"Hello, Lucas. I am Perospero, the eldest son of the Charlotte family…Kukuku"
A man with a candy cane in his hand, his long tongue curling in the air, greeted Lucas with a sly smile.
Perospero, the Candy Minister of the Big Mom Pirates, possessed the powers of a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit Lick-Lick Fruit. As one of the key figures within the Big Mom Pirates, he was deeply trusted by Big Mom herself. This time, he led the mission, bringing along his two younger sisters, Charlotte Pudding and Charlotte Galette, to negotiate the release of their captured brothers, Cracker and Katakuri.
"Come out, you two!"
Perospero's voice croaked like an old raven as he called for his sisters. Moments later, two young and beautiful women descended gracefully from the ship.
"Yes, it's them," Lucas muttered, giving the sisters a quick once-over. With a nod signaling that the inspection was complete, he waved for Katakuri and Cracker to be brought forward. "Alright, you can leave now!" Lucas said bluntly. "I've got more important things to handle, so I won't be entertaining you."
Katakuri turned to Lucas, his gaze deep and steady. "Our ship needs to be resupplied," he said. "And I have something to say to my sisters."
Lucas glanced at Katakuri, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Fair enough."
Katakuri pulled his two sisters aside, his expression growing serious. "I don't know what orders Mother gave you when she sent you here," he began, his voice low but firm. "But I suggest you abandon any reckless ideas."
Charlotte Galette chuckled lightly. "Brother Katakuri, what are you implying? We wouldn't dare go against Mother's orders."
Katakuri's gaze softened, but his tone remained earnest. "I know you fear Mother. But you're free now. Lucas is stronger than Big Mom. If you provoke him while carrying out Mother's mission, you won't survive to tell the tale."
Both Pudding and Galette's expressions shifted, the weight of his words settling in. They nodded solemnly, acknowledging his warning.
Katakuri hesitated for a brief moment before speaking again. "Lastly, I say this as your brother—if Lucas is willing to accept you, even if you betray the Charlotte family, you'll have my blessing."
At those words, Charlotte Pudding and Charlotte Galette's eyes grew misty, their emotions threatening to spill over. Katakuri continued, his voice softer now, but every word heavy with truth. "You know how it is. We might hold prestige outside, but in Mother's eyes, we're nothing more than disposable tools."
Katakuri let out a heavy sigh before turning to leave. His parting words, barely audible, floated in the air behind him. "As pirates, we've never truly had the freedom we deserve. But now... you do."
From a distance, Lucas, along with the spirits in his chat group, listened in on Katakuri's heartfelt conversation using his powerful Observation Haki.
Whitebeard: "Gurarararara! I never thought that crazy woman, Charlotte Linlin, could have a son so full of love and righteousness. If I were still alive, I'd find a way to make him my son."
Whitebeard held nothing but contempt for Charlotte Linlin. Both of their pirate crews operated under the guise of family, but the essence of their families couldn't be more different.
Charlotte Linlin's family was bound by blood, but that bond was superficial. Her children were nothing more than tools to be used and discarded at her convenience. In contrast, Whitebeard's family was forged through loyalty and love. His crewmates hailed from all corners of the world, unrelated by blood, yet closer than any real family. They were bound by a deep emotional connection, and Whitebeard would never allow harm to come to any of them. If one member faced danger, the whole crew would fight to the bitter end.
For a man like Whitebeard, who cherished his family above all else, he despised people like Charlotte Linlin who treated their family as mere pawns. To him, family was sacred—something to protect and cherish, never to harm or forsake.
Whitebeard had always believed that Linlin's children were as cold-blooded and cruel as their mother. But Katakuri proved to be the exception, urging his sisters to break free from their mother's grasp and find their own path.
Lucas: "Katakuri's a good man. That's why I've been so hard about recruiting him."
Once Katakuri finished his conversation with his sisters, Perospero and his group quickly restocked their supplies—food, fresh water, and long-lasting drinks—before hastily leaving the island.
Not long after, Lucas approached Charlotte Pudding and Charlotte Galette, a sly smile playing on his lips as he spoke. "You heard what Katakuri said, right? Now, tell me—what task did Charlotte Linlin send you here for?"
Charlotte Pudding forced a smile, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. "Lord Lucas, whatever do you mean? We don't understand."
Lucas's smile didn't falter as he nodded slowly. "I see. You're still afraid of Charlotte Linlin and haven't made up your minds yet. That's alright—I'll help you with that."
A strange unease crept over Pudding and Galette, though they couldn't quite pinpoint why.
Without another word, Lucas led them to a residence that had been prepared in advance. "You'll be living here from now on. You're free to do whatever you like."
There were no secrets in this place that Lucas cared to hide. Whatever Pudding and Galette might think or see, it didn't matter. Even if they reported everything back to Big Mom, they wouldn't have seen anything of true importance—nothing that could pose a threat.
In the Chat Group
Whitebeard asked curiously,
Whitebeard: "What are you doing, Lucas? I thought you were going to subdue those two?"
Lucas :"I am. But it takes a process to subdue them."
Golden Lion : "So troublesome? Just bring in the guy with the Op-Op Fruit and take care of them!"
