Chapter 415

In the past, Luffy would never have said, “Mom, I’m asking you a favor,” and even if she had, she would have begun with: “Katakuri, kneel down.”

This is because—

On the surface, Whole Cake Island is a paradise where all races live equally, but in truth, it is an empire ruled by dictatorship disguised as mother and family.

Luffy’s will is the supreme law of Whole Cake Island; all her children have only the power to execute, not to decide.

Her children are viewed by Luffy as tools and pawns, used for marriage alliances, warfare, and governance, discarded and had their lifespans drained once they lose value.

This power structure of Whole Cake Island rests upon the chaos of the New World, the World Government’s inaction, and Luffy’s absolute strength as one of the Four Emperors.

But times are no longer what they were.

Though Luffy is still Katakuri’s mother, the era has changed completely.

Luffy is a Four Emperor, a relic of the old era exposed to the United Kingdom’s gaze, a reactionary, a stubborn holdout hindering the new age.

And Katakuri is a member of the Morning Star Corps, a founding hero who overthrew the World Government and established the United Kingdom.

The gap between them is as vast as heaven and earth.

Thus, to avoid suspicion and buy more time until her three hundred sons come of age, Luffy attempts to walk through her son’s path to deceive the world.

Even if she must abandon Whole Cake Island, Luffy only asks the United Kingdom, only asks Barzab Seven, to spare her.

These things lost now, she vows to personally reclaim from the United Kingdom eighteen years from now, when her three hundred sons have grown.

At that time, she will not only become Pirate King—perhaps even the throne of World King is not beyond her reach.

Isn’t Barzab Seven also a pirate? Didn’t he become World King only after rebelling and overthrowing the World Government?

Of course, Luffy will take with her whatever wealth remains in Whole Cake Island.

Without money, her three hundred sons won’t even have enough to eat.

How could she possibly raise them?

“Katakuri, Mom is tired.”

Luffy spoke in a low voice, as if she had seen through the illusions of the world, speaking to herself.

“Our era is over. Mom asks for nothing else—only to find a quiet corner with your brothers and sisters and raise them in peace.”

“Long Bread has served me his whole life; let him come with me to cook for the children.”

“Whole Cake Island… I give it to Barzab Seven.”

With Luffy saying this much, Katakuri could no longer ask for more; perhaps this is the best outcome for both his mother and Whole Cake Island.

Better than Whole Cake Island being leveled by the United Kingdom.

Katakuri knew well that the hawkish Marines, led by Akainu, were eager for the Captain to order the complete eradication of every reactionary on the seas.

In the process, they sought more merit and greater influence.

“Fine.” Katakuri said gravely: “Mom, I’ll report to the Captain. Wait for my news.”

“Good child, thank you.”

Though Katakuri found his mother’s decision somewhat unusual, he did not dwell on it.

Before the Captain’s supreme authority, almost no one in this sea dared oppose him; those who defied the Captain’s will left not even a whole corpse.

Perhaps his mother had finally recognized reality and abandoned her dream of becoming Pirate King, offering Whole Cake Island to the United Kingdom.

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Katakuri looked toward his sister, busy arranging furniture in the mansion.

“Brea, I have some matters to discuss with the Captain. Don’t wait dinner for me.”

“Understood, brother.”

Since joining the Morning Star Corps, Brea had visibly grown more cheerful and lively—Katakuri had noticed it all.

He had thought many times about bringing his brothers and sisters from Whole Cake Island to Sky City, to live together as a family.

But he had never found the chance to speak up.

Now that his mother had voluntarily abandoned Whole Cake Island, the long-awaited divine opportunity had finally arrived.

If Katakuri remembered correctly, the Captain was very eager for the abilities of those brothers and sisters—food-type Devil Fruit users.

The food factory jointly established years ago by Wano and Whole Cake Island was the best proof.

Thinking of finally liberating his brothers and sisters from their mother’s reign of fear, Katakuri’s lips curled slightly.

Even when standing before Barzab Seven, he could not suppress the upward curve of his mouth.

“What’s so joyful?”

Hearing Barzab Seven’s teasing tone, Katakuri quickly pressed his lips shut, paused, then repeated his mother’s words verbatim.

“That’s good.” Barzab Seven was surprised.

Barzab Seven had originally planned to speak with Luffy soon, to turn Whole Cake Island into a penal colony, where disobedient prisoners would have their lifespans drained by Luffy.

By exiling prisoners to Whole Cake Island, he intended to ease the pressure on Impel Down.

He never expected Luffy to leave voluntarily.

He had no interest in the specific reasons; the United Kingdom’s intelligence department would naturally investigate and report.

If they couldn’t even handle this, Barzab Seven would have to apply some pressure to the head of intelligence: Yushu.

“Katakuri, you and Kizaru work together—oversee the provincial transformation of Cake Island and its surrounding archipelago.”

“As for those food-type Devil Fruit users, keep them managing the food factories.”

“Understood.”

Katakuri nodded, ready to take his leave and head to Whole Cake Island to carry out the mission, when Barzab Seven called out to him.

“Don’t rush—the Soul King Concert is about to begin. Listen for a while and give your feedback.”

The Soul King Duo’s inspiration came from two years after the Battle of Marineford, when Brook, separated from the Straw Hat crew, performed under the stage name “Soul King” across the world.

Now the World Government is gone.

Barzab Seven’s dream of freeing all slaves has been realized; his dream of ensuring everyone has enough to eat will be fully achieved as policies are implemented.

It won’t be long.

Aside from daily cultivation and sword training, Barzab Seven needed hobbies to pass the time—concerts were one of them.

Soon, dressed in full regalia, Brook sat at the piano, followed by Junzi, stepping forward with her long, snowy legs, and the Soul Dancer Quinn.

The Soul King Concert began.

“They say you willingly beached yourself for love~”

“I can do the same for you~”

“Dive into the sea~”

In truth, Brook had originally planned to perform the Rumbar Pirates’ anthem, “Binks’ Sake,” but Barzab Seven had forcefully suppressed it.

During the Roger Crew days, he had heard Shanks and Buggy singing “Binks’ Sake” constantly, shoulder to shoulder.

The opening “Yo-ho-ho, yo-ho-ho” had nearly conditioned Barzab Seven—he’d hear “ho-ho” and instinctively know it was time to cook.

How could that be allowed?

Cooking was Barzab Seven’s hobby—it could not become work or muscle memory.

That was why he had dug up some songs from his past-life memories and had Brook’s Soul King Duo perform them.

“How was it? Give me your evaluation.”

Hearing this, Katakuri’s lips twitched slightly, yet his gaze, for some reason, remained fixed on the lively fat man on stage.

Quinn’s exaggerated, mermaid-like poses were genuinely captivating.

“The songs… are quite good, but the dancing falls short.”