Totto Land's port was packed with people.
When Linlin jumped down from the ship holding Perospero — the landing still shook the wooden pier with a loud creak — the waiting Longbread and islanders let out simultaneous gasps.
"Linlin!" Longbread pushed through the crowd and ran over. His short stature made him look like a doll at Linlin's feet. "You… you really gave birth?!"
"Mamama! Of course!" Linlin proudly lifted the baby in her arms. "Look! My son! Charlotte Perospero!"
Longbread looked up at the nearly one-meter-long infant. The baby was staring around with big curious eyes, his tiny hands grabbing at the air. The old chef was silent for two seconds, then muttered, "This… is bigger than a newborn giant tribe child…"
"Of course!" Linlin brought the baby closer to Longbread. "Touch him! So sturdy!"
Longbread tentatively poked the baby's arm — the skin felt hard as steel underneath. He pinched the baby's cheek. The infant giggled, drool dripping onto his hand.
"…Little monster," Longbread finally commented, but there was no malice in his tone. "His vitality is terrifyingly strong."
"Naturally!" Linlin pulled the baby back and looked around. "Where's Kaizer? Kaizer!"
Kaizer was walking down from the ship, followed by two guards escorting a little girl tightly bound in Seastone chains. Kozuki Hiyori kept her head down, her green hair messy, with tear stains and dried blood on her face.
Longbread's gaze was immediately drawn. "This is…"
"War spoils," Kaizer said shortly. "Kozuki Oden's daughter."
He walked up to Longbread and lowered his voice: "Her mother was the Time-Time Fruit user. She tried to escape, so I killed her. Keeping the child… might be useful later."
Longbread narrowed his eyes. His sharp gaze swept over Hiyori, then back to Kaizer. "What about the Roger Pirates…"
"We saw their ships heading toward Wano when we left," Kaizer said. "Kaido will probably have a headache for a while. But it has nothing to do with us — we fulfilled our promise, and the payment will arrive on schedule."
Longbread nodded, but his expression remained serious: "What about the Time-Time Fruit?"
Kaizer didn't speak. He simply took out the silver-white fruit from his storage space. The gear-like patterns gleamed strangely under the sunlight, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Longbread sucked in a sharp breath.
"You…" He stared at the fruit, then looked up at Kaizer. "You killed the user and took the fruit…"
"She tried to run," Kaizer stored the fruit away. "Besides, this fruit is too dangerous. Better in our hands than in someone else's."
Longbread was silent for a long time. Finally, he sighed: "You're right. But this can't leak out — especially not to the Roger Pirates. If they find out we have the Time-Time Fruit and Oden's daughter…"
"So we keep it secret," Kaizer looked at Hiyori. "Arrange a place for her to stay and assign guards. Don't mistreat her, but don't let her contact outsiders either."
Longbread nodded: "Leave it to me."
He turned and waved. Several long-armed guards came over. Longbread gave them quiet instructions, and they led Hiyori away. The little girl kept her head down the entire time, neither resisting nor speaking.
After handling Hiyori, Longbread looked back at Kaizer and studied him up and down.
"You kid…" He narrowed his eyes. "You came back stronger. Your aura is completely different."
Kaizer smiled: "Just lucky."
"Lucky?" Longbread scoffed. "Your aura is almost on par with mine now. Linlin trained you pretty hard, huh?"
"To be able to protect her," Kaizer said, looking at Linlin, who was being surrounded by the islanders. She was proudly showing off Perospero to everyone, laughing like a child.
Longbread stared at Kaizer for a few seconds, then grinned: "Alright. As long as you have that mindset, it's good."
He patted Kaizer's arm: "We'll have a banquet tonight. To celebrate your safe return, Perospero's birth, and Totto Land securing the Seastone supply."
"Good," Kaizer nodded. "Remember to bring out that barrel of good wine you've been hiding."