Lucas : "That method isn't suitable for everyone. You can't just go around using it on everyone. I have my own unique way of dealing with these two girls."
Howard Stark: "Are you planning to sell them some high-tech dreams?"
Lucas : "It's not that exaggerated!"
Pirate King Roger : "Then what are you planning to do?"
Lucas grinned. "Just watch. You'll see how I make a clean break between them and Charlotte Linlin."
Over the next few days, Lucas began his subtle manipulation. He would visit Pudding and Galette's residence every few hours. Each time, he only stayed for a couple of minutes—never more than five. He'd enter with a cheerful smile but leave with an indifferent expression.
At first, he visited two or three times a day. But as days passed, his visits became less frequent. Soon, he wasn't visiting at all.
It wasn't long before Pudding and Galette received a call from Charlotte Linlin herself.
The moment they picked up, Big Mom's furious voice roared through the receiver, "What the hell are you two doing? I sent you there to get close to Lucas and gather information. But instead, your relationship with him is growing colder! What's going on?"
Pudding and Galette were stunned. Estranged? They hadn't even realized it.
But as they thought back over Lucas's behavior in recent days, the pieces fell into place.
At first, Lucas had shown great interest in them, visiting frequently. But their cold, distant reception had made his visits brief. Eventually, his interest seemed to wane, and he stopped coming altogether.
The more they pieced it together, the clearer it became: Lucas had been playing them.
What they had dismissed as meaningless encounters had been part of a larger scheme all along.
Big Mom continued berating them, her voice laced with venomous threats. "You better get your act together! Win Lucas's favor, get close to him—become his confidants! That's the only way to get the information I need. If you can't even do that, what use are you to me?"
And then came the chilling ultimatum: "If you fail, you'll regret it. Don't you dare disappoint me!"
When the call ended, Pudding and Galette sat in silence, their resentment toward Big Mom reaching a boiling point.
In the past, they had never dared to voice their frustrations. But now, far from Totto Land and their mother's oppressive grip, the bitterness surfaced.
Just as they began venting their frustrations, Lucas appeared beside them, his smile calm but knowing.
"So, have you figured it out yet?" he asked casually.
Pudding and Galette jumped, startled by his sudden appearance. When they saw it was Lucas, they sighed in defeat.
"You set us up, didn't you?" Pudding muttered bitterly. "You've made our lives miserable."
Lucas shook his head with a mock sigh. "How can you say that? I'm helping you. I've opened your eyes to who Charlotte Linlin really is. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"
His smile widened as he continued, "Think about it. If it weren't for me, Big Mom wouldn't be blaming you like this. But more importantly—did she ever ask for your side of the story? Did she even care to know the truth?"
The sisters fell silent, his words hitting their mark.
"Charlotte Linlin sent you to spy on me," Lucas continued smoothly, "but when things didn't go as planned, did she even pause to consider your perspective? No. She just scolded you, assuming the worst."
He let that sink in before adding, "Do you really think she values your intelligence reports? If she won't trust you with simple information, why would she trust you with anything important?"
Pudding and Galette exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions darkening.
Lucas pressed on, his voice soft but insistent. "To her, you're not family. You're tools—nothing more. And when tools stop being useful, they get discarded."
He looked them over thoughtfully before speaking again. "You two are beautiful, but unfortunately, you're Charlotte Linlin's daughters. And you know exactly what that means for your future."
Lucas sighed dramatically, his tone dripping with sympathy. "It doesn't matter if you love someone or not. In Big Mom's eyes, you're just pawns for political marriages. That's why you're here in the first place—to be used as bargaining chips."
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Have you ever thought about what would've happened if you'd never met me? As long as there's a powerful pirate willing to pledge loyalty to her, she'll marry you off—no matter what. Tall, short, fat, thin, ugly, handsome—none of it matters. You don't have the right to refuse."
The sisters' faces grew increasingly pale as the truth settled over them like a suffocating blanket.
Lucas smiled coldly. "If you're lucky, maybe you'll marry someone you like. But even then, your future will be miserable. Because the moment Big Mom finds someone more valuable, she'll replace your husband. She'll remarry you as many times as it takes to strengthen her alliances."
He straightened up, his gaze piercing. "After all, daughters are limited, but powerful pirates are endless. To maximize the value of each daughter, she'll marry you off repeatedly—to different men, for different deals. That's how she expands her influence."
Pudding could take no more. She covered her ears and shouted, "Enough! Stop talking!"
But Lucas wasn't finished. His expression grew serious, his voice firm and resolute.
"So, now that you know the truth—what do you want to do?" he asked, his eyes locking onto theirs. "Stay with me, and I'll give you something Charlotte Linlin never could—the right to choose."
His words hung heavy in the air.
"With me, you'll finally have the freedom you've always dreamed of. The freedom to live your life on your own terms. Knowledge, insight, wisdom, art—they'll all be yours. You'll no longer be tools in someone else's game."
For a long moment, Pudding and Galette said nothing. The weight of his offer loomed over them like a tidal wave.
Finally, they exchanged a glance, their decision clear in their eyes.
"We agree," they said in unison.
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