The King (Ship) left the eastern coast of Dressrosa in the afternoon, heading toward Big Mom's territory. Dozens of islands surrounding Whole Cake Island, including vast stretches of ocean, belonged to her. It wasn't just a single island—this was a pirate emperor's domain, spanning dozens, possibly hundreds of islands.
Only a Yonko could command such vast territory.
Doflamingo ruled over Dressrosa—a single country, yes, but in reality, it was no more than the size of a large town compared to a Yonko's reach.
For most pirates, becoming a Yonko is the ultimate dream. Compared to that, becoming the Pirate King is far more elusive. After all, to beco the Pirate King, one must conquer the entire New World and defeat all the other emperors.
Vane was dining quietly in a restaurant, a [Den Den Mushi] sitting in front of him.
Buh-lah buh-lah…
The snail-phone rang as he waited for soone to answer.
He was trying to contact Big Mom. He didn't know whether she would respond, but it was worth a shot.
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anwhile, at Whole Cake Castle on Whole Cake Island...
In a darkened room, the massive figure of Big Mom sat on the floor. A mber of the Big Mom Pirates entered cautiously, offering her a tray of desserts.
They were from Fish-Man Island. She had tasted them before and never forgotten them. Compared to those, no other dessert interested her anymore.
The desserts from Fish-Man Island are divine!
Her eyes widened grotesquely, as though they were about to pop out of her skull.
Saliva? No—stomach acid dripped from her open maw. To her, the surge of stomach acid was the sign of an incredible delicacy. It gushed from her mouth and sizzled on the floor like sulfuric acid, lting the surface beneath her. White steam rose as the floor corroded away. Her stomach acid could likely dissolve flesh to the bone.
The pirate delivering the dessert felt his scalp go numb. Just standing in front of Big Mom filled him with dread. He trembled where he stood, terrified that she might snap and kill him on a whim. Charlotte Perospero wasn't around today—he usually handled these deliveries.
"It's Fish-Man Island dessert!" she declared.
"Well, well, well…"
Her voice suddenly took on a childish tone, absurdly innocent.
With her giant hands, she seized the desserts from two baskets, stuffed them into her mouth, chewed just a few tis, then swallowed them whole.
"Whitebeard! If you hadn't taken over Fish-Man Island, it would've been mine! Those desserts would be mine!"
Her voice was garbled with rage and food. Fish-Man Island was under Whitebeard's protection, preventing Big Mom from plundering it. Although she had known about the quality of their desserts for a while, her fury was still fresh.
There was hatred between Yonko. Always had been.
"I haven't seen Katakuri or the others in days…"
She muttered aloud, unaware that the pirate who brought her food had already fled the room. He couldn't handle the pressure. Facing a Yonko up close—especially Big Mom while she ate—was like staring death in the face. She didn't eat like a person; she devoured like a starving monster.
"Why hasn't Smoothie returned yet? Cracker, Owen, Bree—they've all been missing for days."
Confusion crossed her face. Where had they all gone?
Before long, she finished eating and let out a loud burp, her expression one of pure satisfaction.
"So delicious… I want more Fish-Man Island desserts! More!"
"Damn you, Whitebeard!"
Her eyes burned with rage. To her, dessert mattered more than her own children. Her offspring were rely tools to her.
Then, in the silence, the [Den Den Mushi] rang again.
Buh-lah buh-lah…
Now full, Big Mom picked it up.
"Hello?"
She answered.
"Big Mom?" ca the voice.
Vane paused mid-bite as the phone bug mirrored her monstrous features perfectly. These snail-phones replicated the facial expressions of their users with eerie accuracy.
"Hm?" Big Mom's voice rumbled. "Who are you?"
He had called her Big Mom. Not Mama. Only those from outside her crew called her that.
"My na is Vane," he said. "I don't know if you've heard of ."
"Rhett Vane?" Her tone shifted.
"I have your six children—Smoothie, Katakuri, Cracker, Brulee, Owen, and Perospero. You've noticed they've been missing, haven't you?"
"You have them?"
"It's been days since you last saw them."
"Did you capture them?" she snapped.
Big Mom rose to her feet, her expression a mixture of disbelief and simring rage.
"That's right."
"Are you joking?"
"Charlotte Linlin," he said evenly, using her real na, "you can verify it yourself. Or you can trust in my strength—I can defeat your children. Do you really doubt that?"
Big Mom's tone darkened. "What are you after, little pirate?"
Her voice brimd with fury. One of the New World's most powerful pirates—a Yonko—was being threatened by a rising upstart.
"Five Devil Fruits. Or I send their heads in boxes for your collection."
His voice carried weight—arrogant and absolute.
"You dare threaten ?"
"I'm not here to waste ti. I'll see you on Whole Cake Island, Big Mom."
With that, Vane ended the call. The [Den Den Mushi] on her side slumped down, mirroring her expression.
Big Mom hurled the phone bug across the room like garbage.
Still uncertain, she ordered her crew to search for her children. She didn't fully believe Vane—but his call had shaken her.
Before long, the truth was confird.
"Mom! Katakuri-sama and Cracker-sama... they've been gone for more than three days!"
The trembling crewmate confessed everything he knew.
Big Mom erupted in fury. Her Conqueror's Haki exploded from her body, surging across Cake Island. Blood-red lightning crackled through the air. The seas trembled.
"Rhett Vane! I'll kill you!"
Her roar echoed across Whole Cake Island, sending her subordinates into a panic.
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