Carmel

Mother Carmel was a slaver dealing in orphans who operated in the Underworld several decades ago, under the codename "Mountain Witch". Running an orphanage known as the "Sheep's House", her seemingly benevolent nature caused her to be known as the "Holy Mother", but in reality she sent her orphans into the Marines every two years as spies for CP-0 until 62 years ago. Notably, she took care of a young Charlotte Linlin, who would later go on to become the Yonko Big Mom.

Appearance
Carmel was an elderly woman with a large, wrinkled face and a square-shaped jawline. She had long, wavy light hair and wears lipstick. She wore dark nun's robes that have light frills on them, as well as a similarly-designed headdress. She was always seen either smoking a cigarette or holding one in her hand.

At age 43, Carmel had no wrinkles on her face and lacked lipstick.

Personality
Carmel was a shrewd businesswoman, raising large varieties of children in order to sell them. She was particularly interested in establishing relationships with powerful people in order to increase her influence, as shown when she put on an act for the Marines in order to gain connections to Elbaf and gain children that she can sell at a higher value. Although she appeared to be a benevolent woman who cared for her children like a mother with a ceaseless smile, this was all an act in order to maintain her business, and she did not appear to truly care about her children's well-being beyond ensuring they were fit to sell.

Giants
Because she saved the Giant Warrior Pirates that were captured and about to be executed, Carmel was well-respected by the giants. Because of this respect, the Elbaf giants accepted Carmel's terms in sparing Linlin's life. After the residents of the Sheep's House were forced to move to another country of giants, the giants there graciously build a new house on Carmel's behalf.

Sheep's House Children
Because she took them in and gave them a home when they had nowhere else to go, Carmel was a beloved mother figure to the children. However, unknown to the children, Carmel had ulterior motives in raising them. From time to time, Carmel would sell her children to the World Government.

Abilities and Powers
Carmel has shown herself to be an extremely charismatic orator and actress. She successfully convinced the World Government to spare the lives of several infamous giant pirates by herself, appearing to do so as an outreach for peace when in reality she was looking to expand her business. As she was speaking, she was illuminated by a beam of light during a thunderstorm. Her speech of benevolence and mercy even moved the condemned giant pirates to tears. The giants of Elbaf, including Jorl and Jarl, even held great respect for Carmel's claimed ideology in pacifism despite their dedication to militarism. She could also care for dozens of children of many varieties even in her old age, most notably Charlotte Linlin, as she was one of the few people whose words could quell Linlin's impulses. However, her capabilities were not absolute, as Linlin eventually snapped and went on a rampage after a week without food.

A renowned seller in the Underworld, Carmel had connections to people as powerful as CP-0 and directly aided them by providing them with child spies. She was able to successfully negotiate a high price for Linlin despite their initial hesitance.

Devil Fruit


Carmel ate the Soru Soru no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allows her to manifest and manipulate the souls of herself and other people. She was shown manifesting her own soul and putting it in a fire to create a sun homie named Pandora. The fruit eventually left Carmel, and was later eaten by Charlotte Linlin.

History
Carmel first began to sell children in the Underworld market around age thirty. About thirteen years later, after the Giant Warrior Pirates disbanded, some of their members were captured by the Marines and were about to be executed. Sister Carmel pleaded for their freedom in order to gain connections to Elbaf and expand her orphan selling business, but claimed that it was to prevent a war between giants and humans. She was successful, and opened an orphanage called the Sheep's House on Elbaf, becoming known as the Holy Mother. She took in children who has no place of their own regardless of their race, and sold an orphan to CP-0 once every two years in order to serve as spies in the government. With her connections to Elbaf, she was directly responsible for giving the Marines their first giant soldier, John Giant.

After Charlotte Linlin was abandoned by her parents at the age of five, Carmel took her in as well. Carmel would always forgive Linlin, no matter how much damage she caused. She encouraged Linlin to persevere during Elbaf's twelve day fasting period, but Linlin eventually snapped and went on a rampage for food. Carmel attempted to stop Jorl from attacking Linlin, but was unsuccessful as Linlin ended up fatally injuring the giant hero. Carmel then put a fragment of her soul into the fire Linlin had started, forming a sun homie named Pandora. The giants believed that Carmel had summoned the sun god and were in awe, but this was not enough to quell Jarl's anger towards Linlin. He prepared to kill her, but Carmel pleaded with him, agreeing that she would take Linlin out of Elbaf, and the giants agreed to these terms.

Carmel took her children to another island, where they resumed a normal life in a new Sheep's House. However, soon afterwards she negotiated with CP-0 for them to buy Linlin, claiming that she would make a strong Marine soldier. Growing tired of running her business, Carmel decided that this would be her last deal. On Linlin's sixth birthday, Carmel and the Sheep's House threw a big celebration, but as Linlin ate the croquembouche they had made, Carmel and all the other children suddenly disappeared. Since her Devil Fruit was later eaten by Linlin, Carmel presumably died sometime after this.

Legacy
During all of her Tea Parties, Linlin places a picture of Carmel across from her at the table. If Carmel's picture is damaged, Big Mom will enter a psychological crisis, which will render her able to be physically injured. Reportedly, this information is privy only to the Charlotte Family.

Trivia

 * Carmel's name may be a reference to the Carmelites, a religious order known for selling sweets in Japan, which corresponds with Carmel's nun-like outfit and title of "Mother". The sweets connection also matches the Big Mom Pirates and Charlotte Family food theme.
 * Carmel being a nun but also a children seller may be based in the lost children of Francoism, children who were abducted from Republican parents by Francois troops, in which the Spanish Catholic Church played an important role.
 * Her alias may be a reference to the yama-uba of Japanese folklore. In some versions, they nursed young children before devouring them. Instead of eating them, Carmel sells off the children she took care of.

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