Chapter 233: Big Mom
Under the guidance of Peleus Pero, Rodney entered the main city of Cake Island and finally arrived at a massive gate.
The gate appeared to be made of candy, with a large face on it. Upon seeing Peleus Pero's arrival, a female voice emanated from it, "Lord Peleus Pero."
Peleus Pero nodded. "Open the gate; I've brought a guest to see Mom."
"Understood."
The candy gate swung open, and the scene that greeted Rodney surprised him. Countless desserts were bouncing around, each one with a face. It didn't seem like much when watching it in animation, but seeing it in person was rather unsettling.
It was evident that Big Mom had used her powers to turn these sweets into Homies, albeit a lower-level variant. They obediently followed their master's commands, forming lines and hopping into Big Mom's enormous mouth.
Surrounded by these sweets was a massively obese woman wearing a pirate hat. Her face was adorned with purple eyeshadow and red lipstick. She was dressed in a voluminous pink gown and giggled as she savored the desserts.
It was Charlotte Linlin, also known as Big Mom, the leader of the Big Mom Pirates and one of the Four Emperors. She possessed monstrous strength and, at the age of five, had destroyed Elbaf Village due to her craving disorder. She had even slain a giant hero and was on par with the likes of the waterfall-beard, Ryokugyu.
Due to this incident, the giants had refused to join the World Government, making Big Mom a significant figure in the world.
She was also one of the most prolific mothers globally, with forty-three husbands, resulting in thirty-nine daughters and forty-six sons. It was a seemingly harmonious, happy family, at least on the surface.
"Mom, I've brought Mr. Rodney," Peleus Pero stood at the entrance without entering further, not wanting to disturb his mother's mealtime.
However, Big Mom didn't seem to mind. Instead, she smiled and said, "Mama-mama-mama, Rodney, nice to meet you. Would you like to join us in tasting some sweets?"
Rodney walked in, looking at the desserts. "Do you have any fruit desserts?"
As soon as he asked, black currant pudding, mulberry yogurt, and apple pie came running over. Rodney bent down, and Homies resembling chairs rushed to position themselves under him, allowing him to sit. Honestly, aside from their appearance, these Homies were incredibly convenient. They could provide anything with just a gesture.
"Peleus Pero, you can step back," Big Mom instructed, and Peleus Pero bowed before stepping away. The door closed, leaving only Big Mom and Rodney.
Alone with a massive woman… Rodney couldn't help but think that if Big Mom were younger, he might consider her advances. However, who would be interested in such an obese older woman? In her youth, Big Mom had indeed been a beauty, but time had taken its toll. Her overindulgence in high-sugar foods had not helped.
Didn't she worry about getting diabetes?
Rodney couldn't help but imagine that if Big Mom were ever autopsied after her death, the forensic report might read, "We found traces of blood in Big Mom's syrup."
Nevertheless, there was no denying that Cake Island's fruit desserts were quite delicious.
Big Mom chuckled and asked, "Mama-mama-mama, Rodney, how do you like the taste?"
"It's very good," Rodney nodded. "I'm curious, Big Mom, what did you invite me here for? Let's get straight to business."
Big Mom smiled and said, "Naturally, I want to discuss a business deal with you. That joker is still unfit for the world stage, and I'd like to cooperate directly with you."
"Oh?" Rodney understood from her words that she wanted to bypass Donquixote Doflamingo and work directly with him.
In the underground world, while Rodney had some connections, most of his business was handled by Doflamingo and Trebol. Their collaboration with the Four Emperors was primarily Doflamingo's responsibility.
However, it seemed like Big Mom didn't want to work with Doflamingo anymore.
"Your firearms are excellent, and my pirate crew already has some of them. However, the supply is too slow, and I need more," Big Mom explained.
"That's not a problem. Aveliton's warehouse is still filled with plenty of weapons waiting to be sold. We're more than happy to be your new supplier. I look forward to working with you, Big Mom."
"Mama-mama-mama, a pleasant cooperation it shall be!"
"A pleasant cooperation indeed!"
Business negotiations were often straightforward when both parties were willing. The tricky part was usually determining how to split the profits, a matter left to their subordinates. However, Big Mom wasn't exactly short on funds.
The room echoed with Big Mom's laughter, an unusually grating sound.
"Mama-mama-mama, Rodney, how old are you this year?" Big Mom, while eating dessert, suddenly asked.
"How old am I? I'm twenty-two," Rodney replied cautiously.
"Mama-mama-mama, are you married?"
What was this old woman up to?
Rodney answered with a calm demeanor, "Yes, I'm married."
"I haven't heard about your wife."
"Hehe, it was a secret wedding. After all, the days when the World Government was after her were not easy." Rodney smiled gently, and Big Mom's smile remained unchanged.
"I see. Well, that's a pity. I'm going to enjoy my desserts now, so I won't keep you company. Instead, I'll have my daughter, Charlotte Chiffon, accompany you."
The door opened, and a tall, curvaceous woman entered. She wore a wine-red dress that emphasized her figure, and her wine-red hair was styled in curls with two arrow-shaped decorations. She had a beautiful face with red lipstick, resembling flames.
She also wore a purple furry cape, similar in color to the one worn by Donquixote Doflamingo, the Fire Tank Pirates captain.
Charlotte Chiffon, the eighteenth daughter of the Charlotte family and the Butter Minister of Totto Land, was a Paramecia Devil Fruit user with the Butter-Butter Fruit powers. She was one of the few children of Big Mom who resembled a human.
With a smile on her face, Charlotte Chiffon placed her gloved hand on her ample chest and said, "Hello, I'm Mom's daughter, Charlotte Chiffon. Mr. Rodney, I'll be responsible for guiding you around the World for the next few days."
Rodney thought to himself, 'What is this old woman trying to do? Is she trying to recruit me as a son-in-law?'
Big Mom was fond of making political marriages, whether for herself or her children. These marriages were either to produce offspring with mixed-race bloodlines or to gain new allies.
For example, the marriage of Pudding and Capone Bege had been a means to attract and control the emerging powers among the pirates.
Big Mom wasn't just interested in Rodney's strength; she was eyeing
his weapons factory. If this cooperation succeeded, why would she need to buy weapons? She could just take them and profit from the factory's production.
It was a plan with multiple benefits.
As for Rodney's mention of a wife? Well, didn't married people sometimes get divorced? Moreover, with Chiffon's charm, she wouldn't lose to some rural woman.