"Could Big Mom really be… stupid?" Vane thought, his brow furrowing in surprise.
It had been a long time since he last visited Totto Land. According to rumors, Big Mom still hadn't fully recovered from her breakdown. If that were true, dealing with her would be troublesome—after all, if she wasn't in her right mind, there'd be little chance of negotiating for profit.
From Wano to Cake Island was not a long journey. After Crocodile leveled the barren mountain for Vane's new project, Vane set out immediately and arrived at Cake Island the very next day.
Stepping onto the island again, he quickly noticed how different it was. The last time he had come here, much of the island had been neglected and nearly abandoned. Now, though, Cake Island had been restored to glory. The reconstruction was dazzling. Candy houses stretched across the streets, and towering sweets-themed architecture made the entire place look like something out of a dream.
At the center stood Cake Castle.
Vane ascended to the top floor of the vast castle hall. The moment he appeared, word spread like wildfire—the Pirate Emperor himself had arrived!
His sudden presence threw the entire Charlotte family into a panic. They remembered his power all too clearly from his last visit. None of them had forgotten what Vane was capable of.
Their intelligence networks also carried grim news: Kaido of the Beasts had been defeated by Vane. The information hadn't spread widely outside Wano due to its isolation, but the Big Mom Pirates were among the few who knew the truth.
On top of that, they were aware of Vane's role in the incident at Mary Geoise. That uproar had shaken the entire world. Vane had demonstrated yet another terrifying ability—summoning meteorites from the sky. Even hardened veterans of the sea shuddered at the thought. If one of those colossal rocks had fallen on Cake Island, the island would have been obliterated. Only Big Mom herself could have possibly stopped it.
The Big Mom Pirates prided themselves on their intelligence-gathering, and so they knew more about Vane than most. That knowledge only deepened their fear.
He was a man who could rival Kaido. A man who now controlled Wano. A man whose ambition and power were expanding without restraint.
They couldn't afford to offend him.
Especially now, when their mother still hadn't recovered. This was the longest bout of instability Big Mom had ever suffered.
"Vane sama, we—the Big Mom Pirates—have never sought to offend you. Please, do not bring harm to Cake Island again," Katakuri said, stepping forward. His tone was unusually respectful.
Katakuri understood the truth: without their mother present, they were at a disadvantage. No matter how many siblings and soldiers they had, it wouldn't be enough against Vane. Unless there were several more Katakuris standing beside him—which, of course, was impossible.
"I came to Cake Island today without hostility," Vane replied calmly, though he was slightly amused at how tense they all were. Still, the emperor facing another emperor often meant conflict was expected.
The Charlotte family lined up before him. Big Mom had over 80 children, plus numerous sons-in-law, totaling more than a hundred gathered fighters. It was an intimidating force—but their strength was tempered by the absence of their matriarch. Big Mom trusted no one but her bloodline, and so her family alone filled the hall.
"No malice?" Smoothie muttered skeptically, standing at Katakuri's side with Cracker flanking the other. Behind them, the mass of Charlotte siblings formed one of the most fearsome lineups in the New World.
At that moment, a golden light suddenly flared behind Vane. The dazzling radiance spread, the golden ripples of his treasure-space shimmering ominously. Katakuri and the others tensed, sweat prickling their brows.
Was Vane about to attack?
"If you don't step aside," Vane said lightly, "don't blame me for being rude."
His voice carried enough weight to make every pirate in the hall brace themselves.
Then—
"Hmmm~mamamama!"
That distinct laughter cut through the tension.
"Mother!" Katakuri and the others whipped around in shock. None of them had expected her appearance. Yet there she was—Big Mom herself.
The massive woman in a pink dress strode forward, her towering figure casting a shadow across the hall. Though her appearance was ungainly—obese, weathered, even grotesque—her sheer aura of strength was undeniable.
Even Vane had once considered her the most powerful woman alive before encountering Imu. In the New World, she truly deserved her title.
"Rhett Vane, you brat!" Big Mom roared. Her booming voice shook the walls.
With a thunderous leap, she landed between Vane and her children, the floor cracking beneath her colossal weight. The entire hall trembled from the impact.
"Mother…? You've recovered?" Smoothie muttered in disbelief. Until moments ago, Big Mom had been lost in her frenzy, her mind fractured. Could she really have snapped back so suddenly?
"Oh? You're not insane after all?" Vane asked with mild surprise.