Chapter 412 - 251

Chapter 251: A New Era (Part 2)!Totto Land, Cake Island.Beneath the Castle Dome, the cloying sweetness of fresh cream intertwined eerily with a brewing murderous intent.A sharp shriek tore through the air like a sonic blade!"Mamamama! That Marine brat... actually killed that old lunatic Shiki!!!"BIG MOM's massive body was deeply sunken into a Throne-like Cake Sofa, her lips, smeared with bright red lipstick, stretched to her earlobes.Her laughter, laced with the aftershocks of Haoshoku, rippled out like a tide. Outside the window, the Homies responded in unison, and the entire castle trembled as if alive.Outside the door, several Chess Soldiers on duty simultaneously collapsed, their Halberds clanging to the ground.Creak!!The gilded Candy Door swung open.Katakuri was the first to enter, his tall figure casting a stern silhouette on the long corridor carpeted with frosting.Behind him followed a petite young girl.The blue floral pattern of her skirt swayed gently, and her brown hair, tied in twin pigtails, trembled slightly in the sweet breeze."Mamamama, Pudding! My dear daughter!"BIG MOM's crimson eyeballs rolled, her gaze fixed on the girl like a grappling hook.She grabbed a three-tiered cream cake nearby, stuffing it into her mouth along with the tray, sugar crumbs splattering from the corners of her lips as she chewed:"What a surprise... Black Leg Sanji of the Straw Hat Pirates, is actually the third son of the Vinsmoke family!"She licked the cream from her fingertips, her laughter suddenly soaring:"This is fate! Fate is helping Mama!!"Zzz... crackle!Black and red electric threads burst from around her without warning, and the void fractured with fine cracks like a mirror.Terrifying pressure poured down like a mountain collapse and a tsunami!"Ugh...!"Pudding's face instantly turned pale, and she crashed onto one knee into the soft carpet.Her third eye twitched under her bangs, and her vision intermittently darkened from the pressure."Mama."Katakuri's steady voice cut into the stagnant air.He took half a step forward, and an invisible barrier quietly unfolded, holding back the rampant Haoshoku three feet in front of Pudding.BIG MOM's laughter abruptly ceased.She leaned down, her huge shadow completely engulfing the girl. Her sweet breath, mixed with the sour smell of fermenting food, assailed Pudding:"Pudding... I want you to marry Vinsmoke Sanji.""I want you to pry open Germa 66's Technology Vault for me... and then turn the Straw Hat Piratesinto Mama's new toys."She extended a thick finger, using her brightly lacquered fingertip to lift Pudding's chin, forcing the girl to look directly into her bloodshot eyes:"Are you... willing?"Pudding trembled.She saw Katakuri's silent figure standing to one side, and she saw the burning, insatiable greed in the depths of Mama's pupils.Then, she smiled.She raised her hand, slowly lifting the bangs from her forehead.Her third eye snapped open!The deep purple pupil bloomed like a poisonous flower, creating an eerie contrast with the girl's sweet face."Don't worry, Mama."Her voice was as sweet as melted honey, but her eyes held a chilling frost:"I'll definitely... have that silly chef wrapped around my finger.""Mamamama!! As expected of my good daughter!!"BIG MOM let go and burst into laughter, making the Crystal Candy Chandelier above her head clink and clatter.But when her laughter abruptly stopped, her finger roughly poked Pudding's forehead:"However, cover up this disgusting eye."Her tone suddenly dropped, her disgust like seeing a crawling insect:"This eye... it only makes one sick.""...Yes."Pudding lowered her head.Her bangs fell back down, completely covering her third eye, and with it, all her current expressions.Sunlight filtered through the Stained-Glass Candy, cutting a small, lonely patch of light onto her slender shoulder.Katakuri silently watched his sister's bowed head, the corner of his mouth under his scarf a cold, hard line.He subtly shifted, signaling Pudding that she could leave.The girl lifted her skirt and turned to walk out the door, her steps still light, but her figure seemed as thin as paper in the overly spacious, Sweet Palace.The door slowly closed, shutting in Linlin's resumed murmurs, vaguely chewing on something, and the pervasive, sickeningly sweet aroma.Outside the castle, sunlight fell on the real pastries, warm and gentle.Pudding stood in the halo of light, raising a hand to lightly touch her forehead, covered by her bangs, her fingertips cold.Katakuri stopped, his tall body turning slightly, the edge of his scarf glowing with a fuzzy warmth in the dim light."Pudding.""If you don't want to, I can find a way...""No need, Brother Katakuri."Pudding looked up, interrupting