Amidst the chaos outside, Xiano remained blissfully unaware.
At this moment, he was on the deck of the Queen Mama Chanter, seated at the dining table, devouring the mountain of desserts before him with reckless abandon. His face was smeared with cream, yet he paid it no mind.
What could he do? He was starving!
He hadn't eaten since yesterday's lunch of Elephant Tuna, and after his intense battle with Akainu, over a dozen hours had passed. His stomach had been growling for ages.
Across the table stood Katakuri and Smoothie, the two Sweet Commanders, watching the scene with slightly odd expressions.
Behind them were several of the Charlotte Family's children, all wide-eyed and whispering among themselves.
"Hey, he can really eat."
"That appetite is almost half of Mama's level."
"What a shame. He's quite handsome, but his table manners are awful. Does he not care about his image at all?"
"Exactly. He's still no match for Brother Katakuri…"
"Keep it down! If Sister Smoothie hears, she might get angry!"
Among the crowd, a burly man with fiery red hair and a cloak wrapped around his shoulders crossed his arms and snorted.
His name was Oven, the Heat-Heat Fruit user, the fourth son of the Charlotte Family, and Katakuri's twin brother. He held the position of Minister of Oven.
In Totto Land's "Most Popular Brother Ranking," he currently held the second spot.
As an older brother, he couldn't help but think…
These younger siblings were so immature!
Table manners?
Why bother with such trivial things? For a man, strength was all that mattered—everything else was secondary!
Wasn't the guy before them the perfect example?
He had suddenly descended from the sky, boarded their ship—apparently looking for Mama—only to find no trace of her. But spotting the pile of desserts on the table, his eyes lit up, and he sat down without hesitation to gorge himself.
Damn it!
This was the Flagship of one of the Four Emperors!
To act so brazenly was downright outrageous!
And yet…
Oven's fists clenched audibly. He wanted to step forward and teach the guy a lesson, to uphold the Charlotte Family's dignity.
But after wrestling with the thought, he hesitated.
Through the ship's high-powered telescope, he had witnessed this man fighting Akainu to a standstill.
With that kind of strength, a single punch would probably knock him out cold. It was better not to provoke him.
Besides, Katakuri was leading this mission. If he wasn't in a hurry, why should Oven be?
Oven glanced at Katakuri, only to see the latter finally step forward, unable to hold back any longer. "Lord Xiano," he said solemnly.
"Hmm?"
Xiano, who had just stuffed a large corn tart into his mouth, looked up blankly.
"You've eaten quite enough by now…" Katakuri's forehead twitched. "Offering you desserts is our duty as hosts, so that's not an issue. But perhaps you could pause for a moment and hear me out?"
"Your purpose? I can probably guess."
Xiano picked up the water glass on the table to moisten his throat, then grinned mischievously. "Did the commotion disturb you? Don't worry, don't worry—I have no plans to attack Totto Land anytime soon."
Attack Totto Land?
This guy actually dares to think like that!
Oven's face darkened as he clenched his fists, but he managed to restrain himself.
"Sir, it's best not to joke about such things," Katakuri frowned. "If we were drawn here by the commotion between you and the Navy Admiral, there wouldn't have been enough time for us to arrive. To be honest, this is purely a coincidence. We've been searching this sea for traces of your Falling Stars Adventure Pirates for days, and today, we just happened to stumble upon this battle..."
"You've been looking for me?" Xiano asked in surprise. "Why?"
"By Mama's orders, to propose a marriage alliance," Smoothie interjected.
Lighting a slender cigarette, she studied the black-haired young man before her with keen interest. This handsome, youthful guy could actually hold his own against Akainu?
The more she looked, the more satisfied she became. If only he were a bit taller, it'd be perfect.
After shooting Katakuri a look that clearly said "He's the one," Smoothie pulled out a chair and sat down, smiling at Xiano.
"So, what do you think? Marriage is a big decision—no need to answer right away. We can give you some time to consider."
"Marriage alliance? Marriage?!"
