Takuro gazed at the elegant, smooth curve of Smoothie's back. Instead of offering words of comfort, he leaned closer, a low and interested chuckle vibrating near her ear. "Oh? You don't like it?" he asked playfully.
Smoothie's body gave a slight tremble at his proximity, yet she made no move to pull away. She remained silent for a long moment, her mind racing before she finally responded with the stoic, resigned logic common among the powerful pirates of the New World. It was as if she were simply accepting a force of nature. "Hmph. Whatever a strongman does is naturally right," she murmured softly.
Just as the atmosphere between them grew heavy and subtle, the sharp, rhythmic sound of an urgent Den Den Mushi broke the silence. "Buru-buru—Buru-buru—" the snail cried out, its ringing echoing through the cabin.
Smoothie took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain her composure and strength. She searched through the scattered clothes on the floor until she found her Den Den Mushi. Seeing the plump, majestic features of her mother simulated on the snail's face, she answered immediately.
"Smoothie! What is going on over there?! Why haven't I heard a report for so long?! Where is Whitebeard?!" The rough, impatient voice of Charlotte Linlin erupted from the snail. In the background, the frightened whimpers of several Homies could be heard, a clear sign that the Yonko's legendary patience was reaching its limit.
"Mama," Smoothie said, doing her best to keep her voice steady and professional. "Takuro is here. He is right beside me." Without waiting for a response, she extended the Den Den Mushi toward Takuro.
Takuro took the device, a lazy, nonchalant grin on his face. "Yo, old hag. It's been a long time since we last spoke."
There was a sudden, heavy pause on the other end of the line. It was as if the gears in Charlotte Linlin's mind had ground to a halt, completely caught off guard by Takuro's voice. She had been bracing for news about the Whitebeard Pirates, yet here was Takuro appearing in the middle of her territory.
However, a second later, her confusion was swept away by pure greed and delight. To Big Mom, Takuro wasn't just a man; he was a "mobile vault" of endless resources.
"Mamamama!!!" The Den Den Mushi mimicked her signature, booming laugh so violently that the snail itself began to shake. "It's little brother Takuro! A distinguished guest! What a wonderful surprise to have such a prestigious guest arrive!"
Her attitude shifted instantly, turning from murderous rage to a display of overwhelming hospitality.
"This is truly marvelous! You've arrived at the perfect time. I recently acquired some exquisite black tea and incredibly precious tea leaves from the East Blue. I must prepare the grandest tea party in history to welcome you! Mamama!!" Her laughter was loud and seemingly enthusiastic, making it easy to forget that she was the same woman who had just been threatening to turn intruders into cake ingredients.
"Wait right there! I'll have my people start the preparations immediately! Smoothie, make sure you entertain little brother Takuro well. Bring him directly to the Cake Castle!" With those final instructions, Charlotte Linlin hung up, already plotting how to extract the maximum benefit from this "quality partner" during the festivities.
Smoothie lowered the Den Den Mushi and turned to look at Takuro. Her eyes were a complex swirl of emotions, but she had regained the cool, professional demeanor expected of a Sweet Commander. "Did you hear that? Mama is throwing a welcome tea party just for you."
Takuro shrugged with total indifference. "A tea party? Whatever. As long as we can sit down and talk business, I don't care about the snacks."
To a man of his stature, social gatherings and battles were much the same—mere tools to achieve a goal. His objective remained clear: he needed to ensure Charlotte Linlin's immense power was aligned with his upcoming "warm-up exercise," a movement destined to sweep across the entire world like a storm.
The two of them adjusted their clothes and stepped out of the cabin onto the deck. The crew members waiting outside wore a variety of expressions—ranging from curiosity to apprehension—but seeing the two emerge together, they wisely chose not to ask any questions.
Smoothie scanned the crowd, her voice carrying the authority of her rank. "Mama has ordered a grand tea party at the Cake Castle to welcome Mr. Takuro. Everyone, prepare yourselves and follow me."
