On the far side of Cake Island, Ulti threw her arms around her younger brother the moment she spotted him, her face bright with excitement.
"Long time no see, Little Page. Big Sister missed you so much!"
Page One stared at her in surprise, clearly caught off guard by her sudden appearance. "Sis? Why are you here?"
Ulti crossed her arms and snorted dramatically. "That hurts to hear. I had to beg Father for days before he finally agreed to let me come. Sak came with me too, just so I could see you."
Only then did Page One notice the towering man approaching from behind her. The man stood well over two meters tall, broad shouldered and calm. It was Sak, first division commander of the Phoenix Pirates, Ulti's husband, and now, technically, his brother in law.
Page One straightened immediately. "Long time no see, Brother in law."
Sak gave him a brief nod in response, his eyes already scanning the surroundings out of habit.
Before he could say anything else, a familiar voice rang out nearby.
"Long time no see, Sak!"
Fossa strode over with a booming laugh and pulled Sak into a crushing bear hug. "What brings you all the way here?"
A rare, genuine smile appeared on Sak's face. "Ulti wanted to see her brother. Kaido allowed it, and it gave me a chance to see some old faces."
As the two spoke, another figure approached at an unhurried pace.
"Long time no see, Sak. Fossa."
Blenheim greeted them with a relaxed smile.
Sak looked at him in surprise. "You're here too? Did Captain Marco send you?"
"Yes," Blenheim replied. "Now that we're allied with the Big Mom Pirates, Captain Marco thought it appropriate to send someone in his place to congratulate Charlotte Linlin on her birthday."
Hearing this, Sak's mood lifted noticeably. Ever since marrying Ulti, he had remained with the Beasts Pirates. Despite holding a high position and even receiving hints from Kaido about becoming an All Star, Sak had declined every offer. In his heart, he was still a commander of the Phoenix Pirates.
He laughed and clapped Fossa on the shoulder. "Then today, no matter whose territory this is, we're drinking properly. Just like old times."
The three soon settled around the same table. Blenheim produced a bottle of the Phoenix Pirates' signature liquor, its familiar aroma stirring memories of countless nights at sea. As the cups were filled, laughter followed, and the conversation drifted from recent battles to amusing stories from their respective crews.
Nearby, Ulti dragged Page One over to sit beside Sak, the siblings animatedly catching up on family matters.
Ulti sampled one dessert after another, her expression growing more irritated with each bite. Finally, she slammed her palm on the table. "Hey, when does the banquet actually start? Why is everything sweet? Where's the meat?"
A Charlotte Family member bowed politely. "Please be patient, Miss Ulti. The banquet will begin shortly."
Just then, a young girl turned her gaze toward their table, her expression full of disdain. The loud laughter and Ulti's unrestrained behavior clearly annoyed her.
"Hmph," she said sharply. "How rude. I can't believe Mama invited such uncouth pirates to her banquet."
The table went quiet.
Ulti's temper flared instantly. She stomped a foot against the table and pointed straight at the girl. "Oi. Who do you think you are?"
Page One hurried to explain. "Sis, that's Charlotte Flampe. Mama's thirty sixth daughter."
Ulti scowled even harder. "Little Page, why are you calling that old hag Mama too?"
Page One spread his hands helplessly. "I don't really have a choice."
Sak and Blenheim both turned to look at Fossa, who let out an awkward laugh. "I married Smoothie. That makes her Mama my Mama too."
Sak chuckled. "Yeah, I get it."
Flampe lifted her chin arrogantly. "Page One, Fossa, since you're part of the Big Mom Pirates now, you should stop associating with these crude outsiders."
Fossa's face darkened. He slammed his palm onto the table. "That's enough, Flampe. Sak and Blenheim are my comrades. Even if I'm only your brother in law, I'll discipline you today on behalf of your elders."
Page One clenched his fists. "Exactly. You're going too far."
The argument quickly drew attention. Heavy footsteps approached, and Charlotte Katakuri appeared, his presence instantly suppressing the noise around them.
"Flampe," he said sternly. "Apologize. Now."
Her expression changed the moment she saw him. "Brother Katakuri…"
His eyes remained cold. "Apologize immediately."
Unused to being reprimanded so harshly, Flampe's composure shattered. Tears welled up as she cried out in protest, her voice trembling before she turned and ran off, sobbing as she disappeared into the crowd.
An awkward silence followed.
Katakuri turned back to the table and bowed slightly. "Fossa, Ulti, everyone here. I sincerely apologize. We have failed to discipline her properly."
Fossa exhaled slowly, his anger not fully gone. "She needs to learn respect."
Katakuri accepted the words without argument. He understood Fossa's strength better than most. Within the Big Mom Pirates, Fossa stood just below Mama and himself. His defeat of Cracker had already proven that.
Not only was Fossa powerful, but he was also Smoothie's husband, with the Phoenix Pirates as his backing. His position within Totto Land was far from ordinary.
The incident soon faded from conversation, dismissed as a minor disturbance during the festivities. Music resumed, laughter returned, and the banquet preparations continued.
Yet unseen by all, resentment had quietly taken root in Flampe's heart, aimed at those who had humiliated her on this day.
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