Xiano jolted upright in shock, spraying water everywhere as his eyes widened. "Huh?! BIGMOM wants to marry me?!"
Why me?
This is way too sudden!
Xiano sucked in a sharp breath.
Hiss...
Just how old is BIGMOM now?
He couldn't recall the exact number, but she must have already celebrated her sixtieth birthday—a bona fide elderly woman.
And then there was BIGMOM's massive bulk and bottomless appetite...
Who could possibly handle that?!
Gaban?
Not even Gaban could manage—this was a completely different category, and he had no experience piloting heavy tanks.
"Uh..."
Xiano was momentarily at a loss for words.
If this were forty years ago, when Charlotte Linlin was in her prime, she might have been worth marrying.
But now? That's just...
"Don't be ridiculous, brat!"
Oven finally exploded, his face flushing red as he roared, "There's no way Mama would marry you! Are you trying to climb over us and become our stepfather?!"
"Enough, Oven."
Katakuri took a deep breath and turned back to Xiano. "Apologies. My sister misspoke and wasn't clear. Rest assured, that's not the case. The one proposed for the marriage alliance will definitely satisfy you—"
He glanced at Smoothie and smiled faintly. "It's the most outstanding unmarried member of our Charlotte Family."
"Huh?"
Xiano's expression grew even more stunned.
"So it's you? You want me to marry you?"
He looked Katakuri up and down, then suddenly smirked. "Tsk, not bad. I wouldn't say no."
???
Katakuri's pupils constricted sharply, and he instinctively took a step back. "...Sir, I'm male."
"Pfft—HAHAHA!"
Xiano slammed the table, laughing so hard tears nearly spilled from his eyes. "Sorry, sorry! Just a joke—don't take it so seriously!"
He wiped the corner of his eye and turned his gaze to Smoothie, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "So, you're the one proposed for the marriage alliance?"
"What, not satisfied?"
Smoothie let out a light laugh, exhaling a smoke ring with a faint smirk:
"Before meeting you, I felt much the same way. But your strength and appearance have both caught my interest—especially your strength. After all, the biggest reason I've remained single all these years is because I couldn't stand those weaker than me."
"What a coincidence."
Xiano chuckled. "I, too, can't stand women weaker than me."
Bam!
Before the words even finished echoing, Xiano suddenly lashed out with a kick aimed at Smoothie.
The speed of the strike was unimaginable—Smoothie had no time to react and was about to be hit.
But...
Before his foot even extended, a red glint flashed in Katakuri's eyes. His body instantly moved, appearing in front of Smoothie with his arms crossed in defense.
Clang!
Amid the dull metallic impact, Katakuri stood firm despite the sweat beading on his forehead, blocking the attack without budging an inch.
"Proposing a marriage alliance upon first meeting is indeed abrupt, but we've approached this with courtesy and respect. If you don't intend to accept, you could simply refuse. Was there a need to attack my sister?"
Katakuri narrowed his eyes at Xiano. "Or... were you just testing me?"
He was almost certain it was the latter.
After all, Xiano hadn't put any real force into that strike.
Otherwise, Katakuri would have been sent flying hundreds of meters away—not standing here unscathed.
"Talking with a smart man sure saves time."
Xiano grinned, then lazily returned to his chair, crossing his legs.
Though he now sat lower than everyone else, the terrifying aura radiating from him made everyone in the room feel as if they were the ones looking up.
A man like this...
Perhaps only Big Mom herself could subdue him.
Katakuri, standing closest, felt a cold sweat trickle down his temple under the oppressive pressure, a hint of regret creeping into his thoughts.
He shouldn't have brought his sister to meet this man...
But back then, who could have foreseen this?
When arranging the marriage alliance, Xiano's most notable achievements were only defeating Silvers Rayleigh and escaping an Admiral.
Rayleigh hadn't been seen in years—age must have dulled his edge—so that didn't count for much. As for escaping an Admiral, Katakuri believed he could do the same.
Originally, he'd assumed Xiano was only slightly stronger than himself, still within the same tier.
But now?
After witnessing his clash with Akainu, that naive notion had been utterly shattered.
