One Piece: I'm not Roger

For the rest of the journey, the three of them remained silent. However, Katakuri's silence earlier had already made everything clear. If his younger siblings were used as leverage, he could be coerced into joining the Aether Pirates. Whether he would remain loyal afterward was another matter entirely.

If Aether could recruit Big Mom's second son, it would certainly become an interesting development.

Before getting off the vehicle, Aether secretly sent a voice transmission into Katakuri's ear.

"Katakuri, are Linlin's hunger pangs getting worse as she grows older? She killed one of your brothers not long ago. Aren't you afraid that when she reaches her seventies or eighties, she will go on a rampage no one can stop?"

"…"

Mama killing his brother was the deepest wound in Katakuri's heart. Although Katakuri did not respond, Aether knew his words had struck home because the system immediately issued a notification.

[SS-rank character Katakuri has developed negative emotions toward the Host: Moderate Anxiety. Reward: 20,000 EXP.]

That was enough. The moment the vehicle stopped at the castle gates, Katakuri quickly departed, leaving the two of them at the entrance. The responsibility of hosting Aether was then handed over to Kastade.

On both sides of the entrance stood two rows of an etiquette squad composed of animated objects given life, trumpets, chairs, brooms, tables, and cabinets. These bizarre figures played musical instruments without pause, giving Aether the feeling of stepping into a twisted version of Beauty and the Beast.

As soon as he entered the castle gates, Aether showed no regard for the hosts. He boldly released his Observation Haki beneath his feet, rapidly mapping the layout of the castle and surrounding lands into his mind. At the same time, he sensed several intriguing presences deep within the garden.

The spread of his Observation Haki, intended as a show of force, was anything but subtle. It immediately alerted many people within the castle. This was the territory of Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors. Who would dare act so recklessly?

Kastade asked with a somewhat grim expression.

"Lord Aether, scanning our territory so openly is quite improper, isn't it? After all, Mama dislikes the feeling of being distrusted."

This reaction was exactly what Aether wanted. He casually rubbed the back of his head and replied with feigned apology.

"I'm truly sorry. After all, this is the territory of Charlotte Linlin, one of the Four Emperors. I'm quite afraid of dying, so I simply wanted to confirm whether you had any intention of ambushing me."

"You… we would never be so despicable as to harm a guest!"

Being insulted directly, Kastade nearly exploded. She was an upright person and would not resort to petty tricks even in battle. If she were not outmatched by Aether, she would have already made him pay for the insult.

From Aether's perspective, her words were naive. In the original story, Charlotte Linlin's invitation for a marriage alliance with the Vinsmoke Family was a trap designed to seize Germa Kingdom's technology and power. That was not merely harming a guest, it was closer to a massacre disguised as hospitality.

Aether showed his white teeth and said,

"Is that so? The Linlin I know is not a polite woman. If she had the chance, she would definitely try to kill me. After all, she is a pirate."

"…"

The two stopped walking. A beautiful face filled with anger confronted Aether's hypocritical smile. Aether waited, watching for the moment she might lose control and strike. Once she made a move, everything afterward would become much simpler.

None of the strange servants in the hall dared to intervene. A Candle Man's wick burned rapidly, reflecting its inner tension.

The uneasy atmosphere lasted until the eldest son, Charlotte Perospero, arrived to break the deadlock. Perospero first bowed slightly toward Aether in apology.

"Roger-sama, I sincerely apologize. Kastade has shown you an improper attitude. From here on, I will personally guide you."

After smoothing things over, Perospero turned to his younger sister.

"Kastade, you may leave. I will report your neglect of our distinguished guest to Mama."

"Perospero, I did nothing wrong. I refuse to accept responsibility!"

Seeing her stubborn expression, Perospero's face darkened as he snapped,

"Kastade, you are a member of the Charlotte Family. Do not forget your identity!"

His stern voice echoed through the hall while Aether watched the entire exchange with interest.

Perhaps shaken by the outburst, Kastade lowered her head against her ample chest and silently left.

Watching her silhouette in a fitted evening gown disappear, Aether shifted his gaze to Perospero. Though the man acted properly on the surface, even scolding his sister in front of him, Aether's peak Observation Haki clearly picked up the unease in his heart. He was afraid Aether might erupt and kill Kastade on the spot.

Aether did not yet fully understand how Charlotte Linlin treated her children, but the bonds within the Charlotte Family were stronger than expected. He had originally considered destabilizing Linlin's foundation, but now that seemed difficult unless he could first target Katakuri, the pillar of the family.

He did not dwell on the interruption for long. Soon, guided by Perospero, he arrived at a garden filled with floral scents and birdsong. The area was decorated with extravagant desserts and also contained rare exotic beasts on display.

Among them was a mythical creature, a Unicorn. Legend said its blood could extend life, though in reality it could only cure most diseases.

To see such a rare creature preserved as a display piece showed just how extravagant Charlotte Linlin truly was.

At the center of the garden stood an open-air pavilion. Inside was a large round table with eight seats. Besides Charlotte Linlin, seated at the head, five others, four men and one woman, were already present.

Aether's arrival immediately drew everyone's attention. When two of them recognized him, their expressions darkened significantly. It was clear they had not expected Big Mom to invite the Pirate King as well.

From a distance, Aether sensed faint fear within them. It was a small world indeed. These two had crossed paths with him before, and now they had unexpectedly reunited here at Big Mom's tea party.

Without hesitation, Aether scanned everyone except Big Mom, then walked straight toward a fat man in a purple suit and pointed at the blonde beauty beside him.

"Hey, fatty, I want to sit next to the beautiful lady. Do you mind moving?"

The fat man, wearing a cape and slicked-back hair, flushed red instantly. Being singled out immediately was an insult he could not ignore. However, under Aether's gaze, he did not dare act out and instead tried to use Charlotte Linlin's name as a shield.

"Roger, what are you doing? This is Linlin's tea party. As a guest, are you really going to disrespect the host like this?"

"Oh? I just want to sit next to two beauties. That's all. Am I wrong, Linlin?"

Aether turned his gaze toward Big Mom, who remained expressionless. Their eyes met, and Conqueror's Haki clashed faintly, pressing heavily over the entire garden.

The blonde woman, whom Aether had casually called a beauty, maintained her smile, but her pupils contracted when she noticed the ripple forming in her teacup. Even without a full eruption of Conqueror's Haki, he was already influencing reality. If he released it completely, the result would be unimaginable.

===

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