Chapter 177: Arrival at Whole Cake Island!
Totto Land.
Also known as Totto Land, it was a vast kingdom built from its core island, Whole Cake Island, and thirty-four surrounding islands, each with its own distinct theme, spread across the first half of the New World.
If one ignored the fact that its ruler was Charlotte Linlin, this truly was a storybook land.
Including Whole Cake Island, all thirty-five islands had their own gourmet theme: Cheese Island, Biscuit Island, Candy Island, and more.
The air was always thick with inviting sweetness. It was every foodie's dream of paradise.
Like the best of fairy tales, the land was filled with strange beings given life, thought, and speech. These Homies, together with the dessert-like architecture, formed Totto Land's unique scenery.
After several days at sea, Rayquaza finally reached the waters around Whole Cake Island.
In the distance, buildings shaped like cream cakes came into view.
To show the appropriate respect for this meeting, the Charlotte Family's foremost "public face," the composed and reliable Katakuri, was already waiting at the harbor with several younger siblings to greet Rayquaza's arrival.
Kai was not surprised to see Katakuri arrive right on time.
Charlotte Linlin might be the shame of the Yonko, but the Charlotte Family had one overwhelming advantage: an intelligence network that ranked at the very top of pirate forces.
They could even tap into the Marines' dedicated Transponder Snail lines.
The seas beneath the surface were under their eyes as well. Long ago, Linlin had secured a Fish-Man unit through political marriage and bound them to Totto Land's service.
The ship eased alongside the dock.
Before disembarking, Kai paused to take in the townscape of Whole Cake Island.
It was lively, bustling, and saturated with sugar.
Most of the buildings mimicked different kinds of cakes, painted in bright, cheerful colors. Even breathing here filled the lungs with a dense, whipped-cream fragrance.
"These houses smell pretty good," Loki muttered, rubbing his stomach. "This time I get to eat my fill, right? Kai, on your crappy ship, I could not even get full."
Kai rolled his eyes and did not bother responding.
Strong fighters always ate a lot, and Loki, with his Ancient Giant blood, was on another level entirely.
If he really cut loose at the table, Rayquaza's entire stock of supplies would likely vanish in under two days.
The group disembarked one after another. Katakuri stepped forward to meet them.
Tall and imposing, with a steady air, he still carried himself without servility or arrogance even before Kai's entourage.
"Welcome to Totto Land, honored guests."
His voice was flat, betraying little emotion. "Please, step into the carriage."
Following his gesture, they saw a lavishly decorated carriage ten meters tall waiting at the quay, pulled by four magnificent white horses.
Kai gave it one casual look and turned it down.
A faint smile touched his lips. "Is this the best you have? It does not seem like you prepared a ride for our giant friend."
He saw through Linlin's little move at a glance: a test, or more precisely, an attempt at subtle provocation.
Given how badly Linlin wanted Loki, building a carriage large enough to hold a giant dozens of meters tall, with horses to match, in her own territory over a few days would have been trivial.
If they had all climbed aboard without thinking and left Loki to walk behind like a follower, it would have planted a thorn in Loki's heart sooner or later.
Crude, not particularly damaging, but like a toad jumping on your foot. It did not bite. It just got under your skin.
Katakuri's expression did not change. He turned to Loki instead and offered an apology in just the right tone. "My apologies. Whole Cake Island does not have carriages and horses on hand that can properly support an Ancient Giant's frame."
"No problem."
Kai waved it off. "We will walk. It gives us a chance to see the sights and customs."
Katakuri had no objection. He turned smoothly and led the way himself toward the castle.
Along the route, Chiffon, who had temporarily lost her usual duties because of Kai's rampage, took on the role of tour guide, explaining the island's spots to their guests.
Hm? That's odd.
Kai suddenly realized something was missing.
Where was Loki's voice?
He had been yelling about being hungry only moments ago.
Kai looked back.
The always bold and brash Loki had his face stiffly set, eyes half-squinted. His gaze kept flicking toward Chiffon's back, then jerking away like it had been burned.
He looked every inch a pure, love-struck youth.
Kai blinked, then chuckled to himself.
So Loki really had fallen for Chiffon at first sight.
He did not see anything wrong with it. Chiffon was gentle, brave, and determined. A very good girl.
