Chapter 217: Call from Big Mom

Chapter 217: Call from Big Mom



The unusual trio found themselves in front of the candy factory owned by Big Mom, all the while the citizens wondering why one of their saviors was following a couple of Big Mom's subordinates around like a lost puppy.

Once inside, Cherry recognized the candies on display in the storefront. They were the same kind of candies that she had seen Luffy gorging on the night before.

She lamented the fact that Luffy hadn't eaten more, as it would have been an amusing situation if they had eaten all of Big Mom's candy.

As the factory employees brought out large sacks full of oversized candies, a sudden sound was heard that immediately made Pekoms and Tamago stiffen and start to sweat.

*Pururururu Pururururu*

Pekoms hesitated for a brief instant before answering the mini den den mushi. He really didn't want to do so in front of a certain hawk-eyed troublemaker, but missing a call from Big Mom would cost him a few years off his life.

*gacha* "Pekoms." The voice of the woman on the other side of the snail had a peculiar quality to it.

It had a commanding presence to it that demanded your attention, but more than that it sounded... hungry. An insatiable hunger that would swallow the world whole if it could only open its mouth wide enough to do so.

To Cherry, this wasn't the voice of a human or a beast or even a demon. It was more akin to a flame that would mindlessly consume everything in its path, even if it meant there would be nothing left to sustain itself.

As much as Cherry wanted to mess with her, she knew better than to play with fire. At least until she was in a position to stamp it out permanently.

"I'm here, Mama." Pekoms answered, somewhat relieved to see Cherry's smile falter slightly.

"Bavarois is dead and his fleet was sunk. I'm in a bad mood, so bring back twice the candies. Tell the factory to triple the order every month, too." Big Mom spoke, sounding more annoyed than angry.

The manager of the factory went a bit pale and quickly ordered the employees to check their stock, careful not to speak loudly enough for Big Mom to overhear. Tamago and Pekoms noticed of course, but wouldn't say anything until it was certain there was a problem.

"Of course, Mama. How did that happen though? Bavarois was quite strong." Pekoms asked, trying to buy time. It wouldn't be good to have to call Big Mom back and tell her there was a problem.

"It's those damned Neo Marine cowards again. I swear I'll suck them all dry when I get my hands on them." Big Mom vented.

At the mention of the Neo Marines, Cherry perked up in interest. 'Those guys are crazy enough to attack two Emperors at once?'

The factory employees quickly came out with more sacks of candy, clear relief on their faces revealing that they had just managed to scrounge up enough to satisfy Big Mom's increased order.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"We just received the candies, Mama. We'll return quickly, gao." Pekoms said.

Nami was seriously rethinking her decision to join Cherry's training sessions.

"Are you sure these exercises are safe, Cherry?" Chopper asked. As a doctor, he was quite aware of the harm excessive exercise can do.

"Don't compare them to regular humans, Chopper. Merpeople are very sturdy and the royal family even more so. Princess Shirahoshi especially has the potential to become one of the world's strongest people." Cherry waved away his concerns.

"Really?" Shirahoshi asked, both hopeful and dubious.

"Of course! I wouldn't lie about such a thing. If you want results, though, you're going to have to put yourself through hell. Make your brothers and father teach you how to fight and spar

with you, don't let them go easy on you either." Cherry affirmed.

"Oh, bearded old guy! You promised to reward us with some treasure, didn't you?" Nami said with a big smile as King Neptune came out to meet them.

"Jamon, yes I was planning to do that. Unfortunately it would seem that the treasury was robbed clean." King Neptune looked very embarrassed.

Nami looked doubtful, she thought he was trying to weasel himself out of a promise to keep his gold to himself.

"Was it the swamp guy? I noticed that he doesn't seem to be in the palace anymore, so you either moved him or he escaped right?" Cherry said nonchalantly.

"Mm, that would seem to be the case. The prison was impacted by the super weapon and his

cell in particular had a fairly large crack in it. With his logia powers, it would have been easy for him to slip out. Jamon." King Neptune said dejectedly. He felt very bad that he couldn't reward the Straw Hats properly.

Nami turned to the three resident meatheads in their crew, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji. "Go get the treasure. We can keep all the treasure since we're the ones who'll recover it right, old guy?

Thanks!"

"I supposed that's fine, Jamon." King Neptune said, somewhat relieved. "Right away, Nami-swaaan~!" Sanji said, prancing out of the palace in search of his quarry.

"I guess I can go..." Zoro said, finishing off a bottle of hard liquor.

"Ooh, treasure hunting! Shishishi!" Luffy was eager to go as he wanted to get back into the pirate way of doing things.

Nami notably didn't ask Cherry to go, even though it would be the easiest thing in the world for her to locate Caribou. After seeing the state Cherry was in yesterday, she wanted Cherry to get some rest. Her friends were more important to her than gold, even if she didn't act like it

sometimes.