Capítulo 260: Chapter 259
"Big Mom..."
The hall stood frozen, the guests and Charlotte family members at a complete loss for words.
"What? Is anyone planning to stand up for Big Mom?" Logan's voice cut through the silence, his calm demeanor unwavering as his eyes scanned the room.
No one answered immediately. The gravity of the situation was still sinking in.
"Ah hehe~~~"
Stussy was the first to break the silence, her soft laughter like the chime of silver bells. "You have such a strange sense of humor," she mused. "If even Big Mom couldn't take you down, how could we overestimate our abilities?"
"Yes, yes! Please, do as you like!" the King of Loan Sharks, Du Feld, chimed in, nodding and bowing rapidly, eager to avoid conflict.
Meanwhile, "Big News!" Morgans could barely contain his excitement, his eyes glinting with the opportunity for a groundbreaking story.
Nobody dared challenge the Straw Hat Pirates, not after seeing Big Mom get taken down like that.
"So...who knows where Big Mom's treasure room is hidden?" Logan asked, his voice light yet commanding. "We'll need a guide."
His gaze fell on the members of the Charlotte family, who all stood stone-faced. None of them dared betray Big Mom—at least, not in public.
"Please," Stussy teased, a playful smile on her face. "Do you really expect them to betray their mother? Not after everything."
Logan's eyes met hers, amused by her tone. "And I suppose you're not volunteering to help either, are you?" he asked, though he already knew her answer.
Stussy laughed. "Of course not. Outsiders like us wouldn't know where Big Mom hides her treasures."
"Yeah, I guess it would be too much to expect," Nami said, shrugging. "No one's going to betray their mother."
Luffy chimed in, nodding. "Yep, I agree with Stussy and Nami. Even pirates don't betray family like that."
But Logan merely smiled. "Normally, you'd be right... except Big Mom doesn't exactly seem like the best mother, does she?"
The mood shifted immediately. His words struck a nerve, and the room tensed. The members of the Charlotte family shot daggers at Logan with their eyes, their expressions betraying their inner turmoil.
"You really dare say that..." whispered one of the guests in shock. The audacity of it was almost too much to comprehend.
Logan continued, his voice cool and steady, "On the surface, Big Mom may be your mother, but let's be honest. She's more like your captain—or your emperor. Tell me, how many of you have actually known a real mother's love? For that matter, how many of you even know your father?"
The truth in his words landed like a heavy blow. The Charlotte family members, especially the younger ones, looked uncomfortable. Logan's gaze swept over them, his words digging deep into wounds they tried to hide.
"You've never known a father's love, and as for your mother... well, let's be real. Has Big Mom ever treated you like her children? Or just like pieces of her empire?"
"Shut up!" one of Big Mom's children shouted, his face red with fury. "Stop slandering our mother!"
"Yeah!" another one joined in, his fists clenched. "Mom gave us our Devil Fruits! She loves us more than anything!"
"Don't you dare shake our faith in her!" more of them roared, their voices overlapping in anger.
But Logan's smile remained. "Oh, I'm not trying to shake anything. I simply believe that a great reward will always attract courageous individuals."
His gaze lingered on the Charlotte family members. He could see the pain in some of their eyes, masked by bravado. Their loyalty wasn't just about love; it was about fear, power, and survival.
"Ah hehe~~~," Stussy's laughter cut through the tension once more. "What an amusing philosophy. You really think anyone here is short of money?"
Logan turned to her, nodding slowly. "You're right, money might not be enough. But there are things far more valuable than money."
The guests looked puzzled. The Charlotte family members glanced around uneasily.
Logan's voice dropped lower, more persuasive. "I'm offering something better. Lead me to Big Mom's treasure, and I swear, on my honor as the vice-captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, that I can lead you out of Big Mom's grip. After that, you can either leave freely, or you can choose to stay with me and seek my protection."
The hall fell into stunned silence.
Even Stussy seemed taken aback. "What...?" she whispered, her teasing demeanor faltering for a moment. She hadn't expected this.
The guests murmured among themselves, utterly confused. "Protection? From Big Mom's own children?"
"They'd never betray their mother! That's madness!"
"This isn't a cage—it's paradise!" someone scoffed.
Logan stood firm, unflinching. "I'll give you ten seconds. After that, you'll never have this chance again. If any of you want true freedom, this is your only shot."
The room buzzed with tension.
"Ten!" Logan began to count down.
"Nine!"
"You think any of us would betray our family?!" Perospero barked, his face twisted with disdain. "Who says this is a cage?"
"Eight!"
"We're loyal! We'll never leave our mother!" another one shouted, trying to rally the others.
"Seven!"
"Six!"
The Charlotte family's bravado faltered. They exchanged nervous glances, wondering if anyone would actually take the offer.
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
Everyone held their breath. It seemed like no one would take Logan's offer.
"Me!!" a voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a knife.