Unfortunately, the falling blossom might care, but the flowing water might not.
Kai shook his head privately and turned his attention back to the odd streets of Whole Cake Island.
The island truly was vibrant. Shops shaped like every kind of dessert lined the roads, and most of the people passing by wore easy, contented smiles.
Not forced grins, but genuine satisfaction and peace.
It looked like a slice of paradise.
"Kai, look. There are so many races I have never seen before."
Yamato turned her head this way and that like an overgrown child, fascinated by everything.
"Mama dreams of a place where every race and species can live together in peace and equality, a real utopia," Chiffon explained at just the right time. "Totto Land is the manifestation of that dream."
As she said, Totto Land really did function like a utopia.
There was no war. No pirate raids.
Resources were abundant. There was no shortage of food or drink. Even stones at the roadside could be eaten.
As long as you had the will, starvation here was nearly impossible.
Even the ruling Charlotte Family was not particularly cruel by pirate standards.
They actively protected their citizens' lives and property.
That alone was beyond what most kings and nobles on the sea ever managed.
Of course, this peace and plenty had its price. Every year, residents had to pay two months' worth of their lives as protection money.
Most of that collected life went into creating Homies to serve as soldiers and enforcers, maintaining order and security. In a sense, it was taken from the people and used for the people.
(Plenty of people grinding through 12‑hour days, six days a week, burn more life than that, honestly.)
As for the occasional destruction from Linlin's eating fits…
First, as long as food was plentiful, those fits were rare. Second, even when they happened, the damage generally stayed confined to Whole Cake Island. The outer islands rarely saw them at all.
Compared to the chaos outside, Totto Land was undoubtedly one of the safest havens for ordinary folk.
In that sense, Charlotte Linlin really was practicing her dream, at least to a degree.
Even so, this near-perfect Totto Land still left a thorn in her heart.
There were three races she had failed to "collect."
Giants. Lunarians like King. And one unknown race.
Some speculated the unknown race was Bartholomew Kuma's Buccaneers.
Kai did not buy it.
Every race in Totto Land so far—humans, Minks, Snakenecks, Longarms, and so on—was a single race, not a hybrid.
Buccaneers were a cross between humans and giants.
By the same logic, the Davy tribe did not fit; they were closer to humans than anything.
Thinking along those lines, Kai and the others passed through a whimsical forest.
A towering castle, like several massive tiered cakes stacked together, rose up before them.
The fortress was huge and heavily guarded, chess-piece soldiers patrolling everywhere.
They were Totto Land's basic military force, usually tasked with keeping order and serving as battlefield fodder when needed.
Kai's group did not head straight inside.
Even as large as it was, the building clearly could not hold a sixty- or seventy-meter-tall Loki.
At that moment, a figure drifted lightly out through the main doors.
She was a girl with a long blowgun case on her back, her clothes puffed up like a balloon.
The instant she spotted Katakuri, her eyes lit up, and she floated over.
"Katakuri-nii-san, you are here!"
"Flampe."
Katakuri called her name and asked calmly, "Why are you on Whole Cake Island instead of at Honey Island?"
"I delivered the best honey for Mama's Tea Party," Flampe declared, puffing her chest out, clearly begging for praise.
"Good work."
Katakuri was always generous with patience and encouragement for his younger sisters.
Convinced she had taken another step toward becoming Katakuri-nii-san's favorite sister, Flampe practically glowed.
Only then did she turn curious eyes to their guests. Loki's mountain-sized bulk swallowed all her attention at once.
"A huge giant…"
Her gaze climbed from his feet upward, step by step, until it met his strange yellow, slit-pupiled eyes head-on.
(Since Kai had destroyed his bandages, Loki had given up hiding his eyes on Kai's advice.)
"Mon—monster! Katakuri-nii-san, save me!"
Flampe squealed and dove behind her brother's broad back.
"Hmph."
Loki snorted and looked away, not even bothering with a woman that shallow.
Kai folded his arms, eyes cooling. "Katakuri. Control your sister."
Katakuri's arm tensed, but his reply was flat and firm. "We do not need your concern."
With her brother backing her, Flampe's nerve returned. She stuck her head out from behind him and pulled a mocking face at Kai and Loki.
Kai did not even move. He only glanced her way.
