The Oro Jackson cut through the vast ocean, sailing steadily as Kozuki Oden buried his head in the rubbings of the Poneglyph. Suddenly, he jolted upright, excitement blazing in his eyes.

"I found it! The Poneglyph is right—"

He unfurled a weathered nautical chart and jabbed his finger at a specific area.

"Here!"

Roger leaned in, eyebrows lifting. "Hmm? That patch of sea... isn't it under Big Mom's control these days?"

Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, his tone calm but laced with concern. "If our intel is accurate, yes. That territory now belongs to Charlotte Linlin."

The deck fell silent for a beat.

"Charlotte Linlin?!" Jaba whistled. "That crazy woman's nothing to mess with."

Shanks and Buggy exchanged glances and whispered, "Who's 'Big Mom'?"

Leaning lazily against the railing, Ritter let a swirl of blood mist dance around his fingers. "A monster with a sweet tooth. Her powers are... quite troublesome."

Jaba perked up, grinning at the younger crewmates. "Back before you kids joined, your big bro Ritter here? He was slicing through everything in sight! Back then, Linlin was still sailing under Rocks. She tried to recruit us. You think Ritter was gonna let that slide? He drew his sword and went right for her. That slash? It shook heaven and earth!"

Shanks and Buggy's eyes sparkled. "Sugoi!"

"But no matter how long we fought, we couldn't even break her skin. I mean, even scraping her should've done something, right? In the end, it was up to me. I descended like a god and saved Ritter from certain doom."

A cup flew at Jaba's head. Ritter snarled, "Shut up, you bastard! You didn't even scratch her either! What the hell are you barking for?"

Jaba twisted away like a seaweed caught in a current. "Oh ho? Someone sounds a little touchy."

"Damn it, Jaba. Duel me."

Ritter grabbed Black Tide and charged.

After the chaos subsided, the entire Roger Pirates gathered on the deck to strategize.

Uncle Rayleigh, ever reliable, spoke first. "Charlotte Linlin's territory is heavily guarded. If we slip in quietly, we might be able to reach the Poneglyph, make the rubbings, and leave before drawing too much attention."

Jaba frowned. "But she's no slouch. Her Observation Haki is sharp. If she catches us, we'll have the whole of Totto Land coming down on us."

Ritter drawled, "Not to mention her Homies are everywhere. Sneaking in unnoticed? That's a stretch."

Spencer mulled it over, then suggested, "We have rare navigation charts and treasures. Maybe we can trade with her?"

Roger shook his head. "Kuhahahaha! We just made enemies at God Valley. That lunatic isn't handing anything over for a song and a dance."

Oden raised his hand. "Then let's just take it! A samurai has no room for cowardice."

Roger perked up at that. Thanks to Ritter's intervention, he hadn't yet fallen ill. He was still at his peak fearless and itching for action.

"Break in, grab it, and run! Now that sounds exciting!"

Rayleigh sighed. "Captain, her forces are growing stronger. She's got plenty of capable subordinates now. Charging in headfirst is risky."

Roger faltered for a moment, visibly tempted. Ritter, watching Roger's hesitation and listening to Rayleigh's concern, pieced things together.

Ah, so that's how they resorted to sneaking in, huh? In the original timeline, Roger must've already been sick by then. His power would've been waning.

But now with Ritter's interference Roger was still in top form. Charlotte Linlin's storyline had been pulled forward, but so what? Ritter really didn't see the point of sneaking around.

Roger, Rayleigh, Jaba, himself... and soon Oden too. Taking down a not-yet-fully-formed Totto Land? They'd breeze through it. Just like at God Valley unless Linlin managed to stop any one of them, it would be a massacre. Her eldest sons? Not even close to being enough.

Ritter nonchalantly suggested, "I say we just beat her into submission. Then take our time with the rubbings."

Jaba grinned. "When have the Roger Pirates ever been scared of a tough fight?"

Roger slammed his fist into his palm. "Kuhahahaha! That's the spirit! We're going in headfirst. Get the Poneglyph and get out!"

And just like that, the plan was set: Roger, Rayleigh, and Jaba would directly engage Charlotte Linlin and her top officers. Amid the chaos, Oden would search for the Poneglyph and make the rubbings.

And Ritter? He would flood the battlefield with blood mist, locking down the area. Shanks, Buggy, and the younger crew would stay on the ship, guarding it from enemy boarders. Too many people on the ground would just get in the way.

After all, numbers meant nothing in front of Ritter. Anyone who couldn't even break through his mist didn't deserve to step onto that battlefield.

Rayleigh gave the final reminder. "Remember, our goal is the Poneglyph, not a bloodbath. Once we have it, we withdraw."

"She's gonna lose her mind," Ritter muttered. He was still annoyed he hadn't been able to break Linlin's defenses.

Roger roared with laughter. "Understood! Alright boys, ready for battle!"

The crew answered in unison. "Yeah—!!"

As they approached Whole Cake Island, the Oro Jackson sliced through the waves toward Charlotte Linlin's territory.

Shanks and Buggy leaned over the prow, tense and giddy.

Buggy gulped. "Hey, Shanks, you think we can actually win? I heard Charlotte Linlin's a big-shot pirate like our captain."

Shanks leaned back casually. "Of course! With the captain, Ritter, Uncle Rayleigh, and Jaba no way we lose!"

At the stern, Ritter stood still, blood mist creeping from his fingertips, his eyes sharp.

"Charlotte Linlin... let's see if your 'Totland' can withstand my fog. Damn it, why can't I break through her defense? So annoying."

The Oro Jackson cleaved through the sea mist like a blade through silk. From the lookout tower, Shanks waved his straw hat wildly.

"I see the island!"

"Full speed ahead!" Roger stood proudly at the bow, his red coat billowing. "Time to show the Charlotte brats what real pirates look like!"

"Enemy attack—!" The scout on Whole Cake Island's watchtower cried out, his voice cracking. "It's the Roger Pirates! All hands, battle stations!"

Alarm bells echoed across the island. In her palace, a drowsy Charlotte Linlin stirred, creamy frosting sliding from the corner of her mouth.

"Mama mama~? That lunatic Roger?"

"Stick to the plan!" Rayleigh said as he soared into the air with Moonwalk.

Ritter was the last to disembark. Black Tide dragged behind him, carving a trench in the sand.

"Oden, the Poneglyph's yours."

"Leave it to me!" Oden drew his twin swords. Ame no Habakiri gleamed coldly under the sun.

"Fog Realm: Blood Prison." Ritter formed a seal, and crimson mist surged over the beach like a living tide. The gathering mochi soldiers screamed in pain.

"My eyes! They're burning!"

"I can't breathe!"

"It's poison gas! Retreat!"

Technically, Conqueror's Haki could've achieved a similar effect but that was a one-time burst. Ritter's mist, once unleashed, lingered indefinitely.

The younger crewmates watched, wide-eyed with admiration. Ritter casually adjusted his clothes.

"Just the basics."

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