A year earlier, Big Mom and Golden Lion had made a deal.
She had asked Golden Lion to help move some islands that produced ingredients for desserts into a single stretch of sea.
She had paid a steep price for it.
But it was precisely thanks to Golden Lion's ability that, with Whole Cake Island at its center,
Totto Land, with thirty-four islands scattered around it like stars, had finally been established.
To celebrate the founding of Totto Land, Big Mom planned to hold a grand tea party.
She had even invited dignitaries from the various nations of the New World, emperors of the underworld, and the great pirates.
To prepare for this tea party, Big Mom had sent several of her outstanding sons and daughters to different places to gather everything the party required.
Among these, flour and other dessert ingredients were the most important.
So she had specifically sent her eldest son, Perospero, and her second son, Katakuri.
Perospero was nineteen that year, while Katakuri was seventeen.
But they already possessed considerable strength, especially Katakuri, whose bounty had already exceeded three hundred million.
Even in the New World, where powerful fighters were everywhere, he had made something of a name for himself.
"Hehehe, Mr. Kate, you should know our Mama's temper. I suggest you satisfy her demands. Otherwise, not only you, but this entire town might cease to exist. Perorin!"
"But gathering thirty tons of flour, sixty tons of white sugar, and fifty tons of assorted ingredients within three days is truly beyond me!"
"I think you can do it. Perhaps you'll feel more motivated after seeing this photograph!"
A photograph of an eight- or nine-year-old child appeared in front of Kate. His expression changed dramatically when he saw it.
"Well? Feeling motivated now? The intelligence network of our Big Mom Pirates is famous in the business. If you can't meet Mama's demands within three days, I guarantee that you, your son, your illegitimate child, and your mistress will all disappear from this world. Perorin!" Perospero said.
"Hm!" Just then, Katakuri suddenly raised his head and looked outside.
"Now this was an unexpected discovery. Not bad, Pops. I never imagined you had a mistress and an illegitimate child tucked away somewhere!" A teasing voice rang out, and someone slowly walked in.
"Zesi, hear me out..."
"No need to get so worked up, Pops. I'm not blaming you for keeping a mistress. How can a man go without women? Mom's been dead for so many years anyway. Nobody would say anything if you kept a mistress or two. But keeping them elsewhere for all these years without bringing them home is going a bit far. Still, we can talk about that later. Let's deal with the trouble in front of us first. This is quite a big problem!"
Zesi looked toward Perospero and Katakuri.
"I know you two. Big Mom's eldest son, Perospero, and her second son, Katakuri. Looks like Big Mom didn't come herself!" Zesi said, looking around.
"Naturally, something this trivial doesn't require Mama to come personally!" Perospero said coolly.
"Brother Pero, be careful. This man isn't ordinary small fry!" Katakuri said calmly, a hint of gravity appearing in his expression.
True to his reputation, Katakuri already possessed powerful Observation Haki at such a young age.
When Zesi had approached just now, he had sensed an intense feeling of danger.
After seeing Zesi, he became even more certain that the man before him wasn't some ordinary small fry on the seas.
He sensed unparalleled explosive power in Zesi.
"Don't be so nervous! I just want to have a proper chat with you, and while we're at it, discuss business between our Brunei Family and your Totto Land..."
Without any visible movement, Zesi suddenly appeared behind Perospero, one palm already resting on his shoulder.
"So fast!" Perospero was startled by Zesi's speed.
But as Big Mom's eldest son, he was experienced, and he reacted instantly.
A mass of candy appeared on the shoulder beneath Zesi's hand, ready to protect him while he prepared to counterattack.
"Hehe, I'd advise you not to move. Otherwise, I can't guarantee your body will still be intact when you see Big Mom," Zesi said with a faint smile, casting a seemingly casual glance at Katakuri.
As he spoke, an invisible vibration spread from his hand.
As the vibration spread, both hard candy and soft candy crumbled inch by inch-no, sliver by sliver.
They turned into tiny crumbs and flakes of candy that fell to the floor like scattered stars.
"Is this a vibration? A Devil Fruit ability?" Perospero asked in surprise.
Katakuri's expression changed as well.
"Hehe, you're the first person to experience my ability. You must have heard of it-the Devil Fruit said to bring death to its owner. Its power is still worthy of praise, though!"
"The Tremor-Tremor Fruit! You actually dared to eat that Devil Fruit!" Perospero said in shock.
"It's a powerful fruit. Why wouldn't I eat it?" Zesi said calmly.
"So you really aren't the sort of small fry you see everywhere. There aren't many people on the seas with that kind of courage," Katakuri said.
"Retreat only brings age, and cowardice invites death. This world gives no one the right to retreat. Being timid only means dying sooner!"
"What do you want to talk about?"
"It seems I've earned the right to speak with you as an equal. But that's not enough. I also need the right to speak with your captain-your Mama."
"Kid, don't push your luck. If you anger Mama, the consequences won't be something you can bear!" Perospero said.
"If you can make the decision, talking to you works too."
"What exactly do you want to discuss?"
"Hehehe, that Big Mom of yours values desserts as much as her own life, so Totto Land consumes countless sweets and desserts every year. Our family happens to deal in flour and other dessert ingredients. Naturally, we wouldn't want to let customers like you slip away."
"You actually want to trade with our Big Mom Pirates? Trade with a pirate crew? Aren't you afraid the World Government will come after you? Aren't you afraid we'll turn on you and refuse to pay?" Katakuri asked.
"Your Big Mom has already established Totto Land. Since you've founded a nation, you still need some basic credibility. As for the World Government, this is the New World. Their reach doesn't extend here. Even if they found out, so what? We're only doing legitimate business. Besides, we'd still have you, wouldn't we?"
"You've certainly worked out a nice little plan. But why should we trade with you? If we need something, we can just steal it!"
"Gold, silver, jewels, and Beli are everywhere. If you need them, you can just steal them. That's fine. But flour and dessert ingredients require people to process them. If you steal them once, that's all you get. If you keep relying on plunder, your path will only grow narrower until there's nothing left to steal. On the other hand, if you offer enough profit, there'll be more and more dessert ingredients, of increasingly fine quality. That would make your Big Mom even happier, wouldn't it? Besides, if you steal gold, silver, jewels, and Beli only to leave them unused in a warehouse, they're no different from stones and paper, are they?"
Hearing Zesi's words, Perospero and Katakuri exchanged a glance.
"We can agree to this, but the ingredients we need must be delivered on time. Otherwise, we won't be able to answer to Mama!"
"On that point, I guarantee my Pops will do everything he can. Small quantities naturally won't be a problem. If you need large quantities, you can notify us in advance. As Big Mom's eldest son, I imagine you should be capable of that, right?" Zesi said.
"Hehehe, daring to trade with our Big Mom Pirates-I admire your courage. I'll agree to this. You seem pretty capable, too. What do you say to joining our crew?" Perospero said.
"After this matter is settled, I'll be heading out to sea. I don't want to hear that anything has happened back home while I'm away. Otherwise, I'll be very angry. Although I'm not as strong as your Big Mom, I guarantee that when I get angry, the commotion I cause won't be any smaller than hers!"
As Zesi spoke, he clenched his fist.
A white sphere of light appeared around it.
His hand, enveloped in light, slammed into the air. The air cracked inch by inch like a mirror.
But aside from that, no other destruction occurred.
Yet Zesi's lips spread into a grin.
At the same time, Katakuri's expression changed drastically.
"Several hundred miles away, a deserted island-the entire island was engulfed by a tsunami!" Katakuri said.
Hearing Katakuri's words, Perospero's expression changed as well.