A tea party filled with both sugary sweets and lethal danger was about to begin in the dreamy yet perilous land of Totto Land. Inside the massive Cake Castle, the entire territory began to move at high speed. Under Charlotte Linlin's absolute command, the islands functioned like a precise dessert-making machine.
The Homies sang cheerful, eerie songs as they polished the fine silverware. Lines of Chess Soldiers marched in perfect synchronization to arrange the massive venue, while Head Chef Streusen directed dozens of kitchens. Thousands of cooks rushed to create a mountain of exquisite pastries and desserts.
The children of the Charlotte Family were used to Mama's frequent tea parties, but they could tell this one was different. The scale was unprecedented.
"Listen to me! This tea party must be held to our highest specifications! Use only the finest black tea and the rarest pastries we have! The venue must be decorated more luxuriously than ever before! Mamama!!" From her throne, Big Mom waved her massive arms, her excitement filling the room.
The highest specifications? Such honors were usually reserved for the most powerful figures in the world, like other Yonko or world-shaking legends. The siblings exchanged confused and curious glances.
Perospero, the eldest son, licked his oversized candy cane. He stepped forward cautiously, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Mama~ May I ask... which distinguished guest is this tea party for? Perorin~"
Charlotte Linlin, still in a fantastic mood, let out another booming laugh. "Mamamama~ It's Takuro! Our most important partner and the leader of the Golden Group! Little brother Takuro is finally coming to visit!"
"So, it's him!" Perospero said, his eyes widening as he realized the situation. He knew the name well. Takuro was the "sugar daddy" of the family, a man who had provided massive amounts of funds and resources through business deals over the last few years. It made sense why Mama was going all out.
The older siblings, those involved in the family's financial and political affairs, nodded in understanding. They knew how much the Golden Group's support meant to their empire's stability.
The third daughter, Amande, stood nearby. A tall, cold-looking swordswoman of the Snake-neck Tribe, she leaned against a wall and exhaled a slow ring of smoke from her cigarette. She turned her gaze toward a tall, silent figure leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed.
"Brother Katakuri," Amande said, her voice cool and steady. "Among all of us, only you and Smoothie have had direct contact with Mr. Takuro. Tell us, what kind of man is he, exactly?"
The question acted like a magnet, drawing the attention of every sibling in the room. Even the younger members, who knew nothing of business or politics, leaned in with wide eyes. They had heard Mama complain many times that she hadn't been able to marry one of her daughters to Takuro, often sighing about how wonderful it would be to have him as a son-in-law. They wondered what kind of man could impress their mother so deeply.
Katakuri felt the weight of their gazes. Beneath his thick scarf, his jaw tightened. Memories he usually kept locked away began to surface—memories of being "educated" by Takuro's overwhelming power. He remembered the feeling of absolute despair, a level of strength so high that even his advanced Observation Haki, which allowed him to see into the future, felt completely useless.
He felt a subtle shiver run down his spine, and he tightened his grip on his own arms. After a few seconds of heavy silence, he spoke in a deep, gravelly voice that carried a clear warning.
"Takuro... is a terrifyingly powerful man." He stopped for a moment, trying to find the words to describe a power that felt more like a fundamental force than a martial art. "Specifically... I don't know how to put it into words. You will simply have to see him with your own eyes to understand."
He looked around the room, his gaze lingering on his younger brothers—especially those who looked a bit too arrogant or eager to test their strength.
"Remember this: you must show him absolute respect. Do not try to provoke him, and do not play any tricks in his presence. The consequences of upsetting him are something none of us, not even this family, can bear."
The room went silent. To hear Katakuri—the strongest of the Sweet Commanders and the pride of their family—speak with such caution and even a hint of fear was unheard of.
The curiosity of the Charlotte Family reached a boiling point. There were very few people in the world who could make Katakuri sound so humble. An atmosphere of nervous anticipation and intense curiosity filled the Cake Castle as everyone waited for the arrival of the mysterious guest.
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