Chapter 701: Aftermath
It was precisely because Ian knew that BIG MOM's children were not united in heart that he had little concern about letting them leave. Even if they became remnants, they wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble. Of course, this was based on the premise that Katakuri, Perospero, and Cracker were already dead. If those three were still alive, Ian wouldn't dare be so careless. But now that they were dead, the remaining children of BIG MOM no longer had a convincing leader.
At the docks of Whole Cake Island, several ships of the BIG MOM Pirates departed. However, their once-singing vessels had now lost their souls, becoming ordinary ships. Not only that, but with BIG MOM's death, the Soul-Soul Fruit lost its effect, and all the Homies on the island collapsed. For a moment, the entire Whole Cake Island seemed to lose its vitality, eerily silent.
But Crocodile didn't care about any of that. He was already directing the members of the Dragon Hunter Pirates to move out in all directions, taking down all the flags of the BIG MOM Pirates on Whole Cake Island and replacing them with the flags of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. This was the right of the victor. The BIG MOM Pirates were finished, so Whole Cake Island naturally became the territory of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. How could it not fly their flag?
After the BIG MOM Pirates left, Ferudo and the other underworld big shots finally gathered their courage and came forward to offer Ian their congratulations. Ferudo, acting as their representative, spoke cautiously and flatteringly: "Lord Ian, it's truly an honor to witness your ascension to the position of an Emperor. You are indeed a young hero. When I first saw you yesterday, I knew you would accomplish great things. I never expected to see it so soon..."
Ian listened to this guy change his form of address and felt a wave of goosebumps. He quickly waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, stop flattering me. Speak properly!"
Ferudo exchanged glances with Drago and the others before nervously saying, "Lord Ian, please understand. We came to BIG MOM's tea party out of necessity. We are not your enemies and don't wish to be. As for that fool Drago, please don't mind his rude behavior yesterday..."
By this time, Ian had already deactivated his transformation and returned to his normal body. He was now carrying Thousand Cherry Blossoms and Black Wing Demon Lord on his left waist. Hearing Ferudo's words, Ian glanced meaningfully at Drago, making the man tense up, before saying, "You... want to ask when I'll let you leave, right?"
Ferudo and the others quickly nodded frantically.
"Of course, I can let you leave!" Ian said, patting Ferudo on the shoulder with a smile. "But you all brought gifts to the tea party earlier. Surely it wouldn't be right to witness my ascension to the Emperor's seat without offering a gift, would it?"
Ferudo and the others immediately caught on and hurriedly smiled, saying, "Of course, of course! We'll definitely prepare a generous gift and send it over once we return!"
"Then it's settled. Go!" Ian waved his hand in satisfaction.
Ferudo and the others felt as if they had been granted amnesty and quickly left. However, as Morgans hurried past Ian, Ian suddenly grabbed him.
"L-Lord Ian!" Morgans quickly took off his top hat and looked at him nervously.
"If I didn't see wrong earlier, you took some photos, didn't you?" Ian asked, rubbing his chin.
"Y-Yes!" Morgans' heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat broke out. He thought Ian was going to confiscate his photos.
But Ian didn't do that. Instead, he patted him on the shoulder kindly and said, "Since you're putting out news, write it well, understand? However, if I see any bad remarks about me in your news, I might just pay you a visit someday..."
Morgans was drenched in cold sweat. He understood the implication in Ian's words—it was a warning not to slander the Dragon Hunter Pirates. So he quickly nodded and said, "Don't worry, Lord Ian. I know what to do!"
Ian nodded and let him go.
Next, Ian had to deal with three people. The first was Charlotte Pudding. Because her Memo-Memo Fruit ability had no combat power, she hadn't participated in the battle between the BIG MOM Pirates and the Dragon Hunter Pirates after escaping from Capone Bege's castle. Moreover, when she discovered that BIG MOM was dead, for some reason, her negative personality didn't appear. Instead, her normal personality took over, and she had been crying with her face covered. Even when her brothers, sisters, and siblings fled Whole Cake Island in panic, she didn't follow.
Or rather, no one thought to call her to leave together.
Ian naturally understood what was going on. This little Pudding, who was originally Sanji's arranged marriage partner, had been bullied since childhood in the Charlotte family because of her three eyes. How could BIG MOM's other children think of her when fleeing? On the contrary, under her normal personality, Pudding was very kind. Even though BIG MOM had hated and beaten her because of her three eyes, she was still her biological mother. So after seeing BIG MOM die, it was Pudding who was still crying for her.
Of course, there was another person crying: Charlotte Chiffon, Capone Bege's wife. At that moment, Capone Bege was holding her and comforting her.
If BIG MOM knew in the afterlife, she might regret it. The two daughters she hated the most were the ones crying for her death, while the children she loved had all fled, leaving no one to collect her body.
What a sharp irony...
When Ian walked toward her, Pudding was startled. She sat on the ground and instinctively backed away a few steps, looking at him uneasily.
"Stop crying!" Ian sighed. "Although I killed your mother, you should understand that if she hadn't died, I would have."
"I... I know..." Pudding lowered her head and said softly. "I don't hate you..."
"If you hate me, there's nothing I can do," Ian said. "I know a little about your situation. Your negative personality might not think the same way."
"No..." Pudding shook her head. "She... she doesn't hate you either, because she... was scared!"
Ian was stunned for a moment, then shrugged and said, "Alright then. Since that's the case, I'll allow you to collect BIG MOM's body. I assume that's why you stayed, right?"
"Th-Thank you!" Pudding finally showed a faint smile, wiped her tears, and stood up. "I thought you were going to kill me."
"I'm not like BIG MOM," Ian said. "But after you leave, what are you going to do? Go find your siblings?"
"No... I don't know..." Pudding's expression darkened.
She understood that her siblings wouldn't accept her. When BIG MOM was alive, the Charlotte family could maintain a superficial unity, but now...
"Since you don't know, find someone to marry and live a good life. You don't seem cut out to be a pirate," Ian said. "By the way, I might be able to introduce you to a boyfriend."
This so-called boyfriend was naturally that pervert Sanji. Ian's appearance had completely disrupted the original history. Now that the BIG MOM Pirates were gone, Sanji wouldn't be forced into marriage and meet Pudding. So if possible, Ian wouldn't mind introducing Sanji to her.
"N-No!" Pudding blushed shyly. "That's too strange!"
How could her enemy introduce her to a boyfriend? No matter how she thought about it, it was strange, right?
"Alright, if you don't want to, forget it!" Ian shrugged and stopped paying attention to her. Sanji, you'll have to work hard to find your own wife!
Ian turned around, rubbed his forehead in frustration, and then shouted, "Caesar! Get over here!"
Caesar came over with a miserable expression, and Ian pointed angrily at Charlotte Brûlée, who was following him like a tag-along, and asked, "What's going on between you two lovebirds!?"
Ian felt like there were three words he didn't know whether to say. Caesar, that unreliable guy, was one thing, but the lovesick expression on Brûlée's face behind him was obvious even to a pig. The question was, when and how did you two get together!?