— — — — — —
Half a month later.
Splash!
In the waters of the New World, silence was shattered as a ship burst out of the deep sea, breaking through its coating with a loud pop.
"Hah—finally back," Oven sighed deeply, his voice filled with emotion.
Opera nodded in agreement. "Yes, we've returned to the New World at last."
Both were overcome with emotion.
After all, this was where they had grown up.
Despite the dangers of the New World, it was still home.
Tap! Tap!
Footsteps approached from behind. Joey's gentle voice broke the moment, "Save the nostalgia for later. This New Year will be the first time in ages that the entire family gathers."
"Big brother!" the two turned, stepping aside to let Joey through, followed by their younger siblings.
Joey walked to the bow of the ship, gazing out at the horizon with a smile. "New World, we're back."
"Set sail!"
"Destination: Elbaf Village!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
With Joey's command, the ship moved again, speeding across the ocean toward its destination.
— — —
Elbaf's Warrior Village
Watching the distant ship draw closer, Elder Jarul fell silent.
The Charlotte Family was back.
What could this mean for them? Jarul understood all too well.
'Sigh.' He exhaled deeply, mumbling, "This is all for the betterment of the Giants."
He shook his head, suppressing his thoughts. He couldn't afford to let even the slightest hint of hesitation slip.
Facing Joey, a shrewd man, even a momentary lapse could be fatal.
Soon, the ship docked.
Joey stepped off the ship, his hands in his pockets, his coat billowing dramatically in the wind.
He stopped ten meters from Jarul, his smile unyielding. "Elder Jarul, I've returned with Dorry and Brogy of the Giant Warrior Pirates. Are you ready to honor your end of the deal?"
Jarul suppressed his fury. He had once wanted to kill Linlin, and now Joey filled him with the same frustration.
The Charlotte Family had always been a thorn in the Giants' side. Despite the grievances they'd caused, they remained untouchable.
Jarul waved his hand, summoning a group of young Giants, all just children.
Watching the crowd of small, round-faced children, Joey's lips curled into an amused smile.
"Interesting."
Jarul was cunning, even for a Giant. He knew the Charlotte Family wouldn't last forever. Maybe just 30 or 40 years, right?
In a century, as their power waned, these children would mature into formidable warriors loyal to the Giants, not the Charlotte Family.
It was a clever strategy.
But Joey had his own plans. Training adult Giants to submit would have been a headache. Receiving children instead was an unexpected boon.
"Thank you, Elder Jarul," Joey said with a smile. "Custard, release them."
"Got it, big brother."
Custard stepped forward, summoning an enormous mirror with her Devil Fruit powers.
Thud!
Dorry and Brogy tumbled out, unconscious.
Without hesitation, Jarul directed the young Giants to step into the mirror. Obedience was second nature to them.
Jarul watched closely, muttering to himself, "What kind of Devil Fruit is this? A spatial or special type?"
As the last child entered the mirror, Custard closed it, leaving Jarul pondering the power of Devil Fruits.
Though Giants often dismissed them as unnecessary, Jarul knew better. A Giant with a powerful Devil Fruit, like a Logia type, could become nearly invincible.
Joey tossed a vial of antidote to Jarul. "Give this to Dorry and Broggy. They'll wake up in three minutes."
Jarul wasted no time, administering the antidote.
Moments later, the two Giants groggily woke up.
Dorry jumped to his feet, furious. "Those bastards used poison!"
Brogygrowled, "Cowards! Show yourselves and fight us!"
Jarul's relief at their recovery quickly turned to rage. "Dorry! Brogy! What have you two been doing all these years?"
The two fell silent, their courage vanishing under Jarul's glare.
Decades ago, the two had been raised by Jarul and Jorul. Their decision to duel endlessly on Little Garden had been a disgrace to their training.
"You've let your skills decay so much you can't even use Haki anymore? Starting today, you'll undergo rigorous training. No rest until I'm satisfied!"
"Yes, sir!" They nodded meekly.
Pride meant little in the face of the Elder's wrath.
— — —
Meanwhile, Joey had little interest in the Giant Tribe's internal matters.
He was busy ensuring all 10,000 young Giants signed servitude contracts. Those who resisted? A little persuasion—or force—did the trick.
After a week of effort, the contracts were finalized, and the Charlotte Family returned to Whole Cake Island.
"Home at last," Opera and his brothers sighed in unison as they stepped onto the familiar shores.
Two young girls, Mash and Cornstarch, ran up excitedly.
"Big brother!"
Joey caught them in a warm embrace.
"Have you two been studying hard?" he asked.
Mash grinned. "Yes, big brother! I've been very diligent!"
Joey chuckled, "Good, but I've noticed someone's gained a little weight. Time for some exercise!"
Mash pouted but nodded obediently.
Joey laughed softly, ruffling her hair. His approach to his siblings was always patient and kind.
The other siblings, Zuccotto, Nusstorte, Basskarte, Dosmarche, Noisette, Moscato, Compo, and Laurin, soon gathered around, all smiles.
"You've all been behaving while I was away, right?"
Zuccotto, now six, proudly answered, "Yes! We've been listening to Perospero and training hard."
"Good," Joey replied with a nod.
As they made their way home, Joey's smile deepened. Surrounded by his family, he felt at peace. This was home—a place where love and loyalty thrived.
Back at the castle, the entire family gathered in the meeting hall, even the youngest members.
Though many didn't understand the discussions, they sat attentively, learning by simply being present.
The Charlotte Family was thriving, their influence stronger than ever.
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