"My eldest disciple?"
Katakuri nearly lost his footing when those words reached his ears. To be greeted like that in front of his own men left him momentarily speechless, his mind racing to find a dignified response.
While it was true that Yamato had been the one to enlighten him on the secrets of Advanced Conqueror's Haki, that didn't technically make her his master. To put it bluntly, aside from giving him a world-class thrashing during their last encounter, Yamato hadn't exactly sat him down for a lecture. He hadn't expected her to take the liberty of claiming him as her student, a move that caught even the legendary Sweet Commander off guard.
"No, I'm letting her set the pace again," Katakuri muttered to himself, shaking his head to regain his focus.
"Katakuri! It's been ages. Did you miss your master?" Yamato's voice rang out again, louder this time.
The composure Katakuri had just managed to stitch back together collapsed instantly. He watched as Yamato and Haruko stepped off the ship and strode toward him with the confidence of people who owned the island.
"It has been a long time. You haven't changed a bit, Yamato," Katakuri said flatly, though a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his mouth beneath his scarf.
"Nonsense! Can't you see your master has become even more beautiful?" Yamato corrected him, strike a dramatic pose.
Katakuri's eyes shifted slightly. Compared to a few years ago, she did look different; she had added a few more sparkling gemstones to her attire. However, "beautiful" felt like an incomplete description. It was more accurate to say her aura had grown more refined—and far more dangerous.
"Follow me," Katakuri said, cutting the conversation short before he was lured into another verbal trap. "The Tea Party is about to begin. Most of the high-profile guests have already arrived."
He turned and led the way toward the interior of Cake Island, with Yamato and Haruko following closely behind.
"Wow, look at this place! Edible buildings everywhere and the air smells like heaven," Yamato marveled.
As they walked, she took in the sights of the sprawling capital. The roofs were made of chocolate, the walls of sponge cake, and the very ground they walked on felt like hardened biscuit. It was a wonderland of confectionery that defied logic.
"It is truly an extraordinary sight," Haruko agreed, nodding. "You could search the entire Grand Line and never find a place as unique as Totto Land."
"But eating this many sweets has to be bad for your health, right?" Yamato asked, glancing at Katakuri. "You don't have issues with blood sugar or diabetes, do you?"
"No," Katakuri replied, suppressing a strong urge to roll his eyes.
"What about your siblings? Or Big Mom herself? She eats enough sugar to fuel a fleet. Is she really okay?" Yamato asked, her skepticism clear.
"No member of the Charlotte Family has ever suffered from such ailments," Katakuri explained with practiced patience.
Yamato looked genuinely surprised. In a land where dessert was the primary food group, the fact that no one was sick suggested that Big Mom's bloodline was even more biologically gifted than she had imagined.
"So, my dear disciple, what made you think to invite your master to such a prestigious event?" Yamato asked, shifting gears.
Katakuri had expected this. "I simply wanted to repay the favor from our last duel. This Tea Party is special, as I'm sure my subordinates mentioned. There is a wedding taking place—a merger of sorts. While there are various political schemes involved, they won't interfere with the festivities. You are free to enjoy the food and the company."
"Well, since it was your heartfelt wish to see me, I'll accept your invitation with a clear conscience," Yamato said, nodding happily.
Katakuri's expression turned conflicted. "Could you please stop calling me 'disciple' in public? It's going to cause... misunderstandings."
"Oh, are you embarrassed? Fine, I'll give you some face. I won't call you that in front of the others," Yamato agreed readily.
Katakuri breathed a mental sigh of relief. If his younger siblings heard the most powerful man in the crew being called a student by a rival, the gossip would never end. The mere thought made his skin crawl.
"By the way, who is this lady?" Katakuri asked, turning his attention to Haruko.
He had been observing her since they docked. Haruko possessed a formidable presence, and he could sense something familiar radiating from her—a dormant, yet powerful Haoshoku Haki. If he hadn't spent the last few years mastering the advanced forms of Haki, he might have missed it entirely.
