Chapter 181: Chiffon Joins! The World Trembles!
Kai left.
Under the guests' awed stares and the Charlotte children's tangled looks of anger, fear, and frustration, he walked back to his ship at an easy pace, carrying the spoils of this trip: ownership of five islands.
The ceasefire talks had gone smoothly.
Acting as the Charlotte Family's temporary head, Katakuri had barely bargained at all before accepting every condition Kai set.
In a sea where strength ruled, Charlotte Linlin, lying unconscious on the ground, was itself a declaration of the Charlotte Family's complete defeat.
None of the family officers dared object to what looked like a humiliating deal.
Deep down, they even felt a faint sense of relief.
Trading just five islands to get Calamity Kai to stand down?
Cheap!
…
At the harbor, Rayquaza slowly raised anchor and pulled away from that sweet, fantastical kingdom.
As Whole Cake Island's outline shrank on the horizon, Kai glanced toward the galley and let a knowing smile tug at his lips.
"Sanji. Go bring our 'guest' out. She is hiding in the pantry."
Sanji, who had been glaring at a Poneglyph slab, blinked, then nodded and headed for the kitchen.
Soon, he returned with a pink-haired woman in a floral dress.
"Chiffon!"
Perched on flame clouds off the side, Loki's eyes went wide.
He had never imagined he would see her again on this ship, in this way.
Chiffon did not address Kai first. She turned to Loki and bowed low, face full of apology. "I am sorry, Loki-sama. I… I really cannot accept that forced engagement."
After apologizing to Loki, she turned and faced Kai.
Then she dropped to her knees on the deck, pressing her forehead to the cold planks.
"Kai-sama, forgive my rudeness. I was truly out of options. I had no other way to escape Totto Land."
Her voice shook. Fat tears slid down her cheeks and splashed onto the wood, soaking into dark circles.
She had chosen to sneak aboard Rayquaza because of Katakuri's hint that night.
This ship was the only one that even Linlin had to think twice about touching. It was likely the only way past the Homies who watched every corner of Totto Land.
"Please. Take me with you. I will remember this favor for life. I swear I will repay it, even if it costs me everything."
Her tears fell faster, darkening the boards beneath her.
Seeing her beg in such a small, desperate posture, Loki looked at Kai with a complicated expression. He opened his mouth, then closed it again.
Around them, the crew turned their eyes to Kai as well.
Emotionally, they were on Chiffon's side. Anyone with the courage to fight their fate like this stirred their sympathy. But the final call belonged to their captain alone.
Kai said nothing for a while.
He only watched Chiffon with calm eyes, as if weighing something in his mind.
At length, when the air felt thick enough to cut, he smiled faintly. "As it happens, Rayquaza is short one proper dessert chef. Are you interested?"
"Ah?"
Chiffon's head shot up.
Tear-blurred eyes stared, vacant, stunned. It took several seconds for the words to sink in.
"K-Kai-sama… you mean… you are willing to take me in?"
She could hardly believe it, but then another thought struck her, and she bit her lip hard. Even so, she forced herself to speak. "I am a traitor to the Charlotte Family now. If Mama learns where I am, she will be furious. She will send people after me… after us. To hunt me down. Maybe even kill me."
"If that happens, I will bring enormous trouble to this ship."
At that, Yamato and the others traded looks—not anxious, but amused. Then they all burst into open laughter.
Chiffon blinked, even more lost.
Had she not just said "Charlotte Linlin"?
Kai let the grin fade and waved a hand. "Charlotte Linlin does not keep me up at night. Since I decided to take you aboard, anything that comes of it is my responsibility."
He had just knocked Linlin flat himself. She was not going to be in any shape to make moves against Rayquaza for a while.
Even if she did let her temper drive her toward revenge, her children and subordinates would fight to talk her down.
In fact, once she learned that Chiffon and Loki were shipmates, she might actually be pleased.
"Now. Give me your answer. Stay or leave."
Kai leaned forward slightly, looking straight at her, waiting for her choice.
