While an unprecedented war was raging in the waters of the First Round Archipelago, the World Government's three major CP organizations were secretly infiltrating the territories of the three Emperor-class pirate crews. They were on sabotage missions, seeking to create any advantage possible for the war effort at the Mid-Chain Supply Island.
...
Whole Cake Island, Big Mom's main base of operations. In the forest adjacent to the palace, located within the central Cake Castle, several men dressed as castle guards were hiding, speaking in low voices.
"According to the frontline report, the great battle at Mid-Chain Supply Island has likely already begun. We must act quickly. We have to cause massive destruction on Whole Cake Island to force Big Mom to return, or at the very least, force her main forces to pull back. This mission cannot afford any mistakes," a tall guard said with a serious expression.
"Understood," the others replied grimly.
These men were top-tier combatants from CP1, infiltrated onto Whole Cake Island to carry out their sabotage mission.
"Number 5," the tall guard addressed a slightly stout subordinate. "We will lure Whole Cake Island's defenders away. You are to immediately infiltrate the Cake Castle and plant the bombs. We will destroy the castle in one fell swoop."
"Got it, Number 1. I've got enough bombs in my stomach to blow the whole Cake Castle sky-high," the stout guard, Number 5, chuckled.
"Good. Move out."
The "guards" vanished into the forest. Not ten minutes later, a massive explosion rocked the town just outside the Cake Castle. This was immediately followed by another explosion at the island's port, where over a dozen tart-ships were blown to pieces.
A piercing alarm shrieked across the entire island.
Countless pirates in the Cake Castle mobilized. From the deepest, most heavily guarded and secret area of the castle, a tall woman emerged with a dark expression.
She had long, flowing white hair and a pair of exceptionally long legs, as if she were from the Longleg Tribe. A striking tattoo was visible on her leg, and she carried a longsword with a spiral-shaped scabbard on her back. Her gaze was sharp.
"What is happening outside?" she demanded.
"Lady Smoothie, it seems an enemy has invaded Whole Cake Island!" a guard hurriedly reported.
This woman was one of the Four Sweet Commanders, Charlotte Smoothie, user of the Squeeze-Squeeze Fruit. She had been left in charge of defending the island.
"Someone is again using the chance while Mama is away at war to invade?" Smoothie's expression was exceptionally foul.
The last time the Fire Tank Pirates had invaded Whole Cake Island, she had also been in charge. The result was that Modi's "Freak Squad" had run rampant, and Bege had succeeded in his goal, forcing Big Mom to return. She had been punished by Big Mom for that incident.
Now, someone was again attacking while Big Mom was away. Smoothie's face grew even darker.
"All the pirates in the New World are at the decisive battle with the Marines at Mid-Chain Supply Island. This shouldn't be a pirate raid... which means it's most likely the Marines. Are they trying to pull the same trick as the 'Demon Dragon' and force Mama to come back?" Smoothie's mind raced, and she quickly deduced the identity of the invaders.
"Mont-d'Or, Moscato, I'm leaving this place to you!" she said gravely to her two younger brothers behind her. "Remember, do not let anyone near the Treasure Room. You know how important the things in there are."
"Don't worry, Sister Smoothie! Leave it to us. Nothing will go wrong," Mont-d'Or said, his face full of resolve as he glanced at the room behind him. That room held the Road Poneglyph and the other regular Poneglyphs. They were what Big Mom valued most. If the Poneglyphs were stolen, Big Mom would never forgive them, even if they were her own children.
"All emergency units, move out! Notify all Homies to find any suspicious individuals!" Smoothie ordered into a Den Den Mushi, before striding out.
It's a shame Brulee isn't here, she thought. Her Mirror-World is connected to the entire island. She would definitely be able to find the intruders in the shortest amount of time.
As she reached the main hall, she ran into Baron Tamago and several of her other siblings.
"I'm not at ease with just Mont-d'Or and the others guarding the Treasure Room. You all go and reinforce them."
"Understood." Baron Tamago and the others nodded without another word and hurried toward the Treasure Room.
The other officers in the Cake Castle led large groups of guards and Chess Soldiers, rushing toward the sites of the explosions. However, one guard, clad in full iron armor, quietly followed the others as they ran through the castle, pretending to check for enemies.
This armored guard stealthily slipped into an empty room. He opened his iron faceplate and, opening his mouth, spat out a large rocket. It was as if his stomach contained a pocket dimension.
This was the CP1 agent, codenamed Number 5. He was the user of the Paramecia-type Bag-Bag Fruit. His stomach did indeed contain a separate space that could be used for storage, though it could only hold inanimate objects. It was a subordinate fruit to the Castle-Castle Fruit.
He planted the rocket in a hidden spot in the room and pressed the timer on it. Then he quickly rushed out to plant the next one.
He was in the middle of planting the third timed bomb when his suspicious behavior was noticed by a Chess Soldier patrol. The squad immediately grew wary.
"Crap. I have to plant the bombs faster." Number 5's expression changed. He attacked instantly, taking down the entire squad of Chess Soldiers in the blink of an eye, and then sprinted down the hallway.
The defeated Chess Soldiers were discovered two minutes later.
"An infiltration... Are they after the Poneglyphs in the Treasure Room?" Smoothie's face was terrifyingly grim. She closed her eyes, and her Observation Haki instantly expanded, enveloping the entire Cake Castle.
Number 5, who was currently planting another rocket, felt the wave of Haki, and his face changed dramatically.
"There's no time... Forget it. I'll plant all the bombs right here! Even if I can't completely destroy the Cake Castle, I can at least blow half of it away!" Number 5 spat out rocket after rocket, which instantly piled up into a small mountain.
Smoothie's eyes snapped open, a look of pure horror on her face. She instantly understood his plan.
"You dare!" She shot forward, moving at an incredible speed toward the location where Number 5 was planting the bombs.
But just as she was about to reach him, her expression changed to one of terror, and she spun around and fled. A thunderous BOOM erupted. The entire Cake Castle shook violently. The terrifying explosion directly caused half of the castle to collapse, and it was immediately followed by a series of secondary explosions, shaking the collapsing structure even more.
A figure shot out of the Cake Castle at astonishing speed. It was Number 5. He had been caught in the blast, but thankfully his Rokushiki skills were strong. He had used Armament Haki and Tekkai to block the worst of the impact.
"Bastard! You destroyed the Cake Castle, and you think you can escape!" An enraged roar sounded from behind him. A disheveled Smoothie burst from the ruins.
She gripped her sword with both hands and slashed. A violent blade of compressed air tore through the sky, flying right at him.
Number 5's face changed drastically. He spun around, drew the large sword from his waist, and coated it in Armament Haki. He brought his blade down on the incoming attack. With a boom, his sword instantly shattered. The slash continued, striking his body and sending him flying. He smashed into the ground in the distance, the impact blasting open a deep crater.
At the bottom of the crater, Number 5's armor was in pieces, his right arm was severed, and a ghastly, deep wound was carved into his chest.