The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

There was no way around it; no one dared to be careless in the face of the man who had personally ended the reigns of Whitebeard and Golden Lion.

Gern took in his subtle movements, but simply leaned back casually, the chair back creaking slightly.

Slowly raising his eyes, he met Perospero's tense and scrutinizing gaze, and a smile that could only be described as "amiable" appeared on his face.

"Don't be nervous, child."

"I've come to see your mother."

"..."

Perospero's smile froze instantly, replaced by disbelief and shock that screamed, "Are you fucking kidding me?" and "What kind of new provocation is this?"

Looking for...looking for my mother?!

Which mother?!

In this vast world, which other "mother" could there be?!

He... he... he... Admiral "Skyquake" Gern specifically requested to see one of the Four Emperors, Big Mom?!

How so? Was he really soloing Big Mom?!

Chapter 505 Charlotte Perospero

"Pero... giggle..."

Perospero's face twitched, forcing out an extremely ugly, forced smile.

"You...you're not kidding, are you, Tianzhen?" His voice trembled, and his long tongue involuntarily retracted slightly.

There was no way around it; the answer was so shocking that his first reaction was to refuse to believe it.

Instead of answering immediately, Gern picked up another piece of candy and popped it into his mouth.

While chewing, he stared at Perospero with a look of "compassion for the mentally challenged" until he had completely swallowed before slowly opening his mouth.

"Wait, when did the Navy ever need a reason or a joke to catch pirates?"

"!!!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Perospero's pupils contracted sharply, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

Without any hesitation...

"Candy Virgin!"

Almost instinctively, Perospero's eyes darkened, and his ability was activated instantly!

The Paramecia-type Lick-Lick Fruit's power acted on the ground beneath his feet, instantly activating and softening the street paved with hard candy.

Like a living syrup, it suddenly swelled up, forming a candy cage with spikes, trying to envelop and imprison Gern!

however.

It only took the blink of an eye!

Even faster than Perospero's ability before it was fully activated was...

A black and red afterimage tore through the air!

The cold touch was already against Perospero's neck, and blood slowly seeped out along the blade.

Gern remained seated in his chair, his posture unchanged, but the black sword, Eight Desolations, was already drawn more than an inch from its sheath, its tip gleaming with a dark, cold light, pressed precisely against Perospero's neck.

The bandages that had been wrapped around the blade had broken into countless grayish-white fragments.

As if weightless, they floated in the air around the two of them, slowly drifting down with an eerie beauty.

Gern tilted his head slightly, looking at Perospero, who was frozen in place, too afraid to move, his abilities forcibly interrupted, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Tsk tsk tsk," he clicked his tongue dismissively, "Quick reaction... Are you trying to offer me a 'last shot'?"

Gern's gaze swept over Perospero's pale face and the cold sweat beading on his forehead, and he pronounced the other's full name, word by word:

"Charlotte Perospero, the eldest son of 'Big Mom' Charlotte Linlin, one of the Four Emperors, and the 'Candyman' with a bounty of 7 million Berries."

Every word was like a slap in the face to Perospero.

Faced with an absolute difference in strength, his little bit of cleverness and Devil Fruit ability were simply... pale and powerless.

For a moment, Perospero's heart pounded wildly in his chest, and cold sweat trickled down his temples.

But he is, after all, Charlotte Perospero!

The eldest son of the Big Mom Pirates, a self-proclaimed perfectionist, and an indispensable strategist for the family!

After the initial shock, the analytical and planning-oriented brain immediately sprang into action.

He didn't kill immediately!

This thought instantly illuminated my mind.

Given "Skyquake" Gern's strength and his genuine desire to kill him just now, his head would have already separated from his body, and there's no way he'd still be standing here.

Since no action was taken immediately, it means that... there is still room for maneuver.

Guern did not come with pure hostility.

At the very least, he didn't want to start a full-scale war with the Big Mom Pirates right now, on Candy Island.

Having figured this out, Perospero forced himself to swallow his fear, and his signature sticky smile returned to his face.

Despite being somewhat stiff, he still moved very slowly, tilting his head slightly.

“Pero-ri~” Perospero chuckled dryly, his tone exaggerated.

"Truly... truly worthy of being the man who personally beheaded Whitebeard and Golden Lion!"

This speed... I didn't even have time to think about reacting! I'm no match for him at all!

He tried to ease the tension with flattery while secretly observing Guern's expression.

However, the moment he mentioned the words "cut off Whitebeard".

Gern's previously smiling expression suddenly turned cold, and his brows furrowed.

The tip of the Eight Desolations Blade, pressed against Perospero's neck, even moved forward slightly, the biting coldness instantly silencing Perospero.

“Watch your words.” Gern’s voice deepened, his tone becoming serious.

"Whitebeard Edward Newgate died from exhaustion, burning out his last breath."

I didn't 'win' that man! At least, not in the way you think.

