"Open your mouth."
Linlin held a gray-white spiral-patterned fruit to Kaizer's lips. The fruit radiated a chilling aura, its surface patterns seeming to writhe slowly.
Kaizer stared at the Ghost-Ghost Fruit — the exact one he had seen back on God Valley.
"Eat it," Linlin said, eyes sparkling like a child offering a treasure. "Mamama! You can already summon those black monsters, right? This fruit might make them even stronger!"
Kaizer took the fruit. He knew exactly what it was — Paramecia-type: Ghost-Ghost Fruit.
In the original story, it belonged to Perona and allowed her to create negative ghosts, mini ghosts, and giant ghosts.
But the system had hinted that this fruit could have special synergy with his demi-human bloodline and IBM abilities.
He bit into it.
An indescribable taste exploded in his mouth — like moldy rags mixed with rust, or rotten fruit soaked in sewage.
Kaizer's face twisted instantly. He forced down the urge to vomit and swallowed.
"Mamama! That expression!" Linlin clapped and laughed. "I made the exact same face when I first ate the Soul-Soul Fruit! It's disgusting, right?"
Kaizer didn't answer — the second wave of flavor hit.
He dropped to his knees, dry-heaving, while Linlin laughed so hard she nearly fell over.
But soon, a strange sensation replaced the nausea.
A cold current rose from his stomach and spread through his veins to every part of his body. The system interface flashed wildly:
[Devil Fruit energy detected] [Type: Paramecia – Ghost-Ghost Fruit] [Warning: User will lose the ability to swim and will be weakened by seawater and Seastone] [Analyzing compatibility with host abilities…] [Analysis complete: Ghost-Ghost Fruit can resonate with IBM (Black Ghost)] [Connection establishing…]
Kaizer felt something inside him awaken. He instinctively summoned IBM —
The two black ghosts materialized behind him, but they were different now.
The bandages were wrapped more tightly, and the flow of black particles was smoother.
Most importantly, faint red lights glowed in the sunken hollows where their "eyes" should be.
They stood still.
Then one of them tilted its "head" slightly.
"Master," it spoke — not through a mouth, but with a deep, metallic voice that vibrated directly through the air. "What are your orders?"
Kaizer froze.
Linlin froze too.
"It talked?!" She leaned in until her massive face was inches from the IBM. "Mamama! It really talked! Your black monster can speak now!"
The second IBM also spoke: "Please maintain distance, Lady Charlotte Linlin. Your breathing disrupts my particle stability."
Linlin took half a step back, eyes wide as she looked between the two.
Kaizer tested them with a command: "Check the cabin."
"Understood." Both IBMs replied simultaneously. They dissolved into black particles and reappeared instantly at the cabin doorway — not floating, but short-range teleportation.
"Short-distance teleportation…" Kaizer murmured.
"There's more!" Linlin grabbed his shoulders and shook him excitedly. "Look at how smooth their movements are! Mamama! I knew it! This fruit was perfect for you!"
Kaizer closed his eyes and focused. Indeed, controlling the IBMs now felt effortless.
Previously, complex actions required intense concentration. Now, a single thought was enough for perfect execution.
He could also perceive through both IBMs' "vision" simultaneously — like having two extra pairs of eyes.
Even more importantly, the IBMs had gained basic "self-awareness." Not true personalities, but advanced AI-like intelligence capable of understanding complex orders and choosing optimal execution methods.
"Linlin," Kaizer opened his eyes. "Thank you."
"Mamama! Family doesn't need thanks!" Linlin grinned, but her expression quickly turned serious. "But now that you've eaten a Devil Fruit, you can't swim anymore. Stay away from seawater from now on."
"I know."
"And Seastone." Linlin pulled out a small Seastone fragment from her pocket — who knew when she had hidden it. "Try this again."
She pressed the fragment against his arm.
A wave of weakness hit, but it was far milder than before. Kaizer tried summoning IBM — it worked, though the formation speed was slowed by about a third.
"Resistance has increased," Linlin observed. "Mamama! Just as I thought! Your immortality and the Devil Fruit stack — they don't replace each other!"
She released him. The Seastone fragment clattered onto the deck.
"Let's go," Linlin said, shouldering the massive sack filled with her "family." "It's time to find a place to build our nation."
Three months later, somewhere in the New World.
Kaizer stood at the bow of the ship, with two IBMs floating on either side behind him.
