuild and expand Cake Island, constructing another massive castle wouldn't be a problem. For now, having a comfortable base aboard Atlantis was more convenient.
"Based on our current progress, El-sama, we should arrive in about two or three hours," Streusen replied respectfully.
Dressed in his chef's uniform, he couldn't help but marvel at the imposing yet charismatic Lunarian youth before him.
Although Streusen had seen El's potential early on and chosen to follow him, he still found it surreal. In such a short time, El had not only established the sprawling Totto Land Kingdom but had also forced the mighty World Government into a corner—so much so that they begrudgingly paid a hefty ransom to avoid further trouble.
"It's truly unbelievable," Streusen thought to himself, awestruck by the transformation of the boy he once knew.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!