him.Her smile returned.Sweet and perfectly composed, like an exquisitely piped cream rose, every curve flawlessly perfect."What Mama decides,"She tilted her head, her bangs swaying with the movement, covering any potential gaps that might reveal her emotions,"Even you, Brother... it's hard to change, isn't it?"Katakuri was silent.Pudding turned to face the huge candy window at the end of the corridor.Outside, Homie Clouds dragged rainbows across Chocolate Rooftops, the entirety of Totto Landsickeningly sweet."Besides—"Her fingertips unconsciously traced the embroidered petals on her skirt, her voice so soft it was as if she were talking to herself,"As the chef of the Emperor's Crew, he and I... should have some resonance."She suddenly gave a self-deprecating smile:"No matter how bad it gets...""Can it be worse than in Totto Land?"With those words, she lifted her skirt and walked forward, her small leather shoes tapping lightly.Her steps were so light it was as if she were truly going to a long-awaited date.Katakuri stood still, watching his sister's retreating figure.————————Grand Line, Sabaody Archipelago WatersThe sea breeze, carrying the faintly sweet scent characteristic of Soap Bubbles, swept across the deck.Having just finished a chase with a Sea Beast, the sunny was quietly anchored in a Forest of Rainbow-Colored Bubbles."Sanji... I want food!!!"The roar almost shattered the Gulls resting on the mast.Luffy lay sprawled on the deck, his stomach exaggeratedly sunken into a bowl shape, his Rubber Arms swaying weakly."Sanji, me too!!"Yamato sat cross-legged beside him, her ears drooping, her stomach rumbling in mournful protest.The two wobbled, supporting each other, as they crawled towards the kitchen, as if they would turn into two human skins from hunger any second.Bang, bang, bang!Intense drumming-like sounds came from the kitchen.Sanji's hands blurred in the air, three Frying Panssimultaneously flipping over flames, golden egg liquid and rice dancing in the scorching iron pans.The cigarette in his mouth burned into a long ash, but he never had time to flick it off."Alright, alright! You two gluttons, stop howling—!"With a mighty flick of his wrist, two plates of Seafood Fried Rice, piled high like mountains, slid precisely out the window and clattered onto the Deck Table.Each grain of rice was distinct and coated in egg, shrimp and clam meat glistening with oil in the sunlight.Almost the instant the plates hit the table, Luffy's rubber arm had already wrapped around the edge of a plate.Yamato, meanwhile, simply picked up a plate, even skipping the spoon.Gulp! Gulp, gulp!The sounds of eating, like a whirlwind sweeping leaves, instantly dominated the deck.Sanji leaned out the window frame, dark circles under his eyes particularly noticeable on his pale face:"I'm telling you guys... you want me to recharge that pervert Franky's Energy Tank, and you want me to deal with your Sea King-sized stomachs..."He tugged at his already loose tie, his voice conveying a dying exhaustion:"My hands and feet are almost not my own anymore! Can't we hire another chef to share the burden?!""Mmm—!!!"Luffy's cheeks were stuffed into two balls, his eyes happily narrowed, as he mumbled indistinctly:"So delicious! Sanji's fried rice is the best in the world!"He stretched his neck, swallowed with effort, and grinned, his mouth glistening with oil:"Hehe, Sanji, you have to believe! A chef... will come!"Sanji's eye twitched: "Hey, straw hat... you're not just giving me empty promises, are you?""Don't worry! Don't worry!!"Luffy had already buried his head in the second plate, his answer fragmented by chewing sounds.Yamato lifted her face, covered in rice grains, from her plate, nodding heavily in agreement: "Mm! There will be!"The sea breeze swept past, and a few bubbles delicately landed on the edge of the empty plate, popping into tiny rainbow fragments.Sanji stared at the two foodies who didn't even look up, and after a while, finally sighed in resignation.The cigarette ash finally fell, unable to bear its weight any longer.He turned and walked back to the stove, the flames roaring up again, and the clanging of the spatula against the iron pan once more filled the kitchen.On the deck, Luffy quietly leaned closer to Yamato, lowering his voice:"Actually, I think Sanji alone is enough...""Shh! He'll hear you!"————————Sunlight filtered through the unique Soap Bubblesof Sabaody Archipelago, refracting colorful halos on the Thousand sunny's deck.The aroma of Seafood Fried Rice had not yet dissipated, and several brand new bounty posters rustled in the breeze.Luffy sat cross-legged under the main mast, his rubber arm stretched to an incredible length, shoveling golden egg fried rice into his mouth with one hand, while using his toes to pick up the topmost paper spread on the deck.