Chapter 270: The Vast Network of Marriage Alliances

Suddenly hearing Lingling's scolding, the Long Bread immediately looked at Lingling with displeasure.

"Stop it, Lingling."

The Long Bread was in the middle of a dialectical discussion with Saint Saint Saiwen regarding cake-making techniques.

"Mr. Saint Saint Saiwen and I still have matters to attend to."

"What the hell do you have to do?" Lingling couldn't help but think inwardly: You old fool, can't you see Barzab's intentions?

Or does the Whole Cake Island no longer have room for you?

The Long Bread, that old thing, has already lost his mind, and Barzab is no good piece either.

Poaching people from Whole Cake Island is one thing.

But poaching people right in front of her is another.

If it were someone else, poaching would be fine.

But the Long Bread is of immense significance to Lingling and Whole Cake Island; it is not merely the strategic value of being able to turn mission materials into edible food by eating Devil Fruits.

In case Lingling's food craving strikes, the food cooked by the Long Bread is the most crucial antidote.

Lingling absolutely will not allow the Long Bread to be poached away.

"Since Senior Lingling has matters, Senior Long Bread, let's exchange a Den Den Mushi number and discuss another time."

Saint Saint Saiwen said with a tea-like air.

"Very well." The Long Bread sighed.

Women are truly troublesome.

Could it be that Lingling has reached menopause? Otherwise, why would she suddenly become so inexplicable? Lingling was not like this before.

As an onlooker, Katakuri understood why Mom was angry: Whole Cake Island could do without him, but it could not do without Senior Long Bread.

The Captain's methods are truly extraordinary.

The Morning Star Group's current family estate was presumably accumulated step by step by the Captain through this very method.

If it weren't for the poaching from Whole Cake Island, Katakuri would really like to see the final result.

Such as whether the Long Bread would be tempted, and what methods the Captain would employ next to launch a deeper poaching offensive.

Indeed, Mom letting him study alongside the Captain truly allows one to learn things.

After this little interlude, Lingling simply stuck to Saint Saint Saiwen's side without moving a step, firmly refusing to give the other party another chance to poach.

And Saint Saint Saiwen, completely unbothered, stopped at various sweets now and then to comment.

He finally understood why Lingling had gained weight.

It was one thing to have been frantically bearing children these years, but to make high-energy desserts her staple food as well; no wonder she got fat.

With Lingling's talent, if she had not wasted time on bearing children but continued to develop her physique and Devil Fruits, her achievements would be limitless.

But unfortunately.

Xia Luote Lingling chose another path: namely, frantically bearing children with men of different races and building a pirate crew bound by family ties.

Most members of the BIG MOM Pirates are either Lingling's sons or her daughters and sons-in-law.

Arlong, the third commander of the Tiger Brothers of Fish-Man Island, has a future wife who is Lingling's daughter: the hammerhead shark mermaid Xia Luote Pudding.

Pudding has also become an important pawn in the marriage alliance between the Sun Pirates and the BIG MOM Pirates.

In addition, Lingling also formed marriage alliances with various factions through her other daughters.

Such as Sanji's fiancée, Xia Luote Brûlée.

And Xia Luote Lola, who fled Whole Cake Island Totto Land on the eve of her wedding to the Giant Prince Loki in pursuit of marital freedom.

Causing Loki to develop the notion that he would marry no one but Lola.

Saint Saint Saiwen seriously suspected that Loki had a problem with his aesthetic sense.

From this, it is not difficult to see why Xia Luote Lingling chose to have many children rather than continuing to cultivate.

Continuing to cultivate carries uncertainty.

Many people on the Grand Sea cultivate hard, but few can cultivate a way or achieve results, especially at Lingling's level of strength.

If one wishes to advance one's strength further, both talent and effort are indispensable.

Bearing children, however, is a method where returns are truly visible and the process is quite pleasant.

Raising sons to adulthood to join the BIG MOM Pirates, and then having them marry girls from other factions to establish in-law relationships.

At the same time, marrying daughters off to various factions.

Thereby building a vast family network on the Grand Sea through marriage alliances.

Returns that are truly visible, compared to the method of cultivation where results are not seen in a short time, fit Xia Luote Lingling better.

Saint Saint Saiwen neither despised nor praised this method; he made no evaluation whatsoever.

One can only say that everyone has their own aspirations.

What is suitable may not necessarily be the best, but it can make the person involved feel very satisfied.

While Saint Saint Saiwen browsed various sweets, Xia Luote Lingling frantically signaled Katakuri with her eyes: Take this guy away quickly.

As long as Saint Saint Saiwen does not leave for a day, Lingling dares not go to Dressrosa to negotiate with Kaido.

There was no way; Lingling had witnessed with her own eyes: the seventy-three-year-old old pirate, the Long Bread, was coaxed by Saint Saint Saiwen until he didn't know east from west.

As for the rest of the children, one by one, they probably could not withstand the temptation at all.

Especially the children's good older brother Katakuri, who is now a member of the Morning Star Group.

Xia Luote Lingling did not hope that when she returned from Dressrosa, the ministers of Whole Cake Island would be completely poached out by Barzab.

Receiving Mom's signal, Katakuri helplessly shook his head: Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been difficult to reconcile.

He is already a person of the Morning Star Group; how could he stop the Captain from poaching?

Yet he is still Mom's son; how could he ignore the rest of his brothers and sisters being poached away?

As Katakuri struggled, Saint Saint Saiwen returned once more before Long Bread.

"Senior, pack some pastries for me; take some home for the little ones to taste."

"No problem," Long Bread said cheerfully.

Seeing this, Charlotte Lingling and Katakuri both breathed a sigh of relief: the scourge (the Captain) was finally leaving.

Not only that,

Charlotte Lingling also heard the little ones at home.

Inazuma's geography is treacherous; almost no outsiders can enter Inazuma by ship, which results in extremely little information from the outside world about Inazuma and the Morning Star Group.

The little ones Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen mentioned—could they be his son or daughter?

Charlotte Lingling, well-versed in the ways of political marriage, instantly became lively in thought again—

If the Whole Cake Island could marry into Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's son or daughter, there would be no need to worry anymore that Whole Cake Island would become a vassal on some future day.

While Saint Saint Saiwen was packing the pastries, Charlotte Lingling quickly found another child who had joined the Morning Star Group.

"Bread, Mom has a mission for you."

When Bread heard that Mom wanted her to go undercover to gather information about the Morning Star Group, she immediately promised,

"Rest assured, Mom."

"Bread will definitely complete the mission."

Charlotte Lingling smiled with satisfaction: "Truly Mom's good daughter; go quickly."

Why not find Katakuri?

Because Charlotte Lingling knew Katakuri's character well; he would absolutely never do anything to betray the Captain, even if it meant passing information to Whole Cake Island.

Not long after,

Saint Saint Saiwen reopened a spatial gate about ten meters high and led the two new companions back to Inazuma.

Seeing this, the Golden Lion and Charlotte Lingling followed the previous plan: each went to find Whitebeard and Kaido respectively.

In Inazuma, inside the Great Hall of the Shogun's Mansion.

Saint Saint Saiwen looked at Bread, who wore a veil,

Bread had once been a girl with a cute appearance in her childhood,

but because her brother Katakuri often beat up those who mocked her appearance, those people retaliated by attacking Bread, cutting her face with a knife and causing her disfigurement.

Who knows if the Senzu Bean will work.

Saint Saint Saiwen casually took out a Senzu Bean and confirmed repeatedly: this was a Senzu Bean with absolutely no side effects.

"Open your mouth and eat it."

Katakuri and Bread both grew tense, yet they heard Saint Saint Saiwen say,

"It should be able to restore your appearance."