Chapter 415: Whole Cake Island Is Given to Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen

In the past, Charlotte Lingling would never say, "Mom asks you for a favor," and even if she did, she'd always precede it with: "Katakuri, kneel down."

This is because—

Whole Cake Island outwardly appeared as a paradise where all races lived equally, but in truth it was an empire ruled by dictatorship disguised as motherhood and family.

Charlotte Lingling's will was the supreme law of Whole Cake Island; all her children had only the right to execute, never to decide.

Her children were regarded by Charlotte Lingling as tools and pawns, used for marriage alliances, warfare, and administration, and discarded—along with their lifespans—once they lost value.

This power structure of Whole Cake Island was built upon the chaos of the New World, the inaction of the World Government, and Charlotte Lingling's absolute strength as one of the Four Emperors.

But times are no longer what they were.

Though Charlotte Lingling remains Katakuri's mother, the era has changed completely.

Charlotte Lingling is a Four Emperor, a relic of the old era exposed to the eyes of the United Kingdom, a reactionary, a stubborn holdout hindering the development of 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 to buy more time until her three hundred sons come of age, Charlotte Lingling attempts to follow her son's path and deceive the world.

Even if she must abandon Whole Cake Island, Charlotte Lingling only asks the United Kingdom, only asks Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, 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 to adulthood.

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 Saint Saint Saiwen himself a pirate, who only became World King after rebelling and overthrowing the World Government?

Of course, Charlotte Lingling 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."

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

"Our era has passed. 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 Saint Saint Saiwen."

With Charlotte Lingling saying this much, Katakuri could no longer ask for more; perhaps this was 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 total eradication of every reactionary on the seas.

In the process of completely purging the relics of the old era, they sought greater merit and influence.

"Alright," Katakuri said gravely. "Mom, I'll report to the Captain. Wait for my message."

"Good child, thank you."

Though he found his mother's decision somewhat unusual, Katakuri didn't 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, abandoning her dream of becoming Pirate King and offering Whole Cake Island to the United Kingdom.

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Katakuri turned to 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, so the whole family could live together in harmony.

But he had never found the chance to speak up.

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

If Katakuri remembered correctly, the Captain was very eager to acquire 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 terror, Katakuri's lips involuntarily curved upward.

Even when standing before Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, he could not suppress that upward curve.

"What's so joyful?"

Hearing Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's teasing tone, Katakuri quickly pressed his lips shut, paused, then repeated his mother's words verbatim.

"That's good," Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen said, surprised.

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had originally planned to speak with Charlotte Lingling later, to convert Whole Cake Island into a penal colony where disobedient prisoners would have their lifespans drained.

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

He had never expected Charlotte Lingling to leave voluntarily.

He didn't care to ask the specific reasons—United Kingdom's intelligence department would naturally investigate and report.

If they couldn't even manage this, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen would have to apply some serious pressure to the head of intelligence: Yuzhi Xiliu.

"Katakuri, you and Admiral Hyouzou, handle the provincial transformation of Cake Island and its surrounding archipelago."

"As for those Food-type Fruit users, keep them running the food factories."

"Understood."

Katakuri nodded, about to take his leave and depart for Whole Cake Island, when Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen called out to him.

"Don't rush—the Soul King Duo concert is about to begin. Listen for a while and give your feedback."

The Soul King Duo was inspired by two years after the Battle of Marineford, when Brook, separated from the Straw Hat crew, performed worldwide under the stage name "Soul King."

Now the World Government is gone.

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's dream of freeing all slaves has been realized; his dream of ensuring everyone has enough to eat will simply follow as policies are implemented.

It will be fully realized before long.

Besides daily cultivation and swordsmanship training, Saint Saint Saiwen could only find hobbies and amusements to pass the time, and concerts were one of them.

Before long, the fully dressed Brook sat at the piano, the soldier with the Bai Huahua long legs took the stage, followed by the Soul Dancer Queen.

The King of Souls concert officially began.

"Legend says you willingly stranded yourself for love~"

"I can also do it for you~"

"Dive into the sea~"

In fact, Brook had originally prepared to sing the Rum Pirates' anthem "Binks' Sake," but was forcefully suppressed by Saint Saint Saiwen.

During the Roger crew days, he heard Shanks and Baki singing "Binks' Sake" with their arms around each other all day long.

The opening "Yo-ho-ho-ho~ Yo-ho-ho-ho" almost made Saint Saint Saiwen form a conditioned reflex; hearing the "ho-ho" sound meant it was time to cook.

How could this be allowed?

Cooking belongs to Saint Saint Saiwen's hobbies; it cannot become work or muscle memory.

Precisely for this reason, Saint Saint Saiwen dug out some songs he liked from his past life memories and let Brook's King of Souls group perform them.

"How was it? Give an evaluation?"

Hearing this, Katakuri's corner of the mouth twitched slightly, yet for some reason, his gaze remained fixed on the agile fat man on stage.

Queen's posing and imitation of a mermaid was truly addictive.

"The songs... are all quite good, but the dancing is lacking."