[Four Emperors] Monkey D. LuffyBounty: 4,054,000,000 BerriesRice grains fell from his wide-open mouth."Eh—?!"He suddenly threw down his spoon, the paper fluttering in his fingertips,"It only increased by this much?!"...Zoro leaned against a nearby Orange Tree, his Three Swords gleaming coldly in the sunlight.He lazily glanced at his own poster:[pirate hunter] Roronoa ZoroBounty: 1,232,000,000 Berries"Tsk." A barely perceptible arc curved his lips, "Not bad."..."Waaah! I have a bounty poster too!!"Yamato bounced up like a child, her ears twitching excitedly.She carefully held up the wanted poster, which showed her with long, flowing hair and holding a Spiked Club:[Ogre Princess] YamatoBounty: 1,225,000,000 BerriesThe sunlight shone on her radiant smile, and the edges of the bounty poster were creased slightly by her grip... "Wait."Sanji's voice suddenly turned cold.He bent down to pick up his wanted poster, cigarette smoke twisting and rising above the paper.His usually carefree smiling face was now taut... not because of the amount, but because of the glaring small print next to the photo:[Black Leg] Vinsmoke SanjiBounty: 1,210,000,000 Berries(Only Alive)His fingertips lingered on the surname "Vinsmoke" for a moment, veins subtly bulging on the back of his hand... "Torao has six hundred and thirty million."Usopp muttered in front of Law's wanted poster,"Surgeon of Death" Trafalgar Law — 630,000,000"Iron Man" Franky — 340,000,000 (Only Alive)"Diva" Uta — 320,000,000"Demon Child" Nico Robin — 300,000,000"Sniper King" Usopp — 200,000,000"Cat Burglar" Nami — 130,000,000"Everyone's over a hundred million now!"Nami's eyes had already turned into Berriessymbols, happily comparing the amounts.Then everyone's gaze involuntarily drifted to the corner.The Little Reindeer was holding his bounty poster with his hooves, his eyes behind his Round Glasseswide.That paper looked especially flimsy in the breeze:[Pet] Tony Tony ChopperBounty: 100 BerriesTime froze for two seconds."W-why..."Chopper's voice began to tremble, the bounty poster shaking between his hooves,"Why do I only have... a hundred Berries...?"He suddenly looked up, tears furiously welling in his eyes:"I fought with all my might!! I'm also the ship's doctor!!!""A hundred Berries isn't even enough to buy a few bags of Cotton Candy, boohoohoo—!!!"His wailing startled the seagulls on the mast.Luffy suddenly slapped his stomach and burst out laughing:"Hahahahaha! Chopper, your bounty poster is still so funny!"Zoro turned his face away, his shoulders suspiciously shaking.Sanji sighed, walked over, and ruffled Chopper's hat:"Alright, it just means those Marine idiots haven't realized how amazing you are."Nami stifled a laugh and handed him a handkerchief: "At least it doubled...""You guys don't understand!! This is a matter of dignity!!"Chopper snatched the handkerchief to blow his nose, but his tears fell even more fiercely,"A hundred Berries isn't even enough to... to buy a Medical Book..."Yamato squatted in front of him, seriously pointing at the bounty poster:"Look, the picture is very clear this time! Chopperlooks super cool when he fights!""R-really?!"Chopper sniffled, looking up, then immediately reacted,"No! That's not the point—!!"Usopp suddenly had a flash of inspiration:"Wait! Could this be some kind of tactic?"He put on a serious expression,"Let the enemy underestimate us because of the low bounty, and then Chopper suddenly transforms into his Monster Form...""Oh, oh, oh! I see!!"Chopper's eyes instantly lit up, but then he immediately slumped,"B-but I still want a higher bounty..."The wind swept across the deck, the bounty posters rustling.Robin walked out of the cabin with Coffee, her gaze sweeping over the papers scattered across the deck, smiling softly:"It seems the World Government... is finally starting to take us seriously."Amidst the noise, Luffy suddenly stretched out his arm and slapped Chopper's Reindeer Antlers with a "thwack.""What does it matter!"He grinned widely, rice grains spraying from the corners of his mouth:"Anyway—"The sea breeze suddenly picked up, scattering all the bounty posters.Pictures fluttered in the air, sweeping past everyone's smiling or helpless faces.Luffy's voice, mixed with the popping sound of bubbles drifting from Sabaody Archipelago, clearly resounded across the deck:"We're all people who are going to be hunted to the ends of the earth anyway!"And in the sunny's kitchen, Sanji silently crumpled the bounty poster with "Vinsmoke" written on it and threw it into the stove fire.As the flames roared and engulfed the paper ball, he lit a new cigarette.(Strong World Arc — End)