Charlotte Linlin, who possesses the Soul-Soul Fruit, indirectly controls a device similar to the Book of Life and Death. Through her Fruit Ability, she can clearly see how much lifespan a person has left and accurately extract a portion of it.
The amount on that roulette ranges from thirty years at the least to a hundred years at the most. Once involved, there's basically no chance of surviving.
Even if luck allows one to survive, they will become a shadow of their former selves, living out their final years. The only good news is that the lifespan extracted by Charlotte Linlin is usually deducted from the end of one's life, so they won't immediately become old.
Pekoms' so-called delay was merely a plea for mercy. Even if one of her own children commits a taboo, Charlotte Linlin wouldn't be lenient, let alone for Pekoms, who isn't even truly part of the family.
As time ran out, Jebo was already forced to pick up the tools prepared by Charlotte Linlin. Outside the room, where he was resting, Katakuri suddenly opened his eyes.
"Here it comes."
"Lord Katakuri, what do you mean by here it comes..."
Whoosh!
With a flash of lightning, Zeraora appeared in front of Katakuri. Though there was a significant height difference, Katakuri suddenly realized that his foresight of the future had become a blank void.
Even though he could previously see the future, now that the two appeared here, a mysterious power enveloped them, erasing them from the future he had foreseen. This was the special power of Arceus, whose timing of effect was somewhat unique.
"An enemy attack!"
"Shut up, don't panic publicly."
Stopping the panicking pirate next to him, Katakuri once again looked at the people in front of him.
"Why are the people from the Hundred Beasts suddenly here?"
"We're here to make a deal. Those two inside are ultimately our kinsmen; they made a mistake, and we're here to ransom them."
Hearing this, Katakuri stepped aside, leading them directly through the door.
FutureightSight allows him to control the situation better, but even if this ability fails, he remains Katakuri, a major pillar of the BIG MOM Pirates.
A single individual of the Fur Race can be ignored by the Charlotte Family, but he knows well the ties between the Fur Race and the Hundred Beasts. It's possible these two were sent by Kaidou, signing an agreement with one hand while preparing to backstab with the other, a common occurrence among pirates.
The outcome will also depend on how the situation develops; everything is negotiable at this stage and he certainly wouldn't obstruct it.
He trusts in his mother's strength, but as the second-in-command of the pirate crew, he has his own understanding of the sea's situation. The loss right now is minor, and such a loss isn't worth tearing everything apart with the Hundred Beasts. What to do specifically depends on what happens next.
"Katakuri?"
"Mom, the Hundred Beasts are here. They want to talk to you."
"Ma ma ma~ Ma ma, coming quite fast indeed. Zeraora, an old acquaintance indeed. Since you're here, tell me, what do you have to say about those two tribal thieves?"
"I have nothing to say on that front, so I've brought this."
Zeraora wasted no words and simply gestured to the scroll on his back, then opened the radio snail to play a recording.
In a dim environment, a red Roadsign Poneglyph revealed its ancient marks.
"This is... Ma ma ma~ Ma ma~ That brat Kaidou, hidden so well indeed."
Previously, she had asked Kaidou if he had such a thing and he had adamantly denied it. If it weren't for this incident, she might never have known about it.
The Roadsign Poneglyph is essential to reaching the Final Island, something Charlotte Linlin is well aware of. Seeing the footage, she felt a spark of interest.
"So what does Kaidou mean by this?"
"Mr. Kaidou's meaning is that we exchange the information we have about the Roadsign Poneglyphs. As for those two... please allow me to take them away."
"So you're saying that removing them is a precondition for the transaction?"
"Exactly."
If he can't take them away, then this trip would have been for nothing.
"That's not quite acceptable. If it were any other matter, I might concede, but that guy cost a dear subordinate of mine an eye.
The theft can be covered up with a deal, but what about the eye? If I just let him go, wouldn't I be failing my dear subordinate?"
Charlotte Linlin did not agree to this request. As a Sea Emperor, they must be responsible for their subordinates. If a subordinate suffers such an injury and they don't address it, it's akin to neglecting an attack on their territory.
She does want the Roadsign Poneglyph, but this matter cannot simply be brushed aside.
"We can compensate him...."
"Little Setsuna, some matters aren't resolved that easily. Pirates are cruel and vile, but we must also uphold our own justice. Baron Egg is my subordinate, and they too must pay a price."
The Baron Egg mentioned by BIG MOM is a member of the Long-legged Race under the BIG MOM Pirates, also a cadre. In an earlier battle with Pedro, due to a power gap, one of his eyes was blinded, and he is currently watching from the side.
The situation is still under control. Charlotte Linlin naturally wants that historical text, but she doesn't want to let it go so easily. As for forcefully retaining it, that wasn't in her consideration.
She has not yet lost her composure, understanding that a clash with Kaidou would only benefit the Red Hair, Whitebeard, and those Navy opportunists.
As a Sea Emperor, she unusually engaged in a verbal dispute with others.
Due to the intrusions of the Fur Race, Zeraora and the others don't have an advantage in reasoning here and aren't planning to start a fight, so they can only apologize. Watching as the Duke of Zou lowers himself due to their actions, Pedro stood up.
Before taking action, they had considered the possibility of failure and anticipated the potential price to pay.
This was a private action of theirs, without telling anyone else. If their failure caused the elect of Zou, who contributed greatly to Zou's development, to continually lower himself, then it would be better for him to take the punishment directly.
"Duke, you don't need to say anything more. We're already grateful that you and Zeraora came. I'm the one who hurt that person's eye. Since a price must be paid, let it be me."
With that, he reached for his left eye and directly gouged it out.
Drip, drip...
Blood flowed down his cheeks to the ground; no one around expected this Fur Race member to be so harsh on himself.
"One eye, is this okay?"
"Ma ma ma~ Ma ma, a real man indeed. But Baron Egg, what do you think?"
Charlotte Linlin still did not directly give an answer but instead handed the choice to Baron Egg.