Chapter 172: Emperor of the Sea, The Zodiac Declares War on You
Still atop Whole Cake Chateau.
"Mamamama!"
Big Mom's bright laughter and the singing and dancing of Homies were enough to show she was in a good mood today.
"Ochoku, you're here—heard you returned late to your room yesterday, anything happened?"
Even with Ochoku's tardiness, she showed considerable patience.
"Nothing."
Ochoku (Wang Zhi) just smiled. "Just wandered around a bit."
"Is that so?"
Big Mom clearly didn't care—she just asked casually.
And Ochoku clearly had no interest in dwelling on this.
So he walked to the observation deck on the castle roof, looking at the sea below. "Is that the ship of 'Du Feld's Company'?"
He pointed at the ship entering Whole Cake Island's port.
"Yes—Du Feld already told me, the corpse of that kid Nezumi is on board."
Big Mom laughed even more heartily.
"An enemy's corpse, truly the best birthday gift, Mamamama!"
"Yes, yes, Mama."
Hearing this, Napoleon on Big Mom's head said excitedly, "And not just the head, heard 'Major Undertaker' (Du Feld) brought Nezumi's complete corpse!"
"Correct, Mama... the live broadcast Den Den Mushi is ready too. At the Tea Party four days later, you can announce Nezumi's death to the whole country via the snail."
Zeus nodded repeatedly.
As he spoke, he looked at the huge Den Den Mushi above Whole Cake Island.
It was specially prepared for this Tea Party, connected to the entire Totto Land. A symbol Big Mom used to tell the world—what happens to those who oppose her.
"Yes, Du Feld did well... can give him some extra rewards this time."
Big Mom nodded. "Oh, and Cracker—he made a great contribution too... hm? Speaking of which, how is he recently, has his previous injury healed?"
When in a good mood, she was indeed quite easy to get along with, occasionally even caring about her son's health.
"Heard not fully healed yet... but he started fulfilling his duties. Checked the treasury recently to confirm the safety of the Poneglyph and Mother Carmel's photo."
"Mamamama, what a good child."
Hearing this, Big Mom chuckled. "Mother would be happy knowing there's such a child, right?"
Speaking of Mother Carmel, her expression was innocent like a little girl.
But moments later, her expression turned gloomy again.
"Also... the one who injured Cracker was Hananafuda, right?"
"That bastard, might as well find a chance to eliminate him."
Speaking thus, she seemed to become the ruthless Emperor again—seemingly not even considering that killing Hananafuda might trigger a war with Kaido.
"Good idea, Mama!"
"As expected of Mama!"
"Kill him, kill him!"
Clearly, the three Homies were used to Big Mom's volatility.
They flattered her cheerfully.
Big Mom became happier.
"I changed my mind, no need to wait for the Tea Party—turn on the Den Den Mushi immediately. Once Nezumi's corpse arrives, declare war on The Zodiac!"
"Hang his corpse up, at the highest point of the island."
"Mamamama... right, since it's a happy event, should share with everyone earlier."
She changed the original plan casually.
Although this casual sentence might render many people's long preparation useless.
But...
"Yes!" (xN)
Naturally, she wouldn't hear any refusal.
Or rather, in Totto Land, no existence could defy her will.
So, Homies got busy immediately.
Some notified Charlotte executives on various islands.
Others turned on the huge Den Den Mushi above Whole Cake Island and corresponding "Live Broadcast Lines".
So...
"Early broadcast? Early declaration?"
On Cacao Island, Perospero, who just finished assigning reception tasks and arranging "Mirror Passages", put down the snail and saw the broadcast screen turning on above the island.
Correct.
For this "Declaration", Big Mom specially made a huge "Broadcast Homie" on every island.
Ensuring all Totto Land citizens could hear the Queen's declaration without leaving home.
"Mama changed her mind again?"
He covered his forehead helplessly, clearly having a headache.
"More than ten hours until the Tea Party... declaring war at this time... isn't the possibility of The Zodiac coming even greater?"
"Doesn't matter."
Beside him, Smoothie frowned slightly but shook her head. "Maximum Sugar Alert deployment is preliminary complete. All warships are in position at ports; martial law and evacuation for citizens are done. Whenever the declaration is, it's the same—as long as The Zodiac dares to come, we are fully prepared... right, Brother Katakuri?"
She said.
Then...
"...Brother Katakuri?"
Getting no response, she looked aside instinctively.
Katakuri leaned against the wall, his right hand tossing a jelly bean as usual.
"...Hm?"
Only after Smoothie called him again did Katakuri seem to snap back, looking at Smoothie.
"...Katakuri, what's wrong?"
Seeing this, Perospero frowned.
He knew well.
His brother wasn't the type to zone out.
"No... just noticed the clouds are a bit thick today."
Katakuri shook his head, speaking casually.
"Hm?"
Hearing this, Perospero looked at the sky too.
Indeed, as Katakuri said.
Clouds over Totto Land were strangely thick today—sun almost completely blocked, no trace above the clouds visible.
"Normal, right? Although there are Weather Homies... Totto Land is big, Homies can't guarantee weather across the entire territory meets expectations perfectly."
But Perospero didn't mind.
Weather Homies made of cloud and wind existed across Totto Land's sky, roughly controlling rain and weather.
Occasionally, clouds drifting from other sea areas to Totto Land happened; not rare.
