As the Twin Goddesses cut through the waves in the dim ocean, a line seemed to emerge, splitting sea and sky apart.
The dense clouds gradually scattered, and dazzling rays of light pierced through them. Before long, a vast, brilliant blue sky and open sea spread out once more before everyone's eyes.
"Oh!"
On the deck, everyone gathered at the bow railing lit up with excitement.
"So this is the New World?"
"It's been a whole month since we've seen the sky and the sun!"
"I feel completely unrestrained now!"
Although Fish-Man Island had its own "sky" and "sunlight," it was nothing more than light reflected off bubbles. It couldn't compare to the real sky at all. On top of that, the island itself was small, with limited land. The fish-men might have grown used to it, but for the members of the Sky Pirates, it always carried a faint sense of confinement. Perhaps that was why, for centuries, the fish-men of Fish-Man Island had longed to live under the true sun on land.
"Just as expected. A bunch of country bumpkins from the first half of the Grand Line!"
On the Big Mom Pirates' ship sailing alongside the Twin Goddesses, Charlotte Daifuku couldn't help blurting that out, only to be immediately scolded by Katakuri.
"Watch your mouth. Don't forget our mission."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it."
Even as he replied, the careless look in Charlotte Daifuku's eyes made it clear he hadn't taken Katakuri's words seriously.
Perospero, however, kept their mission firmly in mind. Looking at the bright, sunny weather, he called out toward the Twin Goddesses.
"Well then, Captain Yemu, we can stop and have a proper talk now, can't we?"
Yemu was a courteous man.
Since the other side had already given way to the Twin Goddesses, there was no reason for him not to return the gesture.
"Stop the ship, Tiger. Let's meet these rulers of the New World—the children of the Big Mom Pirates."
"Mm."
Even though they were facing the crew of Charlotte Linlin, known across the New World as the "Born Destroyer," Tiger showed no trace of fear.
In his heart, he had long believed that the Sky Pirates and their captain, Yemu, were destined to surpass these pirates.
As the Twin Goddesses slowed and dropped anchor, the Big Mom Pirates' ship gradually came to a stop as well.
However, Yemu didn't initiate the conversation right away. Instead, he called out:
"If you've got something to say, come aboard my ship."
Since they had taken the initiative to approach him, they should at least act like proper guests.
Hearing this, the members of the Big Mom Pirates frowned, their expressions darkening as if they were about to erupt in anger.
After all, Yemu's words placed him squarely in the position of host, while the Big Mom Pirates—one of the ruling forces of the New World—were reduced to guests.
"He's just as arrogant as the newspapers say!"
"How dare he act so boldly in front of the Big Mom Pirates' flag! Let me teach them a lesson, Perospero Nii-san!"
"No…"
To everyone's surprise, Perospero shook his head.
"Kukuku… since we're the guests, it's only natural for us to go aboard and pay a visit."
"Hey, Perospero Nii-san, that's tarnishing Mama's name!"
Charlotte Oven was the first to protest, clearly displeased.
Perospero Nii-san's words meant that, at this moment, the Big Mom Pirates—rulers of the New World—were expected to lower themselves before a rookie who had just entered the New World.
How could they possibly accept that?
"Don't be mad, Oven. I'm doing this for everyone's sake!"
"!??"
"What do you mean?"
Everyone was stunned.
Only then did Perospero, the eldest son, reveal the truth, leaving them all shocked.
"Kukuku… it's simple. You've all underestimated how important this kid is to Mama."
"Huh!?"
"Have you not realized it yet? Just to invite him, Mama sent all of us eldest sons. With a lineup like this, how can you not understand what that means?"
That finally made Charlotte Oven and Charlotte Daifuku come to their senses.
Among the men present, Perospero, Katakuri, Daifuku, and Oven were among the highest-ranking and strongest officers in the entire Big Mom Pirates, second only to Big Mom and Streusen. Sending such a group could only be described as an extremely grand show of importance.
Still, Charlotte Oven frowned, not entirely convinced. He glanced at his three younger sisters.
"If that's the case, why send Amande and the others? Wouldn't Compote-nee-san be more suitable?"
Charlotte Compote was Big Mom's eldest daughter and one of her highest-ranking ministers.
Perospero shot his younger brother a speechless look.
"Idiot… can't you tell? Amande, Custard, and Galette are all exceptionally beautiful."
That was when it clicked for everyone.
Oven, Daifuku, and even the three girls themselves all understood at once.
After all, the foundation of the Big Mom Pirates' rule lay in political marriages.
The three girls clenched their teeth, clearly displeased.
Seeing this, Perospero didn't mind in the slightest and casually reassured them.
"Kukuku… there's no need to resist so much. At the very least, compared to Mama's husbands, Yemu, the captain of the Sky Pirates, is quite handsome, isn't he? And he's so young…"
The three girls seemed to take that in. They lowered their heads and glanced toward the opposite deck, their expressions turning somewhat complicated.
At that moment, Katakuri was the only one still focused on the task at hand. He shifted slightly.
"Alright. It's too early to say anything now. Let's go over and pay a visit. Don't keep them waiting."
As he spoke, he looked at his still somewhat displeased siblings.
"If any of you don't want to go, Perospero and I can handle it."
"I'll go too."
Charlotte Oven suddenly raised his fist, flames flickering over it as he spoke with excitement.
"I've heard that this guy Yemu is a Logia-type Mera Mera no Mi user. I've been wanting to test him for a while now. I want to see whether his Logia-type Mera Mera no Mi is stronger, or my Paramecia-type Netsu Netsu no Mi…"
"Then I'll go as well. I want to see just how strong the swordsman is who managed to break my slash."
Charlotte Amande spoke in a low, shadowed tone.
Seeing their older sister step forward, the other two girls seemed tempted as well. Something stirred in their expressions, but their pride kept them from speaking.
Katakuri's Observation Haki was sharp enough to catch the subtle shift in their emotions.
"In that case, Daifuku, you stay behind and guard the ship. The rest of you, come with me."
Perospero licked his lips with a grin.
"Even if we're the ones making the visit, we can't let them look down on the Big Mom Pirates. As the eldest brother, I'll personally send you all over."
"Candy Elevator!"
With a wave of the colorful candy cane in his hand, countless sky-blue candies burst from Perospero's body. They twisted and reshaped in midair, forming a dreamlike staircase, like something out of a fairy-tale ice castle, extending directly to the deck of the Twin Goddesses.
The reaction from the Twin Goddesses' deck lived up to his display.
"That's incredible! Is that a Devil Fruit ability too…?"
"It's so beautiful, just like Flevance's ice castle…"
"Is that candy? Can we eat it?"