His words seemed to set something on fire in Chiffon's bones, a courage and resolve that had been crushed down for years.
She snapped her head up.
"If the captain is willing to have me, then I choose to stay. Please take care of me from now on."
She bowed deeply once more.
This time, it was not a plea but a formal salute from the crew to the captain.
"Good."
Kai nodded, satisfied. Then his tone sharpened. "In that case, I have a very important mission for you."
Chiffon tensed. Worst-case scenarios flashed through her mind.
Was he still going to make her finish that wedding with Loki?
No. Anything but that.
She clenched her fists, ready to say no, no matter what, when his voice continued.
"Make us your best chiffon cake."
"That is not… allowed—"
The reflexive refusal stuck halfway in her throat.
She froze for a heartbeat, then joy and a sense of purpose surged through her like a wave.
"I will get it done. I will do everything I can to make the best cake I have ever made for everyone."
"Then we are counting on you, Chiffon!"
"We are really looking forward to it!"
The crew cheered around her.
Back at the Tea Party, they had been dying to taste that wedding cake. Now they would get the next best thing.
"Leave it to me!"
Wrapped in that warmth, trust, and expectation, Chiffon felt like she had found a new meaning to her life, a new stage to stand on. Her entire being blazed.
"Chiffon-san, please allow me to assist you."
Sanji bowed gracefully and followed her into the kitchen.
He might be better known for savory dishes, but his pastry skills were far from lacking.
With Chiffon, Sanji, and the ship's cooks all working together, by dusk, a massive, gorgeous cake stood in the middle of the deck.
It was in no way inferior to the wedding cake destroyed at the Tea Party.
Layer upon layer rose high, smooth white cream like fresh snow covering each tier. Sugar-worked flowers and jewel-bright berries dotted the surface, and a pure, rich scent of egg and milk hung in the air.
Just the smell was enough to make mouths water.
Kai swept his gaze across the eager faces around him and laughed, throwing an arm wide.
"Well? What are we waiting for? Let's have a feast."
"Yeah!"
A roar of joy rang across Rayquaza.
The moment that sweet cream, fresh fruit, and cloud-soft sponge melted together on their tongues, it was like their taste buds woke from a long sleep.
The explosion of flavor made everyone close their eyes without thinking, pure bliss and contentment softening their faces.
"So good."
"My toes are curling."
"This technique. This flavor. As expected of Chiffon-san."
They did not hold back, piling every extravagant compliment they could think of on her craft.
"As long as everyone likes it, that is more than enough," Chiffon said, beaming.
For a chef, the smiles of the people eating were the highest praise.
After a moment's thought, she picked up her own plate and walked toward the rail.
Loki sat astride his flame cloud outside the ship, already eating his slice.
"Loki-sama, about before… I am really sorry—"
He cut her off with a sharp wave. "Just call me Loki. We are crewmates now."
Chiffon blinked, then understood.
This was his way of setting the terms between them.
Her smile softened into something freer. "All right then. Loki. We are crewmates."
The guilt was gone from her tone. Propped against the rail, she let the sea breeze wash over her as they talked. Every so often, her laughter drifted back across the deck.
Watching them slowly ease into real conversation, Kai nodded, satisfied.
The master's advice had not been wasted.
Lose the baggage, and you could finally march forward light.
Viola drifted to his side at some point, dropping her voice. "Kai… what do you think would happen if I quietly peeked at their thoughts right now? Just one look."
Bonk.
"Ow! What was that for?"
Rubbing her forehead, she glared at him.
Kai lowered the finger he had just flicked against her skull and gave her a long look. "If you want everyone to start avoiding you, go ahead."
Even among crewmates, there were things people had a right to keep to themselves.
…
The next day.
Thanks to Morgans and his extremely creative reporting, news of Kai's rampage in Totto Land swept the world like a storm.
The sea boiled.
"Two Emperors Clash on Whole Cake Island!"
"'BIG MOM' Charlotte Linlin Defeated!"
