The small movement instantly attracted everyone's attention.
The next moment.
The door was completely opened.
A handsome black-haired boy dressed in black walked in slowly.
Behind him followed the high-ponytailed swordsman girl with a cold temperament, and then the huge figures of Xiong and Jack, as well as the other cadres.
The boy had a calm expression and swept his eyes across the entire venue.
All the guests, including the underground emperors, suddenly felt their hearts tighten, subconsciously raised their glasses and forced smiles.
The ordinary guests did not even dare to breathe, until the group of the Fallers passed by their table and walked away, then they dared to look up at those figures.
What a terrifying pressure...
Some guests took out their handkerchiefs to wipe the cold sweat off their faces. Whether it was the pressure of fame or something else, just by looking at the world's number one swordsman, they felt their entire backs wet.
"Mmmmmmm!"
BIGMOM burst into laughter. "You're finally here, Shano! Hurry up and take your seats! Everyone's been waiting for you!"
"Sorry, I'm late,"
Shano said casually with a smile. He didn't hesitate, sitting down with his legs crossed in the spacious seat BIGMOM had reserved for him. He glanced at BIGMOM briefly.
He had already met two of the Four Emperors, but this was his first encounter with the Queen of Totland.
He had already expected her appearance, so he wasn't impressed. His main focus was on her size.
At 8.8 meters tall, even sitting there, she was an intimidating presence. She was the tallest known human, and practically represented the limit of human talent.
A full-scale melee with such a monster would surely be exhilarating, right?
Unfortunately...
Judging by the other party's warm and sincere welcome, there was no chance for that for the time being.
Meanwhile,
Kuina and the others also took their seats.
Whether it was coincidence or deliberate, it was unclear.
Shano and Bigmom sat across from each other at opposite ends of the long table, and to their left and right, the officers were similarly matched.
For example...
Across from Kuina was Katakuri;
Across from Kuma was Smoothie;
Across from Jack was Cracker;
And across from Smoker was Air.
—There was no alternative, as the last General, Snagg, was currently on a mission and hadn't returned yet.
As for Perospero, the only other eligible for this position, he was currently shouldering the responsibility of the eldest son, helping with coordination in the kitchen.
...
Three Generals versus Three Misfortunes?
Aside from Charlotte and the Fallen, all those seated at this table were the emperors of the underworld.
Noticing this, they exchanged subtle glances, their expressions full of meaning.
It seemed Bigmom valued the Fallen even more than one might have imagined...
This seating arrangement clearly considered Shano his equal.
The juxtaposition of the "Three Evils" and the "Three Generals" hints at the idea of the Falling Ones as a truly worthy imperial group, on par with the Banko!
"By the way, Katakuri,"
Kuina said, accepting the tea from the waiter beside her. "I was thinking of saying this yesterday at the port. After the tea party, how about we have a sparring match?"
"Although I don't think you're my match..."
Katakuri was a little surprised. After a moment's thought, he said, "But since you've come from afar, you're a guest. I can accept this request."
"How arrogant," Kuina sneered.
Smoothie also looked up at the bear, one hand on his chin, a look of interest on his face. "Hey, big guy, did you hear that? Those two guys are talking so disrespectfully that it's getting me a little itchy. Should we have a fight sometime?"
"It's unnecessary. I don't want to fight," the bear said, shaking his head.
Right, right, right. What's the point of fighting? Eating isn't as important. Bonnie nodded vigorously, tiptoeing to take the mousse cake in front of Bear, pouring it into her mouth and swallowing it in one gulp.
"Tsk, boring,"
Smoothie pouted, her eyes turning to Shano.
This man was still attractive, but unfortunately, his standards were too high. He couldn't even look down on a super-beautiful woman like her.
Cracker glared at the eager Jack.
"Don't look at me! I lost my weapon yesterday and I'm feeling bummed. I'm not in the mood."
"Yeah, yeah, young people are just full of energy!"
BIGMOM laughed heartily and clapped her hands. "But today's a happy tea party. We're all friends drinking tea together. Fighting or something like that would be too jarring. Let's talk about it another time!"
