It was now the fifth day since Vane had left Dressrosa.
The journey from Dressrosa to Big Mom's territory—usually took four to five days. Fortunately, the trip had been smooth. Of course, that didn't mean it was uneventful. Along the way, they encountered three pirate crews. When those pirates spotted the ship and saw Vane on deck, they thought it was their lucky day and attempted to rob him. Without a word, Vane sent them all to the depths.
There wasn't much more to say. The idea of "good pirates" in this world was a myth. At least, Vane hadn't met any. Most pirates burned, looted, and slaughtered. Many were outcasts—scum discarded by society. Kindness was not in their nature.
Vane wasn't exactly a good person either, but he didn't kill civilians. He had his own standards.
The pirates he encountered were left to the sea. He destroyed their ships and left them drifting, helpless. No one survived long in the New World without a ship. In these waters, Sea Kings lurked below, monsters that could devour a man whole.
"Finally, we're here," Vane said as he stood at the bow, staring out at the vast ocean ahead.
Big Mom's domain, was centered on Cake Island and surrounded by dozens of others. Each island was governed by a member of the Charlotte Family—a dessert minister assigned to rule. It was a massive, family-run empire. And at its head sat Charlotte Linlin—Big Mom—the queen of this bizarre kingdom.
"Big Mom…"
Vane picked up the Den Den Mushi. He was speaking to Big Mom herself—this was their second call. And he was doing it in front of Katakuri and the other captured siblings.
"You lunatic," Katakuri muttered, face darkening.
"We… we don't know what she'll do," Owen said, visibly trembling. Despite being her son, the woman terrified him. No one could predict what Charlotte Linlin would do next.
"She's going to explode," Perospero sighed.
Cracker sneered. "He'll die a horrible death."
Katakuri, more thoughtful, said quietly, "This won't be simple."
The ice trapping them had finally melted. After days of being frozen, the sun's warmth felt almost foreign.
"My children, are you all right? Is Vane treating you well?" came the terrifying voice of Big Mom through the Den Den Mushi. Even her voice sent chills down their spines—it was like listening to a demon.
Vane replied coldly, "Don't worry. I haven't fed them for days."
"I am Charlotte Linlin!" Big Mom said with a wide grin. But behind that smile was danger—mockery laced with rage. She was a Yonko. Anyone who crossed her paid dearly. She expected Vane to be no exception.
"One day I'll stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you, Kaido, and the others."
Big Mom laughed. "You sound insane, Vane. How old are you?"
Exactly!
Katakuri and the others stayed silent. Vane's confidence in the face of that monster was unlike anything they'd seen.
"Forget my age," Vane replied calmly. "What matters is my strength. I'm here to challenge you. I hope you're prepared. And I want five Devil Fruits. Not one less. More is acceptable. This is non-negotiable."
"Well, well, well…"
Big Mom's laughter echoed from the Den Den Mushi. It rang through the castle like a wave of thunder.
"If you kneel and submit, Vane, I'll forgive your little mistakes. In fact… you can choose one of my unmarried daughters."
"As many as you want."
"Well, well, well…"
"Excited yet? Join Totto land as a powerful new ally. With my protection, no one in the world will dare lay a finger on you!"
Her words stunned Katakuri and the others.
What was this?
She was offering to overlook the kidnapping? Offering marriage? She wanted Vane to join the Big Mom Pirates?
Big Mom's strategy was simple: use marriage to expand her influence and power. She'd done it many times before.
Esdeath let out a cruel laugh, eyes glinting with malice. "This old hag really dreams big."
"She should look at the daughters she's offering first," she added, casting a scornful glance at Smoothie.
Truthfully, some of Big Mom's daughters weren't so bad. Linlin had been beautiful—briefly—in her youth. But she never cared much about her husbands. Most were tools to create powerful offspring. Once they outlived their usefulness, she discarded or killed them.
Her horror was known across the New World—and even beyond. Whitebeard and Big Mom were two of the strangest Yonko: one obsessed with sons, the other with children in general.
Vane chuckled. "You sure think highly of me, Big Mom."
"Well, well, well. Of course I do. It's an honor. My daughters have both strength and beauty."
"Haha. That's quite the proposal, Big Mom."
"I'll have them prepared. Pick whichever you like. I've taken a liking to you."
At that moment, Big Mom sat on her massive throne in Cake Castle. Her children—sons, daughters, and commanders—were all assembled before her. They'd gathered days ago. All of them were tense.
Their strongest fighters—the three Sweet Commanders—had been captured. Especially Katakuri, the undefeated myth. If Vane had bested him, then he was truly a monster.
Now Vane, the Fire Sword God, was bringing Katakuri to negotiate.
Five Devil Fruits. Not one less.
And he had the audacity to speak to Charlotte Linlin like a superior?
If this got out, it would shake the entire world.
And yet their mother—the most fearsome woman alive—was considering making him her son-in-law?
No punishment, no grudge. Just… pick a daughter.
Absurd. And yet, if Linlin said it, no one could contradict her.
She was the ruler here.
The most terrifying woman in the world.
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Apologies for not uploading the chapters earlier today
I've been sick (still am, actually, lol).
That said, I'll be switching the update time back to the original schedule: 6 PM to 7 PM (WAT).