Chapter 172: Loki and Charlotte Chiffon's First Meeting
Three days later, in the morning.
Warm sunlight poured over Elbaf's bustling harbor as the Red Force eased her way to the docks.
Shanks hopped down first, his crew following close behind as their boots met the familiar earth.
Then they all froze.
"Wait, all of this… is really that Calamity Kai guy's doing?"
"Even seeing it with my own eyes, it still feels unreal."
The Red Hair Pirates stared at the organized, roaring activity in front of them and could not help but let out low whistles of amazement.
Beckman took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled slowly. "I heard Kai was good at running a country. Seeing this, those rumors were not only accurate, they were holding back."
Shanks nodded. There was not a hint of regret or frustration on his face, only a small flicker of relief. "Looks like our giant friends really are going to have better days ahead."
Gnawing happily on a giant meat bone, Lucky Roux mumbled, "Boss, we could have been calling you King Shanks right now, you know. Now that bastard Kai beat you to it, you sure you don't regret anything at all?"
"Boss, if you want to cry, cry. We promise not to laugh… pff—"
Yasopp broke himself before he even finished, snorting with laughter and setting the rest of the crew off in a chorus of cackles.
"You brats, quit making fun of me."
Shanks swatted the back of Yasopp's head in mock anger, which only made everyone laugh louder.
"Hahaha, Shanks, you really were a step late."
A hearty laugh carried over from down the pier.
They turned to see Gaban strolling toward them at an easy pace.
Hearing the implication in Gaban's tone, Shanks could only shake his head and smile wryly. "Spare me. I'm no good at managing countries. I'd only make a mess of Elbaf."
The one thing he could truly offer the giants was the shelter of a Yonko crew.
But that coveted "benefit" countless nations dreamed of meant less to a mighty warrior country like Elbaf.
"I can vouch for that. Shanks doesn't even know how much treasure we keep on our own ship."
Hongo loudly threw his captain under the bus at just the right moment.
"Hahahahaha!"
Once again, the Red Hair Pirates' bright laughter rolled across the harbor.
After a round of light greetings, Gaban filled them in on what had happened in Elbaf.
They had come, in large part, to confirm with their own eyes—while Kai was away—whether he had any designs on Elbaf.
With their deep ties to the giants, they would have stepped in without hesitation if needed.
Instead of war scars, the country brimmed with vitality; it was more vibrant than at any time in recent memory.
"The Beast Pirates' reach and influence just climbed another rung," Beckman said quietly, exhaling smoke as his brow creased.
Relations between them and the Beasts were hardly friendly.
If they clashed in the future, they would have to factor the giants' power into any calculations, even though the giants were close to them as well.
Shanks thumped his first mate's shoulder. "Relax, Beckman. Leave it to me. I'm unbeatable."
"Save the bragging."
Beckman's mouth said one thing, but his loosened brow and the faintly exasperated, trusting smile at his lips said another.
…
Elsewhere.
Rayquaza cut through the New World, slicing the waves.
In a corner of the deck, Kai held a Den Den Mushi up as he spoke to the person on the other end.
"You sure this intel is solid?"
"But of course. Think about what my job is."
The Transponder Snail's face shifted into a sultry smile as Stussy's honeyed voice flowed out. "Ancient giants are hard to miss. With a body that massive, it would be hard not to notice him. Still, he is a pirate with a 2.6 billion bounty, a full two hundred million higher than yours, Kai-sama. Are you really sure you want to go after him?"
Kai snorted. "That's only because I've been keeping a low profile lately. A bounty doesn't reflect real strength."
Say what you like about a man, but do not say his… numbers are lacking.
Soft laughter came down the line.
Stussy let the topic drop and smoothly changed angles. "Anyway, where Loki is right now is a bit sensitive. He's almost in Totto Land. You know Big Mom has been drooling over giant power for years."
"I'm taking Loki. Not even a Yonko can stop me."
Kai shook his head, not giving Charlotte Linlin, the veteran Yonko, any weight at all in his tone.
"Then allow me to wish you great success in advance, Kai-sama."
"Thanks for the intel, Stussy."
"Words alone are so insincere. How about a more… practical reward?"
Her voice went even softer and sweeter, like a feather stroking the edge of his mind, sending a shiver of itch down his spine.
Huh? Why does that line sound familiar?
Didn't I say something like that myself last time?
This vixen.
Kai shook off the images trying to bloom in his head and was just about to flirt back when he felt several scorching stares drilling into his back, as if they could burn holes in him.
Crap. Forgot I was in public.
He dropped his voice in a rush. "Get washed up and wait for me. Once the job is done, I'm coming to you."
"Then this little lady will await your esteemed visit."
Seeming to sense the situation, Stussy hung up, amusement in her tone.
Kai put the Transponder Snail away as if nothing had happened. When he turned around, he met several faces with complicated, shifting expressions.
He coughed lightly, expression perfectly straight as he raised his voice. "Reliable intel says Loki is currently near Totto Land. Rayquaza, full speed ahead."
If he did not feel awkward, someone else would have to.
"Hmph."
Hiyori, Robin, Viola, and Reiju traded a long look. Their eyes met and flicked, wordlessly passing messages.
"Drain him?"
"Absolutely."
After that brief exchange, they nodded in unison.
If they wanted to keep a certain someone from spreading his attention around, he clearly needed to be kept too tired to stray.
…
A few days later.
Southeast of Totto Land, on Fluffy Island.
