The New World, Whole Cake Island.
The cream dome of Sweet City gleamed softly in the afternoon sun, but the atmosphere inside the banquet hall was as cold as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over it.
Charlotte Linlin sat on the Candy Throne, her thick fingers gripping an urgent report that had just arrived from an intelligence ship. The paper had crumpled into a ball in her fist.
"Mamamama..."
She laughed.
But her laughter held none of its usual languor or mockery. Instead, it carried a chill that sent shivers down everyone's spine.
Linlin's fingers absently dug at the candy armrest, picking the crushed hazelnuts out of its chocolate decorations one by one. Crumbs sifted down between her fingers.
"The Three Admirals joined forces, and the Uchiha Clan's Night Owl Guard beat them into the ground. The Five Elders were nearly wiped out on the spot. Lord Imu took action in person, and someone named Madara Uchiha sealed him inside a stone sphere." She slapped the report against the armrest, sending icing flying.
"How many years has it been? Back during the Summit War, Uchiha Natsu could only fight Imu to the point where both of them were badly hurt. Now, Madara Uchiha alone is enough to give Imu all he can handle."
Throughout the banquet hall, the officers of the Big Mom Pirates huddled in their seats, barely daring to breathe.
Perospero bit down on his lollipop stick, his gaze flicking between Linlin and Katakuri.
Smoothie stood in a corner with her longsword in her arms, her eyes lowered as she kept to herself.
Cracker had not come at all, claiming he was patrolling their waters. Anyone with eyes knew he was hiding.
Katakuri stood below and to one side of the throne, his scarf