Chapter 12: The Man Who Sees Too Much
The Mochi-Green Glow
As the emerald light of Rank 48 settled over the world, the scent of sugar was so thick that people in the East Blue were licking the air. The screen focused on a desolate, white-wasteland—the Mirro-World. In the center stood Charlotte Katakuri, a titan of lean muscle and leather, his scarf tucked high over his face.
[Rank 48: Charlotte Katakuri]
[Title: The Perfectionist of the Sweet City]
[Observation Haki: Advanced — Continuous Future Sight]
The Global Chat, which had been a war zone of fire and brimstone for King, immediately shifted into a sugar-coated insult contest.
> [Queen]: "Look at him! Standing there in his little vest! Hey, Toothless! Does that scarf hide the fact that you're actually just a giant piece of gum?! I bet you have a chin like a shovel!"
> [Charlotte Katakuri]: "I don't need a chin to see that you're about to lose your dignity, Queen. The System doesn't favor the loud."
> [Charlotte Perospero]: "Kukuku! Don't speak to our brother with that greasy mouth, Queen. Katakuri has never been defeated, and unlike your bird-friend, he doesn't need a lab to be a 'God.' Perorin~!"
>
The World's Audience: A Global Picnic
On Sabaody, the terror of the "Calm Belt" mass-teleportation had morphed into a strange, manic festival. If the sky was going to judge them, they were going to watch it with snacks.
Luffy was sitting on a pile of stolen crates, cheering. "HE'S TALL! AND HE HAS A TRIDENT! Nami, can we get a trident? It looks like a giant fork for sea-meat!"
"It's not a fork, Luffy!" Usopp yelled, though he was busy peering through his goggles. "And look at his Haki! (Everyone now knows what 3 types of Hakis are, thanks to system). Even through the screen, the pressure is making my hair stand up! This guy looks like he never sleeps!"
In Marineford, the Marines had given up on trying to stop the broadcast. Instead, they had set up a "Tactical Observation Buffet." Vice-Admiral Garp was currently competing with a very nervous Koby in a cracker-eating contest.
"Eat up, Koby!" Garp laughed, crumbs flying. "The screen says Katakuri is a 'Perfectionist.' That usually means he's high-strung. I like people who are high-strung—they're the easiest to make angry! Bwahaha!"
The Chat: The Legend's Commentary
The legends in the afterlife were treating the chat like a high-stakes gambling hall.
> [Gol D. Roger]: "Bwahaha! This kid Katakuri... he's got those eyes. The look of a man who hasn't taken a nap in thirty years. Rayleigh, remember when we used to sleep through storms? This kid would be up counting the raindrops!"
> [Silvers Rayleigh]: "He's efficient, Roger. He reminds me of someone who actually plans their battles, unlike you, who once tried to fight a cyclone because it 'looked at you funny'."
> [Rocks D. Xebec]: "Mochi? Fire? Machines? What happened to the sea?! In my day, we fought with sheer spite! Linlin, your son is too tidy. He needs to get some dirt on that scarf."
> [Big Mom]: "MAMAMAMA! Dirt is for the weak, Rocks! My Katakuri is a masterpiece! He hasn't even touched the ground since he was born! His back is as pristine as a fresh cake!"
>
The Feat: The 100-Bean Snipe
The screen flickered. It showed a flashback of a wedding ceremony on Whole Cake Island. A group of assassins was hidden in the rafters, 500 yards away.
Katakuri didn't even turn around. He reached into a small pouch on his belt and pulled out a handful of jellybeans.
Flick. Flick. Flick.
[System Analysis: Velocity — Mach 4.5]
[Result: 100 headshots. 100 jellybeans. 0 survivors.]
> [Yasopp]: "Not bad. For a guy using candy. But try doing that with a North Blue breeze blowing at 15 knots. Then we'll talk."
> [Luffy]: "I WANT THE JELLYBEANS! HEY, SCARF-MAN! THROW SOME OVER HERE!"
>
The Sudden Trial: The Secret of the Merienda
The emerald light flared, turning a bruised, ominous purple. The heartbeat sound of the System returned, vibrating through the bones of every living thing.
[System: Trial of the 48th Sovereign — BEGIN.]
[QUESTION: Charlotte Katakuri's greatest secret is not his face, but a specific 'Daily Ritual' he performs at 4:00 PM every day inside a custom-built 'Merienda' house. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE SONG HE HUMS TO HIMSELF WHILE EATING HIS DONUTS?]
A) 'The Mochi Waltz'
B) 'Donuts are Delicious' (The Heavy Metal Version)
C) 'Oh, Donuts!' (A Soul-Shattering Ballad of Sugar)
D) He doesn't hum; he simply recites the names of his enemies.
[Time Remaining: 60 Seconds]
[Reward: 1 Golden Sovereign Coin]
[Penalty: UNKNOWN. (Individualized for every incorrect user.)]
The chat went into an absolute frenzy.
> [Charlotte Flambe]: "MY BROTHER HUMMING?! IMPOSSIBLE! He is a god! He probably recites poetry about victory!"
> [Sanji]: "Soul-shattering ballad? As a chef, I respect the dedication to the donut. But 'Heavy Metal' feels too much like Queen's style. I'm staying out of this one... I don't like 'Unknown' punishments."
> [Buggy]: "I'M NOT ANSWERING! I already used my coin! I don't want to find out what 'Unknown' means! It probably means turning into a donkey or something!"
> [Luffy]: "I LIKE DONUTS! I BET IT'S C! BALLADS ARE FOR SINGING ABOUT FOOD!"
>
[Countdown: 45... 44... 43...]
The world held its breath. People stared at their screens, fingers hovering over the mental buttons. One minute to decide. One minute to risk a punishment that could be anything from a squeaky voice to something far worse.