Whole Cake Island, Big Mom Pirates’ Headquarters

The lights shone brightly throughout the island.

Everyone was wide awake, shaken by the news in the newspaper.

They were all part of an Emperor’s crew.

Having clashed numerous times with other Sea Emperors over the years, they knew each other very well.

Despite their pride, none of the members of the Big Mom Pirates believed themselves to be significantly stronger than the Beasts Pirates.

But neither did they consider themselves much weaker.

The news that the Beasts Pirates had been utterly defeated in just a few hours had everyone rushing to gather together.

Their expressions were filled with shock.

Katakuri, usually composed, had a grave expression and his eyes looked worried.

They all remembered that their mother had extended an invitation to the Sun and Moon Pirates for their upcoming tea party, which was now just over a month away.

It would be here soon.

“Mom brought a monster into our home.”

“What are we going to do?”

The children, uncertain and distressed, looked to Big Mom for answers.

“It’s Kuke…” Smoothie and several of the women had mixed expressions.

Some of them, surprisingly, even looked a bit expectant.

“Tell me, what exactly happened? Is there something hidden here? Kaido, how did you lose so quickly?” Big Mom questioned Kaido impatiently.

“Something hidden?”

Everyone perked up, listening closely.

“Why should I tell you?” Kaido replied evasively.

“Kaido, don’t be stingy. Don’t forget that you owe me a huge favor,” Big Mom pressed, trying to leverage her influence.

Heavy breathing could be heard from Kaido, hinting at his frustration and helplessness.

“Linlin, just think about it—half a month ago, I was tricked into leaving Wano. In that time, Kuke made his move on Wano. I wasn’t there for half a month…” Kaido trailed off, just giving enough hints.

What Kuke did in Wano during that time, nobody knew.

Anything could have happened.

Big Mom’s pupils widened.

Thoughts raced through her mind in an instant.

“Those blasted samurai… One day, I’ll wipe them out,” Kaido’s voice came through, seething with anger. “Linlin, I don’t have time for this. If you’re scared, let me come to the tea party too. I’ll make sure Kuke doesn’t get a chance like this again.”

Everything clicked in Big Mom’s mind.

“I swear, if you come to steal my cake, I’ll kill you myself!” Big Mom threatened Kaido, trying to regain control. “Try it, and you’ll be dead.”

“Whatever.”

Kaido grumbled and hung up the den-den mushi.

The moment he did, Kaido couldn’t help but slap his knee in satisfaction.

“Got her. Linlin, no way you’re not falling for that.”

Big Mom put down the den-den mushi.

Everyone, including Katakuri, had heard Kaido’s words.

“Mama… So that’s it. Kuke must have set traps in Wano for those two weeks, working with the samurai to ambush Kaido the moment they returned, just like when he took down Sengoku the Buddha.”

Perospero’s “clever” analysis.

Many nodded in agreement.

It was the only reasonable explanation for such a swift victory.

“That idiot Kaido totally fell into their trap,” Big Mom mocked Kaido.

Too foolish.

“Kaido never fully controlled those samurai even after ten years. They’re powerful, and with Kuke’s help, it’s no wonder they managed to ambush and crush the Beasts Pirates.”

Understanding this, the fear towards the Sun and Moon Pirates in the room lessened somewhat.

“Even so, it’s clear the Sun and Moon Pirates have considerable power. Mama… Are you sure you want them at the tea party?” Katakuri asked, frowning.

No matter what, the Sun and Moon Pirates were undoubtedly a force equal to theirs.

Inviting such a crew to Whole Cake Island might not be wise.

“What’s there to fear?” Big Mom said confidently. “I’m not like that fool Kaido. This is my territory. Kuke won’t have any chance to pull an ambush here. Are you all thinking of betraying me?”

Big Mom’s bloodshot eyes bore into her children, her gaze full of pressure.

“No, Mama.”

Everyone bowed their heads, declaring their loyalty.

“If not, then there’s nothing to fear, is there?”

Big Mom spoke with authority. “And besides, I don’t necessarily need to fight Kuke. If he earns my approval, all I want is to form an alliance with him.”

Big Mom’s eyes shifted to Smoothie and her sisters.

Smoothie and her sisters blushed slightly.

They were shy, but determined.

“A man like that… If I can have him, why should I let anyone else?” Smoothie’s sharp eyes met those of her sisters.

He would be hers.

“Mama… Announce it to the world. I’m inviting Kuke to the tea party for the second time,” Big Mom declared resolutely.

“Yes!”

“If we succeed in taking control during the tea party, we’ll surpass the Beasts Pirates and be on equal footing with the Whitebeard Pirates.”

The eldest son was thrilled. “Mama… This will bring us closer to being the rulers of the sea.”