"Unquestioned Number One Pirate Crew: The Beasts Pirates!"
Every front page on the sea was about what had happened on Whole Cake Island.
Some busybodies even started calling the Beasts the "Twin Emperor Pirates."
But the loudest shock came from the World Economic Journal.
Somehow, Morgans had found the nerve to print a full-page photo of Charlotte Linlin lying unconscious.
When Kai asked about it, he only said, "If you are not afraid of making waves, then I cannot be either."
Kai was done hiding.
After beating two Marine Admirals, the Gorosei had already put a mark next to his name. Playing small would not change that.
If so, he might as well turn those victories into a reputation that rang across the world.
On Rayquaza's deck, Chiffon held the freshly printed paper.
Seeing all the blame for the destroyed photo and the blown-up wedding cake laid neatly at Kai's feet, she winced. "I am so sorry, Kai. I made you take the fall."
The guests had only seen Kai and Linlin's clash. Naturally, they had assumed he was behind every piece of destruction.
"It's fine. You're part of our crew now. Carrying this for you is hardly a burden," Kai said with a shrug.
"Kai! Look, the new bounty posters just came in!"
Yamato barreled over, waving a fresh poster.
Kai took it and let his gaze fall on the number.
Calamity Kai – Bounty: 3,000,000,000 Berries.
The corner of his mouth rose.
At least his bounty no longer lagged behind his own subordinates'.
…
On Whole Cake Island.
Recovered from her fit, Charlotte Linlin took one look at the picture of herself sprawled in the dirt and exploded.
"That damned bird! Go! Kill that vermin, Morgans for me!"
Her roar sent Conqueror's Haki spilling out again, rattling the hall.
Seeing her on the brink of another rampage, Katakuri rushed in. "Please rest easy, Mama. Cracker has already left. He will make sure that liar never speaks again."
Hearing that plans were in motion calmed her fury a little.
Then she remembered another "Culprit."
"And find that traitor Chiffon for me! Turn this whole world over if you have to. Drag her back here!"
The ministers in the hall all shivered.
Linlin had not said what she would do once she had Chiffon in hand, but anyone with a brain could guess.
Death was the best Chiffon could hope for.
A strange, heavy feeling spread quietly through many hearts.
Chiffon had been warm and kind, well-liked by most of the family. Thinking about what awaited her now, more than a few felt a pang of guilt.
Their thoughts slid back to Kai's parting words the day before.
"Opera… what rotten luck, dying by his own mother's hand."
"Katakuri. As the eldest brother, look after the ones you still have."
At that, several ministers' eyes flicked, almost involuntarily, to the broad, solid back at the front of the room.
"If only Katakuri-nii-san were our captain…"
It was a thought none of them would ever have dared to voice before.
Now, in this cracked moment, it quietly put down roots.
…
Wano Country, Onigashima.
"That old hag Linlin… how did you get so weak just from an eating fit… boohoo…"
Huge tears rolled down Kaido's face as he wailed and chugged from his sake gourd.
The surge of grief hit hard and vanished fast.
He suddenly smashed the empty gourd on the floor and burst into roaring laughter. "Wororororo! World's number one pirate crew, huh? That brat Kai did well."
As for what trouble that "number one" label might bring him…
Kaido did not bother thinking about it.
Beside him, King cared more about a different detail.
"Loki, with a 2.6 billion bounty… and now even he has joined under Kai?" he muttered.
"And Elbaf…"
A sliver of unease ran through him.
At this rate, aside from Kaido himself, all the combined strength of the Beasts crew might not equal the power Kai had gathered on his own banner.
Their conflicting moods, however, did not touch Queen in his lab one bit.
When he heard Kai had flattened Charlotte Linlin, Queen's fat cheeks twitched once. Then he went right back to humming under his breath and fiddling with his mechanical toys.
The gap had grown too wide to see.
He had completely given up on ever competing with that monster.
Once he decided to just lie flat and enjoy life, the world suddenly felt a lot more spacious.