Charlotte Linlin's gaze was fiery, filled with a predatory "enthusiasm" for this "quality partner," yet deep within that smile, the shrewdness and oppressive presence of a Sea Emperor remained undiminished. Takuro glanced at her, not immediately responding to her warm invitation. Instead, his eyes were drawn to the absurdly long banquet table, which was laden with a dazzling array of exquisitely shaped pastries. The air was thick with an intensely sweet fragrance, along with the tempting aroma of freshly baked goods.
Just then, an ill-timed "rumble" came from Takuro's stomach. It wasn't incredibly loud, but in the quiet hall, it was heard by many sharp-eared people present. Takuro rubbed his belly, realizing the truth of his situation. "Speaking of which, after fighting for so long and traveling such a distance, I am indeed a bit hungry," he admitted plainly.
He completely ignored the momentarily solidified atmosphere. Seemingly oblivious to Mama's slightly stiff smile, he walked directly to the huge seat reserved for the main guest—positioned second only to Mama's throne—and unceremoniously plopped down. Then, under the dumbfounded gazes of Charlotte Linlin and all her children, Takuro began his performance.
He completely disregarded the exquisite, art-like silver cutlery, reaching directly for a cream puff that looked as if it were carved from chocolate. It was filled with flowing cream and berries and was about the size of an average person's head. He bit into it with a loud "Crunch!" The crispy shell shattered, and rich cream and sweet-and-sour jam burst out, staining his mouth slightly.
He devoured the entire large puff in a few bites, nodded, and mumbled through a full mouth, "Hmm, the taste is alright, just a bit too sweet." After speaking, he turned his attention to a colossal cake next to him, stacked seven or eight layers high, each layer a different color and flavor. He directly broke off the top layer, adorned with golden sugar sprinkles, and stuffed it into his mouth like a biscuit. Then came the next layer, and the next.
His ravenous eating style was less like savoring a fine meal and more like an efficiency-driven energy replenishment. The entire banquet hall fell into a deathly silence. Only the sound of Takuro's chewing and the occasional "gurgling" of him drinking directly from the spout of an expensive, self-refilling teapot echoed through the room.
The children of the Charlotte Family were all dumbfounded. From the worldly eldest son Perospero to the cool and beautiful third daughter Amande, and even the younger siblings who couldn't hide their thoughts, they watched in shock. They had seen unrestrained eating before, but never anything so uninhibited—even rude—at Mama's highest-grade tea party. This was a complete trampling of Mama's "tea party" etiquette!
Perospero's candy cane almost dropped to the floor. He gaped, muttering, "This... Takuro-sama's dining style... is truly... unique... perolin~" Amande's snake-like eyes beneath her hat brim slightly contracted, and a hint of surprise appeared on her cool face. Even Katakuri, who knew Takuro's personality well, couldn't help but feel the corner of his mouth twitch under his scarf. Smoothie, on the other hand, propped her head with one hand, feeling somewhat helpless, yet also thinking that this was very much in character for him.
Whitebeard, seeing this, first paused in surprise, then let out a hearty laugh. "Gurara-ra! Kid, your eating style is very much to my liking! But save some for me!" As he spoke, the legendary pirate strode to the table, picked up a huge meat pie covered with thick cream, and began to gnaw on it.
Nico Robin elegantly lifted a patterned bone china teacup, sipping her black tea. She seemed entirely unsurprised by the scene, with only a trace of a smile hidden deep in her eyes. Gion, however, was utterly speechless. She looked at Takuro's completely unrefined eating style and then at the Charlotte Family members' expressions, which looked as if their worldviews had been refreshed. She suddenly felt that, by this man's side, she would never have to worry about being bored.
Charlotte Linlin, seated at the head of the table, watched as her smile completely vanished. Her massive hand squeezed the armrest of her throne, making a "creaking" sound that signaled her rising displeasure. Her meticulously prepared tea party, meant to showcase Totto Land's strength and taste, was being treated as a common buffet.
"Ta! Ku! Ro!" Her voice deepened, laced with suppressed fury. The air around them became thick and dangerous, causing some fragile Homies to begin trembling. "You..."
"Hmm?" Takuro had just finished a huge, honey-drenched roasted beast leg. He casually tossed the bare bone onto the table with a loud "clank," then wiped his hands and mouth with the exquisite silk tablecloth nearby. Only then did he look up at the Mama, who was about to go berserk, as if he had only just noticed her mood.
"What's wrong, old hag?" he said, sounding completely matter-of-fact. "Didn't you tell me to eat? It tastes good, just a bit small in quantity. It isn't very filling."
"You—!" Charlotte Linlin was so angry she almost choked. She slammed her hand on the armrest, the immense force making the entire castle shake. "I told you to enjoy the tea party, not to raid it like a starving ghost!"
Terrifying Conqueror's Haki, like a bursting flood, mixed with her towering rage and erupted! Dark red lightning crackled in the air, and a tangible pressure, like a mountain, bore down on Takuro. The lights in the hall flickered violently, and the weaker Charlotte Family children turned pale, almost fainting. Even cadres like Perospero felt their breathing quicken under the weight of a Yonko's power.+2
Whitebeard snorted coldly, and invisible shockwaves rippled out, shielding Robin and Gion behind him from most of the pressure. Gion gripped her sword, Konpira, tightly, her face grave and ready for a battle to break out.
However, Takuro, at the very center of the storm, was like an unmoving reef in a raging tempest. The Conqueror's Haki, powerful enough to make even a Marine Vice-Admiral's mind waver, washed over him without stirring a single strand of his hair. He even had time to pick up the last pudding-like item on the dining table and swallow it in one bite.+1
Then, he clapped his hands as if completing a task and finally straightened his posture. His scarlet pupils met Mama's eyes, which were filled with violence and fury.
"Tea party? Enjoyment?" Takuro sneered, his tone filled with undisguised disdain. "Old hag, I don't have time to play these childish games with you."
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