Thud.
An invisible shock of will slammed down.
Flampe did not even get the chance to resist. Her eyes rolled back, her mouth sagged, and she crumpled to the ground in a heap.
"Kai."
Katakuri's arm writhed. His trident Mogura pushed free of his flesh and into his hand, its tip aimed straight at Kai, cold with killing intent.
"Do you want to start a war with the Charlotte Family?"
Kai did not back down an inch. His voice was just as cold. "You are the ones pushing for a war."
The air between them crackled. One more breath, and things would have exploded.
A booming laugh cut through the tension from the castle doors.
"Mama mama! Welcome, all of you."
Charlotte Linlin strode out with a short, elderly chef at her side.
Her gaze swept the scene, lingered a single heartbeat on the unconscious Flampe, then turned into a glare aimed at her son.
"Katakuri! Put that weapon away for this old lady."
If she had not come out when she did, tomorrow's Tea Party might have been canceled permanently.
"Yes, Mama."
Bitter or not, Katakuri obeyed. The trident sank back into his arm and vanished.
His mother's satisfaction showed plainly on her face.
She turned to Kai and forced a smile. "Mama mama. Let us not let such a tiny matter disturb the precious friendship between our two crews."
Kai shrugged without committing, and the razor edge to his aura faded.
Linlin personally led them around to a gigantic tent beside the castle, as big as a hill.
It was a special temporary residence prepared for Loki.
The interior was not only cavernous but lavishly outfitted. Thick carpets covered the ground. Giant-sized gilt furniture and fine tableware were set out in abundance.
She had clearly invested considerable effort in currying favor.
Naturally, the tent came with certain "careful" arrangements.
Kai only needed a glance to spot the oddity: there were far too many mirrors.
They were placed to cover almost every angle in the space, ensuring that any corner's movements would be visible.
If he had not known beforehand that the Charlotte Family had a Mirror-Mirror Fruit user, he might well have fallen for Linlin's trick.
"Ace. Zoro. Sanji."
Kai did not bother to hide a thing. Right in front of Linlin, he said, "Take down every mirror in here and throw them out."
"Got it."
The three gave no sign of understanding why, but followed orders.
Linlin's face tightened for a heartbeat before she smoothed it out again and pretended not to notice. "Mama mama. The grand Tea Party will be tomorrow. Please rest here for today."
She then turned to Loki with pointed sweetness. "If any of you wish to tour Whole Cake Island, my daughter Chiffon can guide you at any time."
At that, Loki, who had stayed silent so far, coughed lightly and looked away. "Y-yeah. I want to look around. This island is pretty unique."
"Of course!"
Linlin's smile puffed up like someone had pumped air into it. "I will call her at once."
Information confirmed. Loki really did hold special feelings for Chiffon.
Her heart leapt.
Outside the tent, Linlin called Chiffon over.
The exaggerated grin on her face shrank a little, replaced by a "kindness" that made Chiffon's skin crawl.
"Chiffon. My good girl."
"It is time for you to contribute to the family," she said, voice soft but brooking no refusal. "I need you to act as Prince Loki's guide and fulfill his every need. Use your gentleness, your wisdom, every means you have, and tie his heart firmly to us. Understand?"
She paused.
Linlin did not voice the rest, but the cold gleam in her eyes said more than words.
Chiffon's heart sank.
What could she do?
In this family, even the strongest, Katakuri-nii-san, could not defy Mama's will.
She drew a deep breath, forcing her fear and resistance down, and nodded. "I understand, Mama. I will do everything I can."
"Good. You really are Mama's best girl. Out of all my children, you are my favorite."
Linlin laughed, pleased, and for once reached out to ruffle Chiffon's pink hair affectionately.
She had never done that to any of her grown children before.
The sudden warmth felt like ice water. Chiffon's heart plunged.
She knew all too well. The favor she received now could easily return one day, doubled, as punishment.
Bracing herself like she was walking to an execution, Chiffon smoothed her expression and stepped into the tent with a flawless smile.
"Prince Loki, please come with me. Allow me to show you around Whole Cake Island."
"S-sure."
Flustered, Loki noticed nothing wrong. He even thought she seemed happy to do it.
Side by side, each hiding their own thoughts, the two of them left the tent.