A small commotion instantly drew everyone's attention.
The next moment.
The doors swung wide open.
A handsome black-haired youth dressed in black stepped in unhurriedly. Behind him followed a cold and sharp-eyed high-ponytailed Master Swordsman, trailed by the towering figures of Kuma and Jack, along with the other officers.
The young man's expression was calm as his gaze swept across the room.
All the guests, including the Underground Emperors, tensed up instinctively, raising their glasses with forced smiles. The ordinary guests didn't even dare to breathe until the Curtain Closer's group had passed by their tables and moved further away, only then daring to lift their heads and glance at those imposing figures.
Such terrifying pressure…
One guest pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away cold sweat. Whether it was the weight of reputation or not, just locking eyes with the World's Greatest Swordsman for a moment had left his entire back drenched.
"Mamamamama!"
BIGMOM burst into laughter. "Finally here, Xiano! Hurry and take your seat—everyone's been waiting for you!"
"Apologies for the delay."
Xiano chuckled casually, showing no hesitation as he took his place on the spacious seat reserved by BIGMOM, crossing his legs leisurely. His eyes briefly sized up the Yonko.
Among the Four Emperors, he had already met two in person. This Queen of Totto Land was his first encounter.
Her appearance was more or less what he had expected, so it didn't faze him. His main focus was on her sheer size.
Standing at 8.8 meters tall, even seated, she exuded overwhelming presence—the tallest known human in existence.
She practically represented the pinnacle of human potential.
Fighting such a monster in an all-out brawl would probably be exhilarating.
Too bad…
Given her warm and sincere welcome, it seemed there'd be no chance for that—at least not yet.
Meanwhile, Kuina and the others took their seats one after another.
Whether by coincidence or deliberate arrangement, Xiano and BIGMOM sat at opposite ends of the long table, while their respective officers mirrored each other on either side.
For example…
Opposite Kuina sat Katakuri;
Opposite Kuma sat Smoothie;
Opposite Jack sat Cracker;
Opposite Smoker sat… air.
—No helping it, since the last Sweet Commander, Snack, was currently away on a mission and hadn't returned yet.
As for Perospero, the other one qualified to sit here, he was fulfilling his duty as the eldest son, overseeing logistics in the kitchen.
…
Three Sweet Commanders versus Three Calamities?
Aside from the Charlotte and Curtain Closer factions, everyone else at this table was an Underground Emperor.
Noticing this setup, they exchanged subtle glances, their expressions turning meaningful.
Seems BIGMOM values the Curtain Closer far more than expected…
This seating arrangement clearly positioned Xiano as her equal.
The implied comparison between the "Three Calamities" and the "Three Sweet Commanders" subtly positioned the Curtain Closer as a truly qualified Emperor Crew, standing shoulder to shoulder with Totto Land!
"By the way, Katakuri."
Kuina took the black tea handed to her by a nearby attendant and spoke calmly, "I meant to say this yesterday at the harbor—after the Tea Party ends, how about we have a spar?"
"Though I don't consider you my match..."
Katakuri seemed surprised but thought for a moment before replying, "Still, as a guest from afar, I can honor your request."
"How arrogant." Kuina sneered.
Smoothie glanced up at Kuma, resting her chin on her hand with an intrigued look. "Hey, big guy, did you hear that? Those two are talking without any regard for the occasion. It's making me a little itchy for a fight too. How about we find time for a match?"
"Unnecessary fights aren't my preference," Kuma replied honestly, shaking his head.
Yes, yes, exactly—why fight when there's food to enjoy? Bonney nodded vigorously, stretching to snatch the mousse cake in front of Kuma and stuffing it into her mouth in one bite.
"Tch, boring."
Smoothie pouted, her gaze shifting toward Xiano instead.
Now, this man was far more interesting. What a shame his standards were so high—even a stunning beauty like her couldn't catch his eye.
Cracker, meanwhile, shot an annoyed glare at the eager Jack:
"Don't look at me. I lost my weapon yesterday and I'm still irritated about it. Not in the mood."
"Mamamamama, the young ones are so full of energy!"
BIGMOM laughed heartily, clapping her hands. "But today is a joyous Tea Party! We're all friends here to enjoy tea together. Fighting would ruin the harmony—save it for another day!"
