Chapter 261

Charlotte Pudding, despite her charming appearance, held a unique and powerful ability—the Memory-Memory Fruit. This devil fruit allowed her to manipulate memories, but Logan, protected by the Goddess of Holy Light, remained immune to its effects. This was why Logan felt confident in taking Pudding under his wing, despite her intricate and cautious nature, molded by years of living in a family of powerful pirates.

However, even though Pudding's life story was filled with genuine hardship, Logan knew better than to fully trust her. Pudding's experiences made her cautious, calculating, and perhaps even capable of using her powers to manipulate the memories of Logan's crew if she saw fit. Logan had to tread carefully.

With Pudding leading the way, Logan, Robin, Nami, and Pudding made their way to the heart of Big Mom's treasure trove. The rest of the crew remained behind in the hall, ensuring that the Charlotte family wouldn't cause trouble, especially in case Big Mom woke up.

As they entered the treasury, the sight before them left Nami utterly speechless. Her eyes gleamed with the shine of gold and riches piled high. "Oh my god!!" Nami gasped, overwhelmed by the sheer wealth in front of her. Her gaze darted from one shimmering object to another, her mind racing with the possibilities of what all this wealth could mean for the Straw Hat Pirates.

Robin, meanwhile, had her eyes set on something far more precious than gold. After a quick search, she found what they came for—three massive stone tablets. "There they are! The Poneglyphs!" Robin's voice trembled with excitement, her heart pounding with the importance of these ancient stones. They were the key to finding the One Piece, and she knew how valuable they truly were.

At the entrance, Pudding watched nervously, her face reflecting the uncertainty she felt. She hesitated, then turned to Logan with a soft voice. "Can you really take me away from here?"

Logan, sensing her apprehension, decided it was time to reassure her. He slowly turned towards her, squatted down to her level, and offered a warm smile. "Of course, I can. You're not a bad person, Pudding. You're just a girl who wants to be free. I promise, I'll take you away from here."

Pudding's heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in Logan's voice. She had spent so long living in fear, under the oppressive control of Big Mom, that she had forgotten what kindness and understanding felt like. Logan's words shook her deeply, but she couldn't help but wonder how he knew so much about her life.

Her curiosity got the better of her. "How do you know about me?" Pudding asked, her voice laced with confusion.

Logan smiled knowingly, as if he had anticipated the question. He walked over to a set of stone steps and sat down, patting the space next to him. After a moment of hesitation, Pudding joined him, still unsure but intrigued.

"I knew you'd ask that," Logan said, his tone gentle yet firm. "I met someone from the Three-Eyed Tribe before."

Pudding's eyes widened with hope. "My father?!" she blurted out, her voice filled with excitement.

Logan shook his head. "No, not your father. But he knew your father and was a close friend of his."

Pudding's hope flickered. "Do you know where he is now? Is he still alive?" she asked, her voice trembling with anticipation.

Logan's expression softened as he sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid not. The man I met told me that their island was attacked by pirates. Most of the tribe was killed, and the survivors were scattered across the world. Your father escaped with him, but they got separated along the way."

Pudding's face fell, and she hugged her knees, looking down at the ground. "So... my father never abandoned me. He was forced to leave," she whispered, her voice filled with both sadness and relief.

Logan gently patted her back. "Yes, Pudding. Your father cared for you. He wanted to be with you, but circumstances tore him away. I'm sure you'll find him one day."

The weight of Logan's words lifted some of the heavy burden Pudding had carried all her life. She felt a sense of peace, knowing that her father hadn't willingly left her. She sat in silence for a while, lost in thought. "Thank you," she whispered after some time.

Logan remained silent, knowing that sometimes, a small white lie was kinder than the harsh truth. He suspected, just as Pudding did, that many of the fathers of the Charlotte family had met unfortunate ends after being discarded by Big Mom. But there was no need to add to her pain now.

After a moment of quiet, Pudding broke the silence again. "Logan..." she began, her voice small and unsure, "I have something to ask you."

Logan turned to her, his curiosity piqued. "What is it?" he asked.

"After we leave Whole Cake Island... can I stay with your crew? The world is so big, and I have nowhere to go. I want to find my father... and maybe, if I'm with you, I'll have a chance," Pudding said, her eyes wide with hope and fear.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, "Please, Logan. Let me stay on your ship... until I find him."

Before Logan could react, Pudding dropped to her knees in front of him, her delicate frame trembling as she begged. "Please!"

Logan, taken aback, quickly reached out and lifted her to her feet. "Pudding, you don't need to beg. I promise, you can stay with us. But I need you to promise me one thing too," he said, wiping the tears from her face.

"What... what is it?" Pudding asked, still shaken.

Logan smiled softly. "Promise me you won't kneel down every time you need help."

Pudding stared at him, confused for a moment, before breaking into a smile through her tears. "I promise!" she exclaimed, laughing as relief washed over her.