"Hmm? Is this the menu for Linlin's wedding tomorrow? Is there a problem?" Streusen was stopped by Vladimir as he was about to return to the kitchen.
Streusen is over eighty years old and hasn't fought in a long time. After all, once Whole Cake Island stabilized, the head chef was basically no longer needed to fight.
Even many of Big Mom's younger children are unaware that the head chef is actually incredibly skilled in combat.
When BigMom was six years old, Streusen took her out to sea. He was both BigMom's subordinate and her mentor.
Although BigMom is no longer a six-year-old girl, Streusen still calls her "Linlin".
Streusen had long since stopped caring much about things outside the kitchen, until a few days ago when BigMom told him that Vladimir was in charge of the wedding preparations, and that's when Streusen learned that such a person had come to the island.
After learning that he was not Linlin's child, Streusen became curious and went to find out more, only to be shocked by what he found—a string of necklaces that almost dazzled his old eyes!
I really don't understand the world of young people anymore...
"With you here, what problems could there be with the recipes? After all, you were by my mother's side when Mom was six years old. Who knows Mom tastes better than you?" Sig said politely.
"Everyone needs to have some special skills." The short and old Streusen glanced at the Vampire with a slight flicker in his eyes, then walked around him and continued towards the kitchen.
He already sensed that Vladimir's visit was about something unrelated to the banquet...
His current approach reflects his attitude: don't bother me with anything other than cooking!
"Mr. Streusen first met Mom on Giant Island, right?" Sig followed behind Streusen, completely oblivious to the danger.
"I think so, but I can't remember exactly," the Streusen said insincerely.
"Mom seems to cherish the nun's photo very much. Who is that nun?" Sig asked further.
"Hmm...it should be a nun." Streusen rambled on, then interrupted Sig's further questions, "Ah! We've arrived at the kitchen. This requires the cleanest environment, so Mr. Vladimir is not welcome to inspect it."
Bang--
The Streusen closed the door immediately.
Sig was turned away, but he was prepared—as expected, he wouldn't get anything out of him.
As for using hypnosis to forcibly read...
That's too risky!
Streusen's strength remains a mystery, but conservatively estimated, he's at the level of Three Sweet Commanders, and it wouldn't be surprising if he even surpasses Katakuri. In the original work, when Big Mom was assassinated, Streusen saved half of the Big Mom Pirates from being wiped out...
Meanwhile, Katakuri and Cracker had just returned to Whole Cake Island.
Because it was nominally the two brothers who decided to provoke the Giant Country on their own, and especially since they hadn't achieved any decisive results, although they had accomplished the strategic goal of "deterrence," they were still punished by Big Mom and sent out on punitive missions.
He was only able to come back because BigMom was getting married...
When they passed by Candy Island, Perospero, who was also one of the Three Sweet Commanders and served as the Candy Minister, also returned.
Candy Island is not only the second largest island in Whole Cake Island after Whole Cake Island, but it is also home to Whole Cake Island's military factory, where the eldest son, Perospero, usually spends most of his time overseeing operations.
The Three Sweet Commanders had already heard some ominous rumors on their way—mainly because Katakuri felt uneasy...
The person in charge of the wedding was actually Vladimir?
Could it be that his younger siblings from Whole Cake Island upset their mother? Otherwise, why would he, an outsider...
Katakuri had a bad feeling, while Perospero and Cracker, in contrast, were not so sensitive.
"Kartakuri, don't look so serious. Didn't Mom already extract half of that kid's soul? He'll be fine!" Cracker reassured Katakuri.
"No, you don't understand him..." Katakuri remained serious.
The Mochi arrived at the eastern port of Whole Cake Island. Praline, who was in the sea, saw them and quickly came over to greet her two older brothers.
As for Cracker...
In comparison, she wasn't very popular with her younger siblings.
"Has anything strange happened on the island lately?" Katakuri inquired specifically.
"Strange things? No, the Sea Slug are very well-behaved... But we spend most of our time in the sea and haven't been to the dessert shop much." Praline swayed her shark tail, a hint of doubt in her voice.
Sea Slug are a special type of creature that the Big Mom Pirates have domesticated. They are found in the Totto Land Waters and usually serve as "scouts."
As Big Mom's half- Mermaid daughters, Prim and Praline are usually in charge of taming the Sea Slug around Whole Cake Island.
"No, it's good that everything's alright." Katakuri clearly didn't want to make them nervous unnecessarily, so since there was nothing unusual...
Just then, Prim swam up, swinging his eight tentacles and holding up a huge pink pearl. "Prim, what do you think of this one? Ah! Katakuri and Perospero are back?"
Prim only then noticed the Three Sweet Commanders and was a little flustered.
Seeing this, Katakuri comforted her, "Nice pearls. Is it a wedding gift for Mom?"
"No... well... we've prepared a gift for Mom, of course. This is a return gift for Vladimir." Prim stuck out his tongue, but still told the truth.
Katakuri:...
Strange things have started happening!
"A return gift for... Vladimir?" Katakuri's head was already throbbing.
"It's nothing! He gave us a necklace, so this is just a return gift," Prim explained, making it clear that he had no intention of getting married.
Katakuri was still somewhat confused about the situation and didn't say much, simply continuing to move towards the port.
Upon arriving at the harbor pier, Perospero flicked his wrist, and the sugar syrup he flung out solidified into a staircase that stretched from the ship's side to the pier.
"Brother! Big Brother Perospero, Brother Katakuri!" Custard waved from below.
"Brother" refers to her twin Cracker. Because Cracker and Katakuri were nominally banished, they didn't announce their return to anyone else in a big way, but Custard knew about it.
"Hmm?" Katakuri noticed with his keen senses that Custard was wearing a necklace.
Wearing a necklace isn't surprising, even though Custard is usually quite tomboyish, she's still her sister after all...
Katakuri berated himself, wondering if he was being too sensitive. The style of this necklace was completely different from the Prim sisters'; it shouldn't be...
"Hey? Why are you wearing a necklace? How girly!" Cracker said bluntly to his sister.
Custard immediately retorted angrily, "What nonsense! It's perfectly suited to me... Vladimir may be a bit unruly, but he's still quite adept at choosing his options."
Katakuri:...