"Soufflé?"
"Where's the soufflé?"
In the sky, Charlotte Linlin, who had been consumed by frenzy and rage, suddenly froze. Her hands stopped moving, and she immediately looked around.
"That's Jinbe's voice!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Aeridar also ceased his attack after Charlotte Linlin stopped.
"Look down here! The soufflé is right here!"
Jinbe stood in the ravaged Seducing Woods, holding the millstone-sized soufflé and shaking it as he shouted.
"Soufflé! Zeus!"
"Yes, Mama!"
Charlotte Linlin looked down. She immediately abandoned Aeridar and piloted Zeus the thunder cloud in a rapid descent. Smelling the tempting aroma of the soufflé, Charlotte Linlin's expression changed. She reached down with a massive hand, looking as if she intended to cram Jinbe and the dessert straight into her mouth.
Rumble…
The ground was crushed like tofu beneath her grasp, tearing out a pit and leaving five huge claw marks.
"Huh? Where's the soufflé?"
Charlotte Linlin stared at her hand in confusion, gravel and sand trickling from between her fingers.
"Over here!"
"Where?"
A voice came from the side. Charlotte Linlin immediately looked in the direction of the sound.
At that exact moment, as Charlotte Linlin opened her mouth to speak, a millstone-sized orange cake flew rapidly into the air, perfectly lodging itself and filling her mouth.
Tasting the soufflé, Charlotte Linlin stopped moving, chewing the dessert in her mouth.
"It's so delicious!"
"This is it! This is the one!"
She sat down on the ground, cupping her cheeks with a look of pure enjoyment, like an eight-hundred-pound, delighted child.
"Thank goodness."
"Mama's back to normal!"
"Looks like the fight's off!"
The sky cleared back to blue. Zeus and Prometheus returned to their original, harmlessly cute forms and floated in the air. Napoleon also reverted to the bicorne hat and hopped back onto Big Mom's head.
"Hoo…"
Katakuri, who had just arrived, saw this scene and let out a sigh of relief.
"Such a troublesome woman…" Aeridar squinted his eyes, watching the now-calm Big Mom below, and slowly descended from the sky.
Charlotte Linlin contentedly wiped the corners of her mouth, looked down at Jinbe standing before her, and chuckled, "Oh, isn't this my loyal Jinbe the Knight of the Sea!"
"Mama."
Jinbe gave a slight nod. Having pledged his loyalty to Big Mom, he had no choice but to show deference.
"The Poneglyph you brought me was truly wonderful! Though I can't read it, ma-mamama!" Charlotte Linlin said with satisfaction, then burst into laughter. She was clearly pleased with the token of allegiance Jinbe had offered.
"Weren't you supposed to be at the castle? How did you end up here?"
Charlotte Linlin asked, but then noticed the absolute devastation around her. The ground was scarred, broken or damaged trees lay everywhere, and the Juice River was a ruin, completely cut off.
"Hmm? Why do I feel like this place smells strangely fragrant? Did you do this?"
Turning her head, Charlotte Linlin stared at Jinbe and asked.
"No, I just arrived. I have no idea what happened," Jinpē stated soberly.
"Mama!"
At that moment, Katakuri, who had followed Jinbe, walked over. Though he held his trident, his gaze was directed to his right.
"My son! You're here too!"
Seeing her son, the masterpiece of the Charlotte Family, Charlotte Linlin broke into a happy smile and followed his gaze.
"Well, fancy meeting you again, Big Mom, and you too, Jinbe." Aeridar looked at the completely calm Charlotte Linlin, offered a nonchalant smile, and glanced at Jinbe beside her.
"Aeridar-sama!" Jinbe showed considerable respect toward Aeridar.
"Oh my, you little brat, Golden Ring! It's surprising you came to attend my Tea Party!" Charlotte Linlin was astonished, but her eyes were filled with danger. She asked in a low voice, "Did you... cause this mess?"
"Don't try to pin it on me. I won't be taking responsibility!" Aeridar spread his hands and shrugged, an air of unconcern about him.
Katakuri quickly stepped forward and said, "Mama, please leave the matters here to me. You should return to the castle first."
Interrupted by Katakuri, Charlotte Linlin realized something and did not press the matter further.
Afterward, Charlotte Linlin took Jinbe and the guest, Aeridar, back to the Whole Cake Chateau.
Meanwhile, Katakuri sheathed his trident, Mogura, and summoned the various Ministers of the Big Mom Pirates to begin repairing the Seducing Woods and the capital, Sweet City.
Although the Seducing Woods was severely damaged, the cost was considered worthwhile compared to saving the capital, Sweet City. After all, the guests for the Tea Party tomorrow would enter the capital from the port and proceed directly to the Whole Cake Chateau, not entering the Seducing Woods. As long as the periphery of the Seducing Woods was fixed, the damage wouldn't be discovered.
Before long, the Ministers of the Big Mom Pirates all received the news and rushed from their respective governed islands to Whole Cake Island. They knew the importance of the Tea Party tomorrow and absolutely couldn't afford to mess up.
However, the fact that Aeridar had lured Big Mom out of Sweet City and successfully delayed her for several tens of minutes made the Charlotte Family both extremely wary and surprisingly grateful.
Charlotte Katakuri, in particular, gifted Aeridar a zanbato (horse-killing sword) nearly 1.6 meters long the following day.
This zanbato was exquisitely crafted, with a cloud pattern on the blade and the characters '安息' (Ansoku) inscribed on it, meaning 'Rest in Peace'. It also bore the inscription: "Where it passes, all find rest." Forged using high-quality metal ores and a special method, it was almost equivalent to a Great Grade Sword in quality.
More importantly, this zanbato possessed a legendary history. It was the weapon of a king from five hundred years ago, the last king of that kingdom.
This last king had astonishing martial prowess and frequently led charges into battle, often cutting down enemy cavalry, man and horse together.
Though his bravery was exceptional, easily defeating the combined forces of several surrounding nations, he offended a World Noble and incurred the wrath of the World Government. Ultimately, the Marines dispatched a powerful Buster Call fleet and annihilated his kingdom.
In that national annihilation campaign, the last king wielded this zanbato named 'Ansoku', fighting fiercely against three Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals. It was even rumored that one of them was a contemporary Admiral candidate. However, he eventually died in battle under the siege of numerous Marines after slaying two of the Vice Admirals.
By rights, this zanbato named 'Ansoku' should have been collected by the Marines, yet somehow, it ended up in Katakuri's hands, and now, he had gifted it to Aeridar.
Katakuri truly lived up to his reputation as the other chief officer of the Big Mom Pirates besides Perospero. His emotional intelligence was high; he played to Aeridar's preference for collecting various treasures by sending him a famous sword that was both practical and historically rich.
Upon seeing the zanbato, Aeridar couldn't help but think: This trip was worth it! Not only did I test Big Mom's strength, but I also gained such a fine treasure. I didn't fight this battle for nothing.
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