Her eyes then turned to Xiano:
"Speaking of which, Xiano, the reason I specifically invited you this time—aside from wanting to meet the dazzling new star in person and introduce you to some old friends—is to discuss one very important matter..."
The banquet hall fell silent at once.
Every guest pricked up their ears—the real main event had arrived!
"Oh?"
Xiano's expression remained unchanged as he took a sip of tea. "And what would that be?"
"Why, a marriage alliance, of course! Must I spell it out for you? Young people these days..."
BIGMOM beamed, cutting straight to the point:
"Look, Xiano—my daughters, Smoothie, Garette, Custard... each one is a peerless beauty. Just say the word, and you can pick any of them!"
"And if you like more than one, marrying several is no problem either! With your bloodline and talent, the little ones you produce are sure to become the future pillars of Totto Land—the more, the merrier, mamamama!"
The named Charlotte daughters reacted in various ways—some, like Custard, lowered their heads shyly, while others, like Smoothie, boldly sent flirtatious glances Xiano's way.
The other guests exchanged stunned looks.
—It was true that Totto Land had expanded through marriage alliances.
But never before had they heard of an outsider being offered such a free choice.
And certainly not with so many daughters thrown into the deal at once!
BIGMOM was dead set on securing the World's Greatest Swordsman for her own faction!
"Mama!"
Katakuri glanced at his sisters and couldn't help but frown as he spoke, "I don't think this is appropriate to discuss at the Tea Party. Perhaps it would be better to talk privately—"
"Shut up, Katakuri!"
BIGMOM impatiently waved him off, turning her fiery gaze toward Xiano:
"Hey! What do you say, Xiano? Let me make this clear—if you become my son-in-law, you'll be the second-in-command of Totto Land! All the resources of the Thirty-Six Islands of Totto Land Sea will be at your disposal!"
"Sweet Commanders like Katakuri and Smoothie will all become your subordinates. Such a generous and tempting offer won't come around twice, mamamamama!"
The vast Tea Party square fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Xiano's response.
Some of the younger guests watched with envy and resentment—damn it, how could he even hesitate? If only they could have even half… no, a fifth of such an opportunity!
"A very tempting proposal," Xiano said leisurely under countless expectant gazes.
"Your sincerity is appreciated, and I must thank you for your kindness. However, this offer isn't as unique as you think. There's not just a second option—there's even a third."
"What do you mean?" BIGMOM blinked in confusion.
"Your two old friends, Kaido and Whitebeard, have expressed similar intentions, haven't they?" Xiano set down his teacup with an amused smile. "Seems your intelligence network isn't quite thorough enough… In any case, whether it's being a son-in-law or a son, marriage or direct recruitment—it's all the same in essence. To me, there's no difference. I currently have no plans to marry, much less the habit of submitting to others."
Robin and Kuina narrowed their eyes almost simultaneously.
"Kaido! Newgate!" BIGMOM's eyes widened, her teeth grinding in frustration.
Xiano had only been in the New World for three months! She thought she had acted quickly enough, but those two had beaten her to it?
Whitebeard was one thing—that old man loved collecting sons everywhere, and she was used to it by now.
But what the hell was Kaido up to?
After avoiding her for so many years, when did he even have a daughter? And now he was using her to recruit Xiano?
Hmph, ridiculous! With that brat's looks, any child of his would be a hideous mess—how could they compare to her daughters?!
"..."
Below, the guests watched as BIGMOM's expression darkened, their hearts filling with unease.
Was BIGMOM about to lose her temper?
What the hell!
If these two started fighting, wouldn't the entire Whole Cake Island be flipped upside down? How could any of them survive?!
Katakuri and the others, however, continued sipping their tea calmly, their expressions unreadable.
These guests were worrying over nothing.
Unless her Food Craving Sickness flared up, Mom's intelligence was always sharp. All that talk of brutality and lashing out at the slightest provocation? That was just to intimidate those clueless low-level Pirates.
Especially those reckless Supernovas fresh from Paradise, who hadn't even mastered Haki properly yet but dared to challenge the Four Emperors.
When facing someone of Xiano's caliber, she naturally operated by a different set of rules.
