Whole Cake Island.
The island's shape resembled a multi-layered cake, and at its center stood the towering Cake Castle — the grandest and most ornate of all.
On the castle's top floor, there was a vast platform overflowing with sweets and whipped cream.
Throughout the week, this was where Charlotte Linlin hosted her famous tea parties, and during those occasions, countless members of the Charlotte family would gather.
"Has the meeting started already? Is Katakuri alright…?"
The one speaking looked exactly like the stereotype of an old witch — a large, hooked red nose, wrinkled skin, and sharp eyes.
It was Charlotte Brûlée, the 8th daughter and 19th child of the Charlotte Family. She was forty-one years old but looked closer to ninety-one.
Staring at the floating island in the sky, her voice trembled with unease.
"Brûlée," Smoothie said as she sat cross-legged at a white dining table, her calm tone carrying authority. "If anything happens up there, you're to take a team and provide support immediately. Mama didn't bring many with her, and once the exchange is over… who knows what might happen."
"Are you that nervous?"
The cold voice came from Charlotte Amande, one of the 34 Ministers — the Minister of Nuts.
She wore a hat three times wider than her own body and held a lit cigarette between her pale lips. Her light-green eyes carried a permanent scowl.
Amande was tall, gaunt, and deathly pale, with long, sky-blue curls cascading down her back. Her lips were full, her nose small and flat, and as a member of the Longneck Tribe, her slender neck bore a tattoo — a stripe and two hearts.
"Don't underestimate Straw Hat," Smoothie replied seriously. "You saw the news, didn't you?"
If he dared to invade the Holy Land itself and slaughter Celestial Dragons, why would he hesitate to cause trouble here?
"Didn't Mama plan to marry one of us to him? Then there shouldn't be any fighting, right?!"
The shrill voice belonged to Charlotte Flampe, who slammed her tiny fists on the table.
She was the 36th child of the Charlotte Family — only thirteen years old, self-proclaimed as the most popular girl among her siblings, cute as a doll, spoiled as a queen, and just as stubborn.
Smoothie cast her a silent, weary glance.
For this meeting, Linlin had two purposes.
The first — and by far the most important — was the safe recovery of Katakuri.
As the Charlotte Family's greatest masterpiece and the most powerful combatant under Big Mom's command, rescuing him was non-negotiable.
The second — the matter of marriage.
Recently, the family had gathered extensive intelligence on Monkey D. Luffy, the Straw Hat.
His combat power was now undeniably on par with a Yonko — and he was only seventeen years old. No one could even imagine how much stronger he might grow in the future.
Marrying into such potential was, naturally, advantageous.
But controlling someone like that?
Completely impossible.
Even Linlin herself had no real confidence in it.
And choosing which daughter to marry off was another massive issue.
To even consider success, a candidate needed three essential traits — a similar age, a pleasing appearance, and combat strength of her own.
All three were non-negotiable.
After all, marriage was not about love — it was about aligning interests.
And between the Straw Hats and the Charlotte Family… there were none.
Without mutual benefit, at least ninety-nine percent of any alliance was doomed to fail.
Sighing softly, Smoothie rose from her chair.
"Anyway, don't let your guard down. The moment we learn what's happening up there, everyone follow me straight into the Mirror World!"
---
Grand Banquet Hall
Charlotte Linlin sat at the head of the long table.
The Straw Hats had prepared only one chair for her; the rest of her accompanying children were left standing.
Mr. 3 politely poured her a cup of Earl Grey.
"No need to serve me tea, Straw Hat," Linlin said coldly. "Let's begin."
As she spoke, her sharp eyes swept over the group before her.
There were many of them — far more than she expected.
Aside from the green-haired swordsman, whose Conqueror's Haki radiated like a storm, there were also two former Shichibukai present.
Jinbe and Gekko Moria.
She had once sought to recruit Jinbe herself, but he had defied her, and the Fish-Man Island was now officially under the protection of the Straw Hats.
As Big Mom observed them, Luffy and his crew silently observed her and her five chosen companions in turn.
Luffy couldn't tell whether to admire her courage — or call it arrogance — for bringing only five of her children.
But each one was formidable.
Charlotte Cracker, one of the Sweet Commanders, user of the Bisu Bisu no Mi, bounty: 860 million Berries.
Charlotte Snack, bounty: 600 million Berries.
Charlotte Perospero, bounty: 700 million Berries.
Charlotte Daifuku, Minister of Beans, bounty: 300 million Berries.
Charlotte Oven, bounty: 300 million Berries.
Luffy reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gelatin cube.
Inside it — a heart, still faintly beating.
He tossed it lightly in his hand.
"Katakuri," he said calmly, "you can go back to your mom."
Katakuri's sharp eyes widened. He stepped forward, moving behind Big Mom before whispering quietly,
"That's… my heart."
There was no need for further explanation. Linlin understood immediately and glanced toward her eldest son.
Perospero stepped forward, unfurling a scroll.
"Straw Hat, the thing you wanted."
He unrolled the parchment just enough for everyone to see — ancient inscriptions glimmering faintly — before rolling it back up.
Luffy looked to Robin.
She nodded.
"I only caught a glimpse," she said, "but the part I saw was definitely the ancient text of a Poneglyph."
Big Mom gave a low, rumbling laugh.
"Do you think I'd lie to you? Such deceit would be beneath me, Straw Hat."
"As expected of a Yonko — full of integrity," Luffy replied with a grin.
Whoever believed that was an idiot.
"Straw Hat," Perospero continued, smiling slyly, "hand over Katakuri's heart first, and the rest of the text is yours. You know as well as I do — a Road Poneglyph is useless unless you have all four. So rest assured, we won't go back on our word."
After a moment's pause, Luffy simply tossed the heart toward them.
Perospero caught it, blinking in disbelief.
He actually handed it over?
There had to be a trick…
"Is this really Katakuri's heart?" he muttered, glancing back at his brother.
Moria gave a crooked grin.
"Kishishishi! Go ahead, squeeze it! If it hurts, it's the real deal."
Usopp laughed, puffing out his chest.
"Luffy would never lie to you! I swear on the name of the Great Usopp!"
Perospero gave him a long, unimpressed stare, then turned to Katakuri.
"Is it real?"
Katakuri hesitated, then said gravely,
"Do it."
Perospero squeezed.
Katakuri's face instantly drained of color. He gasped, clutching his chest.
"It's real!"
Without hesitation, Perospero handed the heart back, and Katakuri pressed it to his chest.
When the steady rhythm of his heartbeat returned, he exhaled deeply.
You only realize a heart's worth once you lose it…
"Mamamama… how honorable, Straw Hat!" Big Mom cackled. "But now that you've got nothing left to bargain with — aren't you afraid I might just crush you where you stand?"
The moment her words ended—
Zoro's hand was already gripping his sword hilt, a savage grin splitting his face.
Bartolomeo's fingers began to glow as his barrier shimmered to life.
Usopp pulled back his slingshot.
Moria's shadow stretched across the floor, creeping toward the Charlotte children's feet.
In an instant, the hall turned tense —
a single spark away from exploding into chaos.
---
(End of Chapter)