“Woohoo…”

  In an unknown sea in the New World, high above the o—thousands of meters in the sky—on the enormous floating fortress Atntis, two days had passed sihe iations with the Five Elders had cluded.

  After returning to Totto Land and arranging various matters, El took a small group of the Fallen Angel Pirates, including Linlin, a off toward Wano try.

  “Mama~ma, Streusen’s desserts are still the softest and most delicious pared to the ones outside,” Linlin said with delight.

  In the dreamnd, 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-onii, about yotiations with the Wover… didn’t they offer too little?”

  “pared to what we gained before, it does feel like less,” El admitted with a shrug, chug 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 sedary,” he added with a gentle smile, reag out to affeately ruffle Linlin’s hair. “And Linlin, you ime to grow too, so you bey true right hand.”

  Uhe agreement reached with the Wover:

  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 ohical Zoan ia Fruit per year.

  The Wover would immediately release all Hell Trading pany personnel in custody and agree not to interfere with or suppress the operations of the Hell Trading pany in its member nations or affiliated territories.

  The Navy would be forbidden from attag, intercepting, or detaining ships flying Totto Land’s fg, and no fleet or force would be permitted to ito Land’s waters or isnds.

  These terms ehe Fallen Angel Pirates wouldn’t fanecessary interferen the ing years, allowing Totto Land to grow stronger.

  As for trouble-seeking pirates, they posed little threat. If they entered difficult ehat Rock, Moss, Stussy, or Hajrudin couldn’t haher top crew members like Linlin, Alfar, the Lady Demon Irma, or Cyril Oka could step in without El needing to intervene.

  The Wover’s willio allow the Hell Trading pany to operate freely rimarily driven by s 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 Wover-affiliated vessels or naval fleets.

  With both sides wary of each other’s power, they established a tenuous uanding, ensuring a “honeymoon period” of peace.

  That said, El wasn’t na?ve enough to believe flicts wouldn’t arise. Minor skirmishes were iable but acceptable, as long as they dide beyoain limits.

  “Mhm! El-onii, I’ll do my best!” Linlin beamed, her crest-shaped eyes sparkling with determination.

  She took another bite of her cake, then hahe rest to El. “Do you want to share?”

  “You…” El pinched her cheek with a chuckle before taking a bite.

  “Heehee…” Linlin closed her crest-shaped eyes, grinning with satisfa.

  “Linlin, that’s not fair! I want some too!”

  A t 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 aly 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 pyful children, their expressions just as cheerful as they followed at her side.

  "Gerd, you're awake..."

  El greeted her warmly, notig her refreshed and rexed 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 firmed 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 strohan 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 g Gerd’s promi belly.

  Turning her head away with a huff, she stuck out her tongue and made a silly face.

  "Linlin, o be jealous. One day, you’ll be pregnant too."

  Gerd’s eyes sparkled with amusement. She chuckled and said, "And don’t fet, 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 monoya couldn’t hide the grin tugging at her lips.

  Uo resist, she reached out aly 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 frnancy to birth, it only takes half a year? That’s so fast!" Linlin’s eyes sparkled with envy.

  Ordinarily, pregnaed ten months, and fiants, it was likely even longer. But Gerd was already halfway through in record time.

  "Twice as fast as normal, I’d say," Gerd ughed, her eyes narrowing into a smile.

  "Hehe, that means I’ll get to meet the babies soon and beommy Linlin!" Linlin’s earlier irritation vanished without a trace.

  Hugging Gerd’s belly, she broke into a bright, i smile, her excitement overflowing. "I ’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 pyfully teasing each other, he couldn’t help but smile warmly. However, he gently remihem not to get carried away.

  Turning his attention, El addressed Streusen, who had just emerged from the colossal castle that served as both kit and navigation hub. "Streusen, how much longer until we reach Wano?"

  Although much of Totto Land’s pace had been relocated to Cake Isnd with the help of Saul, El had kept e castle aboard Atntis as his residence.

  With pns to rebuild and expand Cake Isnd, strug another massive castle wouldn’t be a problem. For now, having a fortable base aboard Atntis was more ve.

  "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 imposi charismatiarian 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 oablished the sprawling Totto Land Kingdom but had also forced the mighty Wover into a er—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 onew.

  Bleam