Chapter 68: Sweet Commander Snack!
North Blue, Candied Fruit Island, Caramelo Kingdom.
ROAR!
Across the island, massive furnaces burned day and night. A scent so sweet it was cloying permeated the entire island.
In the villages, farmland had withered from neglect.
But around the numerous giant furnaces, conscripted civilians numbly stirred the syrup flowing inside.
Beside them, strange creatures supervised their work.
They were soldiers that looked like chess pieces, holding various weapons.
'Homies.' Soul-infused creatures created by BIG MOM's ability.
If any civilian collapsed, the Homies immediately dragged them away.
No one resisted. After years of torment, everyone's bodies were at their limit.
Let alone fighting, the racking coughs that sounded like lungs being hacked up suggested that any one of them might not wake up the next morning.
Just as Abel said—the 'Candied Fruit Island' of his memories was gone. Only death, poverty, and despair remained.
But on this island of despair, there was a 'pure land' completely out of place with the rest.
A magnificent, golden palace.
It was the only place on the island without furnaces, filled with fresh vegetation and separated from the outside by a massive isolation curtain.
Currently, a ship was docked in the royal port behind the palace, connecting to the open sea.
The ship's prow was a giant fried shrimp, and strange circular dots decorated the hull. The main sail read 'Minister of Fries'.
And on the mast flew a Jolly Roger wearing a cowboy hat and exaggerated lipstick.
BIG MOM's flag.
"Lord Snack—you're finally here! Please, follow me!"
Escorted by a group of Homie soldiers...
A short, ugly man wearing a crown welcomed the ship.
He led the esteemed guest into the palace, fawning, "I've prepared the best snacks and beauties. You must stay a few days this time..."
"Can't do that, Caramelo."
Behind him, a tall, obese man with a gourd-like topknot and a massive katana on his back spoke.
"Mama has given the order—her birthday Tea Party this year must be grand."
"The chefs started prepping ingredients months ago. I have to bring the 'Rainbow Candied Fruit' back immediately. No time to stay."
"Also, a Giant Prince proposed to my sister. Mama is arranging the wedding for next year—so next year, your tribute of Rainbow Candied Fruit must double!"
He spoke bluntly to Caramelo III.
"D-Double!?"
Caramelo III's eyes bulged in disbelief.
"But Lord Snack, I told you last year... the mud-legs on the island are dying off. Increasing production now is almost impossible..."
He stopped halfway, feeling Snack's gaze on him.
"That's your problem, Caramelo."
Snack looked at him calmly. "Why do you think Mama agreed to protect you? Do you know how many resources Totto Land uses every year to keep the Marines off your back and smooth out your business channels?"
"Mama doesn't care how much money you make using our flag, but..."
He grinned, gripping the massive sword on his back, his eyes locking onto Caramelo. "If you don't deliver the Rainbow Candied Fruit—"
Shing!
In an instant, his sword was drawn and sheathed.
"I'll cut you down."
As his words fell...
BOOM!
Hundreds of meters behind Caramelo III, several massive pillars inside the palace were sliced cleanly in two.
No visible slash wave, no sign of Haki. It was as if his sword had cut directly at a distance of hundreds of meters!
Gulp.
Even though it wasn't the first time seeing Snack's power, Caramelo III swallowed hard.
"Y-Yes! Lord Snack!"
He stammered fearfully.
Snack seemed to understand the 'carrot and stick' approach. "However... you've always wanted to join us, haven't you?"
He pulled out an invitation. "This is an invitation to this year's Tea Party. You can come with me to Totto Land on my ship."
He could travel from the New World to the North Blue because his ship had special 'Bellows Homies' to navigate the Calm Belt. Caramelo didn't have that tech, so he had to hitch a ride.
"If you can provide double the candied fruit next year and ensure the wedding goes smoothly, I'll put in a good word with Mama. I'll recommend you to become Totto Land's 'Minister of Candied Fruit'."
He painted an unrealistic picture.
But seeing Caramelo III eagerly accept the invitation, he clearly believed it.
Because he knew who this man was.
Not just a regular member of the BIG MOM Pirates, but a top executive, one of the 'Four Sweet Commanders'—Charlotte Snack.
This made him instantly forget his fear and resolve to complete the mission.
"Double the workload for those mud-legs! Even if they all die, it doesn't matter... I can buy slaves with my own money!"
"As long as I become the 'Minister of Candied Fruit' and a true pirate nation under the BIG MOM Pirates... with the Emperor's name, my profits will double!"
He thought greedily.
Soon, the two entered the inner palace.
Skipping the reception room, they went straight to the corridor on the top floor.
Behind an oil painting lay Caramelo III's vault.
Click!
Caramelo III opened it without hesitation.
A mouth-watering fragrance and a blinding golden light spilled out.
The vault contained a mountain of treasure.
But ironically, stored even more carefully than the gold, in exquisite boxes, were jars of glowing, rainbow-colored candied fruit.
Caramelo III didn't feel ashamed.
'Rainbow Candied Fruit' was expensive, sure.
But as a tribute to BIG MOM, its value far exceeded its price.
If the gold was stolen, he could earn it back.
If the candied fruit was stolen, his head would roll.
SLICE!
A sharp sound suddenly rang in Caramelo III's ear.
Not being a fighter, he didn't react immediately.
But a moment later, he knew.
He felt a chilling cold at his throat—the touch of a blade.
Death was saying hello.
"I've been cut!"
Caramelo III concluded. "I... I'm going to die!"
But at the same time...
"Shield: Slash Guard!"
Snack's voice rang out.
Thud!
Caramelo III fell heavily to the floor.
He touched his neck in disbelief, tears and snot streaming down his face. The cold sensation of the blade still lingered on his skin.
"I... I... Why am I not dead?"
He stammered, realizing his pants were wet. Uh... probably sweat?
"Of course you're not dead. I blocked the slash."
Snack looked at him with disgust.
Then, he scanned the surroundings warily. "But... trying to kill you right in front of me, the 'Strongest Shield'... I'm being underestimated."
"The... the enemy? Did you kill him?"
Caramelo looked at Snack hopefully. "Please, kill him... I'll pay you! Anything!"
Snack: "..."
The face-saving man was silent for a moment. "To bypass the Homie soldiers and infiltrate here, the enemy must be a highly skilled assassin. Someone like that usually retreats after a failed strike. So I guess he's gone."
Feeling that wasn't impressive enough, he added, "Besides, if he's strong, he surely sensed my power. If he dares to attack again..."
He didn't finish his sentence.
Because the slash came again.
But this time...
SLICE! SLICE! SLICE!
Countless continuous slashes enveloped not just Caramelo III, but Snack as well.
It was as if the hidden assassin was clearly telling Snack:
"Who the f*ck do you think you are?"
☆☆☆
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