One Piece: It's always been you

Chapter 137 It's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't.

“Yu’s condition is very bad. We’re going to find the owner of the Vivre Card now.” Ace shook the glass bottle containing the Vivre Card in his hand, making no attempt to hide anything from Katakuri.

Katakuri arrived following the crystal's guidance and found Ace and the others, realizing that Yu had escaped Kaido's imprisonment. However, Yu's situation was still far from optimistic.

"I understand." Katakuri said nothing. "Sweet, let's go."

Sweet flicked its tail and excitedly ran towards the cabin of Ace's pirate ship. It assumed that Katakuri's "we" included Yu.

But that was clearly not the case. Katakuri stopped Sweet in time, saying, "I was just calling you, not Yu."

"Awoo?" Why?

"Awoooooo! Awoooooo!" You clearly miss You too, and she's in a bad situation right now, so why won't you see her?

Katakuri, unusually impatient with Sweet, said, "Don't make me say it a second time."

"Woo..." Sweet's tail drooped limply like a deflated balloon, letting the sea breeze blow and sway it.

Even if it doesn't understand Katakuri's actions, it has no choice but to obey now.

Ace didn't understand, but this also meant that something terrible must have happened between Katakuri and Yu to lead to the current situation.

"Let's go!" Ace didn't intend to ask Katakuri, nor was there any need to waste this time.

Yu is the most important person right now!

The Spade Pirates sailed further and further away, while Katakuri's ship remained in the same spot, rising and falling with the waves. Only Katakuri and Sweet, one man and one wolf, were visible on the deck.

Katakuri was watching the Spade Pirates ship sail away, simply because the person he missed was there too.

"Peros is urging me to go back to World of Warcraft... It's been so long, but Mom still has her doubts."

"It's not that I don't want to see her, it's just that every time I see her, my mother's hatred for You will only increase."

Katakuri seemed to be speaking to Sweet, or perhaps constantly reminding himself: controlling one's impulse to see Yu is the best course of action.

Being part of the Big Mom Pirates, he was not free to do as he pleased. He could never abandon the pirate crew. As long as he was one of the Three Sweet Commanders and the Minister of Whole Cake Island, he could not disobey his mother's words, nor could he shirk his responsibilities. His back could never touch the ground.

“Waaah~” Sweet understood and sensed the desolation in Katakuri’s words.

The master is protecting everyone, including his mistress Yu, in what he believes is the best way. But who will protect him...?

Katakuri, thinking Sweet was worried about Yu, comforted him, "They're going to find Yu's other younger brother."

"A doctor who has benefited from surgery, Yu won't let himself die easily."

Sweet didn't say anything, she just lay down at Katakuri's feet. Sweet stayed with Katakuri for as long as he stood on the deck watching.

When Katakuri returned to Whole Cake Island, he went to the castle on Whole Cake Island as usual.

Inside the conference room, Perospero was the leader, surrounded by Dafu, Irving, Cracker, and Smoothie.

As soon as they entered, everyone's eyes were drawn to Katakuri.

Katakuri was completely baffled, then walked over to an empty seat and sat down.

Sweet followed them into the conference room, but instead of staying with Katakuri, he headed towards Cracker. Without hesitation, he leaped onto Cracker and sat down.

"Ouch, you bad dog, you only bully me." Cracker wanted to punch it in pain, but after receiving Sweet's warning look, it turned into a loving pat.

Apart from Cracker, the others weren't staring at Katakuri as openly as when they entered, but they were still secretly observing him.

There must be some other adventures on this voyage, like meeting someone with pink hair...

"Katakuri, if you come back any later, Mom might get suspicious again, kukukuku." Aside from Perospero, no one dared to say this directly. "So, did you see her?"

Katakuri didn't want to talk about it and changed the subject, "Peros-nii, you can say what you didn't make clear in your Den Den Mushi now."

"Katakuri, you have to answer my question first." Perospero grinned mischievously, as if he intended not to get down to business until Katakuri answered.

Katakuri's face darkened, his expression grim. He realized that before he could even speak, Sweet had completely betrayed him.

"Awooo! Awooo!"

Sweet, the wolf on Cracker's body, now has the right to speak. It is the only wolf involved, without exception, and no one knows it better than it.

Sweet's shouts were incomprehensible to anyone, but that didn't matter, they had Bekmus!

“Gah, I’ve made my appearance.” Beckmus confidently stepped out from beside Baron Tamago. “Sweet saw him, but Katakuri didn’t. However, she’s infected with the virus, and her condition is very bad.”

Those present silently exclaimed "Oh~" in their hearts.

The only one who dared to say it was Perospero, "You really know how to hold back."

Katakuri, who had been looking away and not speaking, turned his gaze back to Perospero after hearing his words.

With a questioning tone, isn't it you who's urging me to come back?!

"Awooo, awooo!" Sweet is making his comments again.

Beckmus silently took a few steps back to Baron Egg for safety, glanced at Perospero, and stammered, "We could have met, but it's all because of you, Perospero."

"Wow, those are Sweet's exact words!" He was just a translator!

Perospero, “…”

Smoothie, always eager for drama, quietly added, "Only Sweet would dare to say anything."

"Kutakuri, I meant well." He tried to justify himself, but having said that, he had to get back to the point. "Katakuri, take a look at this."

In front of Perospero lay neatly arranged envelopes bearing Pele's logo. Katakuri had seen them when he entered; they must be related to the Golden Emperor, whom everyone was paying attention to.

Grantesoro, the golden city that is almost complete, will officially launch in about six months. Invitations have already been sent out around the world to attend its grand opening ceremony.

The list of invitees was not limited to their pirate crew; it included other famous pirates, and even marines or Celestial Dragons.

Ordinary cities wouldn't dare invite both pirates and the Navy simultaneously. However, the invitation clearly included a document: a permit that Grantesoro had received government approval. When the Navy and pirates appeared together, both would temporarily abandon their previous identities, and neither would be allowed to attack.

The Golden Emperor, a man who already controls nearly twenty percent of the world's Berries, built a massive golden city, Grantesoro, for the entertainment of everyone in the world. He has enough power to get special permission from the government; money talks.

Faced with the enormous financial incentive, the government had no choice but to compromise.

"Mom is planning to cooperate with the Golden Emperor?" Cooperating with her would mean huge profits, and raising giants would require funds, although their pirate crew wouldn't be short of money.

Montdor nodded. "Mom let us decide who will attend."

Katakuri silently rolled his eyes. It definitely wouldn't be him. Any of his siblings would be more suitable to attend this kind of event.

However, Katakuri will be disappointed this time.

“We discussed it and unanimously decided that you would go,” Perospero said, “with Cracker.”

Cracker was overjoyed. What's wrong with going out to play? Especially since this time it was to see the Golden City! Just thinking about it was so cool that he excitedly hugged Sweet on his lap, "Aren't you happy, Sweet? We get to go out again!"

Sweet, utterly dejected by Cracker's behavior, grumbled and rolled his eyes.

Sweet noticed that Katakuri was in a bad mood, which meant that this was not a good thing.

"..." Katakuri's face darkened. He was well aware of his brothers' thoughts. "There are still more than six months left. It's not too late to decide after that."

After saying that, he got up, called Sweet, and left the conference room together, leaving the people inside looking at each other.

"I told you long ago, Katakuri wouldn't want to go."