Codename "Gray Falcon," a CP0 member, leaned back on the simple bed. His white mask rested beside the pillow, revealing an unremarkable face underneath — a middle-aged man with brown hair and a few faint scars, the type who would disappear into a crowd.
His breathing was steady as he entered light sleep.
IBM · Mist seeped in through the door crack like real fog. The black particles were almost invisible under the moonlight.
It floated to the bedside. The arm formed from bandages hovered above Gray Falcon's forehead, palm facing his temple.
Meanwhile, in the castle study, Kaizer sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. His soul had already left his body through the Sheep Talisman and, following the connection with Mist, silently infiltrated Gray Falcon's dream.
The dream was a pure white space, like an unwritten archive room.
Gray Falcon stood inside it. Several floating light screens hovered in front of him, data scrolling across them: Totto Land's troop distribution map, estimated Seastone production, records of Linlin's pregnancy, analysis of Kaizer's abilities…
"Report progress." A majestic voice sounded in the dream — Gray Falcon's subconscious projection of his superior.
Gray Falcon stood at attention and reported in a rigid tone: "Target Charlotte Linlin has given birth to her second child, a daughter named Charlotte Compote. Target Kaizer's strength assessment has been upgraded. New abilities suspected to be soul-related. Totto Land's development is stable with no boundary violations so far."
"What about the Rio Poneglyphs?" the majestic voice asked.
"No physical objects discovered yet. However, according to intelligence, Charlotte Linlin came into contact with related clues during her time in the Rocks Pirates. We are currently investigating her collection and the castle's secret rooms."
Kaizer's soul observed from the edge of the dream, sneering inwardly. As expected, this was what they were after.
The Rio Poneglyphs — stone tablets recording the truth of the 100-Year Blank.
The World Government absolutely forbade anyone from deciphering them, let alone spreading them. Linlin had indeed encountered related information during the God Valley battle — Kaizer remembered that in the original story she later collected many rubbings — but he had already stored all of them in the system warehouse long ago.
Even if CP0 turned the entire castle upside down, they wouldn't find anything.
"Continue surveillance." the majestic voice said. "Focus on investigating Kaizer. This person was originally a Marine lieutenant. His behavior after defecting is abnormal and he is suspected of possessing unknown intelligence. If the opportunity arises… conduct tentative contact."
"Understood." Gray Falcon paused. "Additionally, Kaido has close ties with Totto Land and a Seastone trade channel has been established. Should we intervene?"
"Not for now. Maintain the status quo and continue recording."
The conversation continued. Kaizer silently memorized every piece of information. When Gray Falcon's dream began to fluctuate — a sign he was about to wake — Kaizer quietly withdrew.
His soul returned to his body. Kaizer opened his eyes.
Candlelight flickered in the study. Outside the window, the sky was beginning to brighten.
"Rio Poneglyphs… The World Government really is investigating this." he muttered. "Good thing I prepared early."
All the rubbings and clues collected from God Valley, Wano, and various other channels were safely stored in the system warehouse. With 100 cubic meters of space, there was more than enough room to hide many secrets.
But the potential threat from CP0 still existed. Tentative contact? That meant they might send someone disguised to approach, extract information, or even attempt assassination.
"Strength…" Kaizer clenched his fist. "It's still not enough."
If he had Kaido's physique, Linlin's talent, or Roger's Haki, why would he need to fear these rats in the gutter? He could just crush them directly.
But right now he was only at "Vice Admiral level" — and a specialized one at that. Relying on his undying body and Devil Fruit abilities, his true hard power was still far from the top tier.
He had to become stronger.
Much faster.
Morning, castle nursery.
Linlin sat cross-legged on the carpet — to her it was a carpet, to ordinary people it was the size of a small plaza. Compote lay in her arms, her tiny pink hand gripping her mother's finger.
Perospero bounced around beside them, using his Candy-Candy Fruit ability to shape various small animals to make his sister laugh.
"Mamama! Look! A rabbit!" Perospero waved his hand, and a clump of syrup formed into the shape of a rabbit. It hopped twice before dissolving again.
Compote opened her big eyes and giggled. The silver pattern on her forehead glowed faintly in the morning light, like a third eye.