After three months of practice, his mastery over the Ghost-Ghost Fruit had grown significantly. The IBMs could now stay active for three hours, turn invisible, phase through walls, and even release weak "negative ghost" effects — nowhere near Perona's level, but enough to demoralize ordinary people.
"Master," the left IBM — which Kaizer had named "Shadow" — spoke. "Large island detected thirty nautical miles away at ten o'clock. Freshwater lake at the center, fertile soil, pleasant climate. Meets settlement criteria."
The right IBM — "Phantom" — added: "Approximately three hundred native inhabitants, all ordinary humans. No armed forces detected. Recommend peaceful contact or expulsion."
Linlin crawled out of the cabin, chewing on a massive meat leg. "Found one?"
"Yes," Kaizer nodded. "It's a good place."
"Mamama! Then that's the one!" Linlin finished the meat in a few bites and tossed the bone into the sea. "Full speed ahead! We land today!"
When the ship reached shore, the islanders gathered on the beach, staring in terror at the nine-meter-tall pink-haired giant and the strange "family" behind her.
Linlin strode ashore, the ground trembling with each step.
"Listen up!" she shouted, hands on her hips. "This island now belongs to me! You can choose to stay and become my citizens, or leave. I won't stop you!"
A brave elder stepped forward. "Who… who are you? On what grounds—"
Linlin punched a nearby boulder.
BOOM—!
The boulder shattered.
"On these grounds," Linlin grinned. "Mamama! And these!"
She extended her hand. Purple light from the Soul-Soul Fruit surged forth. Several stones on the beach trembled and "came alive," sprouting eyes and mouths that let out high-pitched cries.
The islanders were stunned into silence.
Kaizer stepped forward and patted Linlin's calf — the highest he could reach.
"Let me handle the talking."
He walked up to the elder. The two IBMs materialized behind him — their bandaged, black-particle forms caused the islanders to retreat several more steps.
"We won't harm you," Kaizer said. "On the contrary, we will protect this island. You may continue living here, as long as you follow a few simple rules."
"What rules?" the elder asked shakily.
"First, no harming each other. Second, surrender a portion of your harvest as tax on time. Third, assist in construction." Kaizer paused. "In return, you will receive absolute safety and…"
He glanced at Linlin.
She understood and pulled out a large pile of candies and cakes from her sack — all made by Kaizer over the past months.
"Food," Kaizer took a piece of cake and offered it to the elder. "Unlimited food."
The elder hesitantly took a bite. His eyes widened.
"This… this is…"
"Mamama! Delicious, right?" Linlin said proudly. "Made by my chef! From now on, you can eat this every day!"
Food was the best bargaining chip.
One hour later, most of the islanders agreed to stay. Not everyone was willing, but after tasting Kaizer's tiramisu, the majority chose to compromise.
"Then," Linlin stood at the island's highest point and spread her arms wide. "From today onward, this is our nation! Its name shall be… Totto Land! Mamama!"
Kaizer stood at her feet, watching the busy islanders below.
Long-armed craftsmen began planning houses. Fish-men dove into the bay to clear reefs. Giant children helped carry timber.
He thought to himself: For an ordinary person transmigrated into the One Piece world, is there any safer place than Totto Land? At least here, as long as you don't betray Linlin, you can survive. There's food, shelter, and…
He looked up at Linlin.
…a ruler who, though crazy, was at least somewhat reasonable.
"Kaizer!" Linlin called down to him. "What are you spacing out for? Come help me!"
"Help with what?"
"Giving this island a soul!" Linlin's eyes sparkled. "I want to make it 'alive'!"
She jumped to the edge of the central freshwater lake and pressed both hands to the ground. Purple soul energy poured out like a tide, seeping into the soil, rocks, and trees.
The earth trembled.
The lake rippled. A giant face made of water rose to the surface.
"Mother," the water Homie said in a gentle female voice. "I have awakened."
The forest shook. Tree branches intertwined to form a massive treant.
"Mother," the treant Homie rumbled. "What do you need me to do?"
Rocks rolled and assembled into a stone giant.
"Mother," the stone giant boomed. "Please give your orders."
Linlin laughed loudly. "Mamama! Wonderful! You're all alive! Now, listen to me—"
She pointed to the eastern side of the island. "Build the castle there! The biggest one! The sweetest one!"
The Homies began to move. The treant uprooted itself and walked heavily eastward. The stone giant started hauling rocks. The water Homie manipulated currents to carve out foundations.
Kaizer watched the surreal scene and suddenly spoke up.
"Linlin," he said. "We can build the castle, but it needs proper planning. We can't just throw it together."
