They had known each other for many years, but this was the first time Kaido had seen Charlotte Linlin wear such a lovestruck, almost dazed expression.
Just looking at her made him feel slightly queasy.
"Linlin, let's form an alliance and take down Kairos Flint together."
Kaido ignored Charlotte's bizarre look for now and voiced the brilliant plan that had suddenly come to him. He hadn't expected that in his recent escape, purely by coincidence, he'd ended up on Whole Cake Island. And Charlotte Linlin had seen his sorry state firsthand.
But now that things had reached this point, he could only accept it. He would absolutely get his revenge on Kairos, but after that battle, Kaido knew well that with his current strength, defeating Kairos alone was impossible.
Maybe this was fate.
Here he was in Whole Cake Island.
And Charlotte Linlin had saved him.
So, why not drag her into this? With the combined power of two Yonko, they could definitely crush Kairos Flint.
No matter how powerful that man was, there was no way he could handle two Yonko at once.
Hearing Kaido's plan, Charlotte Linlin frowned deeply, clenching her fists.
This damned old brute.
He wanted to kill her future husband?
She should've just let him die back then!
"If you think I'll form an alliance with you, forget it. Drop the idea," Charlotte snapped, rising to her feet as her fists clenched and her terrifying Haki erupted outward.
The table in front of her shattered instantly under the wave of pressure.
Kaido stared, stunned.
What's going on? Why's Linlin flipping out?
So we're not forming an alliance—fine. But what's with the rage? Menopause coming early?
Kaido, never one for patience, flared up just as quickly. His own conqueror's Haki exploded in return.
And in the next moment, the Haki of two emperor-level warriors clashed with a thunderous impact.
The room, over two hundred square meters in size, couldn't contain the sheer pressure of their collision.
It exploded outward.
Charlotte's children, waiting outside the room, were blasted back by the shockwave.
"What's happening?!"
"That Kaido bastard is fighting with Mom! Everyone, move!"
"That ungrateful monster! We saved his life, and now he's picking a fight?! Beat him down!"
Oven, Daifuku, and the other children, strong enough to withstand the shockwave, immediately called their siblings to help Linlin deal with Kaido.
But just as they prepared to act, a heavy footstep struck the floor.
A figure raised his hand, stopping them.
"If you rush in now, it'll only make things worse," said Katakuri. Everyone immediately halted.
"Brother Katakuri? What's going on?"
As the strongest member of the Charlotte family after Linlin, Katakuri's strength was beyond question. He possessed advanced Observation Haki, able to see into the immediate future. His words carried immense weight.
"I'll explain later. For now, stay here and don't move."
Following his lead, everyone fell into line.
Back inside the room, the dust and smoke gradually settled.
But the expected cataclysm never came.
Instead, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin stood facing each other, both exuding waves of conqueror's Haki. The intensity had dialed back—no longer explosive, just clashing quietly like static sparks.
"If you're not welcome in Whole Cake Island, get out."
Charlotte's eyes were full of annoyance.
She regretted saving Kaido.
The nerve—to come here and threaten her future husband!
If Kaido weren't so absurdly durable, and if this confrontation didn't risk leveling all of Cake Island, she would've already smashed him to pieces.
"I didn't expect that after all these years, you'd still be so shortsighted," Kaido growled. "Can't you see that Kairos Flint poses a serious threat to our survival?"
He was relentless. He had to secure allies.
Kairos had already beaten him easily. That meant he could do the same to Charlotte Linlin.
If they didn't unite now, they'd each fall one by one.
But Charlotte, drunk on love, had no interest in Kaido's reasoning.
With a frosty glare, she said, "Kaido, you lost. Don't act like a fool here. I'm telling you—get out now, or I'll deal with you myself."
She summoned Prometheus, and bolts of lightning crackled ominously in the air. If Kaido didn't leave, she would strike him down.
But Kaido, unfazed by the lightning, stood firm.
Before he could retort, Katakuri, still outside, sensed something was wrong. He stepped into the room and stood between Kaido and Charlotte.
"Mother, Kaido's proposal has merit. An alliance between our two pirate crews isn't a bad idea."
Katakuri had always been the most clear-headed.
If even Kaido had lost to Kairos, what chance did Charlotte Linlin have?
As for the rest of them—fighting Kairos would be like ants charging a bear.
And worse, Kairos wasn't just a rival pirate.
He was a bounty hunter.
A bounty hunter who specialized in taking down powerful pirates like them for enormous rewards.
If they ran into him at sea, there'd be no escape—only death and a payday for him.
This made every voyage a nerve-racking risk.
Now, Kaido had shown up and offered a path forward.
An alliance between two Yonko. Their combined strength could even make the World Government tremble.
But the moment Katakuri voiced this view, Charlotte Linlin's face twisted with fury.
"Katakuri! Why are you going against me today? Are you planning to betray me too?!"