chapter 68 part 2
On this island, there was an island kingdom called the 'Karamelo Kingdom.'
"Relying on the island's unique fruits, sweet springs, and high-quality honey, everyone's lives were very good. The previous King, Karamelo II, had even begun preparing to apply to become a World Government Member Nation."
Hearing this, Rat was somewhat surprised.
Becoming a World Government Member Nation was no simple matter — merely applying to join required paying a substantial fee.
Since the previous King of Honey Island could consider this matter, it was enough to show that this small island kingdom was indeed very wealthy.
But then.
"Karamelo II's plan had not yet succeeded when he suddenly fell ill and died eight years ago. His son, Karamelo III, then inherited the throne."
At this point, Abel clenched his fists.
That was the beginning of the nightmare.
Karamelo III was not a visionary like his father; instead, he believed that spending a huge amount of Beli to become a World Government Member Nation was a loss.
Of course, if it were simply that, his thinking wouldn't necessarily be wrong.
But the key was:
"To gain patronage and status, he secretly clung to one of the Four Emperors, Big Mom."
When he said this, Rat was almost dumbfounded.
"Big Mom?!"
He seemed to frown slightly: "Isn't your island in North Blue?"
It was common knowledge that the main sphere of influence for the Four Emperors who rule the seas was the New World.
While the four initial seas and the first half of the Grand Line, "Paradise," were largely under the control of the Marines.
Of course, the power and resources possessed by the Four Emperors certainly allowed them to freely enter and exit the New World relatively.
For example, the Red-Haired Pirates had once returned from the New World to the East Blue.
For example, the Whitebeard Pirates had also once returned from the New World to Paradise.
But it was clear that whether it was crossing the Calm Belt or confronting the Marines directly, it required taking considerable risks.
For an ordinary North Blue island kingdom like Honey Island to be able to cling to Big Mom — this sounded somewhat unusual.
What meaning could such a remote place hold for Big Mom?
But the next moment, Abel told Rat the answer.
"It's our Honey Island's unique specialty, 'Rainbow Honey Bread'..."
Speaking of this, he was clearly in great pain.
"That is a delicacy invented by our Honey Island's first King, made from the unique sweet springs and special ores of Honey Island, simmered into a syrup. It is a honey bread with an unparalleled taste in the world — back then, Karamelo II also planned to use it to join the World Government."
"But that scoundrel Karamelo III, he offered the recipe for 'Rainbow Honey Bread' to Big Mom and gained her favor."
Thus, Rat understood.
The Four Emperors all had their own obsessions — Kaido was obsessed with war, Whitebeard valued family, and Red-Hair... uh, his standing.
As for Big Mom, she was madly obsessed with food, especially sweets!
If it was truly as Abel said, and Honey Island could produce honey bread with an unparalleled taste in the world — then let alone North Blue, Rat estimated that Big Mom would forcibly occupy it even if it was territory under other Four Emperors.
In that case, it didn't seem strange that she was willing to spend some resources to establish a connection with a North Blue island kingdom.
"Big Mom protected Honey Island, gave Karamelo III a large amount of wealth, and even dispatched a Homies Army to be stationed on the island."
Clearly, Karamelo III, having received Big Mom's protection, had achieved his goal.
The Homies Army — those were special lifeforms created by Big Mom using her Soul-Soul Fruit ability.
With their protection, Honey Island would naturally face almost no danger in North Blue.
But for the common people of the Karamelo Kingdom, it was a different story.
Because.
"The production of Rainbow Honey Bread requires extremely high-temperature furnaces to burn ores and fuel, and it requires many people to continuously simmer and stir."
"In the past, the kingdom only produced a few jars each year, which wasn't a problem, but Big Mom demanded Karamelo III to offer an entire ship's worth of Rainbow Honey Bread every year!"
This was the origin of Abel and his fellow refugees.
Big Mom clearly wouldn't consider any environmental issues — so she had Karamelo III lead the Homies to build a large number of syrup furnaces on Honey Island.
And the common people became slaves, simmering honey bread syrup.
However, burning furnaces of this scale would naturally produce a large amount of harmful gases.
"Many people who went in to work died, and most of those with weaker bodies couldn't even last half a year."
"Cough... and for us who survived, our bodies have also developed problems."
Abel clenched his fists, his teeth almost gnashing together.
"We gathered a group of people and launched a rebellion, but it was easily suppressed."
"In the end, only about thirty of us managed to escape and came here."
Hearing this, Rat softly asked, "Do you want to rescue your homeland?"
But at this moment, Abel shook his head.
"No... Honey Island is already ruined."
When he said this, his eyes were already red.
"We just want someone to kill that tyrant — as long as he dies, it's fine!"
And after hearing his words, Rat was silent for a moment before speaking: "You should know my requirements — two hundred million Beli, or those nineteen types of metal ores. Can you provide them?"
"Yes! Of course, we can!"
Upon hearing this, Abel said without hesitation: "In these past seven years, we've saved almost all the money we could. Everyone worked hard on nearby islands, and the accumulated savings just happen to be over two hundred million Beli. We'll give it all to you!"
His voice was loud, like a drowning person grasping at their last straw.
"And those metal ores on your list, although we don't have them, we know where they are!"
He said in a deep voice: "The materials Big Mom gave Karamelo III to build the syrup furnaces contain the Pyroxene Steel and Ferrada Crystal you need. I was previously conscripted to participate in the construction of the furnaces; I can confirm it!"
After speaking, he held his breath and looked at Rat.
He felt his heart almost stop beating.
In the past seven years, no one had dared to accept their commission.
He naturally knew why.
If, back in North Blue, on Honey Island, they still couldn't precisely know what kind of existence Big Mom was,
Then after these seven years of wandering, they had already understood what the Four Emperors truly were.
They were monsters, emperors of the sea, an unprovocable catastrophe.
Killing a king protected by Big Mom was too risky for anyone.
At the same time, Rat also looked at Abel.
He could see the simple pendant on Abel's hand — there was a yellowed old photograph on the pendant.
In the photograph was a younger version of him, standing next to a middle-aged woman wearing a blue gemstone pendant.
The two bore a striking resemblance, clearly mother and son.
But Rat could confirm that he hadn't seen this woman among the group of people just now.
The answer was self-evident.
"Since you have enough commission fees,"
Then, he gave his answer.
"Then, as you wish — I accept this mission."
(end of chapter)