Chapter 126: News Out

"Laugh if you want, I've been laughed at for this before."

Katakuri shook his head. His mouth was torn because he loved donuts a little too much. Although it had been stitched up, there were still traces of the stitches.

More importantly, it wasn't just the stitching that marred his mouth; his teeth were also very strange, the kind of sharp teeth that couldn't be hidden even when his mouth was closed. These chompers completely ruined his otherwise majestic appearance. Even without the stitches, those teeth were quite the sight.

"I can help you remove the suture marks, but I can't do anything about your teeth, tho"

Luo Ning's words lit up Katakuri's eyes. He didn't even care about his teeth at that point.

"But being able to remove those stitches would be amazing!"

Seeing Katakuri's eagerness, Luo Ning simply injected some fantasy power into his body, healing his mouth.

Even so, Katakuri's mouth still remained a bit unusual. As for whether he would break his mouth again in the future because of donuts, well, that wasn't a big concern. After all, he was a Devil Fruit user.

Pudding, on the other hand, had completely changed. Just like Katakuri, Pudding wasn't inherently evil.

Although a pirate, Katakuri only truly cared about his family. He didn't seek out killing, but wouldn't hesitate to do so if necessary. Compared to genuine lunatics and murderers, he was much more normal.

The reason Pudding turned vicious was actually a form of self-defense. Under Big Mom's rule, kindness was a weakness. To protect herself, Pudding hid her true nature.

To put it bluntly, it was all her mother's fault. If she hadn't disregarded her children's well-being, would Pudding have been bullied like that in her youth?

This isn't just about Pudding; even Katakuri was frequently ridiculed and bullied in his childhood. It's heartbreaking to think about.

In the original story, Pudding fell in love with Sanji at the end. However, due to her own identity, she couldn't make things too difficult for him. So, she made the heartbreaking decision to erase his memory of her.

It was undeniably cruel to delete the memory of the first person who didn't hate her, but she felt powerless.

In hindsight, Pudding might have been overthinking things. She could have run away with Sanji and the others. Her biggest concern was that Big Mom's wrath would remain relentless: her escape wouldn't quell Big Mom's hatred.

Honestly, at that point, Luffy and the others were already causing a stir. Adding Pudding wouldn't have made much difference, but her absence did. Following Sanji wouldn't have significantly impacted the situation. Big Mom would have targeted Luffy regardless.

After all, Luffy had already angered Big Mom back on Fishman Island.

Pudding erased Sanji's memory solely out of concern for his safety.

Luo Ning's overall impression of Pudding is positive. After revealing her true self, she's no longer the vicious woman she pretended to be.

Admittedly, when Luo Ning first saw Pudding's act, he was tempted to harm her. Thankfully, he reconsidered.

"Katakuri, let's start preparing for establishing your own country in the future. While you're renowned throughout the world, you haven't truly built a nation of your own."

Luo Ning glanced at Katakuri, who responded with a nod. Dealing with the island first wouldn't be time-consuming; after all, only Whole Cake Island was directly affected. The other islands had minimal Homiz presence. A simple phone call from Katakuri, the island's second-in-command, would be enough to stabilize the situation. No one would dare challenge him with Luo Ning present.

However, Luo Ning's role was currently crucial for external deterrence. His name held significant weight. To maintain their territory, Big Mom's (formerly Big Mom Pirates) only recourse was to rely on Luo Ning's reputation. Otherwise, they risked being swallowed by other Yonko crews.

Shanks, lacking a large force or vast resources, wouldn't be particularly interested. But Kaido and Whitebeard were different stories. While Whitebeard prioritized his family over territory, his captains wouldn't miss an opportunity for expansion. Kaido, in particular, would seize the chance without hesitation.

Katakuri swiftly departed to handle his island's affairs. Meanwhile, Pudding became Nami's biggest fangirl. Interestingly, Pudding's age now roughly matched Shirahoshi's – still a little girl.

It was remarkable, considering Pudding's traumatic childhood that led to her precocious behavior, allowing her to rise to a prominent position under Big Mom. That achievement, considering her young age, was quite impressive.

Nami, being the first to appreciate Pudding's unique eyes, naturally became the recipient of most of her admiration. In this regard, Luo Ning couldn't compete. Nami had gained a devoted follower.

Shirahoshi also gained a playmate in Pudding. Since Luo Ning planned to take Pudding with him later, she could serve as companionship for Shirahoshi in the meantime.

Luo Ning is a little speechless due to the altered timeline. Many characters who were originally young women are now lolis.

While Robin considers them companions, it is not so simple to go further.

Luo Ning isn't concerned about this; he'll let time handle it.

News from Cake Island quickly reached Morgans, who broadcasted the announcement of Whole Cake Island joining Impel Down as a member nation.

Being a member nation grants blessings from Impel Down. Luo Ning doesn't require anything from them; he simply needs them to maintain order.

This news of becoming a member nation caused many onlookers to lose interest in attacking Whole Cake Island, as they lacked the means to do so.

Technically, Whole Cake Island isn't the first nation blessed by Impel Down, but it joins the ranks of only three: Fishman Island, Dressrosa, and now Whole Cake Island.

Under these circumstances, no one would dare target Whole Cake Island.

However, the real focus lies on the fall of a Yonko. Remember, the Yonko represent the pinnacle of pirate power at this stage. Therefore, the fall of one is a monumental event.

People won't be as surprised by another emperor falling; the shock comes from having one less.

In fact, many have been speculating that the first Yonko to fall must be Red-Haired Shanks, considering he lost an arm and became a target for many pirates afterward.