Kaizer walked in and saw the scene. Something inside him softened.
In the original story, Charlotte Linlin treated her children more like possessions. Did she love them? Perhaps, but it was twisted and suffocating. But the Linlin before him now carefully held her children, clumsily hummed off-key lullabies, and laughed heartily when Perospero made a sugar rabbit.
His arrival had truly changed many things.
"Daddy!" Perospero rushed over, smearing syrup all over Kaizer's pants.
Kaizer ruffled his son's hair, walked to Linlin's side, and looked down at his daughter. Compote also looked at him, her silver pupils reflecting his face.
"She's very healthy." Linlin said, unconsciously lowering her voice. "Her soul fluctuation is very strong — even stronger than Perospero's when he was a baby."
"Like you." Kaizer said.
"Mamama! Of course she's like me!" Linlin grinned, but immediately lowered her voice again. "However… she seems to be able to sense other people's emotions. Yesterday when I was a little irritated, she cried. When I calmed down, she stopped crying."
Kaizer's heart stirred. With the innate soul mark plus the inheritance from Linlin's Soul-Soul Fruit, Compote's talent might be even higher than estimated.
"Linlin." he said. "Let's continue training."
Linlin looked up: "Now? Compote was only born a few days ago…"
"Not right now, but today." Kaizer said. "I need to become stronger. You also need to recover your condition. And…"
He looked out the window, toward the port district.
"Some flies are watching us. They aren't a threat for now, but I don't like it."
Linlin's expression darkened. She of course knew about the CP0 presence, but she had been busy taking care of the children lately and hadn't paid much attention.
"Mamama… you're right." She carefully placed Compote into the specially made crib — the crib was the size of an ordinary room, with railings around it and filled with soft cushions.
"Kurozumi Yoru! Kurozumi Semimaru!" she called toward the door.
The two old people entered at once. Yoru had returned to her original appearance — a stern old woman with a straight back like a blade. Semimaru was still hunched over, but his eyes were sharp.
"Protect my children well." Linlin said. "If Perospero loses even one hair, or if Compote cries even once, I'll turn both of you into specimens and hang you on the wall."
Yoru bowed: "Understood."
Semimaru simply nodded, but an invisible barrier had already expanded, covering the entire nursery.
Kaizer squatted down and looked at Perospero: "Daddy and Mommy are going to train. You're the big brother now — you have to take good care of your little sister, okay?"
Perospero puffed out his small chest: "Of course! She's my little sister!"
In that instant, Kaizer saw a certain light in his son's eyes — not childish innocence, but the sense of responsibility belonging to the eldest son of the Charlotte family.
"Good." Kaizer patted his shoulder, then turned and walked out of the room with Linlin.
The training ground was still the same training ground, but much larger than before — Linlin had complained it wasn't big enough and had the Homies expand it another fifty meters outward. The ground was paved with specially made stone slabs capable of withstanding even more violent impacts.
"Mamama! It's been so long since I stretched my muscles!" Linlin extended her massive body, her joints cracking like popping beans. "I was suffocating during pregnancy!"
Kaizer stood opposite her and took a deep breath.
With Soul Perception fully activated through the Sheep Talisman, he could "see" the enormous sun-like soul orb inside Linlin — blazing and violent, but with a warm area at its core, the gentleness brought by motherhood.
After Soul Affinity reached high-tier, his perception of souls became even sharper. He could even faintly sense Linlin's emotional fluctuations: excitement, anticipation, and a trace of… worry?
"Let's begin." Kaizer said. "Same as always — you attack first."
"Then I won't hold back!" Linlin grinned, her massive fist carrying the sound of wind as it came smashing forward.
She didn't use the Soul-Soul Fruit or Haki — just pure power and speed. Even so, this punch was strong enough to shatter a warship.
Kaizer didn't dodge.
Three IBMs appeared at the same time — Shadow on the left, Phantom on the right, Mist behind him. They raised their hands together. Armament Haki covered their palms, and the Ox Talisman's power flooded their arms. Four pairs of hands stacked together, meeting Linlin's fist head-on.
BOOM—!!!
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