Multiverse Family System: Rise of the Charlotte Family

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The chaos unfolding in the Tontatta Kingdom—was King Riku truly unaware?

Impossible.

How could the ruler of Dressrosa, a kingdom with its surrounding islands under close watch, not notice the sudden emergence of a 10,000-strong army?

It was absolutely inconceivable.

And yet!

Within the royal palace, King Riku sat in heavy silence.

One minister, standing to his left, bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, King Riku, the Tontatta people have sent a request for aid. What course of action shall we take?"

Before the king could respond, the minister to his right interjected sharply. "Your Majesty! This is a matter Dressrosa cannot afford to involve itself in. That skeletal army—they are immortal! It is evident their power stems from a Devil Fruit user of tremendous ability. To engage with such a formidable foe… well, the risks are far too great."

The room fell silent.

The right minister's words were painfully clear.

Anyone with even a fragment of sense could see that this situation was far from simple.

To involve Dressrosa would bring potentially disastrous consequences.

King Riku, his expression helpless, nodded decisively. "Dressrosa has not maintained a formal alliance with the Tontatta Kingdom for over 200 years. Inform them: we cannot provide assistance."

"Understood!"

Both ministers bowed and left the room, their footsteps echoing as they departed.

It was not a decision made lightly.

King Riku's choice, though heartless, was the most pragmatic one.

The skeletal army's immortality, combined with the unknown strength of their commanding force, was not a risk Dressrosa could afford to take.

Moreover, while King Riku was a benevolent ruler who genuinely cared for his people, he was also a shrewd politician.

As history had shown, he could be cautious and calculating. When the odds seemed insurmountable, he hesitated to act. Yet, when hope aligned with opportunity—such as Luffy's arrival—he fully committed to the cause.

A pure politician.

For someone like Joey to manipulate such a man would be easy.

But to secure his unwavering loyalty? That was an entirely different matter.

After all, Joey wasn't just a Charlotte patriarch — he was also behind the Big Mom Pirates, an infamous and deadly force of the seas.

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"What?"

"They refused?"

"No! This cannot be!"

The Tontatta emissary, trembling with disbelief, stared helplessly as the palace guards stood resolute.

Alas, there was no response from the soldiers, their silence unwavering.

They were bound to their orders.

Even if their hearts ached to help, as soldiers, they could not defy their king's decree.

"Ahhh!"

"Help us!"

"Please, don't let this happen!"

The emissary's cries were drowned out by the faint echoes of despair.

The anguished screams of the Tontatta echoed from afar.

The sounds of bodies torn asunder reverberated in the ears of the pleading emissary.

Years of friendship, loyalty, and alliance—all cast aside in an instant.

At this moment, the emissary's heart was torn in ways he could hardly understand.

For the Tontatta, a species defined by their pure and innocent nature, hatred was an alien emotion.

Yet now, for the first time, a flicker of hatred was born within them.

Back on the battlefield, the shrill cries of the Tontatta rang out ceaselessly.

"No! Please stop!"

The despair in their voices resonated as the skeletal army continued their relentless slaughter.

Meanwhile, the guards stationed at the bridge leading to Dressrosa turned their backs to the chaos.

Their orders were clear.

The Tontatta were not to enter Dressrosa.

If the Tontatta Kingdom fell, their task was simple: sever the bridge to prevent the skeletal army from advancing.

After all, even if the skeletal soldiers were formidable, crossing the sea unaided was an impossible task for them.

What King Riku failed to see, however, was the truth:

The skeletal army, for all their immortality, were weak in battle.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

The sound of waves lapping against wood reached the ears of the struggling Tontatta.

A ship approached the island, its silhouette growing ever larger.

Standing at the helm was Joey. With a faint smile, he observed the scene below, feigning surprise.

"I came here to visit King Riku," Joey said warmly. "But I didn't expect to stumble upon such chaos. Little one, can you tell me what's happening?"

His gentle smile radiated calm, and his voice carried a soothing tone.

But who could have guessed?

All of this was unfolding precisely as Joey had planned.

This man controlled everything.

Every step, every tragedy, every desperate cry for help—it was all his doing.

To Joey, the means were irrelevant as long as the end was achieved.

For Joey, aside from his family, everyone else was nothing more than a disposable tool—a resource to be used and discarded when convenient.

"Treachery is the passport of the despicable. Honor is the epitaph of the noble."

This philosophy resonated deeply within him.

To Joey, morality was nothing more than a facade.

What mattered was the success of his family's ambitions.

The Tontatta emissary, consumed by grief and rage, looked up at Joey. "Who… who are you?"

Despite his anger, the Tontatta emissary spoke politely, a testament to their gentle nature.

Joey chuckled softly. "I am the leader of the Charlotte family. I had hoped to negotiate with King Riku, but I stumbled upon this tragedy instead. Tell me—what's going on?"

The Tontatta emissary hesitated, but Joey's kind demeanor disarmed him. In a rush, he explained, "It's the skeletal army! An unstoppable, unkillable skeletal army has invaded our kingdom. My home, my people—they're all going to die!"

Joey sighed deeply, feigning sadness. "What a pitiful sight. Very well, I'll lend you a hand."

"Really? You mean it?"

The emissary's eyes widened, filled with hope for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

At that moment, he gazed upon Joey with reverence, as though looking at a true hero.

And indeed, history has proven time and again:

No matter how old or clichéd, the "hero saves the day" act never fails.

Besides Real Heroes always Appear in Despair.

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