She turned to Shano.
"Speaking of which, Shano, I invited you here this time. Besides wanting to meet this dazzling new star in person and introduce some old friends to you, I also have something very important to discuss..."
The banquet hall suddenly fell silent.
All the guests pricked up their ears—the real highlight was about to begin!
"Oh?"
Shano remained expressionless, taking a sip of his tea. "What's going on?"
"Of course it's about a marriage! You really need me to explain it to you personally? Young people these days are such a stunners..."
BIGMOM smiled brightly and got straight to the point:
"Look, Shano, look at my daughters: Smoothie, Garrett, Castard... Each one is a beauty picked from thousands. With just a nod, you can pick any one!"
"If you like them all, marrying more is no problem! With your bloodline and talent, the babies you give birth to will surely become the future pillars of the Wan Kingdom. The more the better, ma ma ma ma!"
Several of Charlotte's daughters, who were named, either shyly lowered their heads like Castard, or boldly flirted with Shano like Smoothie.
The other guests exchanged glances, stunned.
The Wan Kingdom, indeed, relied on marriage to sustain its expansion.
But never before had he heard of such arbitrary terms being offered to outsiders.
And not to mention throwing so many daughters at once!
Bigmom was determined to get the world's greatest swordsman aboard his chariot!
"Mom!"
Katakuri glanced at his sisters, frowning. "I don't think this sort of thing is appropriate to discuss at a tea party. How about in private..."
"Shut up, Katakuri!"
Bigmom interrupted impatiently, turning around and gazing intently at Shano.
"Hey! What do you think, Shano? I'm putting this out there. If you become my son-in-law, you'll be second-in-command of Wano. The resources of the entire thirty-six islands of the Totland Sea will be yours to use from now on!"
"Star generals like Katakuri and Smoothie will all become your subordinates. This is such a generous offer, you won't find another one. Mmmmmmm!"
A pin drop echoed through the vast tea party square.
Everyone held their breath, awaiting Shano's response.
Some young guests, their eyes filled with envy. Damn it, why even consider this? If only they could ever get half of this offer... no, even one-fifth would be fine!
"It's a very tempting offer,"
Shano said leisurely under countless gazes.
"Your attitude is very sincere. I have to thank you for your kindness. However, this offer is really nothing. Not only is there a second family, there's even a third one."
"What do you mean?"
BIGMOM was stunned.
"Your two old friends, Kaido and Whitebeard, have expressed similar ideas."
Shano put down his teacup and said with a half-smile, "It seems your intelligence isn't good enough... Anyway, being a son-in-law or a son, a marriage alliance or direct joining, it's essentially the same. It makes no difference to me. I have no plans to get married yet, and I'm not used to being inferior to others."
Robin and Kuina narrowed their eyes almost simultaneously.
"Kaido! Newgate!"
BIGMOM's eyes widened, her teeth itching with hatred.
Shano had only been in the New World for three months. She had thought she had acted quickly enough, but those two had actually gotten there first!
Whitebeard was fine, that old man just loved to adopt sons everywhere, she had long been accustomed to it.
But what was that Kaido kid doing?
He had been avoiding her for so many years, when did he even have a daughter? And he used her to recruit Shano?
Humph, how ridiculous! With that brat's looks, the children he gave birth to would be ugly too, how could they compare to her daughter!
...
The guests below couldn't help but feel a little panicked as they looked at BIGMOM, whose face gradually darkened.
Was BIGMOM going to get angry?
What the hell!
If these two started fighting, wouldn't the entire Cake Island be blown up? How could they survive?
Katakuri and the others were still sipping their tea, their expressions calm.
These guests were too pessimistic.
Aside from her food cravings, Mom's intelligence was always topped off. Her brutality and ferocity, her willingness to punish anyone at the slightest provocation, were a way to intimidate those ignorant, low-ranking pirates.
Especially those fresh-from-the-paradise supernovas who barely grasped the power of Haki and were already clamoring to challenge the Four Emperors.
When faced with a peer like Shano, she naturally had a different logic.
As expected.
"Mmmmmm!"
