The night passed in a flash.
As dawn approached, the sky lightened slightly, and sunlight streamed into Big Mom's treasure room.
Katakuri sat on the sofa, having not slept a wink all night, his eyes fixed on the massive book before him. What happened with Roger was more than enough for one lifetime. If the Sky Pirates managed to rescue that fox from Mama's hands this time, the Big Mom Pirates would become a complete joke.
Despite staying awake all night, Katakuri felt no fatigue, only a slight hunger. Like Big Mom, he drew his strength from sugar and had an extraordinary love for sweets.
Just as he was about to order the Chess Pieces to bring him some treats, as if by some unspoken understanding, the treasure room door opened. A girl, whose appearance was both sinister and oddly reminiscent of an old woman, stepped inside.
Katakuri's usually cold and aloof expression softened into a rare gentle smile.
"Brûlée, what are you doing here?"
Brûlée's face, shy and entirely at odds with her sinister look, responded quietly,
"I heard from Perospero Nii-san that you, Katakuri nii‑san, stayed in the treasure room all night. I thought you must be hungry, so I brought some sweets for you."
She pushed a cart into the room, carrying Katakuri's favorite donuts and black tea, and positioned it in front of him.
Katakuri's fingers twitched instinctively, a look of pure happiness spreading across his face. Just as he reached to pull down the scarf covering his mouth and start eating, he caught sight of Brûlée beside him and held back.
Seeing this, Brûlée's face fell slightly.
"Katakuri nii‑san, it's fine to eat in front of me!"
Katakuri felt the urge, but in the end, he restrained himself.
"I'll eat later."
Before Brûlée could insist further, footsteps sounded outside the door again. The burly Charlotte Triplets, who had been watching the Sky Pirates, entered the room.
Katakuri's expression hardened instinctively.
"You're here?"
"Yeah, Katakuri nii‑san! Brûlée, you're here too!"
After exchanging greetings, Charlotte Counter, the lead of the triplets, spoke.
"Katakuri nii‑san, the night surveillance is over. It's almost dawn. Should we change our surveillance plan?"
Katakuri didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked,
"Did you go back in just now?"
"Yes, we went in under the pretense of delivering breakfast. Aside from those three girls' rooms, the other two rooms—though the occupants were unhappy—were opened obediently. We confirmed the targets are all present."
Katakuri nodded with satisfaction.
"Good work."
He paid little attention to the three girls; his focus was the Sky Pirates' captain and the Spatial-type Devil Fruit user, especially the latter.
"Are you sure that Spatial-type user is there?"
"Yes, he's the one who opens the doors every time," Charlotte Counter confirmed.
Katakuri finally exhaled in relief.
At that moment, Charlotte Cadenza smiled and spoke.
"Those Sky Pirates sure are extravagant. To feed such a powerful Devil Fruit to just an animal..."
Charlotte Cavarette said, clearly unconvinced.
"You can't say that. After all, it's a talking dinosaur—a species even Mama hasn't managed to collect yet."
At this, Charlotte Cavarette suddenly brightened, his eyes lighting up.
"If we could catch those dinosaurs for Mama as a wedding gift, she'd definitely be thrilled."
At his words, the other two triplets' eyes gleamed with excitement as well.
But just then, Katakuri's stern voice cut through the room.
"Don't get any ideas. You'd better forget that notion right now!"
"Huh!?"
All three froze, looking at Katakuri in confusion.
"Why, Katakuri nii‑san!"
"You idiots, do you think those guys are some little pirates or something?"
"But..."
Charlotte Counter recalled the events, his tone hesitant.
"They didn't seem that tough. We harassed them all night, and all they dared to do was grumble a few complaints..."
"You idiot..."
Katakuri snapped instinctively, but then realization struck. His expression darkened as he turned sharply toward Counter.
"What did you just say?"
Charlotte Counter had never seen his brother this angry and was startled, quickly replying,
"I'm sorry, Katakuri nii‑san, I was wrong!"
"You idiot, that's not what I mean. I'm talking about what you just said..."
"What...?"
Charlotte Counter froze, repeating the words.
"You said: 'They didn't seem all that tough. We harassed them all night, and all they dared to do was complain a little...'"
Katakuri's eyes widened as understanding hit him.
"Something's off!"
It was indeed unusual. Reflecting on the few days they had interacted with the Sky Pirates, Katakuri knew that their captain, Yemu, was a proud and arrogant man. During their first encounter, he had refused to even board Big Mom's pirate ship. A man like that would never have endured a night of harassment.
"Damn it, why didn't I notice this sooner... Was it because we're back on Whole Cake Island, with Mama here, that I let my guard down?"
Charlotte Counter looked puzzled.
"Katakuri nii‑san, what's wrong? Is something off?"
Katakuri's face turned grim and serious.
"I'm going to ask you a question now, and you need to answer me honestly. Are you absolutely certain that during every surveillance shift last night, you saw their captain and that Spatial-type Devil Fruit user?"
"Of course!"
Charlotte Counter nodded instinctively, but then his expression shifted as he suddenly remembered something.
Katakuri's heart tightened with unease.
"What is it? Speak up!"
After a brief hesitation, Charlotte Counter answered,
"Well, actually, during the disturbances after midnight, we didn't see their captain, Yemu."
"What!?"
Katakuri's expression darkened instantly, and rage flared in his eyes.
Counter hurriedly clarified,
"However, even though we didn't see Yemu, he was definitely inside the room."
Katakuri froze.
"What do you mean? Explain yourself!"
"Well, the first time we went in, he was taking a bath. The second time, he was already asleep. And just now, he was getting dressed inside."
"Then how are you sure it was him?"
"Because we heard him talking! He even spoke to me!"
"His voice!?"
Katakuri froze, then a realization hit him. His expression turned deadly serious as he addressed the three of them.
"You three stay right here and keep watch. Don't leave without my orders."
With that, he dashed out alone, panic driving his steps.
The triplets and Brûlée were left completely baffled.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know!"
"Katakuri nii‑san!"
While the three stood there, confused, in the blind spot behind the massive book, an air portal quietly appeared. A hand pressed against the back cover of the enormous tome...
Meanwhile, as Katakuri rushed toward the Sky Pirates' quarters, under the bright sunlight, Yemu appeared outside in the garden, clad in pajamas...