"Smoothie, come here."
Kuke demanded directly, his tone leaving no room for refusal.
Smoothie instinctively glanced at her mother.
Big Mom turned her body to the side, pretending not to see Smoothie.
Her heart bled. Losing Galette was something she could barely endure, but Smoothie? One of the Sweet Commanders, the strongest among her daughters, and a critical powerhouse of the family? Big Mom was on the verge of breaking down.
And yet, she was helpless.
The choices were clear: overturn the table and abandon the wager or accept the results of the gamble.
Big Mom could only console herself that there was still a chance to turn things around, a gambler's desperate hope beginning to cloud her judgment.
Receiving no further guidance, Smoothie, with her long strides, silently approached Kuke.
"Captain," she addressed Kuke with more initiative than Galette had shown earlier, directly acknowledging him as her captain.
Kuke glanced at her briefly.
There was a faint glow about her—less than radiant, but still there.
Only about fifty percent willing, not fully committed.
But that was enough.
Kuke was confident he could make Smoothie a true member of the Sun and Moon Pirates.
"Welcome."
Smoothie offered Kuke a slight smile and walked over to stand beside Galette.
"Smoothie-sis, we'll still be crewmates from now on!" Galette said, beaming.
Smoothie gave her a bitter smile.
You've adjusted quickly.
Smoothie had also been claimed.
The members of the Big Mom Pirates couldn't stay calm.
Negative emotions—anger, shame, and frustration—erupted among them.
Never before had they suffered such humiliation.
They were beginning to experience the same pent-up fury the Beasts Pirates had once endured.
The guests in attendance were wide-eyed with astonishment.
"The Sun and Moon Pirates are terrifying. I never imagined the Big Mom Pirates would suffer such a loss."
"Don't rush to conclusions; the real powerhouses of both sides haven't even stepped in yet. Winning early doesn't mean winning overall."
Despite the growing reputation of the Sun and Moon Pirates, the guests still felt the overwhelming pressure Big Mom had exerted over them for years.
Morgan, the News King, glanced contemptuously at the crowd around him.
This is only the beginning.
He was convinced Big Mom would lose catastrophically today.
"Fantastic! Today's news will sell like crazy," Morgan exclaimed, his camera clicking away, capturing every detail.
A connected Den Den Mushi line sent updates directly to his headquarters, where the latest news was being printed at full speed, ready for release.
"Continue."
Big Mom ground her teeth as she gave the command.
She had no intention of backing down.
"I refuse to believe I can't win a single match. Just one victory, and I can turn the tide."
"Who do you want next?"
"Charlotte Custard!"
Charlotte Custard shivered slightly, standing beside Cracker, who burned with rage.
"Mom, let me handle this one," Cracker said, stepping forward to protect his sister.
Big Mom regarded Cracker.
Another of her Sweet Commanders.
With even Perospero defeated, sending anyone else would only further disgrace her crew. The only logical choice was a Sweet Commander.
With Smoothie gone, only Cracker and Katakuri remained.
Katakuri was her trump card, reserved for the most critical moments.
This round would be Cracker's fight.
"Who will face me?" Cracker challenged, his gaze sweeping across the Sun and Moon Pirates, lingering on Stussy and Shakky.
Stussy held her elegant handbag, and Shakky casually smoked her cigarette.
Neither showed the slightest concern for Cracker.
All eyes turned to Kuke, waiting for his decision.
"Yamato." Kuke looked down at Yamato, who was sitting on the steps at his feet.
"Huh?"
Yamato, who had been drinking water to catch her breath, glanced up. "Captain, what is it?"
"This round is yours again."
The announcement left everyone stunned, disbelief written across their faces.
Even Gion and the others were baffled, exchanging uncertain looks.
"Me? Captain, I'm exhausted," Yamato protested, visibly startled.
She had already fought two intense battles, defeating Oven and Perospero, both high-ranking officers of the Big Mom Pirates. Her energy was heavily depleted.
"Captain, I'll lose for sure."
Yamato cast a wary glance at Cracker. He would be a tough opponent, even at her peak. In her current state, she had little confidence in victory.
Losing wasn't the issue—it was the risk of Kuke losing a Road Poneglyph.
"You're tired, but you're not at your limit yet," Kuke replied calmly. "Fighting to your limit will benefit you greatly."
He knew Yamato better than she knew herself.
Yamato was incredibly strong.
When she left Wano, her combat power had already reached 70,000.
After over a month of training and her recent battles, she had grown even stronger, now approaching 80,000.
She was definitely not weaker than Cracker.
"Captain, what if I lose?" Yamato asked hesitantly, torn between eagerness and fear. Losing a Road Poneglyph was no small matter—it was an irreplaceable treasure for becoming Pirate King.
"Then we lose. Compared to your growth, the Road Poneglyph is something I can afford to lose," Kuke replied with a laugh.
He wasn't entirely sure Yamato could win in her current state; in fact, losing seemed more likely.
But he was certain the fight would benefit her immensely.
Today, Yamato was in excellent form.
She had already gained much from her earlier battles.
A fight that pushed her to her limits could help her unlock her full potential, possibly elevating her to the level of a Yonko's right-hand man.
If she lost the Poneglyph, they could reclaim it later. But finding another opportunity like today, with Yamato in such a prime state, was a rarity.
"Captain~~"
Yamato clung tightly to Kuke's leg.
"Go on. You want to fight, don't you?"
Moved, Yamato nodded enthusiastically. She couldn't deny the desire still burning inside her.
"Enjoy the fight." Kuke patted her head and nudged her forward.
The initially doubtful Gion and others couldn't suppress their smiles after overhearing the exchange between Kuke and Yamato.
The most astonished were the newly joined Galette and Smoothie.
They stood frozen, staring dumbfounded at Yamato being sent out.
"That's a Road Poneglyph," Smoothie murmured in disbelief.
The significance of a Road Poneglyph was unmatched.
Big Mom herself had one, and it was kept under the highest security. Smoothie knew that even she wasn't allowed near it without permission.
To have one meant being a step closer to the Pirate King's throne, a dream all pirates cherished.
"All for the sake of a crewmate's growth and enjoyment?"
Smoothie had never imagined anyone would be this audacious.
Roger had once snuck in like a thief to steal her mother's Road Poneglyph.
"What kind of man is this?"
Smoothie's gaze lingered on Kuke, unable to look away.
In that moment, her admiration for him surged, glowing even brighter—at least 20% more.
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DONT FORGET POWER STONE
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up 40+ chapters at patreon.com/Emik01.
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