Sure enough—
"Mamamamamama!"
BIGMOM suddenly burst into exaggerated laughter, her massive body trembling in her seat, causing the entire open-air plaza to shake slightly.
"After all, you're the World's Greatest Swordsman, a monster whose bounty is almost catching up to us old-timers!"
She smiled as she stared at Xiano, "With everyone fighting over you, it seems I really don't have any outstanding advantages to offer!"
"Since you're not interested, let's forget about the marriage alliance! But we can still consider ourselves friends now, right?"
"Of course."
Xiano took a sip of black tea and smiled faintly, "Totto Land is indeed a wonderful place. I'd hate to ruin its tranquility."
"..."
BIGMOM leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on the table, narrowing her eyes as she studied him for a moment.
"Mamamama! That's more than enough coming from you!"
She suddenly leaned back and laughed heartily, "Now that business is settled, it's time for pure enjoyment! I hereby declare this Tea Party officially begun! Perospero, tell the kitchen to start serving the desserts!"
"Yes, Mama!"
The respectful voice of her eldest son echoed from somewhere unseen.
The next moment, several doors leading to the kitchen corridor swung open simultaneously, and dozens of chefs wheeled in exquisite dessert carts in an orderly procession.
The carts were piled high with desserts of all shapes and sizes—chocolate cakes, puddings, cream puffs... familiar and unfamiliar varieties numbering in the hundreds, a dazzling array.
Bonney's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
Huh?
She had thought the dozen or so desserts on the table when they entered were all there would be, but those were just appetizers?
Hundreds of desserts... Wow, this is heaven, it's really heaven!
Drooling uncontrollably, she couldn't resist grabbing a cream puff the moment a cart passed by. As the rich cream burst in her mouth, Bonney nearly cried from happiness, turning to look beside her: "Nami..."
"Don't say it, I know, Bonney."
Nami's cheeks were stuffed full, her eyes teary, "This is amazing, so amazing. Damn it, if only Zeff would make this many desserts for every meal."
"Hey, you asking for a beating, brat?!"
Zeff flew into a rage, "This old man works alone! They've got at least a hundred chefs here who've been preparing for days! How can you compare?!"
Hmm? Zeff...
Hearing the name, BIGMOM glanced over in their direction.
That Zeff, no mistake. She'd heard of him back in the day—Captain of the Cook Pirate Crew, renowned across the seas for his culinary skills.
She'd even considered sending someone to kidnap him back to Totto Land as deputy head chef. Unfortunately, he never made it to the New World, seemingly unable to continue the journey, withdrawing from the Grand Line...
And now he's become the Curtain Closer's personal chef?
What a shame. Can't forcibly recruit him now.
As she was lamenting this, BIGMOM suddenly noticed something, her eyes lighting up:
"Oh! That old man Streusen... I told him he didn't need to specially make this for me, but he went and did it anyway! Really, what am I going to do with him?!"
Her gaze was fixed on a newly wheeled-out massive dessert cart.
—A towering strawberry cake stood nearly seven to eight meters tall, its sweet, enticing aroma wafting from afar.
This is the masterpiece of Streusen, the head chef of Totto Land, made with a secret recipe and one of BIGMOM's most treasured desserts.
"Mamamamama, I can't help it! Just smelling this aroma makes me lose control!"
BIGMOM grabbed her knife and fork, drooling. "Hurry up and bring it here! This cake is mine alone—none of you better try to take any!"
"Eh? That's not fair!" Bonney stood up with her hands on her hips, pouting. "Don't be so stingy, Linlin! I'm just a little thing—how much could I possibly take from you? Even just a tiny bite would be enough!"
"Don't be rude, Bonney," Kuma frowned.
"It's fine."
Smoothie lazily popped a fruit tart into her mouth. "Don't worry, Mr. Bear. Probably because of their childhood friendship… Mom is always very generous with kids under ten."
Is that so?
Kuma glanced at BIGMOM in surprise.
Indeed, BIGMOM didn't seem angry at all—instead, she was amused, laughing heartily as she reached out to ruffle Bonney's little head.
"Don't be in such a hurry, little one. I only said this strawberry cake is mine, but there's more than just one! You'll get your share later."