BIGMOM suddenly burst into an exaggerated laugh, his fat body shaking in his seat, shaking the entire open-air square slightly.
"After all, he's the world's greatest swordsman, with a bounty that's almost catching up with us old guys!"
She stared at Shano with a smile, "If everyone is vying for you, I don't seem to have any advantages to show for it!"
"Since you don't have such plans, then let's not talk about the marriage! But we can barely be considered friends now, right?"
"Of course."
Shano took a sip of red tea and smiled slightly, "Wan Guo is indeed a nice place, and I can't bear to ruin the tranquility here."
...
BIGMOM leaned over slightly, put his hands on the table, and stared at him for a while with narrowed eyes.
"Mmmmmmm! Just hearing you say that is enough!"
She suddenly sat back down and laughed heartily. "Business over. Now it's time for pure enjoyment. So, I declare this tea party officially open! Perospero, have the desserts served from the kitchen!"
"Yes, Mom!"
the eldest son's voice replied respectfully from somewhere.
The next moment, several doors leading to the kitchen corridor opened simultaneously, and dozens of chefs filed in, pushing exquisite food carts. The carts were piled high with desserts of all shapes and sizes: chocolate cakes, puddings, cream puffs... familiar and unfamiliar, hundreds of varieties, a dazzling array.
Bonnie was stunned.
Eh?
She'd thought the dozen or so desserts on the table when she came in were all there was, but it turned out to be just appetizers?
Hundreds of desserts... Wow, this is heaven, it really is!
Her mouth was watering, she couldn't hold it back. As soon as the food cart rolled over, she grabbed a puff and stuffed it into her mouth. The rich cream burst into life, and Bonnie was so happy that tears almost flowed out. She turned her head and looked to the side: "Nami..."
"Stop it, I understand, Bonnie."
Nami's mouth was also full, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's so good, it's really so good. Damn it, if only Uncle Zeff could make so many desserts for every meal."
"Hey, do you want a beating, little girl?"
Zeff was furious. "I'm only one person, and there are at least a hundred chefs here who have been busy preparing for days! How can we compare!"
Huh? Zeff...
BIGMOM couldn't help but glance over at the name.
It was that Zeff, yes, she had heard of him before, the captain of the Chef Pirates, his culinary skills renowned throughout the world.
She had even considered sending someone to kidnap him back to Wanguo to serve as sous chef, but unfortunately, he never made it to the New World, seemingly unable to continue, having withdrawn from the Grand Line...
And now he'd become the chef of the End?
What a shame! Now she couldn't force him.
Just as she was lamenting, BIGMOM suddenly noticed something, her eyes brightening.
"Oh! That old man, Long Bread, seriously... I told him not to make this for me, and he still did it? I can't help him!"
She looked at the massive food cart that had just rolled out.
A strawberry cake, seven or eight meters tall, towered tall, its fragrance wafting from afar, sweet and alluring.
This was the masterpiece of Wanguo's head chef, Long Bread, using a secret recipe and one of BIGMOM's most cherished desserts.
"Mmmmmmm, no, I can't help it when I smell this!"
BIGMOM grabbed his knife and fork, his mouth watering. "Hurry up and bring it over! I'm taking this cake all by myself, and you guys are not allowed to grab it!"
"Hey, what's up?"
Bonnie said angrily, standing up with her hands on her hips. "Don't be so stingy, Lingling! I'm such a little thing, how can I take much of your food? At least you can just give me a bite!"
"Don't be so rude, Bonnie."
Bear frowned.
"It's okay,"
Smoothie casually put a piece of fruit tart into his mouth and replied lazily, "Don't worry, Mr. Bear, I guess it's because of our childhood playmates... Mom has always been very generous with children under ten."
Really?
Bear looked at BIGMOM in surprise.
As expected, BIGMOM wasn't angry at all. Instead, he was amused. He laughed heartily, reached out, and rubbed Bonnie's little head.
"Don't be impatient, little one. I only said this strawberry cake is mine, but there's more than one strawberry cake. There'll be your share later."
She shouted towards the kitchen, "Hey! Perospero, did you hear that? Mr. Longbread is making a second cake!"