This is the final verdict on a worthy opponent, and no dismissive misunderstanding or denigration is permitted.

Perospero's heart skipped a beat; he realized he had made a fool of himself by flattering someone.

Of course, they wouldn't be foolish enough to argue about the details of how Whitebeard died at a time like this; that would be suicidal.

So he immediately agreed, put on an even more "sincere" smile, and decisively changed the subject.

"Yes, yes, I misspoke, Peroni~" He licked his dry lips, feeling his long tongue almost tied in knots.

"So...can you tell me clearly that you've come here representing the Navy, intending to formally declare war on us, on Mother?"

He stared intently into Gern's eyes, his heart pounding in his throat.

The answer to this question will determine the fate of the entire nation, and it will also determine whether Perospero can leave this table alive today.

"Oh?" Upon hearing Perospero's question, which was practically squeezed out between clenched teeth, Gern's face showed not the slightest hint of murderous intent.

Instead, he revealed a more "amiable" smile, even one with a hint of innocence.

He tilted his head slightly, looking at the sweat-drenched Perospero, and asked in a light tone...

"Why... do you think I'm here to start a war? Everyone on the high seas knows that."

I, Gern Reginald Sigmar, am the most gentle and peace-loving man in the Navy!

"..."

Chapter 506 Perospero: I'm tired.....

"You? The most gentle and peace-loving man in the Navy!?"

Perospero's facial muscles instantly stiffened, and the forced smile froze completely. In his heart, a million grass mud horses were already galloping through his mind!

"Why do I think?! What the hell could I possibly think?!"

Before the Marineford War, which bastard sent those two monstrous "disasters" as his subordinates?

"The three generals who chased after Mom's dessert like mad dogs, beating her to death?!"

That painful memory flashed through his mind in an instant.

Enel, the arrogant and conceited man whose body was crackling with lightning, and Bartholomew Kuma, the taciturn man with the terrifying ability to repel everything!

Charlotte Cracker's army of biscuit soldiers was reduced to charred remains by the raging thunder.

I was struck by those lightning bolts and was almost turned into a "Dessert Star - Charcoal Grilled Flavor"!

Of course, the most cunning one was 'Tyrant' Bear, who remained silent throughout, delivering a single "pressure blast" with each slap.

Smoothie's Squeeze-Squeeze Fruit power was completely overwhelmed by the Paw-Paw Fruit, which was utterly unreasonable!

If it weren't for Perospero's quick thinking, he would have urgently called Katakuri, who was away on a business trip, to come back and save the day.

Haha, those three generals probably need to change their names to "Dessert 2.5 Stars"!

However, even with Katakuri's "future prediction" cheat code and the three of them relentlessly attacking,

He barely managed to hold his own against the "Thor" and "Tyrant" combination.

Finally, the opponent casually unleashed a thunderclap, teleported away, and waved goodbye without leaving a trace.

That battle almost humiliated the Big Mom Pirates.

Most importantly, they themselves dare not admit it.

Because a certain "peace-loving" person took the lead in declaring that if anyone dared to take action, he would personally come and cripple Big Mom!

Now, the culprit, the Navy's biggest hawk, the one who personally ended the lives of two legendary pirates, "Skyquake"...

She sat down in front of him with an innocent look on her face and asked him, "Why do you feel like we've come to start a war?"

What the hell is this if not a direct assault?! What is it?!

Perospero felt so angry that his long tongue was tied into a bow, and he wished he could immediately smear candy on the hateful face in front of him!

But, as long as the internal barrage of comments continues...

The reality is that the black sword, Bahuang, which could easily sever his neck, is still firmly pressed against it.

So Perospero took a deep breath and used all his acting skills and patience to suppress the anger and complaints that were about to burst forth.

A smile, more painful than a grimace, forced back onto his face—a "respectful" one. He licked his lips with his long tongue and spoke in as steady a tone as possible (though a slight tremor still lingered).

"Peroli... Lord Tianzhen is too kind." He paused, almost gritting his teeth, as he "praised" each word carefully.

"Of course... it's because of Lord Tianzhen and your 'Calamities'—their previous 'meticulous care' for our entire kingdom!"

He emphasized the word "concern" with extra force, the sarcasm almost overflowing, yet he dared not show it too obviously, which nearly caused him internal injury.

Looking at Perospero's "smiling face but cursing inwardly" expression, Guern seemed to suddenly remember something and slapped his thigh in realization.

"Oh right!! There's such a thing!"

"..."

Perospero watched as Gurn put on an act of "Oh dear, I forgot I once sent someone to beat up your ace."

He almost couldn't catch his breath, and his tongue got all tied up in a knot.

He finally understood that trying to play mind games with this guy was just asking for trouble.

The other party wasn't buying it at all; on the contrary, they were enjoying watching his performance.

'No! This can't go on!'

Perospero made a difficult decision.

He first quickly looked around, his sharp gaze sweeping across the empty street.