With just one sentence, Carl immobilized Pudding in her chair, leaving her stunned for a long moment.
She stared blankly at Carl and murmured after a while,
"You... You just said my eye..."
Carl crossed his arms and spoke again,
"Miss Pudding, the eye beneath your bangs is beautiful. I don't think you need to hide it."
Only Pudding knew how much those words impacted her. As a child, she had been mocked and ostracized for her third eye, even by Big Mom, who had called it disgusting.
This was the first time in her life someone had complimented her third eye.
A layer of mist formed in Pudding's amber eyes. She rubbed them vigorously and choked out,
"Thank you..."
Carl waved dismissively and said indifferently,
"No need to thank me. I was just stating the truth."
Of course, Carl also knew this was the perfect moment to say such a line and earn Pudding's goodwill. When she accidentally revealed her third eye earlier, it was a golden opportunity he couldn't miss.
To him, it was just a sentence, truthful and direct.
Pudding clutched the skirt on her lap tightly, stealing glances at Carl's mask. Her mind was already filling in the blanks, imagining what lay beneath it.
However, Carl didn't speak to her again, instead directing his attention toward Big Mom and the others above.
After Blackbeard and Chiffon shamelessly flaunted their affection, they sat together at a table beside Big Mom and her group.
Big Mom scanned the venue and suddenly shouted,
"Praline, why isn't your husband Aladine here? Didn't you inform him?"
Under everyone's gaze, a tall, young mermaid with a shark tail stood up. She first bowed to Big Mom and then replied calmly,
"Mother, I contacted him through the Den Den Mushi. He said it wasn't convenient."
Big Mom squinted at her words and asked,
"Inconvenient? Is it just him, or the entire Sun Pirates crew?"
A terrifying pressure emanated from Big Mom, enveloping Praline.
Praline staggered under the weight, her face turning pale. She gritted her teeth and said,
" Aladine's captain, Jinbei, is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Please understand!"
Big Mom's face twisted into a sinister grin.
"Mamamama... Newgate, do you see this? Even a Warlord of the Sea dares to disrespect us now!"
Whitebeard frowned slightly and said in a deep voice,
"Enough, Linlin. Don't ruin the wedding over something like this."
Whitebeard, attending his son's wedding for the first time, was thoroughly enjoying the experience and almost forgot the event's political purpose.
Carl, watching from below, smirked and shook his head.
Whitebeard really treats these alliances like family games.
Big Mom, dissatisfied with Whitebeard's attitude, ignored him and continued,
"The Sun Pirates come from Fish-Man Island, which has been quite cozy with the Navy lately... Katakuri!"
Katakuri immediately stood up and slightly bowed.
"Mother."
Big Mom sneered,
"After the wedding, take a team to Fish-Man Island for a proper visit."
"Yes."
Praline's face turned frantic. She loved her husband dearly and didn't want his homeland harmed, especially since Fish-Man Island was also her own home as a mermaid.
In desperation, she blurted out,
"Please don't! Fish-Man Island is innocent!"
Katakuri's expression darkened, and he scolded,
"Praline! Sit down!"
Katakuri, a good brother, was trying to protect Praline. But she was too flustered and shouted back,
"Brother Katakuri, I beg you, don't hurt the people of Fish-Man Island!"
Her plea made Katakuri's heart sink. He turned to glance at Big Mom without replying.
Big Mom's face was as dark as a storm. She raised a hand slowly and said coldly,
"Ungrateful brat..."
Everyone froze. Katakuri and the others knew what was coming—Big Mom was about to use her Soul-Soul Fruit technique to extract life force.
Even her own children weren't exempt from this punishment.
Praline closed her eyes, resigned to her fate. Facing Big Mom, she couldn't banish her fear.
The lively wedding instantly fell silent. Just as Big Mom's ability was about to activate, a magnetic male voice broke the tension.
"Miss Praline, if standing there is uncomfortable, why not come sit here instead?"
"!!!"
Pudding and Poire were stunned speechless, while Galette was the first to react, exclaiming,
"What are you doing now!?"
She moved to cover Carl's mask, but he caught her hand before she could.
Galette's face twisted in despair. To her, Carl was courting death. She rose, ready to beg Big Mom for mercy on his behalf.
But to her surprise, Big Mom showed no anger. Instead, her expression turned wary.
Not just Big Mom—Whitebeard and Dragon also had subtle, complicated reactions to Carl's voice.
Big Mom stared at Carl's white mask and asked gravely,
"That voice... It sounds familiar. Who are you?"
Before her question settled, several green wind blades shot toward Carl.
Still seated, Carl conjured a swirling black vortex behind him, swallowing the wind blades effortlessly.
The silence that followed was deafening until someone stammered,
"Darkness... That's the power of darkness! It must be him—the Navy's Fleet Admiral!"
Dragon's sole arm, shrouded in green energy, trembled slightly as a cold sweat dripped down his brow.
Carl chuckled softly and rose from his seat, his calm demeanor unwavering.
"Monkey D. Dragon, still as rude as ever."
-----------
+255 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg