Whole Cake Island: A Feast in Totto Land

The Void entered the Totto Land Ocean the day after it arrived.

The scene on the sea has changed. Creamy foam floats in the turquoise water, candy-colored rocks emerge from the water in the distance, and a chocolate fountain rises from the seabed, drawing an arc in the air before falling back into the sea. The air is filled with a sweet aroma, like stepping into a giant bakery.

"This place... smells like a dessert shop." Bullet stood at the bow of the ship and took a deep breath.

Kaido emerged from the cabin, glancing sleepily at the sea. "We've arrived."

"We're here?" Bullet turned around. "How did you know?"

"Oh ho ho... I see the chocolate fountain. The symbol of the Totto Land Island. That woman's territory." Kaido slung his Iron Club over his shoulder. "From now on, don't touch anything that runs."

Bullet glanced at the distant, floating cream-colored island—the silhouette of a house on it, its windows moving as if breathing. A ship sailed past the island, and two hands reached out from the windows of the house on the island, waving at the ship. The pirates on the ship waved back, as if greeting their neighbors.

"Those Homies will shout 'Intruder!' When she doesn't want to fight, the Homies will stop her. When she really wants to fight..." Kaido didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

Bullet nodded.

Ginny's voice came through the Den Den Mushi: "Lin Yuan, there are patrol ships ahead— the Homies fleet. Three of them, all alive."

"Normal navigation." Lin Yuan stood at the bow, holding a water glass steadily in his hand.

The Void sailed past the Homies fleet. All three ships were alive—eyes on their bows, mouths on their sides—and shouted at the Void, "Welcome to the Totto Land! Welcome to the Totto Land! Have a pleasant journey!" Their voices sounded like drawn-out steam whistles.

Kaido leaned against the ship's railing. "She even makes the ship come alive."

"You have a problem with her boat?" Lin Yuan asked.

"No problem. I just think it's very interesting."

After the Void passed through the Homies fleet, the view suddenly opened up. A panoramic view of Whole Cake Island appeared before them—an island composed of three enormous cake layers: a sponge cake base, a cream filling in the middle, and a thick layer of frosting and fruit decorations on top. Chocolate rivers and syrup waterfalls surrounded the island, and streets meandered from the harbor toward the Castle.

"This island is all desserts," Bullet said.

"Aren't desserts good?" Kaido retorted.

"It gets cloying after eating too much."

The ship docked at the port. There were already people waiting on the pier.

Perospero stood at the front, leaning on a Candy Cane, licking his lips with his long tongue, a smile that was hard to decipher. Next to him stood Katakuri, hands in his pockets, his scarf covering the lower half of his face, revealing only his eyes—those eyes swept back and forth between Lin Yuan and Kaido, without any expression.

"Well... well... Captain Lin Yuan, welcome to Whole Cake Island." Perospero bowed slightly. "Mom has been waiting for you for a long time."

Kaido jumped off the ship, slamming his Iron Club rod on the dock. "Perospero, you're still the same. Your tongue outlives your life."

"Kaido..." Perospero's smile remained unchanged, but his tone held a hint of amusement. "Last time you came to Whole Cake Island, you stole Mom's cake. She remembers it."

"That's what I took. She cut it up and no one ate it, so I took over for her."

"Then why are you running?"

Kaido paused for a second. "... I didn't run. That was a tactical retreat."

Katakuri spoke up, "Kaido, you're still the same."

Kaido looked at him. "You've grown up, kid. The last time I saw you, you were still following your mother around drinking milk."

Katakuri didn't reply. His gaze passed over Kaido and landed on Lin Yuan: "Lin Yuan, last time on Hachinosu, your men fought against ours."

"Kuma beat Cracker," Lin Yuan said.

"Cracker remembers," Katakuri's voice was flat, devoid of emotion. "He said he wants to fight your people again this time we meet."

"Now that we're on your turf, you're in charge."

Perospero chuckled and interjected, "And what about Moria, the shadow puppeteer—he beat me up pretty badly last time. He didn't come?"

"I'm staying behind," Lin Yuan said.

Perospero licked his Candy Cane: "What a pity. I wanted to fight him again."

Katakuri: "You lost last time, you'll lose again next time."

Perospero: "... Did you have to bring this up now?"

Katakuri didn't answer, but turned and led the way.

The road to the Castle passes through the town of Whole Cake Island.

The streets were paved with icing, soft and slightly springy underfoot. The houses on both sides were made of cookies and chocolate, with windows made of transparent hard candy and lollipop-shaped streetlights hanging at the doorways. Homies patrolled the roadside—talking cream cakes, dancing candy canes, and a group of legged puddings chasing an escaped jelly.

The inhabitants were incredibly diverse. Longarm Tribe set up stalls on the streets selling candy, children of the Longleg Tribe chased each other on stilts in the alleys, merchants from the Snake-Neck Tribe and customers from the Mink Tribe haggled over prices, Fish-Man Race rowed boats on the Chocolate River—everyone lived under the banner of the Totto Land, each doing their own business.

"This place... has all kinds of races." Bullet's gaze shifted from a Merfolk girl to a Giants with four arms carrying goods.

"She controlled over thirty islands, territories for every race." Kaido walked in the middle of the group, his Iron Club slung over his shoulder. "Fish-Man Race Island, Mink Tribe Island, Longarm Tribe Island, Snake-Neck Tribe Island... they're all under her control. She made everyone live together and built Whole Totto Land."

"A rudimentary form of government," Lin Yuan said.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

A group of Homies came running from the roadside—a dozen or so talking cake-shaped creatures, each with two icing legs, hopping and skipping down the street. They all stopped when they saw Kaido.

"Kaido! The cake thief is back again!" A little strawberry cake boy yelled, pointing at Kaido.

"Run! He stole Mom's cake!" Another chocolate cake boy turned and ran.

"He grabbed the biggest one!" the third Pudding Boy shouted as he ran.

Kaido's face darkened.

Perospero laughed, "Well—Mom has remembered you stealing the cake in the Homies' memories. Every Homies on the island knows you."

Kaido gripped his Iron Club tightly. "That's all in the past."

"Then why are they still running?"

Kaido did not answer.

The Castle stands at the edge of town, a colossal, multi-tiered cake structure, several times taller than all the surrounding buildings. The bottom layer is chocolate, the middle layer is strawberry cream, and the top is covered with a thick layer of white frosting, decorated with fruits and flowers. The doors are made of dark chocolate, releasing a cocoa aroma when pushed open.

The interior of the banquet hall was even more extravagant than the exterior. The pillars were made of candy sticks, the carpet was woven from marshmallows, the chandeliers were made of strings of candy, and the dining table itself was a giant chocolate fountain, surrounded by all kinds of desserts—giant cream cakes, crème brûlée, fruit tarts, cookies, cream puffs, and colorful pastries whose names I couldn't even name.

The Big Mom sat in the main seat, her long pink hair reaching her waist. She had fair skin, delicate features, and a tall, voluptuous figure—a little rounder than when she was younger, but far from the exaggerated extent she had become later. She wore a purplish-red long dress, revealing her slender arms and collarbone, and several gemstone rings on her fingers.

She saw Lin Yuan and the others walk in and put down her wine glass.

"Well... welcome, friends from Hachinosu! Now that you're on my turf, make sure you eat and drink well!"

Kaido glanced at the slightly overweight middle-aged Big Mom, then looked at himself. "You... you've gained weight again."

The Big Mom's eyes sharpened for a moment. "Kaido, you still have such a foul mouth. I haven't even settled the score with you for stealing my cake last time."

"That's for you. If you cut it up and no one eats it, I'll share the burden."

"So, if I chase you across half the island, it's also a matter of sharing the burden?"

Kaido opened his mouth. "... How long have you been memorizing this?"

"I'll remember. But let's eat first today."

Katakuri sat to Big Mom's right, Perospero to her left. Cracker sat next to Katakuri, and when he saw Bullet, he smirked. "Bullet. Last time on Hachinosu, you shattered my biscuit armor."

Bullet walked over and sat down. "Your armor isn't tough enough."

"I improved it. I added Seastone powder, making it three times harder than before." Cracker tapped his fingers on the table. "Try it again next time?"

"OK."

Smoothie sat down next to Perospero, her gaze fixed on Jhin: "Jhin, I didn't get to fight you properly last time. Your flames are troublesome."

"Your legs are a problem too," Jhin said.

Smoothie squinted. "... Are you praising me or insulting me?"

"I'm praising you."

Smoothie didn't reply, but picked up her glass and took a sip.

The Big Mom's gaze swept over everyone before finally settling on Lin Yuan: "Kid, you wrote that you wanted to discuss business. No rush, eat first. Once you're on my turf, you won't leave until you've eaten your fill."

A banquet is being held.

Desserts were being served continuously. Kaido had already eaten three pieces of cake and was working on the fifth. Bullet was sparring with Cracker — Cracker used his biscuit powers to create a small shield, which Bullet smashed with a punch, so Cracker made another one, and the two went back and forth. King sat next to Huijin, a cup of tea in front of him, barely touching it. Huijin held a cup of chocolate milk tea, sipping it slowly.

The Big Mom's gaze shifted from Kaido to King, pausing for a moment. Her gaze was like that of someone looking at a rare collectible, filled with undisguised possessiveness.

"Well... Lunarian brat, what's your name?"

"Ember."

"Jin..." the Big Mom repeated the name, as if savoring the taste of a word, "The Lunarian, descendants of the Ancient Kingdom. Your bloodline is excellent—well, how about having a child with me?"

The entire room fell silent.

Huijin's hand, holding the cup, stopped.

The meat in Kaido's mouth fell back into the plate.

Jin put down his teacup, his face expressionless. "No."