“Hahaha! Kuke took the Road Poneglyph from Kaido, and this is my chance to get the second one,” Big Mom said, her eyes glinting with ambition.

The Next Morning

At dawn.

People just waking up were instantly shocked awake by the news in the late-night newspaper.

In a flash.

Everyone with even the slightest awareness of what happened in the Grand Line now knew.

The follow-up?

BIG MOM Pirates announced their message to the entire sea.

“Is Big Mom crazy? Kuke defeated the Beasts Pirates in such a short time, even Kaido was beaten. Where is she getting this confidence?”

“We were sure Big Mom would back out and cancel the tea party, but instead, she doubles down and invites Kuke again? What’s she thinking?!”

The sea was taken aback by Big Mom’s audacity.

“Big Mom may have become a Sea Emperor before Kaido, but if you think the Big Mom Pirates are much stronger than the Beasts Pirates, I don’t see it. The difference isn’t that big.”

“If the Beasts Pirates fell in a few hours, then even if the Big Mom Pirates are stronger, lasting a few extra hours won’t make a difference.”

The sea couldn’t make sense of it.

Seeking death wasn’t supposed to be this obvious.

“Guess that’s why they’re Emperors—none of them know fear.”

“I think Big Mom must have something up her sleeve. These monsters act fearless, but they’re sharp, calculating. She must have a plan to be doing this.”

“That’s true, but where is her confidence coming from?”

Smart people could speculate.

But they couldn’t figure out the specifics.

“Huh?”

Whitebeard sat there with a newspaper in his hand, his face unwashed, stunned for a long time.

He realized.

He could no longer understand the current era.

“Linlin, how could she?” Whitebeard thought quickly.

Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, and Whitebeard were all part of the same pirate crew in the past, the most formidable monsters of the sea. They knew each other well.

Their temperaments, their actions—all too familiar.

“Kaido’s loss… there’s something more to it,” Whitebeard concluded.

He didn’t believe Kaido would be defeated in just a few hours.

“Kaido’s monstrous body… Even at my peak, it would take a long time to subdue him. Beating him was no easy feat,” Whitebeard remembered Kaido’s absurd endurance.

His vitality, resilience, recovery—it left a deep impression on Whitebeard.

“It seems the real danger with Kuke isn’t just his strength, but his cunning. No wonder Sengoku died at his hands. He’s strong, but also smart. To beat Kuke, you need to be not just strong, but smarter.”

Whitebeard sighed.

He became increasingly worried about Marco’s safety.

“For now, none of us leave here. Don’t give Kuke a chance to set us up.” Whitebeard decided. There was no way he’d make the same mistake as Kaido, leaving his base and falling into Kuke’s trap.

Staying at the headquarters gave them a significant advantage.

Leaving it would just allow Kuke to turn the tables.

Whitebeard, always perceptive, understood that this was likely the reason for Kaido’s defeat.

Only the Beasts Pirates knew the whole story.

Kaido hadn’t slept the entire night.

Every time he closed his eyes.

His wounds would throb in pain.

But more importantly.

Every time he closed his eyes.

He saw Black Maria leaning against Kuke, his heart twisting painfully.

He had spent seventeen long years raising her.

He hadn’t even touched her.

And now she was gone.

Damn it!

Frustrated for the entire night, Kaido suddenly heard the latest news—Big Mom’s public statement.

“Hahaha.”

Kaido finally laughed.

He laughed until tears came out.

Releasing all the pent-up frustration from the day before.

“That old hag fell for it, hahaha.”

The more Kaido thought about it, the more amused he became.

“Good, I’ll wait for the show. Linlin’s daughters are many, Kuke, you better take them all. Don’t hold back, not a single one. Better yet, take the old hag too. Then who will care about my disgrace?”

Kaido of the Beasts.

More eager than anyone.

“We’re saved! The Big Mom Pirates are our saviors!”

The Beasts Pirates’ officers, who had also been frustrated all night, cheered, waving the newspaper in their hands.

It contained Big Mom’s invitation to Kuke.

An invitation from one king to another.

It wasn’t a good thing.

An invitation between equals represented arrogance.

“Soon the Big Mom Pirates will take our place as the laughingstock,” King said with a smile.

As for the Big Mom Pirates winning?

He didn’t even consider it.

It was nonsense.

The Sun and Moon Pirates, those monstrous women, had thoroughly subdued them.

They had earned their respect.

Even the once-arrogant Jack had grown quiet, no longer making brash remarks. His entire demeanor had changed—he became silent, determined.

Focused on training.

The techniques he was practicing were the very ones that Shakky had used during their battle.

After getting thoroughly beaten, he ended up admiring her.

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DONT FORGET POWER STONE

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep