**Chapter 69: Sweet Commander, Snack!**
North Blue, Honey Island, Karamelo Kingdom.
"Boom!"
Everywhere on the island, gigantic furnaces burned day and night. A sickeningly sweet aroma, almost nauseating, permeated the entire island.
In the villages on the island, the farmlands had long since withered and died due to lack of cultivation.
Instead, near the numerous gigantic furnaces, the forcibly conscripted common folk numbly stirred the molasses flowing out of the furnaces.
Next to them, a group of bizarre creatures monitored their work.
They were a group of soldiers that looked like chess pieces, holding various weapons.
They were "Homie" soldiers, soul creatures created by Big Mom's abilities.
Once a commoner collapsed, they would immediately be dragged away by the Homies.
No one resisted—after so many years of hardship, everyone's bodies had reached their limits.
Forget fighting; the incessant coughing of many, almost as if their lungs would burst, was enough to prove that any of them could fall into an eternal sleep on any given night.
Just as Asia said—the "Honey Island" in his memories was already ruined, leaving behind only death, poverty, and despair.
But on this island of despair, there was a "pure land" that stood in stark contrast to everywhere else.
It was a golden, resplendent palace.
This was the only place on the entire island without furnaces, planted with fresh vegetation, and even a gigantic barrier separated it from the outside world.
At this moment, a ship was docked at the port behind the palace, which connected to the open sea.
It was a ship with a lobster figurehead and peculiar circular markings everywhere. The main sail bore the words "Explosive Death."
And on the mast of that ship, hung a pirate flag with a skull wearing a cowboy hat and exaggerated red lipstick.
That was Big Mom's pirate flag.
"Snack-sama—we've been eagerly awaiting your arrival, please follow me!"
At this moment, under the escort of a group of Homie soldiers.
A short, ugly man wearing a crown was greeting them in front of the pirate ship.
As he spoke, he deferentially led the man into the palace, fawning, "I've prepared the finest desserts and beauties; this time, you absolutely must stay for a few more days."
"That simply won't do, Karamelo."
But behind him, a tall, burly man with onion-like hair and carrying a large greatsword spoke like this.
"Mama has already issued an order—this year's birthday Tea Party must be grand enough."
"The chef team started preparing ingredients months in advance; I need to immediately bring the 'Rainbow Honey' back. I don't have time to stay here."
"Also, a prince of the Giant Race has proposed to *my sister*; Mama will arrange the wedding next year—so next year, the amount of Rainbow Honey you must supply will be doubled!"
He spoke to Karamelo III directly, without any ceremony.
"Doubled?!"
Upon hearing this, Karamelo III's eyes widened in disbelief.
"But, Snack-sama, I already told you last year that there aren't many of those mud-legged folk left on the island. It's very difficult to increase the production of Rainbow Honey now..."
He was halfway through his sentence when Snack's eyes turned to him.
"That's your problem, Karamelo."
He calmly looked at Karamelo: "What do you think Mama agreed to shelter you for? Do you know how many resources our Totto Land needs to use each year to keep the Marines from bothering you, and also to smooth out business relationships for you?"
"Mama doesn't care how much money you earn through our flag, but..."
He grinned, gripping the large sword behind him, his gaze fixed on Karamelo: "If you can't deliver the Rainbow Honey—"
"Swish!"
As his words fell, his sword was drawn and re-sheathed in an instant.
"I'll just cut you down."
His words fell.
Then,
"Rumble!"
At least several hundred meters behind Karamelo III, several gigantic pillars inside the palace were instantly sliced in half.
There was no visible sword flash, no obvious signs of Haki; it was as if his single strike had directly cut something hundreds of meters away!
"Gulp..."
Seeing this scene, even though it wasn't the first time he'd witnessed Snack's power, Karamelo III still couldn't help but gulp.
"Yes, yes, Snack-sama!" he stammered.
But Snack seemed to understand the principle of 'giving a carrot after the stick'. At this moment, he casually said, "However... haven't you always wanted to join us?"
He extended his hand and took out an invitation: "This is an invitation to this year's Tea Party. This time, I've come to transport the Rainbow Honey, so you can come to Totto Land with me."
He was able to travel from the New World to the North Blue because his ship had special 'Drum Wind Homies' to help him sail through the Calm Belt.
But Karamelo III obviously didn't have this technology, so if he wanted to attend the Tea Party, he could only travel to Totto Land on Snack's ship.
"If you can provide double the honey next year and ensure the wedding proceeds smoothly, I will report your merits to Mama—by then, I will recommend you to become Totto Land's 'Honey Minister'."
He painted an unrealistic dream with empty words.
But judging by Karamelo III's excited expression as he accepted the invitation, he clearly believed it.
Because he knew the identity of the man in front of him.
He wasn't an ordinary member under Big Mom; he was one of the Big Mom Pirates' high-ranking executives, the "Sweet Commander" Charlotte Snack, whose name resounded throughout the Grand Line.
This made him instantly forget his earlier fear and resolve in his heart—he must complete Mama's mission next year.
"Increase the workload of those mud-legged folk! Even if they all die, it doesn't matter. I can buy slaves myself to work!"
"As long as I can become the 'Honey Minister', a true pirate nation under the Big Mom Pirates, leveraging the name of a Four Emperor... the money I earn each year will at least double!"
He thought to himself.
Soon, the two entered the palace.
They didn't go to the reception hall, but instead hurried to the highest corridor of the palace.
Behind a painting on the corridor was Karamelo III's treasure vault.
"Click!"
Karamelo III didn't hide it; he directly opened the treasure vault with a key.
Then, a captivating fragrance and dazzling golden light emanated from the treasure vault.
Inside the treasure vault, there was a considerable amount of treasure piled up like small mountains.
But what was laughable was that compared to those treasures, what was stored more meticulously, even finely arranged in exquisite boxes, were bottles of honey emitting a seven-colored glow.
But Karamelo III didn't feel it was strange.
Not only was 'Seven-Colored Honey' the highest quality honey, but its price was also inherently expensive.
Simply put, as a tribute to Big Mom, its significance far exceeded its original value.
After all, if treasure was stolen, it could be earned back.
But if the honey was stolen, his head would probably be cut off on the spot.
"Swish!"
A sharp sound suddenly came from beside Karamelo III's ear.
Karamelo III was not good at fighting, so he didn't react immediately to what that sound was.
But the next moment, he knew.
Because in an instant, he almost felt the icy coldness of a blade coming from his throat.
It was as if death was greeting him.
"I've been slashed!" Karamelo III concluded: "I... I'm going to die!"
But at the same time...
"Shield - Slash Defense!" Snack's voice suddenly came through.
"Bang!"
The next moment, Karamelo III's body crashed heavily to the ground.
He was so scared that he peed his pants, unbelievably touching his neck—the icy cold feeling of a blade cutting his throat seemed to still linger on his skin.
"I... how come I'm not dead just now?" he stammered, feeling his pants were wet— "Hmm, it must be sweat, right?"
"Of course you're not dead; that slash has already been intercepted by me."
Snack shot him a disgusted look.
Afterwards, his cautious gaze swept around: "However, to actually try to kill you right in front of 'The Strongest Commander' Snack... I really have been underestimated."
"That... that enemy? Did you get rid of him?"
Hearing this, Karamelo III looked at Snack with desperate hope: "Please, please, get rid of him... I can give you money, as much as you want!"
Snack: "..."
The burly man was silent for a moment, then said, "An enemy capable of bypassing the Homie soldiers and infiltrating here must be a very formidable assassin. Such a fellow will choose to retreat if their first strike fails, so I suspect he's no longer nearby."
After he finished speaking, as if he felt his words weren't imposing enough, he added, "After all, if he were a strong opponent, he would surely perceive my strength. If he dares to strike again—"
His words were not yet finished.
Because at this moment, the attack arrived once again.
Only this time...
"Swish!" "Swish!" "Swish!"
The incessant slashes were no longer limited to Karamelo III alone but enveloped Snack as well.
It was as if the assassin hidden in the dark was clearly telling Snack:
"What did you say you were?!"
(end of chapter)