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Chapter 397: Motherly Love and Filial Piety!
New World — Totto Land, Whole Cake Island
The entire island looked like a massive fairy tale world. Rivers flowed with cream, and houses were built from biscuits. The air was thick with a sickeningly sweet aroma. The flower and tree Homies sang cheerfully, as if there were no troubles in the world.
At the very top of the Whole Cake Chateau, within the Queen's bedchamber.
Crunch! Crunch!
A bone-chilling chewing sound echoed through the spacious hall. A colossal old woman, a veritable mountain of flesh, was shoving handfuls of croquembouche into her mouth.
Charlotte Linlin. One of the Four Emperors ruling over the New World, BIG MOM.
"Ma~mamamama! Delicious! So delicious!"
Mama's mouth was smeared with cream and crumbs. Her eyes narrowed into slits, her mood seemingly at an absolute peak.
"Has that long-tongued Perospero not returned yet? My Tea Party is about to begin, and as the eldest son, he dares to be late!" Mama complained indistinctly between chews.
Just then, the grand doors to the hall were frantically pushed open. Baron Tamago, wearing his top hat, practically tumbled and crawled into the room.
"Mama! Mama! Great news! Absolutely massive news!" Baron Tamago was so excited his sunglasses were askew, and his voice trembled. "Lord Perospero's ship has already entered Totto Land's waters! And…"
Baron Tamago swallowed hard, his eyes brimming with fanaticism. "Lord Katakuri has returned as well!"
BOOM!
Mama's chewing abruptly stopped. A terrifying pressure instantly swept through the entire hall, scaring the singing Homies into dead silence as they shivered in terror.
"Oh? My perfect masterpiece, Katakuri, has returned?" A greedy, expectant smile stretched across Mama's massive face. "Ma~mamamama! I heard that merchant in Foosha Village holds power that can turn people into gods. Since Katakuri went, he must have surely brought that power back, right?"
In Mama's simple logic, Katakuri was her most perfect son and the greatest masterpiece of the Charlotte Family. As long as he took action, there was nothing he couldn't accomplish. What's more, he had that shrewd Perospero tagging along. If those two joined forces, even that drunkard Kaido would have to give them some face.
"Have you contacted them?" Mama reached out her massive, jewel-adorned hand and grabbed a giant piece of cake. "Tell Katakuri to come see me directly! I can't wait to see what kind of 'great gift' he's brought back!"
Baron Tamago wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, speaking with slight hesitation. "Um… Mama. When I tried contacting the Den Den Mushi on their ship just now, things sounded a bit… chaotic on their end. Lord Perospero seemed to be crying and screaming things like 'it's over' and 'the sky is falling'. And then the communication was cut off."
Mama froze for a moment. Then, she erupted into an even more deafening burst of maniacal laughter.
"Ma~mamamama! Crying and screaming? That useless long-tongue must be crying tears of joy! It seems the harvest this time is even greater than I imagined!"
At this moment, Mama was completely immersed in the fantasy of acquiring new power and finding a shortcut to becoming the "Pirate King."
As for betrayal? What a joke. Those were her sons! They were tools flowing with her bloodline! As long as she drew breath, no one in Totto Land would dare harbor even a sliver of rebellion!
"By the way, Mama." Baron Tamago seemingly remembered something and pulled an intelligence report from his coat. "That merchant named Blake has been causing a massive uproar in the Underworld recently. I heard even Kaido and Whitebeard are loitering around Foosha Village and refusing to leave. Even Marine Headquarters has stationed personnel there permanently."
Mama's eyes instantly turned cold and sinister. A shadow of gloom fell over her previously sugar-fueled high.
"Kaido? Whitebeard? Hmph! Those two old bastards sure have sharp noses!" Mama crushed her teacup in her grip, spilling scalding black tea all over the floor. "If this so-called 'dungeon' is truly that miraculous… how could whatever Katakuri brought back be enough to satisfy my appetite?!"
The light of unbridled greed and ambition gleamed within Mama's bulging eyes. She was a natural-born predator. If there was something good in the world, it all belonged to her!
"Cracker! Smoothie!" Mama bellowed at the top of her lungs. Her voice rolled like muffled thunder, echoing throughout the entire Whole Cake Chateau.
Two figures swiftly appeared at the entrance of the hall. One was the armor-clad, sinister-looking "Thousand Arms" Cracker. The other was the tall, long-legged beauty carrying a longsword on her back, Smoothie.
The other two members of the Three Sweet Commanders were now present.
"What are your orders, Mama?" Cracker dusted biscuit crumbs off his armor, his expression entirely respectful.
"The two of you, set out immediately!" Mama waved her massive arm, pointing toward the distant East. "Go to the East Blue! Go to Foosha Village! Investigate exactly what kind of background that merchant named Blake has! If that 'dungeon' can truly make people stronger…"
Mama stuck out her crimson tongue and licked her lips, revealing a chilling, savage grin. "Then make him join Totto Land! Bring his shop and his person entirely to Whole Cake Island! If he refuses… then turn him into a pinned specimen in my collection book!"
Cracker and Smoothie exchanged a glance, a flash of excitement in their eyes.
"Understood, Mama. We will bring that merchant back completely intact." Cracker smiled ferociously, as if he could already picture the little merchant shivering in terror before his Biscuit Army.
They had absolutely no idea. They had no idea what kind of dragon's den they were heading into.
Over there, the Four Emperor Kaido was guarding the door. The World's Strongest Man, Whitebeard, was playing nanny. Lord Imu was practicing the Tri-Beam. And Red-Haired Shanks had just had his worldview shattered by a god-like punch.
These two Sweet Commanders, who were enough to sweep across a region in Mama's eyes… in the current Foosha Village, they probably wouldn't even be able to beat the dog guarding the entrance.
"Ma~mamamama! Go! Go! Bring all the good things in the world back to me!" Mama waved her arms, as if she could already see the day she became the Pirate King.
Just then.
RUMBLE—!
A massive boom echoed from the direction of the port. The entire Whole Cake Chateau trembled slightly.
"Hm? What's going on?" Mama frowned and looked out the window in displeasure.
In the distance, the Queen Mama Chanter was slowly sailing into the harbor. But strangely, there were no triumphant banners flying on the ship, nor were there any sounds of cheering. Instead, a heart-palpitating, dead silence permeated the air.
And standing at the bow, a towering figure resembling a Demon God stood quietly, holding a trident and gazing at the chateau. Even from miles away, Mama could feel that bone-piercing, icy stare.
"Katakuri?"
Mama was stunned for a second, then her massive mouth split into a grin again.
"Ma~mamamama! It seems my good son couldn't wait to present his great gift to his Mama! Let's go! To the port! I will personally welcome my greatest masterpiece!"
Mama pushed the table aside and took heavy, joyful strides toward the port. She had no idea that what awaited her there wasn't a pleasant surprise, but a deadly display of 'motherly love' capable of completely upending the entirety of Totto Land!
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