— — — — — — —

  "Charlotte Katakuri, bounty: 1,089,000,000 Berries."

  "Charlotte Cracker, bounty: 980,000,000 Berries."

  "Charlotte Compote, bounty: 865,000,000 Berries."

  "Charlotte Amande, bounty: 760,000,000 Berries."

  "Charlotte Monde, bounty: 670,000,000 Berries."

  "Charlotte Hachée, bounty: 660,000,000 Berries."

  "Charlotte Effilée, bounty: 650,000,000 Berries."

  A soft chuckle escaped Joey's lips as he examined the freshly printed bounty posters in his hands.

  Opera, standing nearby, couldn't help but excim, "It's only been half a month, and they got such high bounties....and Katakuri's bounty has already surpassed a billion! That's incredible, isn't it?"

  The amazement was shared among Opera and his four brothers, but Joey's calm tone interrupted their awe. "Opera, you and your brothers must never get carried away like this. Remember, while Katakuri and the others can act openly, your role is different. You must remain in the shadows for now. Understand?"

  Opera straightened, nodding solemnly. "Understood, big brother! You've always told us—a family must have those who handle the spotlight and those who manage the unseen."

  Joey nodded approvingly. "Good. As long as you remember. Of course, this will be changed in the future when we all can do whatever we want. But for now we need that bance"

  The bance of "light" and "shadow" was critical to Joey's strategy. Until their family reached an unshakable level of power, this dynamic would remain essential.

  His spotless public image was fiercely guarded, and those in the shadows swiftly erased any fw—Linlin, and Katakuri, foremost among them. It was a matter of life and death for anyone who dared tarnish the Charlotte Family reputation.

  Pcing the bounty posters aside, Joey shifted his attention. "Opera, Counter, Ga, how are you progressing with mastering your Devil Fruit powers?" Although he addressed all three, his gaze lingered on Opera and Ga.

  Counter, after all, had already consumed the Mythical Zoan: Yamata no Orochi Fruit, demonstrating exceptional potential. He already reached a high point of mastering the devil fruit.

  Still, Joey was under no illusions. While the brothers had once overwhelmed over a thousand giants in a remarkable feat, the victory carried significant caveats.

  The truth was, Joey's Conqueror's Haki had suppressed the giants throughout the battle, reducing their combat capabilities to nearly half their true potential.

  Additionally, the Oni Cn's innate resilience, combined with Opera and Counter's Mythical Zoan abilities and Wano-crafted weapons and armor, had been crucial to their success.

  Even then, the giants had fought with restraint, aware they could not afford an all-out csh.

  This complex mix of factors led to their victory, and Joey had repeatedly warned his brothers not to grow arrogant. The battle was meant to instill confidence, not compcency

  . Mispced pride could only weaken them.

  "Heh," Ga admitted with a sheepish ugh, scratching his head. "Big Brother, my control's still unstable, but I'll get it down soon!"

  Opera chimed in, his expression resolute. "Don't worry, Big Brother! We know exactly how much of that battle was thanks to you. We won't let it make us overconfident."

  Joey's warm smile returned. "Good. As long as you know. Remember, even a lion goes all out when hunting a rabbit. Never let pride or arrogance become your weakness. Understood?"

  "Understood!" The five brothers responded in unison, their resolve evident.

  Satisfied, Joey waved them off. "Get some rest. We'll be reaching our next destination soon. Once we're done there, it'll be time to move on."

  As his brothers left to recuperate, Joey turned back to his pns, carefully reviewing his objectives.

  Their first stop was Elbaf, the nd of the giants.

  His mission there was complete. Out of the roughly 300,000 giants alive, he had taken control of 10,000. For the giants, this was a massive blow. they had been forced to concede, knowing the alternative would bring even greater devastation.

  Marking the Elbaf mission as complete in his journal, Joey mused aloud, "The second stop, Phoenix Isnd, was unexpected, but obtaining the Phoenix Fruit was certainly worthwhile. Now, the third destination—Dressrosa."

  He leaned back, considering the kingdom.

  Dressrosa was a nation with deep ties to the Celestial Dragons, ensuring its consistent status as one of the 50 ruling nations in the World Government.

  These privileged nations, though technically rotational, included certain states like Dressrosa and Abasta, whose power and history guaranteed their seats.

  Joey scribbled further notes in his journal. "Dressrosa itself is supported by 11 smaller nations. Gaining its favor would mean securing the support of all 12, effectively ensuring 25 nations' allegiance—half of the necessary votes."

  With a decisive motion, Joey pced his pen down and massaged his temples.

  Apart from Dressrosa, there was also the Tontatta Kingdom, a nd ruled by the small yet fiercely independent Tontattas—also referred to as dwarves in this world, though distinct from the dwarves Joey had acquired through his system.

  Lastly, there was the current ruler of Dressrosa: King Riku Doldo III.

  Joey smiled faintly, confident in his ability to sway the honorable monarch. The real challenge, however, y in bringing the Tontatta under his fold.

  This was no ordinary task, but Joey thrived on complexities.

  .

  .

  .