"Are you trying to drive this old bone of mine to death, Lingling?!"
The old, exasperated voice came back, followed by a helpless sigh. "Never mind. I can see you're in a good mood today. I'll just work harder for you."
"Mmmmmmm! Did you hear that, little Bonnie? Your share will be here right away!"
BIGMOM chuckled, raised his fork, and took a stab at the cake. "Just be patient. Wait a little longer. As for me, I'll start eating first..."
Yes, that's it.
Eat it all. Eat it all quickly, Lingling.
Stussy had been staring at this side out of the corner of her eyes, and she was getting a little impatient. Seeing this scene, the corners of her lips finally curled up slightly.
She picked up the black tea gracefully and took a sip.
Before the tea party started, she had sneaked into the kitchen early and injected the special potion into this giant strawberry cake.
As a clone, she has all the memories of Miss Bakin on the Rocks ship, and she knows Long Bread and Lingling too well.
Without even thinking about it, she knew that this cake must have been made by Long Bread specifically for Lingling, and that Lingling would be the only one to make it.
As for the contents of the potion...
It is a "super flavor enhancer" specially developed by the headquarters' scientific corps.
It can make the already delicious food more enjoyable to the taste buds several times.
It seems to be useless, but it is a secret weapon against Lingling.
After eating this adulterated cake, Lingling will not be satisfied, but her appetite will increase dramatically;
But without her flavor enhancer, Lingling couldn't enjoy the second cake made with the loaf of bread to the same degree. She
was craving something, but the kitchen couldn't replicate it. With
both conditions met simultaneously, Lingling's food cravings were practically unleashed, and feeding her food was completely impossible to stop. Consequently,
Cake Island would suffer a devastating blow, and the Fallen would be swept up in it. There was even a high probability that some of those close to her—like the little girls—would be captured and eaten on the spot by Lingling...
Humph, one of the Four Emperors, and another so close to them. These two factions wanted to form an alliance?
With her, the ace agent of CP0, there was no way they could succeed!
Fight, fight!
Stussy could already see the scene of an all-out war between the two sides. If it weren't for the large crowd present, she would have burst into laughter...
"Delicious!"
Just then, a satisfied exclamation was heard.
Hmm? It's not Lingling…
Stussy frowned and turned to look, only to see Bigmom's fork frozen in mid-air, staring blankly at the scene before him—
Bonnie had somehow climbed onto the food cart, her face buried in the cream, frantically stuffing her mouth with cake.
"Bonnie!"
Bear's face paled, and he rushed forward to pick her up.
But it was too late.
"Burp~"
Bonnie burped loudly, patting her round belly and contentedly lying on the empty table. "Delicious! Absolutely delicious! Lingling, thank you! I declare this the best, most amazing cake I've ever had in my life!!!" BOOM!
Like a bolt from the blue, it exploded overhead, leaving Stussy stunned.
As she reacted, she gritted her teeth, her pretty face instantly contorted into Miss Barkin herself.
"Damn you little brat!
—You've ruined my life!!!"
"Huh? What's going on?"
BIGMOM finally came to his senses, staring blankly at Bonnie.
"My, my cake..."
Katakuri and the others paled slightly, instinctively sitting up straight.
"It's okay, Lingling, don't worry, there's still some in the kitchen! I'll go get some for you!"
Stussy quickly stood up and, like a good friend, patted Lingling's shoulder and offered soothing words. Then, she immediately opened the door and hurried to the kitchen.
Calm down, Stussy, there's still a chance!
Her pace quickened, taking a deep breath and reaching into her bag with her right hand.
The contact from the CP department had prepared three full potions for her. She had originally been so disdainful of it that she wanted to throw away the extra two.
—How could she possibly fail?
Fortunately, fortunately, she hadn't been so impulsive back then, giving her a chance to make amends...
Huh?
Huh? ??? !!! !!!
Stussy paused, fumbled stiffly for a few times, then lifted the bag with a look of disbelief on her face, flipped it open, and poured it down...
There was nothing inside, cleaner than her face.
No, where's my fucking potion!!!!