"I almost forgot! This is my personal guard and dear friend, Haruko. We're inseparable—we eat, sleep, and train together. Isn't she a beauty?" Yamato introduced her with a grand gesture, even pulling Haruko into a brief hug.
"Young Master, please," Haruko sighed, looking helpless. "You promised to mind your image."
"Hehe, sorry!" Yamato laughed, letting go.
Katakuri nodded respectfully to Haruko. "I can see the bond you share. I have no doubt Miss Haruko is a very capable protector."
Haruko returned the nod with a small, polite smile.
"Of course she is! Katakuri, you've got a good eye for talent," Yamato beamed. She paused for a moment before adding, "You'll have to introduce me to your siblings later. I know you have about eighty of them, so just pick the ones you actually like. I won't be able to remember all of them otherwise."
"That was already part of the plan," Katakuri replied.
Soon, they reached the center of the island: Whole Cake Castle. The massive structure loomed over them, looking like a gargantuan, multi-tiered cake.
"The Tea Party is held on the rooftop garden," Katakuri explained as they entered the grand hall.
"Lord Katakuri!" groups of patrolling chess soldiers shouted, snapping to attention and saluting as they passed. Katakuri acknowledged them with a curt nod and led the women toward a large elevator.
"I have to say, it couldn't have been easy to convince Big Mom to let me in," Yamato chuckled as the elevator began to rise. "Was she furious when you first suggested it?"
"She was... displeased," Katakuri admitted. "But after I explained the logic behind the gesture, she conceded. Despite her reputation, Mama does value certain codes of conduct when she isn't in one of her moods."
"Must be nice," Yamato sighed. "The old man at my house has zero principles. You can't talk sense into him, and even beating him doesn't change his mind. He just ignores everything I say."
Katakuri's brow furrowed. "You actually engage in physical combat with your own father?"
Even with his current strength, the idea of picking a fight with Big Mom was a terrifying prospect.
"All the time," Yamato said casually. "We fought for years. Eventually, he got tired of it, but he still won't listen. It's frustrating."
"You truly are... unique," Katakuri said, genuinely impressed. To fight a Yonko regularly and survive was a feat in itself.
"That was ages ago. What about you? Have you tested your Advanced Conqueror's Haki against your mother yet? You need a proper sparring partner, right?" Yamato nudged him with her elbow, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Katakuri felt a cold sweat break out on his neck. Having a child like Yamato must be Kaido's greatest curse, he thought. No wonder Kaido never had more children; if they were all like her, the world would have ended years ago.
"Well? Have you?" Yamato pressed.
"No," Katakuri said firmly. "I am not as reckless as you. None of us would dare oppose Mama. That would be a death sentence."
"Tch. What's so scary about that? Once your strength passes hers, you'll realize fear is just an illusion," Yamato said, curling her lip.
Katakuri looked at her fearless expression and felt a twinge of admiration. "I cannot do what you do. After decades of following her orders, there are chains on our hearts that we siblings cannot simply break."
He looked away, a somber smile touching his eyes. "In a way, I envy your spirit. It is likely the reason you have grown so powerful."
"Then let me give you a tip," Yamato whispered, her eyes darting around playfully. "Train the next generation. Teach them to be the kind of people who dare to resist authority. Once they start standing up to you, you'll realize the things you feared weren't so big after all."
"Pfft—!"
Haruko suddenly covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she tried to stifle a laugh.
Yamato looked at her. "Haruko? What's so funny?"
"Nothing. I just thought of a very amusing scenario," Haruko said, quickly regaining her composure.
"Tell me! I want to laugh too," Yamato insisted.
Haruko remained silent, maintaining her perfect poker face. Katakuri, meanwhile, didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Yamato's suggestion was absurd; if he trained the younger siblings to be rebellious, he would be the one stuck dealing with the chaos. Only a fool would create more work for themselves like that.
"Katakuri? Think about it, it's a great idea!" Yamato pushed.
"I will... give it the consideration it deserves," Katakuri said, expertly brushing her off. "We've arrived. The venue is just ahead."
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