"I'll have Weather Homies blow these clouds away later—Mama doesn't like cloudy days."
"...Mm."
Katakuri nodded after a moment of silence.
Again, he knew these things were normal.
But he instinctively felt... uneasy.
"Hm? Is that Cracker... and 'Major Undertaker'?"
Smoothie's words interrupted Katakuri's thoughts.
He and Perospero looked up at the Broadcast Homie above the island simultaneously.
As Smoothie said.
In the live broadcast, Big Mom was in the center, Ochoku not far beside her.
Besides them, Charlotte powerhouses like "Oven" and "Daifuku" guarding Whole Cake Island were visible nearby.
"Mamamama~"
Amidst Big Mom's cheerful laughter, from the entrance of the Whole Cake Chateau roof.
Du Feld, wearing a clown mask with lion-like hair.
And the burly Cracker holding a giant sword walked behind Du Feld.
Between them, they clearly carried a... pitch-black coffin.
"Inside the coffin is The Zodiac's 'Nezumi', right?"
Perospero extended his tongue. "Du Feld is quite capable... Perorin~"
"Indeed."
Smoothie nodded too.
"...Mm."
Katakuri nodded solemnly while tossing jelly beans.
Honestly, even now, he didn't quite believe Du Feld really killed Nezumi.
But Katakuri understood.
Even if the King of the Underworld had immense guts, he wouldn't dare deceive Big Mom on such a matter.
Not to mention, he came to Whole Cake Island personally, showing full sincerity.
So despite doubts, Katakuri said nothing.
Soon, Cracker and Du Feld carried the coffin to Big Mom in the broadcast.
"Big Mom, inside is what you want to see—open it?"
Putting down the coffin, Du Feld asked.
"Open immediately."
Big Mom naturally didn't hesitate.
Hearing this, Cracker and Du Feld didn't hesitate either, lifting the coffin lid directly.
The broadcast angle shifted immediately.
Everyone in Totto Land turned their necks instinctively, wanting to see the corpse of the mysterious Zodiac member clearly.
But just then...
"!!!"
Katakuri's expression changed abruptly.
The jelly bean in his hand was crushed instantly. His expression turned gloomy to the extreme in an instant—his usually cold and confident eyes carried incredulous shock for the first time.
He saw the "Future"!
So...
WHOOSH!
He turned without hesitation, rushing toward the huge mirror prepared nearby.
Moments later, Smoothie and Perospero's expressions froze too.
Or rather, all senior Charlotte Family executives in Totto Land froze.
Because now, they all saw the figure in the coffin on the screen.
Of course, not "Nezumi".
On the contrary, it was a woman.
White hair, wrinkled face, square jaw, lipstick.
She closed her eyes, seemingly dead, but still wore a stiff, unreal smile.
Almost all Charlotte Family members recognized that figure.
That was...
"Mo... Mother Carmel!?"
Perospero almost bit off his tongue.
"Impossible..."
Smoothie covered her mouth too.
Then, both realized simultaneously... something big was happening!
And it was true.
At this moment.
Atop Whole Cake Chateau, the joyful atmosphere froze; even the wind seemed to stop.
"Mo... Mother!?"
Standing before the coffin.
The Emperor whose fierce name echoed across the seas lost all joy instantly.
Big Mom... no, Charlotte Linlin's fierce eyes widened round.
With a whisper squeezed from deep in her throat, her massive body stood unsteadily for the first time.
She leaned forward, looking at the figure in the coffin tremblingly and incredulously.
Just then...
"Linlin."
She heard an answer.
Then, she saw Mother Carmel in the coffin open her eyes.
Her voice sounded strange, but the tone was as gentle as in Charlotte Linlin's memory: "You've grown up."
"Mother... you... you still..."
Big Mom's expression was strange—in this instant, countless emotions and consciousness seemed to change in her eyes.
Anger, seriousness, doubt...
But those countless emotions were eventually replaced by intense "Joy".
"Where did you go back then..."
She spoke, voice becoming like an innocent child again.
She seemed to want to ask something, but just the next moment...
WHOOSH!
She saw "Mother Carmel" before her fall suddenly.
Her body started burning fiercely, cracking inch by inch, finally...
In an instant, she turned into a pile of black powder.
Big Mom froze again.
Disbelief flashed across her face, as if in a dream.
But after a brief daze.
"Ah... ah... ah..."
She made sounds—meaningless stammers, as if losing the ability to speak.
Eyes rolled up instantly, showing only whites.
Then...
"AHHHHHHH!"
Screams came.
With that strange scream, massive, almost tangible Conqueror's Haki... swept out violently like a tsunami of destruction at this moment.
The entire Whole Cake Chateau top began to tremble; countless Homies guarding nearby shattered instantly; the ground cracked.
But at this moment, other people on the castle top looked calm.
VMMM!
Silently.
Ochoku, Cracker, Du Feld, Oven, Daifuku—everyone guarding here, their faces changed slowly.
In an instant, Inu wearing a dog mask and earplugs appeared.
He looked at Big Mom emitting that terrifying "Strange Sound" right in front of him, smiling gently.
"Although you probably can't hear anymore."
"But..."
He raised a finger to his forehead, performing an elegant salute.
"Emperor of the Sea, The Zodiac declares war on you here."
As his words fell, he dropped his hand gently.
"Everyone—Do it."
☆☆☆
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