All eyes turned toward the source of the voice. One of Big Mom's younger children had stepped forward, trembling but resolute. His eyes were filled with desperation and a burning desire for freedom.
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[More Chapter Available at p@treon.com/goldengaruda]
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Capítulo 261: Chapter 260
"Me!!"
The voice echoed through the hall, full of urgency and desperation. All eyes turned to the source, and there stood a young girl, her hand raised timidly, her face wrought with fear and determination.
"Pudding!?" Perospero's face twisted with fury as he recognized his younger sister. In an instant, he stormed across the room, his arm raised, ready to strike her down.
His hand swung fiercely, the force of his anger bearing down on Charlotte Pudding. It was over. Pudding closed her eyes, bracing herself for the pain.
Snap!
The sharp sound of a slap filled the air, but Pudding felt no pain. Confused, she opened her eyes to find that the blow hadn't landed on her at all. It had landed squarely on Perospero.
Logan had intercepted the strike, his hand quick as lightning, slapping Perospero hard across the face. The force of the blow sent Perospero flying across the room, spinning through the air before crashing to the ground.
Perospero's head spun as he tried to gather his senses, stars dancing in front of his eyes. Logan's cold gaze fell on him as he said, "You really thought you could attack her? In front of me?"
The hall fell into stunned silence once more. Everyone watched in shock as Logan casually defended the young girl from her enraged older brother.
"Brother!" several of the Charlotte siblings screamed, rushing over to Perospero's side, trying to help him to his feet. But Perospero was still too dazed to respond.
"I said I would protect those who choose to lead the way," Logan's voice echoed through the hall, reminding everyone of his earlier promise.
Perospero, now fully realizing the severity of the situation, lowered his head in defeat. These pirates were beyond even his mother's power. He had made a grave mistake in underestimating them.
Logan's attention turned back to Pudding, his expression softening as he spoke gently. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you get out of this cage. No one will hurt you."
Vinsmoke Judge, watching the scene unfold, couldn't hold his tongue any longer. "You little girl!" he bellowed, his face contorted with anger. "You've betrayed your own mother! You call yourself human?!"
Logan's eyes narrowed as he turned his gaze toward Judge. "Vinsmoke Judge," he said coldly, "For Sanji's sake, I'll let that comment slide. But don't push your luck."
Judge sneered, unbothered by Logan's warning. "I'm only speaking the truth. How can someone who betrays their own family even be called human?"
The room erupted in murmurs of agreement, the guests and family members echoing Judge's sentiment.
"That's right!" someone shouted. "She's a traitor!"
"She's worse than an animal!"
"She betrayed her own mother—what kind of person does that?"
"Better to have a dog than a daughter like her!"
Pudding's small frame trembled as the barrage of cruel words hit her like a storm. Tears welled in her eyes, and her hands clenched tightly to her dress, trying to hold back the sobs threatening to escape.
But Logan wasn't having any of it. His laughter cut through the cacophony of insults, sharp and commanding. "Seriously?" Logan's voice rose, his eyes blazing with righteous fury. "You dare question her? For unworthy parents, betraying them is the lightest punishment they deserve!"
The hall fell silent again as Logan's words reverberated through the room.
He pointed at Pudding, his voice full of anger and compassion. "Look at her! She's just a child—barely 14 years old! For 14 years, she's lived a life filled with nothing but ridicule and rejection. Her own family mocks her, the world sees her as a monster, and her mother—Big Mom—doesn't care. She's just a tool to her mother, someone to be used for her three-eyed powers and discarded in a political marriage."
Logan's words hung heavy in the air, sinking deep into the hearts of those who listened. "A mother? No! Big Mom doesn't deserve to be called a mother. And now, when all she wants is to escape this prison, this cage you all call a family, you judge her for it? She's fighting for her freedom, for her right to live without fear. And you dare to call her a traitor?"
Tears streamed down Pudding's face, her heart overwhelmed with emotion. No one had ever stood up for her before. No one had ever cared. But Logan... he understood. He saw her pain and gave voice to her suffering.
With a sob, Pudding threw herself into Logan's arms, her small body shaking as she wept uncontrollably. Logan gently patted her back, comforting her as if she were his own sister.
"It's okay," Logan whispered. "You're not alone anymore."
Luffy, standing nearby, clenched his fists. His eyes burned with anger and determination. "We'll protect you, Pudding!" he shouted, his voice filled with conviction. "No one's going to hurt you while we're here!"
Nami, her expression soft and caring, approached Pudding as well. She gently patted the girl's back, her eyes full of warmth and understanding. "You've been through a lot," Nami said softly. "But you don't have to go through this alone anymore."
Pudding looked up through her tears, her eyes wide with gratitude. For the first time in her life, she felt like she belonged—like she had a family that cared for her. The Straw Hat Pirates weren't just offering her an escape; they were offering her hope.
And for Pudding, that was the greatest treasure of all.
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[More Chapter Available at p@treon.com/goldengaruda]
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