The Big Mom raised an eyebrow. "Don't want it?"

"Don't want."

"Well... think about it. Totto Land lacks is the bloodline of the Lunarian." The Big Mom leaned forward slightly. "You have wings, you have flames. Perfect. Add my bloodline, and the child you have will definitely be the strongest."

"I refuse," Ember said.

The Big Mom's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes sharpened for a moment. "You're quite direct."

Huijin put down his teacup. "He won't agree."

The Big Mom's gaze shifted to Huijin: "Well—you're also Lunarian? And there's another woman here?"

"Yes," Huijin said, "I refuse too."

The Big Mom looked at the two of them, her gaze shifting back and forth between Ember and Huijin. She paused for two seconds, then leaned back in her chair, her laughter making the plates on the table bounce. "Well... interesting! Two Lunarians! It's fine if you don't agree. Eat first!"

Kaido whispered to Lin Yuan, "She hasn't given up. We'll talk about it again later."

"Haha, why don't you have a baby with her?" Lin Yuan said.

The banquet lasted another half hour. Once everyone had finished eating, the Big Mom put down her wine glass and turned her gaze back to Lin Yuan: "Kid, you wrote in your letter saying you wanted to discuss business. What did you mean?"

Lin Yuan put down his fork. "The Poneglyphs. I want the rights to transcribe your Road Poneglyphs."

The banquet hall fell silent for a moment. Katakuri's hand paused on his wine glass. Perospero's smile froze slightly. Cracker put down the biscuit in his hand.

The Big Mom squinted. "Well... do you know what that is?"

"I know. The red Road Poneglyphs. A map, pointing to the destination."

What makes you think I'd give it to you?

Lin Yuan looked at her. "We're allies, you can state your terms first."

The Big Mom stared at him for a long time. "You're so direct—aren't you afraid I won't give it to you?"

"If you don't give it to me, I'm leaving. I've already eaten, so I haven't lost out."

The Big Mom paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Wow... interesting. This is how business is conducted."

She looked at Lin Yuan: "I'll tell you the conditions tomorrow. Let's eat first today. Okay... now that you're on my turf, you're not allowed to leave until you finish the cake I made."

Lin Yuan: "Haha, okay."

Kaido whispered, "She's serious. She won't let you leave until you finish eating. Some people on Rocks' ship didn't believe her, and they ended up sitting on a chair for a whole day and night."

Bullet glanced at the table full of desserts. "... How much did you eat?"

"As soon as you finish one plate, she brings out another. You can't stop eating, and she'll just watch you with a smile. Until you give up."

Bullet paused for a moment, then picked up another piece of cake.

The banquet ended, and the officials dispersed.

As Lin Yuan walked out of the banquet hall, Katakuri appeared behind him. There were no footsteps, as if he had grown out of the shadows.

Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan stopped in his tracks. "What is it?"

How many Road Poneglyphs have you collected yet?

"Three pieces. Your cake, the last one."

Katakuri was silent for a moment. "What's at the end?"

"I don't know. I'll only know when I get there."

"You're going there without knowing what the destination holds?"

"How will we know what's there if we don't go?" Lin Yuan said.

Katakuri didn't speak. His scarf covered most of his face, so his expression couldn't be seen, but the look in his eyes changed—as if he was thinking about something.

"Mom won't give it to you easily," Katakuri said.

"I know."

"When she sets conditions, she won't let you take advantage."

Lin Yuan looked at him. "Are you reminding me?"

Katakuri did not answer. He turned and walked into the shadows of the corridor.

Kaido walked up from behind. "What did he say to you?"

"Ask me what the destination is."

What did you say?

"To be honest, I don't know."

Kaido: "You, actually, I'd also like to know what's going on with you."

Late at night. Guest room.

The moonlight on Whole Cake Island is pink. The frosted ground reflects a soft light, and the Homies lanterns on the streets are lined up in two rows, like they are patrolling in formation. In the distance, the footsteps of the dessert soldiers changing guard can be heard, each step accompanied by the crisp sound of cookies breaking.

Lin Yuan stood by the window, the water glass in his hand reflecting the pink moonlight.

Ginny's voice came through the Den Den Mushi: "Arrived? How was it?"

"We arrived. We had a meal. The Big Mom wanted to have a child with Jin, but Jin refused."

Ginny paused for two seconds. "... She's constantly expanding the race."

"Um."

Where is the Road Poneglyphs?

"We'll talk tomorrow."

What conditions do you think it would be?

Lin Yuan thought for a moment, "I don't know. But it should be more valuable than Seastone. What she wants isn't money, but bloodline, territory, or power. To her, what's valuable about me is my ability."

Ginny paused for a moment, then said, "Be careful. Whole Cake Island is full of Homies; they're watching you."

"I know."

Where Kaido?

"The neighbor is snoring."

Ginny sighed, "... You guys go to sleep. Let me know after you've talked tomorrow."

"Um."

(End of Chapter 94)