The pirates sat and forgot, and they really believed the nine truths and one lie.

Chapter 1706: Use a soft approach against Luffy

Kaido's fierce gaze lingered for a moment on Brook, who was trembling on the ground, his bones creaking, before he looked away without a second thought.

He sensed that this "old man" was terrified and probably couldn't offer any insightful advice.

Although Brook has lived a long time and knows many people, he has probably only managed to survive this long thanks to the immortality of the Revive-Revive Fruit.

He stepped over Brooke's skeleton and slowly walked out of Ghost Island. His heavy footsteps echoed in the deadly land, each step seeming to pound on the hearts of all the cadres.

As Kaido stood on the shore, facing the raging, boundless, dark sea, his heart remained restless.

In his mind, the destructive image of the all-consuming white torrent and the Kamehameha bursting forth from the broadcast screen flashed uncontrollably.

That kind of top-level technique involves compressing all the body's energy to an extreme point, and then releasing it through a special skill and willpower.

He wants to learn too!

When did Luffy find such an amazing teacher?

Kaido couldn't help but recall himself, wondering what Luffy was doing when they were the same age.

It's roughly comparable to the time when the Rocks Pirates were still around.

He was recruited by the invincible captain Rocks, boarded his ship to fight for the Rocks Pirates, and finally participated in the God Valley Battle, which changed the fate of countless people.

He snatched the Azure Dragon Fruit from Charlotte Linlin and, along with Roger, Garp, Whitebeard, and other top fighters, faced the Five Elders, who were possessed by Im and whose power was terrifying to the point of despair.

That battle truly showed the young Kaido what it meant to be outmatched and to be in a world beyond our reach.

Even someone as powerful as Rocks was "fragile" in the face of the mastermind behind it all.

And now, a kid who is not even twenty years old has actually used a top-notch technique that he has never seen before to beat that shadow monster away!

"Monkey D. Luffy, Garp's grandson..."

Kaido murmured the name, and a newfound expectation ignited in his wild and violent eyes.

"I look forward to the day you come to Ghost Island. Then we'll have a good fight..."

"Hahahaha—!!!"

In the end, Kaido began to roar uncontrollably to the sky. His laughter was wild and unrestrained, yet it was also filled with the excitement of encountering a kindred spirit and a long-awaited opponent.

Thunderous laughter echoed across the entire ghost island, shaking the clouds to their core.

If only Yamato were as good as Luffy, it's a pity her offspring aren't up to par.

A complex emotion flashed through Kaido's mind, but it was quickly replaced by his boiling fighting spirit.

Kaido felt that his younger self might have lost.

He lost to a boy who was thinner than him, but whose will and fortune were equally amazing.

But I might not lose now!

He gets stronger every day—his physical body, his domineering aura, and his development of his Devil Fruit abilities.

He was increasingly looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble Luffy would cause in Marineford.

In what form will he embark on his journey to the new world, to Ghost Island?

Whole Cake Island, the throne room at the highest point of the castle.

Charlotte Linlin and her children stared silently at the broadcast screen, which had turned to static and then went black.

They were all deeply shocked by the absolute power displayed by the Kamehameha.

Is this really the kind of power a young man can unleash?

Lingling had no doubt that if that attack had landed on Cake Island, the island would have been destroyed and everyone present would have perished.

It's uncertain how many of her children will survive, and she herself may even be seriously injured.

The steel balloon's natural protection was like putting an impenetrable layer of iron on Lingling, but there's always a limit to how much protection there can be.

Defending against gunfire and ordinary slashes should be no problem, but Lingling has absolutely no confidence in defending against the Kamehameha, which compresses the ki to the extreme.

As one of the participants in the God Valley War, she was well aware of the strength of Im's possession.

That monster wasn't driven away even when surrounded by the powerful members of the Rocks Pirates back then.

But now, he was knocked away by Luffy, that brat, with a single Kamehameha.

If it weren't for Im getting weaker over the past twenty years, or if Luffy's Kamehameha wasn't too strong, Linlin would lean towards the latter reason if she had to choose one of the two.

Thinking of this, Lingling's large face, heavily smeared with lipstick, revealed a complex expression that mixed calculation with a hint of excitement.

"The Straw Hat Pirates may become a major threat in the future, but I'm not without options."

Her gaze pierced through the figures of her children and landed on the one hiding at the very back, whose third eye was obscured by her hair.

Charlotte Brin, the daughter whose appearance did not conform to the family's mainstream aesthetic and who was always disliked.

This girl, who is disliked within the family because of her appearance, would be a brilliant move if she could be used to completely tether Vinsmoke Sanji.

Lingling's lips curled into a cold smile. As for Pudding's views on love and her personal wishes...

Before her "big mother," Brin dared not disobey.

Moreover, Lingling wasn't stupid. She knew that Pudding only looked weak on the outside, but she was actually tough on the inside and had a delicate mind, making her very suitable to be a spy.

"Continue to advance negotiations with Vinsmoke Judge."

Lingling's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable commanding tone, echoing in the castle's hall, "Have his son Sanji marry Pudding as soon as possible. We need to take advantage of this chaotic time to finalize everything."

All the children present clearly understood their mother's determination.

Since a direct approach might not be able to resolve the growing threat of Luffy, let's try a different method.

Good people always have some moral burdens, and Lingling thinks Luffy is no exception. He and that bastard Roger are the same kind of people.

If we exploit his weaknesses, we might actually achieve some "miraculous results".

Using force against Luffy or Roger won't work; the best approach is to use a softer approach, dismantling the Straw Hat Pirates from within.

Luffy is still very young. Whether he can grow into a natural leader depends on his continued collaboration with his crew. Those times when cracks appear are precisely the opportunities for outsiders to take advantage of.

A glint of determination flashed in Lingling's eyes. It seemed that the great wave of the times stirred up by the Kamehameha had only just begun.

And she, Charlotte Linlin, would never fall behind in this wave.