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Totto Land, on the day of the Tea Party.
The Underworld Emperors arrived at Whole Cake Island, ready to attend the banquet, but the heavy atmosphere made them realize something was wrong.
Along the way, Big Mom's children all had expressions of unease and worry, as if something terrifying had happened to them.
A few individuals might have been an exception, but everyone was like this. Even the eldest son, Perospero, was pale and heavily worried.
"Did something happen?"
The Underworld Emperors exchanged glances, both seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.
Even the eldest son looking like this indicated a major event, but there had been no news of anything big happening in Totto Land recently.
Morgans' eyes lit up.
He had a premonition it was big news!
"To all the Emperors of the Underworld, welcome to the Tea Party. Walking up the stairs would be too tiring, so I shall give you a ride."
Perospero forced a smile and greeted the Underworld Emperors, then waved his staff, creating a candy escalator that went straight to the top.
Everyone looked on with anticipation.
This spectacular scene unfolded at every Tea Party, and no matter how many times they saw it, it could always be considered a brilliant artistic performance.
However, perhaps affected by his mood, the candy escalator lacked its usual splendor. Instead, it was crooked and quite crude, looking very dangerous.
Everyone was stunned.
"This?"
"My apologies, everyone."
Perospero stood at the entrance of the candy escalator, apologizing to everyone, but he was not in the mood to create a new one.
The Underworld Emperors subtly exchanged glances and boarded the candy escalator.
Fortunately, the escalator's function was still intact.
Three minutes later, the Underworld Emperors arrived at the banquet garden on the top, where a heavy atmosphere enveloped them.
Most of Big Mom's children were there. Hearing footsteps at the entrance, everyone looked over in unison, their eyes bloodshot.
"Hiss—"
Everyone gasped, fearing they would be silenced by Big Mom's children. The extremely oppressive atmosphere made them afraid to utter a single word.
No one even greeted them.
"What exactly happened?"
"Where is Mama?"
"Could it be... impossible!"
Sweat beaded on everyone's foreheads as they cautiously sat at the main dining table, looking around, and suddenly noticed a full-length mirror placed at the entrance of the small castle.
In previous Tea Parties, once all the guests had arrived, Mama would emerge from the castle, but now there was no sign of her.
What was with this mirror?
Everyone keenly noticed that Big Mom's children's attention was entirely on the mirror, as if they were waiting for something.
Could it be... Mama is inside the mirror?
The behavior of Big Mom's children made them suspect that Mama might be in trouble. Thinking about Mama's age, it wouldn't be surprising if she had health issues.
But if Mama really had a problem, Totto Land would immediately seal off the news, expel all outsiders, and the Tea Party would have to be canceled.
So, it must be a special situation.
Time passed bit by bit, the sun slowly rose from the east to directly overhead, its rays beating down on everyone.
The banquet was supposed to start at 10 AM, but it was already 12 PM!
The focus remained on that long mirror.
Just as the Emperors were growing restless, a black leather boot appeared from within the mirror, followed by a man with a blood-soaked bare upper body, incredibly tall, who stepped out of the mirror.
The head of the Sweet Commanders—Katakuri!
On his left and right floated Zeus, the Thundercloud, and Prometheus, the Sun. These two highest-grade Homies now fearfully followed behind Katakuri.
"It's Katakuri-nii!"
The brothers and sisters stared with disbelief, so horrified their hearts nearly stopped, and breathing became incredibly difficult.
Katakuri-nii's return meant Mama had been defeated!
Shock, fear, joy...
All sorts of emotions swept over them.
On one hand, they worried whether Katakuri-nii could replace Mama and keep the restless pirates in check. On the other hand, they were happy that Katakuri could replace Mama.
Finally, they wouldn't have to live in fear.
Even if Mama had an outburst in the future, Katakuri-nii would be able to stop Mama.
"Wait, is Mama... dead?"
Everyone looked at Brûlée, and sighed in relief after she shook her head.
It's good she's not dead.
They didn't want Mama to die either.
"Let the banquet begin!"
Katakuri calmly announced, then sat in Mama's seat, crossed his legs, and coldly stared at the Underworld Emperors.
"Katakuri?"
Everyone hadn't yet realized the seriousness of the situation, anxiously asking. "Why are you sitting in the main seat? Where is Mama?!"
"Mama is resting and will not appear. Also, from now on, I, Katakuri, am the new captain of the Big Mom Pirates!"
Katakuri replied coldly, and his terrifying Conqueror's Haki surged out, enveloping everyone seated around the table.
"Conqueror's Haki?!"
"New captain!"
"Linlin has been defeated!"
Everyone felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, their hands and feet turning cold.
They were all important figures who had seen much of the world, and the aura and Conqueror's Haki Katakuri displayed now were entirely different from before.
Haki comparable to a Yonko!
They finally realized why the atmosphere in Totto Land was so heavy. Katakuri, the head of the Sweet Commanders, had replaced Mama!
"Begin the banquet!"
As the Tea Party began, the brothers and sisters all showed relieved smiles, each immersed in joy.
Meanwhile, in the Mirror World.
Mama lay on the ground, unable to move a muscle. Outwardly, there were almost no obvious wounds, but internally, everything was in disarray.
Almost all of her bones were broken!
The medical team was urgently treating her.
"Kaido..."
Mama's eyes were vacant. There was no regret or unwillingness from being defeated by Katakuri—the only person she thought of was Kaido.
They had clearly agreed to go together to claim the great treasure.
But... she had been defeated by her son.
I'm sorry, Kaido.
Outside the banquet hall.
"Whoa, whoa, this is incredible!"
Vito, the second-in-command, was pressed against the wall, peeking at the goings-on in the banquet garden, and immediately reported after seeing Katakuri appear.
"Godfather, Katakuri defeated Mama!"
"Impossible!"
Bege's pupils dilated in shock, unable to believe that Katakuri had defeated Mama.
Even if Katakuri's Observation Haki could foresee the future, and his Devil Fruit ability was awakened, and he possessed Conqueror's Haki, his opponent was a Yonko, Big Mom!
This outcome must have exceeded everyone's expectations.
What about the assassination plan?
Their meticulously prepared plan was for a Yonko, Big Mom, and was not applicable to Katakuri. In the face of his future sight, their small movements would be completely exposed.
"The worst-case scenario has happened!"
Bege was sweating profusely, considering whether to abandon this assassination and slowly look for other opportunities later.
"Hey, Bege, how much longer do we have to wait?"
"I'm hungry!"
"Food! Food! Food!"
The voices of the Straw Hat came from inside his body.
"Is this guy an idiot?!"
Bege's anger flared, and he immediately entered his body, emerging from the ceiling, glaring at the Straw Hat.
"The situation has changed, plan canceled!"
"Canceled? Why?!"
Luffy didn't understand. He stood up in a hurry and stomped his foot on the table.
He had been waiting for this battle for a long time!
He definitely had to defeat that guy who could foresee the future!
And the Yonko, Big Mom!
"Let us out!"
Luffy stormed toward the door.
Even if Bege didn't participate, he would still fight. He came for this purpose—how could he run away without doing anything?
Since the assassination plan was canceled, he would face them head-on. Whether it was a Sweet Commander or a Yonko, he would send them all flying.
He was the man who would become the Pirate King!