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New World, Whole Cake Island.
The main base of the Big Mom Pirates.
"Damn that Alex brat! How dare he run wild on my territory! Is he trying to start a war?"
At this moment, Charlotte Linlin's rage spread throughout the entire island, and even the weather was affected.
Inside the sprawling Cake Castle, the Homies quivered in fear, their forms curling inward. The usual cheerful singing and dancing had vanished, replaced by a suffocating silence as the inhabitants braced themselves, dreading that they might be devoured in her wrath.
Outside the great hall, Linlin's children gathered, led by Perospero and Compote. All wore solemn expressions, fear glinting in their eyes. None dared utter a word as their gazes fixed on the scene within the hall.
To them, their mother was less a parent and more an uncontrollable force of nature. In their minds, she seemed to take on a monstrous form. Shadows and an ominous black mist seeped from her presence, the very air crackling with the oppressive aura of her Conqueror's Haki, twisted further by the effects of her Soul-Soul Fruit.
Entering the hall in such a state would be a death sentence. Any who ventured near might be subjected to one of her soul-stealing curses, their lifespan drained mercilessly.
"She hasn't been this angry in a while…"
"The last time was after Katakuri-nii lost on Fish-Man Island."
"Thank the heavens Lola isn't Cocoa Island's minister yet, or we'd have lost another sibling!"
"It's all because of that blasted Flying General! Why does he keep provoking us ?"
The tense atmosphere bred frustration, and many vented their fear and dissatisfaction toward the one responsible for their mother's rage.
Leaning against a wall with her arms crossed, Smoothie surveyed her siblings coolly. "In the New World, everything is a power play. Instead of whining, why not think of a way to calm Mother's anger?"
Though Smoothie's words irritated many of her siblings, none dared retort. Among the Big Mom Pirates, strength ruled even within the family. And while Katakuri's mistake on Fish-Man Island had earned their mother's wrath, it hadn't diminished his status as her strongest child.
Smoothie, as one of the Sweet Commanders, wielded considerable authority herself. She was young relative to some of her siblings but undeniably powerful, her position cemented through merit.
The mention of the Sweet Commanders brought unease to the forefront of the group's collective thoughts.
As if summoned by their musings, a towering figure strode into the room. His short, spiked hair—an amaranth-red hue—caught the light, and his calm yet commanding presence silenced the murmurs among the gathered siblings. Katakuri entered, dragging several men bound tightly in mochi restraints.
Under the watchful gazes of his brothers and sisters, Katakuri tossed the prisoners forward without a word. "These are the culprits,"
Perospero's eyes widened as he recognized the captives. "Katakuri! You actually caught them? Those are Flying General's men!"
"They aren't allied with that faction anymore," Katakuri replied evenly. "But it makes no difference. Even if it was Whitebeard's son stirring chaos in our kingdom, I would do the same."
There was a thought that Katakuri had harbored for some time, though he had yet to voice it aloud.
After the failure of the Whole Cake Island incident at the previous tea party, he had noticed a distinct shift in his family. A quiet unease—no, vigilance—had taken root, particularly when the name Alex was mentioned. It was as though fear itself had crept into their veins.
The ground quivered faintly beneath them. Charlotte Linlin's furious gaze snapped toward the group of captives as they were unceremoniously dumped into the hall.
Her voice was icy, each syllable carrying the weight of her fury.
Katakuri stepped forward. "Mama, these are the ones responsible for causing trouble in Totto Land a few days ago."
Charlotte Linlin's crimson eyes narrowed, veins bulging across her forehead as her gaze locked onto the group of intruders. Wrapped tightly in mochi bindings, they squirmed under her scrutiny.
An invisible aura seemed to seep from Linlin's towering form. They began to scream as wisps of translucent spirit energy—their very souls—started to peel away from their bodies.
"W-We didn't destroy the island!"
"Please! Don't kill me!" another cried. "Big Mom-sama, I'll swear loyalty to you!"
"Yes, we know a secret that will definitely interest you!"
Realizing their lives hung by a thread, the group pleaded desperately, their voices cracking under the strain.
After hearing their desperate pleas, Charlotte Linlin remained composed. Instead of extracting their souls immediately, she coldly commanded, "Spit it out. Tell me everything."
The captives exchanged uncertain looks, silently selecting the most silver-tongued among them. The chosen man stepped forward reluctantly, trembling as he began to speak.
"A few days ago... we stumbled upon information about a scientist," he began, struggling to steady his voice. "This researcher discovered something called Pure Gold. It's said that even a tiny fragment can grant eternal life."
In order to survive, this person gave a brief account but managed to convey the essential points to some extent.
Charlotte Linlin's eyes narrowed. Then, her voice rang out like a thunderclap. "Pudding!"
At her command, a young woman with her bangs covering her forehead and hair tied in twin ponytails hurried into the hall.
"Yes, Mama!" Pudding answered.
"Extract their memories!" Linlin ordered. "Watch them all. Don't miss a thing!"
Trembling under the weight of her mother's fury, Pudding quickly approached the captives. Without hesitation, she plunged her hand into the first man's head, drawing out a shimmering reel of memory film. One by one, she repeated the process, each thread of memory spilling forth like a roll of film.
Carefully selecting the key memories that aligned with the captives' story, Pudding arranged them and handed the final memory films to Charlotte Linlin.
Linlin snatched the films with an almost impatient hunger. The reels glowed faintly, revealing images and truths that could not be falsified.
Her eyes widened as the memories unfolded before her. The scientist. The experiments. The promise of Pure Gold.
"Pure Gold...!" Linlin's voice trembled with an uncharacteristic mix of greed and awe. "Human body gigantification experiments?!"