She then shouted toward the kitchen, "Hey! Perospero, did you hear that? Is Streusen making a second cake?"
"You're going to be the death of this old man, Linlin!!!"
An exasperated, aged voice echoed back, followed by a resigned sigh. "Fine, fine. I can see you're in a good mood today, so I'll put in the extra effort."
"Mamamamama! See, little Bonney? Your share is coming right up!"
BIGMOM giggled, raising her fork toward the cake. "Just be patient and wait a little longer. As for me… I'll start eating first—"
Yes, just like that.
Eat it. Eat all of it. Hurry up, Linlin.
Stussy's sidelong gaze had been fixed on this scene, growing impatient, but at last, the corner of her lips curled slightly.
She elegantly lifted her teacup and took a sip.
Before the Tea Party even began, she had already infiltrated the kitchen and injected a special drug into this massive strawberry cake.
As a clone, she possessed all of Miss Buckingham's memories from her time on Rocks' ship—she knew Streusen and Linlin far too well.
Without even thinking, she knew this cake was specially made by Streusen for Linlin, destined to be devoured by her alone.
As for what was in that drug…
It was the "Super Flavor Enhancer," specially developed by the Science Division.
Capable of multiplying the pleasure of taste buds for already delicious food.
On the surface, it seemed harmless—but it was a secret weapon against Linlin.
After eating this spiked cake, Linlin wouldn't feel satisfied—instead, her appetite would skyrocket.
But the second cake Streusen was making wouldn't have the enhancer, meaning it couldn't give Linlin the same level of enjoyment.
Craving something intensely, yet unable to have it replicated.
With both conditions met, Linlin's Food Craving Sickness was practically guaranteed to erupt—with no chance of stopping her by feeding her more.
In that case.
Whole Cake Island would face utter destruction, and the Curtain Closer crew would be dragged into it. There was even a high chance that a few nearby—like those little girls—would be caught and eaten alive by Linlin...
Hmph, a Four Emperor and an existence infinitely close to a Four Emperor trying to form an alliance?
With her, the CP0's ace agent here, how could they possibly succeed!
Fight, fight!
Stussy could already envision the scene of all-out war between the two sides. If not for the crowd present, she would have burst into maniacal laughter...
"So delicious!"
Just then, a satisfied exclamation rang out.
Huh? That wasn't Linlin...
Stussy frowned and turned to see BIGMOM's fork frozen mid-air, staring dumbfounded at—
Bonney had somehow climbed onto the dessert cart, her entire face buried in cream as she frantically stuffed cake into her mouth.
"Bonney!" Kuma's expression changed drastically as he rushed forward to pull her down.
But it was too late.
"Burp~"
Bonney let out a loud belch, patted her round belly, and lay contentedly on the now-empty dining table. "Delicious! Super delicious! Linlin, thank you! I declare this the best, most amazing cake I've ever eaten in my life!!!"
BOOM!
Like a thunderbolt from the blue, Stussy stood frozen in shock.
When she regained her senses, she gnashed her teeth, her beautiful features twisting almost instantly into the visage of Miss Buckingham herself.
That damn brat!
—You've ruined everything!!!
"Huh? What's this?"
BIGMOM finally snapped out of her daze, staring blankly at Bonney. "M-my cake..."
Katakuri and the others subtly tensed, instinctively straightening their postures.
"It's alright, Linlin, don't worry! There's more in the kitchen! I'll go hurry them along!"
Stussy quickly stood up, playing the role of the caring best friend as she patted Linlin's shoulder with comforting words before swiftly pushing open the doors and hurrying toward the kitchen.
Calm down, Stussy, there's still a chance!
Her pace quickened as she took a deep breath, her right hand reaching into her handbag.
The CP liaison had prepared three full doses of the drug for her. Initially, she'd scoffed at the excess, nearly throwing away the extra two.
—As if she could possibly fail!
Thank goodness, thank goodness she hadn't been that impulsive, leaving room for remedy...
Huh?
Huh??!!!
Stussy's steps halted. After a few stiff pats, she lifted her handbag in disbelief, turned it inside out, and shook it vigorously...
—It was completely empty, cleaner than her face.
What the hell, where are my damn drugs!!!!