After admiring her pile of gift treasure chests, BIGMOM seemed to remember something and turned her gaze toward Leno, who was busy taking advantage of the situation.
With clear anticipation in her voice, she asked,
"Mama-mama-mama… Thunder God brat, since you've come to my Tea Party, don't you have a gift for me?"
At her words, everyone at the table focused their eyes on Leno, eager to see what kind of treasure such a "big shot" would present.
Stussy, seated beside him, also looked at Leno with a bright smile. Her autumn-water-like eyes were filled with curiosity.
This little bastard definitely didn't come here with simple intentions. The only question was how he planned to handle what came next.
When he heard BIGMOM asking him for a gift, Leno's hand—currently enjoying a certain softness—paused.
He looked up at BIGMOM as if in disbelief and exaggeratedly said,
"Did I hear you right? You're asking me for a gift?!"
"I finally make the effort to attend your Tea Party. You don't prepare a gift to welcome me, and now you're trying to demand one from me instead?!"
"Is this how the BIGMOM Pirates treat a guest visiting for the first time?"
He even shook his head in apparent helplessness, looking as disappointed as humanly possible.
As if the other party failing to give him a gift was an unforgivable crime.
Hearing Leno's outrageous declaration, the surrounding guests were stunned, mouths wide open, eyes practically popping out of their sockets.
You can… do that?!
Visit someone else's home and demand a gift from the host?
The way they looked at Leno was filled with shock, disbelief—and deep admiration.
Lesson learned!
Next time they visited someone, they'd ask for a gift first!
BIGMOM had originally wanted to see what kind of good stuff Leno could bring out. Instead, his words left her frozen in place.
Her walnut-sized brain seemed to crash for a second. Listening to Leno's reasoning, it almost sounded… logical?
But she quickly snapped out of it. Slamming both hands on the table, she glared at Leno and said in a chilling tone,
"Anyone who comes to my Tea Party must bring a gift. That's the rule!!!"
"That's your rule, not mine. And my rule is the only rule!"
Leno raised an eyebrow and looked at BIGMOM provocatively. He wanted to see just how long this fat hag could hold it in.
Not far away, BIGMOM's teeth ground together audibly in rage. A cold aura began to spread from her body.
Her huge, furious eyes locked onto Leno as Conqueror's Haki burst out uncontrollably.
Feeling Conqueror's Haki sweeping over him once again, Leno's expression changed. His eyes narrowed slightly as a faint killing intent began to rise around him.
Damn it. You're really pushing your luck. You think I don't have a temper?!
Just as he was about to draw Huangquan and slash this fat hag, a strained voice came from beside him.
"Linlin…"
Stussy's face was pale as paper, her lips trembling as she called out. She looked as if she might shatter at any moment.
She had originally intended to take this opportunity to probe Leno's true strength, but instead suffered collateral damage.
BIGMOM's Conqueror's Haki had covered her as well, and this bastard Leno hadn't bothered shielding her at all.
At such close range, being crushed by two waves of Conqueror's Haki—even with her strength—she was on the verge of collapse.
Hearing Stussy's call, BIGMOM instantly reined in her aura. Her eyes regained clarity.
She glanced at the hand Leno was using to hold Stussy. Her large eyes rolled thoughtfully before she suddenly burst into laughter.
"Mama-mama… Thunder God brat, wanting a gift isn't impossible."
"You like beautiful women, don't you? You can choose any one of my daughters. We can also forget any past grievances!"
"But…"
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Leno and the Adventurer crew before continuing,
"From now on, whenever the Adventurers encounter the BIGMOM Pirates, they must retreat!"
Though she often went mad, she wasn't stupid enough to think that giving away one daughter would make Leno submit.
Of course, if Leno was willing to submit, she would happily give away all her daughters.
She didn't want to admit how strong Leno was, but he was undeniably a major problem.
In her view, trading one daughter to indirectly eliminate that problem was a very profitable deal.
However, what BIGMOM didn't expect was that the moment her words fell—
Before Leno could even respond to this so-called "minimum requirement," an objection came from her own son.
Standing in front of his siblings, Katakuri stepped forward with his trident in hand. After casting Leno a dark look, he turned to BIGMOM and said in a deep voice,
"Mother, I do not agree with this condition!"
No matter which sister was sent to that lecherous bastard, he would never agree.
He would protect his younger brothers and sisters with his own strength, not hand them over like bargaining chips.
"Brother Katakuri…"
Seeing that tall figure standing protectively in front of them, many of the sisters behind him had tears welling up in their eyes.
No matter when, this brother would always stand in front of them first.
He had always kept his siblings in his heart, carefully protecting them.
Hearing her own son openly oppose her—and in front of so many people—BIGMOM's barely suppressed anger flared up again.
It was one thing for outsiders to challenge her. But for her own son not only to fail to support her but to obstruct her instead—
That sent her fury through the roof.
Threads of killing intent appeared in her eyes as her blood-red mouth opened and closed, her icy voice echoing across the hall.
"Katakuri, don't think that just because you're my son, you can defy my decision!"
"Mother, I will defend the honor of the Charlotte Family. There's no need to trade away my brothers and sisters."
Katakuri did not back down this time—especially not in front of Leno, his enemy.
He had long resolved to reclaim his dignity from Leno. How could he possibly allow his sister to follow him?
"You…"
BIGMOM slowly rose to her feet. Her aura surged as she was contradicted again and again by her own son.
The helmsman of the BIGMOM Pirates was completely enraged. She would not tolerate dissenting voices on her own territory.
Even if that person was the son she valued most.
Just as she was about to personally discipline her disobedient son, Leno spoke from the table.
"I say…" He lazily tapped his fingers against the tabletop. "You two—mother and son—sure do love your drama."
"Did I ever say I agreed to your terms?"
"..."
…
…