Outside the imposing walls of Whole Cake Chateau, Charlotte Katakuri walked with purpose, the unconscious form of Kozuki Sukiyaki slung over his shoulder. As he approached the grand reception hall, he saw his younger sister, Pudding, waiting nervously by the doors. She, too, had been summoned by Mama.
Pudding hadn't been deemed worthy of attending the initial welcome for the Emperor Kaido. At only fourteen years old, she was the 35th daughter of Charlotte Linlin and among the youngest of her many children. More importantly, Kaido had specifically requested her presence, a fact that made Big Mom exceptionally cautious.
Being summoned so suddenly had left the young girl completely flustered. The Homies had already whispered to her that the man meeting with Mama was none other than the "King of the Beasts" Kaido, another of the Four Emperors of the New World. With all her older and more powerful siblings having been dismissed, being called to meet him alone filled her with a profound sense of dread.
Her anxiety lessened the moment she saw Katakuri approaching. "Katakuri-niisama!"
Among Big Mom's vast and often contentious family, Katakuri was widely regarded as the most dependable and respected older brother. Pudding rushed to his side, seeking the comfort of his presence. As she got closer, she noticed the old man draped over his shoulder, her eyes widening in surprise.
Sensing her fear, Katakuri spoke in a calm, reassuring tone. "Don't be afraid, Pudding. Just do whatever Mama tells you to do."
"Okay," she whispered, taking a small, shaky breath. His confidence was a balm to her frayed nerves.
Together, the two siblings walked to the entrance of the reception hall. Seeing them arrive, the animated main doors chirped happily. "Mama has been waiting for you! Please, come in quickly!"
With a soft groan, the doors swung open automatically. But as the scene within was revealed, both Katakuri and Pudding froze. They could see their mother and Kaido seated opposite each other, two monstrous forces of nature whose mere presence could shift the balance of power across the entire world. For a split second, Katakuri, a man who feared almost nothing, hesitated to step inside. The air in the room was so thick with tension it felt solidified, a crushing weight of pure Conqueror's Haki.
Their presence at the doorway finally broke the stalemate, drawing the attention of the two emperors inside.
"What are you two spacing out for?" Charlotte Linlin roared, her voice laced with clear displeasure. "Get in here!"
The sharp command made Pudding tremble. She could tell Mama was in a foul mood. Thankfully, her older brother was beside her.
"Let's go," Katakuri said, gently nudging her forward.
"Right!"
As soon as they entered, Katakuri carefully placed Sukiyaki's unconscious body on the floor. Pudding immediately hid behind her brother's tall frame, peering nervously at the gargantuan man seated before her. He was like a living mountain, and the sheer force of his aura made it difficult for her to breathe. So this is Kaido of the Beasts… another Emperor, just like Mama?
Charlotte Linlin paid little attention to her children's apprehension. Having suppressed her own initial shock at Kaido's proposal, she now glared at him with renewed irritation. "Hey, you brat! Why did you bring this decrepit old man into my territory?"
"Worororo…" Kaido let out a deep, rumbling laugh, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Hey, Linlin. Do you remember what I told you? I don't care one bit whether your little three-eyed girl here can read the Road Poneglyphs or not. I told you I have my own way of deciphering them."
At being singled out, Pudding flinched. But Linlin's eyes snapped toward the old man on the floor, a look of sudden, dawning realization on her face. "You're talking about this old man?"
"That's right," Kaido confirmed. "His name is Kozuki Sukiyaki. He's Kozuki Oden's father… the former Shogun of Wano Country!"
"KOZUKI!!!"
The name echoed through the hall. Charlotte Linlin's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, a rapacious, insatiable greed igniting within them. Her voice rose several octaves. As a former member of the Rocks Pirates and the current owner of a Road Poneglyph, she knew the significance of that name better than almost anyone alive. The only reason Gold Roger had become the Pirate King and reached Laugh Tale was because he had a samurai from Wano on his crew who could read the ancient stones: Kozuki Oden.
And now, they had Kozuki Oden's father.
"Mamamama! This is a wonderful surprise!" she cackled. "But didn't you say this old man was dead?"
"I thought he was, too," Kaido admitted. "I never expected him to still be alive. Don't you see, Linlin? This is a gift from the heavens for us!"
Linlin's eyes practically sparkled with golden light as she danced in her seat with excitement. "That's right! It truly is! But…" She frowned, looking at the unconscious shogun. "This geezer doesn't look like he'll be willing to decipher anything for us."
"That's why I came to you," Kaido said, his tone utterly calm. He gestured toward Pudding. "And it's why I specifically asked for your daughter. Her Devil Fruit ability is exactly what we need."
Linlin was startled for a moment, and then her eyes widened again as she understood. Katakuri, too, realized what Kaido was planning. Only Pudding, who had been named once more, remained lost in confusion.
Kaido provided the explanation. "All your girl has to do is use her Memo-Memo Fruit ability to pull all the memories related to the Road Poneglyphs right out of Kozuki Sukiyaki's mind. We'll be able to gain the ability to decipher the text ourselves. Then, we each get a copy of the memories. Fair and square, right?"
The knowledge of the ancient text wasn't like Conqueror's Haki, an innate talent one was born with. It was simply a language, a skill that had to be learned and mastered. By extracting the memories of learning that language, they could acquire the ability for themselves.
"That's right! That's it!" Linlin could no longer conceal her avarice. She grinned at Kaido. "Mamama! You brat, you're just going to hand this old man over to me like this? Aren't you worried I'll play some tricks?"
"Of course I'm worried," Kaido shot back without hesitation. "That's why I came here in person. From now on, your little girl can only read his memories when both of us are present."
"Tch. Still as unlovable as ever," Linlin scoffed, though the greed in her eyes receded, replaced by cold clarity. She barked an order. "Katakuri!"
"Yes, Mama!" he responded instantly.
"From this moment on, no one is to approach Whole Cake Chateau without my direct order. No… get everyone off Whole Cake Island! And tell the others to keep their mouths shut. If anyone dares to leak the news that Kaido is here…"
Seeing the blood-red glint in his mother's eyes, even Katakuri felt a cold sweat run down his back. "Don't worry, Mama. Not a single word will get out."
"Hmph. The task of looking after Pudding is now yours as well. She will stay by my side from this day forward, until she has completely emptied that old man's mind of everything related to the Poneglyphs." Linlin looked down at Kozuki Sukiyaki as if he were the most delicious confection she had ever seen.
Her expression quickly soured again as she looked back at Kaido. "As for that other thing you said… your alliance… we'll talk about it after we get what we want."
Kaido's grin widened. "No problem."
The bait had been cast. As old crewmates, he understood Linlin all too well. Once she saw a genuine opportunity to conquer the world, she would be even more eager for an alliance than he was.
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