"I know, I know!" Longbread waved his hand and headed toward the kitchen. "Twenty-year-aged! Strong stuff!"
That night, Totto Land was brightly lit.
Long tables filled the square in front of the castle. The islanders — humans, long-armed tribe, fish-men, giants — sat together. Longbread had personally cooked dozens of dishes using the latest harvest. In the center was a three-tier celebration cake.
Linlin sat at the head seat, holding Perospero in her arms. The baby had already fallen asleep, but Linlin refused to put him down. With one hand cradling the child, she used the other to gnaw on an entire roasted suckling pig.
Kaizer sat beside her. The food in front of him was barely touched. He was observing — watching the islanders' moods, the guards' condition, and the changes in Totto Land over the past month.
Everything was going well.
The fields had a bountiful harvest. The sugar factory was in production. Children's voices reading aloud came from the schoolhouse. New fishing boats were docked at the port. The islanders had smiles on their faces — the smiles of people living in peace, not forced ones.
"Mamama! Everyone eat!" Linlin stood up — the movement silenced the square for a second. "From today onward, Totto Land will only get better! We will have more food! Bigger houses! More family members!"
She raised her wine cup — a vessel the size of a normal household water jar.
"To Totto Land — cheers!"
"To Totto Land—!" The islanders responded in unison.
Amid the cheers, Longbread walked over carrying a small wooden barrel. The barrel was old, its seal cracked and dry, but when opened, the rich wine aroma made everyone's spirits rise.
"Twenty-year-aged," Longbread poured three cups — a basin for Linlin, a large cup for Kaizer, and a small one for himself. "Come, let's celebrate!"
The three clinked their cups.
The wine burned like fire going down the throat. Kaizer felt a hot current spread from his stomach to every limb. Even the Ox Talisman's power became more active.
"Good wine!" Linlin downed her portion in one gulp and smacked her lips. "Got any more?"
"Just this one barrel!" Longbread said painfully. "Drink it slowly!"
The three sat down. Linlin continued gnawing on the roasted pig. Longbread sipped his wine slowly. Kaizer looked out toward the distant sea.
"What are you thinking about?" Longbread asked.
"About the future," Kaizer said. "The Seastone supply starts arriving next month. How should we use it? Sell it directly? Or process it into weapons?"
Longbread thought for a moment: "Process it. Seastone weapons sell for three times the price of raw materials on the black market. Plus, we can use them ourselves — it'll be convenient against Devil Fruit users in the future."
Linlin chimed in: "Mamama! I want a pair of Seastone gauntlets! Let's see which ability user dares to act arrogant in front of me!"
"Possible," Kaizer nodded. "But we need the technology. Wano's craftsmen…"
"We can snatch a few over," Linlin said matter-of-factly.
Kaizer chuckled: "Let's wait until the situation stabilizes. Snatching people from Wano right now would be slapping Kaido in the face."
"Mamama! True!"
The banquet continued late into the night. The islanders ate and drank their fill before gradually heading home. In the end, only Kaizer, Linlin, Longbread, and a few Homies cleaning up remained in the square.
Perospero woke up and reached for the moon in Linlin's arms, babbling.
"This kid…" Longbread looked at the baby with a complicated expression. "He's going to be very strong in the future, right?"
"Of course!" Linlin said proudly. "My children will naturally be the strongest!"
Longbread turned to Kaizer: "What about you? Any plans?"
Kaizer was silent for a moment.
"Get stronger," he said. "Keep getting stronger. Armament Haki needs to reach full-body hardening. Observation Haki needs to predict the future. Conqueror's Haki… also needs to awaken."
He paused.
"And have more children. Perospero's birth boosted my strength quite a bit. If every future child can bring similar growth…"
He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.
Longbread nodded: "Alright. Tell me if you need any resources. Totto Land's foundation is still thin, but it will improve gradually."
He stood up and patted his rear: "I'm going to sleep. You two should rest early too."
The short chef walked away unsteadily.
