Cake Island was more lively than ever.
The wedding venue was located on the upper platform of the castle, raised like a stage worthy of an event that would shake the entire world. The round banquet tables were perfectly aligned, forming elegant circles that stretched across the entire area, while maids dressed in impeccable uniforms spread white tablecloths over them, smoothing out every fold with care and serving exquisite desserts worthy of an Empress of the Sea.
On the main stage, Charlotte Linlin sang enthusiastically, her voice echoing through the skies of Totto Land. Her eyes gleamed, and her smile was wide—it was difficult to tell whether that was genuine happiness… or merely the chaotic anticipation of something far greater.
Charlotte Smoothie approached, maintaining a respectful posture. She waited patiently until the singing ceased, and only then did she speak:
"Mother, the guests have arrived."
"Is Straw Hat already here?"
"No… it's Stussy and the others, along with the Golden Emperor."
"Is there anyone who hasn't come?"
Charlotte Linlin slowly narrowed her eyes.
The number of invitations she had sent was vast—far greater than those present—and yet, less than a third of the invited guests had actually shown up.
Charlotte Smoothie hesitated.
She did not dare to tell the truth.
No one wanted to come.
With the crews of two Yonko involved in a wedding of this scale… it was impossible for the World Government to remain inactive. Anyone with even the slightest bit of sense understood that Totto Land could turn into a battlefield at any moment.
Those who chose not to attend… were simply trying to survive.
Of course, that absence would not be forgotten.
"Hmph! Forget it… cowards live like cowards!" Linlin snorted disdainfully, brushing the matter aside with irritation. "And the bride? Praline… how is she? And the bridesmaid?"
"She is still getting her makeup done. There were some issues with the custom-made wedding dress—it wasn't delivered on time. I've already sent people to deal with it. As for the bridesmaids… Charlotte Pudding is in the kitchen, preparing the chiffon cake for the evening ceremony."
Praline, being a mermaid, had not yet reached the age of 30—her tail had not yet split. A wedding dress for a mermaid was far more complex than one for a human, requiring extremely delicate adjustments.
"Which shop was responsible? Make the manager pay with ten years of his life!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Mamamama… forget it, let it pass this time. First, let's receive the guests who came from afar…"
Charlotte Linlin stepped down from the stage, ready to personally greet her distinguished guests.
But suddenly…
Her steps came to a halt.
Her eyes slowly lifted toward the sky.
"The wind today is… noisier than usual," she murmured, narrowing her eyes.
Charlotte Smoothie immediately went on alert, assuming a combat stance.
The high-altitude wind began to intensify.
The white tablecloths were violently ripped away, flying into the sky as the maids screamed, desperately trying to hold onto them.
Tables and chairs trembled.
"Come out! What kind of coward hides like this, showing only the tip of his tail?!"
Then the wind ceased as abruptly as it had begun.
And in that sudden silence, a figure wearing a green cloak appeared before Linlin, as if he had always been there.
"Mamamama… now that's rare." Linlin smiled, but her tone was filled with hostility. "I don't recall inviting you… leader of the Revolutionary Army… Monkey D. Dragon!!"
Smoothie's eyes widened.
The most dangerous criminal in the world.
The man with the highest known bounty.
Even information about him was worth absurd fortunes—and his own head was valued at over 7 billion berries.
Dragon raised his hand and removed his hood.
His face, known across the entire world, was revealed without hesitation.
"Big Mom… I'm not here to cause trouble. I only came to see Luffy," he said calmly.
"Luffy? Straw Hat?"
Linlin blinked in surprise.
"He's my son."
Silence.
Charlotte Linlin froze for a moment.
Charlotte Smoothie's eyes widened even further.
Straw Hat, one of the Four Emperors… was not only the grandson of the Marine hero Monkey D. Garp…
But also the son of the leader of the Revolutionary Army?!
The full name echoed like thunder:
Monkey D. Luffy.
"What an… absurd family," Linlin muttered, this time with genuine sincerity. "Even more chaotic than mine… Mamamama!"
—
Near the seas of Totto Land…
A pirate ship slowly advanced toward Totto Land.
"Are we really going to enter a wedding like this?!" some subordinates shouted, clearly nervous.
"The waters of Totto Land are just ahead! We'll be detected by Big Mom's patrol ships! Let's go around!"
"What are you talking about?!" the captain replied with a carefree grin. "It would be a waste to miss an event like this!"
It was Urouge.
Born on a Sky Island, with large white wings on his back, he was the captain of his own crew and one of the Supernovas.
Bounty: 108 million berries.
"But we didn't receive an invitation!"
"Yes, we did." Urouge pulled a crumpled invitation from his pocket and smiled. "I killed a king… and took this. It should work, right?"
The subordinates paled.
Damn it!
"But… don't cause trouble!"
"Relax. One Yonko or two… it doesn't make much difference. I'm not an idiot. I'll just drink and watch," he said, laughing. "Forward!"
—
At an even more distant point…
The sea was filled with an overwhelming presence.
More than 100 warships.
Over 50,000 soldiers.
The Navy had mobilized on a massive scale.
Among them, a small pirate ship had been destroyed… and its captain captured.
On the deck of one of the warships, Vice Admiral candidate for admiral, Gion—also known as Momousagi—watched the prisoner before her.
"So… it ended up being you."
The woman was bound in Seastone shackles, unable to use her powers.
It was Jewelry Bonney, one of the Supernovas, known as the "Glutton."
Bounty: 140 million berries.
"Damn it… let me go!" Bonney growled, struggling to break free.
"The World Government had already issued a special order to capture you even before all this…" Gion sighed. "But honestly, you walked straight into the trap."
She glanced at the massive fleet surrounding them.
"Sneaking in here… was foolish."
"Marine…" Bonney gritted her teeth, glaring with hatred. "Answer me… what happened to Bartholomew Kuma?!"
Gion fell silent for a moment.
What few people knew…
Was that Jewelry Bonney and Bartholomew Kuma, despite their different surnames, were father and daughter.
"Why did you abandon your position as a princess… and become a pirate?" Gion asked, ignoring the question for the moment.
"That's none of your business!" Bonney snapped angrily. "I know who you are… admiral candidate… Momousagi!"
For a brief moment…
Gion thought of another princess.
Nefertari Vivi.
Someone who had also abandoned her position… to follow the sea.
(End of Chapter)