The island looked like an enormous dessert kitchen. Buildings shaped like cupcakes and Swiss rolls packed the land, while the air was thick with the rich scent of butter and cream.
Just then, a massive wooden raft flying a Jolly Roger with a crowned skull crashed rudely into the sweet, peaceful waters.
"Smells so good. I'm starving."
A giant seventy or so meters tall clutched his roaring stomach and inhaled the sweetness hanging in the air with greedy delight.
A wide-brimmed war helm sat on his head. Two long, savage horns jutted through the metal and speared skyward, deep purple hair flowing wild down his back.
Although heavy bandages wrapped his eyes, his awareness of his surroundings seemed unimpaired.
This was Loki, fugitive prince of Elbaf.
The raft slammed into the shore. His heavy steps sank into the soft ground, each one sending a tremor through the island.
His sheer presence threw the residents into chaos.
"Giant pirates!"
"Run!"
"Someone call Minister Chiffon, quick!"
Panicked screams erupted as people scattered.
Loki ignored the turmoil, hefted his giant hammer Iron Thunder, and started going door to door in search of food.
Whenever he smelled something especially rich, he would swing.
Under his blows, the cutesy buildings were nothing. They shattered like sugar glass, splintering apart to reveal the cakes and pastries stored within.
A massive hand plunged into the rubble, scooped up armfuls of sweets, and shoved them straight into his mouth. He devoured without pause.
Soon, Charlotte Chiffon arrived with a squad of Homies at her back, answering the emergency call.
She saw the intruder's back: a giant seated amidst ruins, wolfing down cake as if nothing else existed.
Chiffon swallowed her anger and called out firmly, "Stop that!"
Loki chewed on, as if deaf. His jaw never slowed, as focused as if the world held nothing but him and his food.
Her frown deepened, and she raised her voice. "If you're hungry, I can prepare enough food for you. But you need to stop smashing buildings right now."
"It takes a lot of time and effort for the residents to fix this."
That finally made Loki's hand pause.
He turned his head slowly. His tone was impatient. "You're annoying. I like eating this way."
The words cut off.
Loki "looked" at the plain-faced woman with the thick lips in front of him, and his huge frame suddenly went stiff.
Something in Chiffon's presence tripped a buried switch. Time seemed to freeze.
A hazy, distant memory slammed into his mind.
A woman who was not beautiful, perhaps even plain, but who had the kindest heart in the world.
"Loki, you must be hungry. Come try the cake I just baked."
"No."
"Mom, why are you giving that guy cake? I haven't eaten yet."
"Hajrudin, Loki is your little brother. You need to let him have some."
"Hmph, he's not my brother."
"And you're not my brother."
"You two are adorable. Get along, okay? You share the same father."
Watching Loki's blank stare, Chiffon's brow creased even tighter.
Did negotiation fail?
She stopped hesitating and went on the offensive, whipping a kick at his shin.
Bang.
"Ow!"
Pain shot up Chiffon's leg so sharply that her eyes watered.
Instead of hitting flesh, her full-force strike felt like she had kicked a slab of forged steel.
Her foot swelled red before her eyes as waves of agony throbbed through her.
"How is he this tough?"
Chiffon gaped.
She knew her own strength. She was nowhere near her monster siblings, but it was not as if just anyone could take a full-power kick.
Let alone someone like this giant, who was standing there unbraced and still came away without a scratch.
"Mom's Iron Balloon isn't much better than this."
She muttered under her breath, then realized his hammer looked familiar.
Add in his body being abnormally large even for a giant, and a name that made the New World tremble came roaring to the front of her mind.
"You're the Cursed Prince… Loki."
Chiffon's voice shook.
The shout snapped Loki from his reverie.
He snorted and corrected her with great seriousness. "Call me the Sun God. Or the First Warrior of Elbaf."
But she barely heard him.
Her thoughts were consumed by Loki's infamy. He was a 2.6 billion berry monster, a super pirate.
Ever since he'd appeared on the sea, "destruction" had followed him like a shadow. That was why his bounty had skyrocketed so fast.
Facing an enemy like this, she had no way to handle it alone. She needed Katakuri, maybe even Mama herself.
Chiffon did not hesitate. "Send word to Whole Cake Island. Loki is here."
"Whole Cake Island? So this is Totto Land?"
Only then did Loki realize where he had drifted. He had wandered straight into Charlotte territory.
Even so, there was no fear on his face. He actually sounded curious. "Which of Charlotte Linlin's kids are you?"
He and Charlotte Linlin went way back.
Chiffon crossed her arms and clamped her mouth shut, staring him down and bracing for whatever he did next.
A young man's voice spoke up behind her before she could answer. "Charlotte Chiffon, the twenty-second daughter of the Charlotte Family. That right?"
The voice made Chiffon jump. She spun around. "Who is—"
Her eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw the man.
"Calamity… Kai!"
He was here, too?
What kind of cursed day was this?
Either of these men was way out of her league; you needed to be at least at Katakuri's level to stand across from them as an equal.
To be honest, Kai himself had not expected this.
The moment he crossed into Totto Land's waters, he got to watch a scene like this.
This should be Loki and Chiffon's very first meeting. Maybe even the bud of Loki's first love.
He was practically witnessing history.
Looking at Chiffon's taut face, Kai smiled gently. "Relax, Chiffon. I'm not interested in you. I'm here for him."
He let his gaze slide past her and lock onto Loki.
Loki's focus shifted from Chiffon to Kai.
The invisible pressure between two monsters began to spread over the sweet-smelling island.