Only Kaizer and Linlin — and the baby in her arms — remained in the square.
The night wind blew, carrying the scent of the sea.
"Kaizer," Linlin suddenly said.
"Hm?"
"The Time-Time Fruit…" She looked at him. "You really aren't going to eat it?"
Kaizer shook his head: "It's not suitable for me. Besides, I already have my ability."
"Then who's it for?" Linlin tilted her head. "Longbread? He already has the Food-Food Fruit, so eating another wouldn't help. Perospero? He's still too young…"
"Keep it for now," Kaizer said. "There might be a more suitable person later. Or… it can be used as a bargaining chip."
Linlin thought for a moment and nodded: "Mamama! Whatever you say!"
She stood up, holding the baby in one arm and pulling Kaizer with the other: "Let's go! Time for bed! Starting tomorrow, I'm going to teach Perospero how to use Haki!"
Kaizer laughed: "He's only one month old…"
"So what? Start training early!" Linlin said righteously.
The two walked back to the castle.
Under the moonlight, Totto Land's flag fluttered at the top of the castle.
In a secret room deep beneath the castle, Kozuki Hiyori curled up in the corner. Seastone chains gleamed coldly on her wrists.
Sounds of the banquet drifted in from outside — laughter, singing, clinking cups.
Those sounds were distant, like they belonged to another world.
Hiyori hugged her knees and buried her face in her arms.
She didn't cry.
Her tears had already run dry.
Now there was only one emotion in her heart —
Hatred.
A few days later, Totto Land returned to normal operations.
Kaizer resumed training. The Ox Talisman's power needed fine control. Conqueror's Haki needed an opportunity to awaken. Armament and Observation Haki still required further improvement.
Linlin entered a dual "child-rearing and training" mode. During the day she taught Perospero — even though the baby couldn't understand anything, she enjoyed it immensely. At night she sparred with Kaizer, beating him half to death in the training ground.
Longbread was busy managing internal affairs. The first batch of Seastone arrived on schedule, and he immediately organized craftsmen to research processing techniques. The sugar factory's second batch of products was also ready and traded through underground merchants for much-needed grain and building materials.
Totto Land was developing steadily.
But peace is always short-lived.
One morning half a month later, while Kaizer was practicing Armament Haki hardening in the training ground, Shadow suddenly emerged from the shadows.
"Master," its voice carried rare solemnity. "An unidentified fleet has been spotted at sea. Five warships flying the World Government flag."
Kaizer's movements stopped.
"Distance?"
"Twenty nautical miles, approaching," Shadow said. "The lead warship has a high-energy reaction… at least Vice Admiral candidate level."
Kaizer withdrew his Haki and headed toward the castle.
What was coming had finally arrived.
When he pushed open the castle doors, Linlin was eating breakfast while holding Perospero. Seeing his expression, she put down her fork.
"What's wrong?"
"The World Government is here," Kaizer said. "Five warships, led by a Vice Admiral candidate."
Linlin grinned.
"Mamama! They finally came! I thought they had forgotten about me!"
She stood up and handed the baby to a nearby Homie nanny.
"Let's go." She cracked her knuckles. "Let's see what those government dogs want."
Kaizer nodded and followed behind her.
As the two headed toward the port, Longbread ran out from the kitchen, still holding a spatula.
"I'm coming too!" he said. "When it comes to negotiation, I'm better than both of you."
Linlin laughed: "Mamama! Good! Let's go together!"
The three walked side by side toward the port.
In the morning light, five white warships had already stopped offshore. On the bow of the central ship stood a tall man wearing a Justice coat.
His gaze swept across Totto Land, across the port, and finally landed on Linlin and Kaizer.
Then he spoke. His voice was amplified by a Den Den Mushi and echoed across the entire island:
"Charlotte Linlin, and… former Marine Lieutenant Kaizer."
"The World Government has business to discuss."
Kaizer narrowed his eyes.
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