"Planning?" Linlin tilted her head.
"Yes." Kaizer gestured, and Shadow and Phantom flew to his side. "They will assist with the design. The castle needs defensive structures, kitchens, storage, residential areas, and a play zone for the children."
"Mamama! You really think of everything!" Linlin clapped. "Then I'll leave it to you! I'm going to give more islands souls!"
"Wait," Kaizer stopped her. "Let's finish this island first. One well-built island is more useful than ten chaotic ones."
Linlin thought for a moment, then nodded. "Makes sense! Then we'll start here!"
She bounced over to join the construction — though her "help" often turned into destruction. Punching foundation pits was fine, but she sometimes accidentally smashed newly built walls.
Kaizer had to keep the IBMs nearby to guide her constantly.
"Mother, turn thirty degrees left before punching."
"Mother, that rock should go over there."
"Mother, please do not pour syrup onto wet concrete."
Linlin was impatient at first, but once she saw that the sections built under IBM guidance were straighter and sturdier, she started listening obediently.
By nightfall, the castle's first floor had begun to take shape.
Linlin sat on the ground — now the island's largest open space had become a construction site — munching on a honey cake Kaizer had just baked.
"Mamama! This is the nation I wanted!" she said, mouth full of cream. "Food, houses, and obedient citizens!"
Kaizer sat beside her, eating the same cake. Shadow and Phantom patrolled the area, watching for beasts or unexpected visitors.
"Kaizer," Linlin suddenly said. "You mentioned naming this island. Have you decided?"
"Yes." Kaizer pointed at a small mountain Linlin had earlier shaped like a cake. "Let's call it Cake Island."
"Cake Island…" Linlin repeated, then burst out laughing. "Mamama! Good name! I like it!"
She finished the cake in a few bites and lay down, gazing at the starry sky.
"Kaizer."
"Hm?"
"We'll build this place well, right?" Her voice was unusually calm. "Everyone will have food, no one will go hungry, and everyone will be family."
Kaizer looked at her. Linlin's eyes reflected the starlight. Those eyes that were usually filled with madness and hunger now held a rare glimmer of… longing.
"Yes," he said. "We'll build it well."
Linlin smiled — not her usual wild laughter, but a simple, satisfied one.
She reached out and gently placed her massive hand on Kaizer's head.
"Then you have to help me," she said. "Help me manage this place. I'm not good at… the details. You are."
"Alright."
"And you have to give me lots and lots of children," Linlin continued matter-of-factly. "Our children will inherit my power and your immortality. They will become the strongest family in the world."
Kaizer paused.
The system interface flashed in his mind:
[Long-term Mission: Father the first child with Charlotte Linlin] [Countdown: 1 year, 7 months, 12 days] [Current Favorability: Trust (Breeding conditions met)] [Recommendation: Advance as soon as possible]
"…Okay," Kaizer said.
Linlin nodded in satisfaction and sat up.
"Mamama! Then starting tomorrow, I'm going to turn all the surrounding islands into Homies! We'll build a super huge nation! Big enough to hold every race in the world!"
She jumped up and shouted into the night sky:
"Totto Land Kingdom—! Mamama—!!!"
Her voice echoed across the islands.
Kaizer stood up as well, looking at the small island taking shape.
Cake Island. The beginning of the Whole Cake Island empire.
And he — a system-carrying transmigrator — had now become a co-founder of this mad nation.
Shadow and Phantom floated to his side.
"Master," Shadow said. "Based on current progress, the main castle structure should be completed within thirty days."
"Residence allocation plan is ready," Phantom added. "Suggest dividing areas by race for easier management."
Kaizer nodded.
"One more thing," Linlin suddenly remembered. She pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. "I found this on the island today."
It was a damaged sea chart with a prominent mark.
Kaizer took it. His pupils shrank slightly.
Beside the mark was a line of text in ancient script — but he could read it.
[Poneglyph · One]
"Mamama! What does it say?" Linlin leaned over curiously.
Kaizer looked up at her excited face.
"It says…" he replied slowly, "a story about a great kingdom."
"A great kingdom?" Linlin's eyes sparkled. "How big? Bigger than my Totto Land?"
"Much bigger," Kaizer carefully folded the chart and put it away. "Much, much bigger."
Linlin grinned.
"Then we have to find it! Mamama! And make it part of Totto Land too!"
Kaizer looked at her smiling face but didn't answer.
He simply tucked the chart into his coat and patted the IBMs on the shoulder.
"Continue construction," he said. "We have plenty of time."
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