In Katakuri's mind, Xiano's standing had skyrocketed, now bordering on the same level as Big Mom herself.
For the sake of the Charlotte Family's interests, this was someone they absolutely couldn't afford to provoke lightly.
"My Observation Haki is a weak point," Xiano said, tapping the table lightly with his knuckles as he stared at Katakuri, "while yours is famously known for foreseeing the future."
"Since we've run into each other, I don't intend to let you leave so easily. Before you return to Totto Land, how about sparring with me for a while to help me improve my Observation Haki?"
Truth be told, he'd always held some admiration for this guy.
Setting aside their conflicting allegiances, he was genuinely a good brother and a decent man.
His strength was considerable too, especially that unparalleled Observation Haki that probably surpassed even some of the Four Emperors.
Katakuri remained silent for a moment, clearly not expecting Xiano to make such a request.
"Fine." After brief consideration, Katakuri spoke in his deep voice. "But I have one condition."
"Oh?" Xiano raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear it."
"If you're willing to marry Smoothie, I'd not only train with you for a few days but be your sparring partner for life. But... since you have no intention of marrying my sister, you're an outsider. I don't have time to help outsiders grow stronger."
Katakuri took an envelope from his pocket and placed it on the table, his gaze sharp as he looked at Xiano:
"To avoid being a complete outsider, at least come to Whole Cake Island to meet Mother and attend the Tea Party two months from now."
Xiano's eyes fell on the letter.
—An invitation to the Tea Party as an honored guest.
This wasn't unfamiliar to him.
BIGMOM regularly hosted grand Tea Parties, attended not only by Charlotte Family members and marriage partners but also by various allied external forces.
These gatherings served to strengthen relationships while also boosting Totto Land's prestige.
In other words, accepting the Tea Party invitation meant accepting the Charlotte Family's goodwill. They wouldn't be allies by any means, but at least they could be considered surface-level friends who wouldn't oppose each other temporarily.
After brief consideration, Xiano picked up the invitation.
"Fine."
Xiano smiled. "For the sake of today's desserts, I accept. Just remember to call me beforehand—I'll come to Totto Land for the event."
The desserts weren't the real reason, of course.
He'd already stated the true reason earlier, albeit jokingly.
—He genuinely wasn't ready to oppose Totto Land yet.
For one thing, there was still a gap in strength.
This referred to the overall disparity in forces. The Charlotte Family was vast, with a well-established hierarchy of mid-to-high-ranking officers. Just the Sweet Four Generals alone were more than his current companions could handle.
As for BIGMOM herself...
Xiano wasn't afraid. Before, he might have hesitated, but after his battle with Akainu, he had full confidence in his own strength.
The other reason was that among the territories ruled by the Four Emperors, Totto Land's thirty-six islands were relatively the most harmonious and stable.
Though residents had to pay with fragments of their soul's lifespan and occasionally worry about BIGMOM's Food Craving Sickness episodes, different races truly coexisted equally there, with no worries about food, shelter, or livelihood.
BIGMOM was a complex old woman—brutal in temperament, yet undeniably possessing her own ideals and capabilities, having built her domain into an orderly realm.
Compared to Kaido's tyranny and Red Hair's mysterious ways, the order in Totto Land was closer to his ideal territory model—stable, prosperous... truly resembling a great nation.
So.
Without sufficient strength to easily overpower the BIGMOM Pirate Crew, there was no need to subject its residents to the suffering of war.
"Then it's settled."
Katakuri said solemnly, "Rest assured, given your strength, Mother will show you the utmost respect—you will undoubtedly receive the highest level of hospitality ever seen at a Tea Party."
"No problem."
Xiano stood up, stretched lazily, and grinned as he beckoned Katakuri with a finger. "Then for the next few days, you'll have to be my sparring partner. It's tough work, so be mentally prepared."
Katakuri gave a slight nod before turning to Smoothie and Oven. "Return to Whole Cake Island and report back. I'll stay behind to accompany Lord Xiano in training for a few days."
(End of Chapter)