"Boom boom boom..."
Huge fireworks and colorful streamers filled the sky above Whole Cake Island, and a lively festive atmosphere spread across all of Totto Land's seas.
From the first light of dawn, countless ships sailed into Totto Land's waters. After passing inspection, elegantly dressed men and women stepped ashore and entered Whole Cake Island.
Some of the guests attending BIGMOM's tea party and wedding were kings and princesses from various nations. Some were famous Great Pirates, while others were emperors of the underworld. Every one of them wanted to curry favor with the ruler of the New World and place themselves under her protection, especially now that the Marines and the World Government had been driven out of the New World.
BIGMOM's eldest son, Perospero, was in charge of receiving the guests, warmly welcoming each and every one of them.
At the tea party venue on Whole Cake Island, beneath BIGMOM's castle, everything had already been prepared.
The ones responsible for security there were BIGMOM's two sons, Charlotte Oven and Charlotte Daifuku.
At the entrance to the banquet hall, after passing their inspection and under their unfriendly stares, Doflamingo strode in with two men behind him, every step full of open arrogance.
The banquet tables were covered with all kinds of delicious desserts and drinks, while giant cakes and fruits stood all around them. Most of this food had been given souls by BIGMOM. They sang happily, eagerly awaiting the moment they would be eaten by the guests, making the whole scene look colorful and almost like something out of a fairy tale.
"It's practically a children's amusement park. Just what you'd expect from BIGMOM... Fufufufufu..."
Doflamingo could not help laughing as he said it, though judging from the look in his eyes, perhaps only he knew what he really meant.
Behind him, his younger brother Rosinante stared around in shock.
It was his first time seeing so many important figures gathered in one place.
These people were either of noble birth or vicious criminals. Many of them were targets the Marines and the World Government wanted to capture.
Of course, with his current identity, there was nothing he could do. He could only play his role well and quietly listen to the conversations around him, hoping to hear some useful intelligence.
The third man following them was Diamante, a senior officer of the Donquixote Family and the user of the Hira Hira no Mi.
He looked around excitedly, then asked while keeping their purpose in coming here firmly in mind,
"Doffy, what a grand banquet. When are we ever going to have something this impressive?"
"Fufufufufu, don't worry. It won't be long now!"
Just then, a slightly shrill voice rang out.
"Oh? Isn't this Doflamingo? I didn't expect you to be invited too."
The three of them looked toward the source of the voice and immediately saw several familiar figures.
Diamante instantly grew tense and angry. Doflamingo, on the other hand, let out an arrogant laugh, slowly walked over, and greeted them.
"Well, well... if it isn't my old friends... Umit... Feld... Morgans, and Stussy?"
The man named Umit, with his explosive beard, captain's hat, and formal suit, snapped angrily,
"Who the hell is friends with you, JOKER!"
Feld, with his fat build, cigar clenched in his mouth, tiny glasses, and a rose pinned to his chest, spoke with even more open killing intent.
"You've stolen a lot of my business lately, JOKER. Aren't you going to explain yourself?"
Doflamingo walked up to the two of them without the slightest concern, smiling cheerfully as he said,
"Fufufufufu... you can't blame me for that, Umit, Feld. Your partners just happen to enjoy working with me more."
"You looking to die?"
Doflamingo made no effort to hide his disdain.
"Fufufufufu, then go ahead and try."
After all, ever since entering the New World, he had been the winner in every struggle across the underworld.
The atmosphere instantly turned tense.
Beside them, the beautiful and charming Queen of the Pleasure District, Stussy, covered her mouth with one hand and said,
"Men really are such combative creatures. Can't you even notice a beautiful lady standing right beside you?"
"Of course I can, Stussy. You're getting prettier and prettier."
Doflamingo flirted shamelessly.
"You've gotten a little cuter yourself, Doflamingo."
"Fufufufufu..."
After speaking with Stussy, Doflamingo turned to Morgans beside her.
"Morgans, a month ago, you and those people from the Sky Pirates caused quite a stir."
"Did we? So you think so too, Doflamingo?"
The moment Morgans heard the words "big news," he immediately became excited.
Stussy, standing nearby, frowned slightly.
"Of course. Those three days of news spread all over the world. But unfortunately, after more than a month, it seems nothing has changed."
Morgans replied casually,
"Don't be impatient, Doflamingo. Before the tides of the era begin to shift, everything is always calm. But once it starts, it becomes a raging storm. You should understand that better than I do."
"Fufufufufu, you're right, Morgans. For the sake of the future, we ought to have a drink."
"Of course, of course!"
Seeing the two of them raise their glasses, the other three all frowned.
"So you've already taken that brat's side, Morgans?"
Umit asked in an unfriendly tone.
Among them, he was the one who hated that brat the most.
Water 7 had cost him dearly. Not only had his reputation been thoroughly ruined by the Sky Pirates, he had also suffered heavy financial losses.
The most precious loss of all was that batch of Seastone.
He had gone through the black market with great difficulty to get it. It was worth more than gold, yet in the end, not a single piece was left for him.
As if he had not heard Umit at all, Morgans happily flapped his wings and said,
"I'm a journalist. I don't stand on anyone's side. What I want is fairness and big news, that's all."
At that moment, no one knew what Morgans was really thinking.
Just then, Stussy seemed to notice something and softly said,
"Looks like there's no need for you all to argue anymore. The man you were talking about is here."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone turned toward the entrance of the banquet hall.
Led by Yemu at the front, the members of the Sky Pirates, all dressed brilliantly, slowly walked in.
In an instant, they drew everyone's attention.
"Hey... hey... those guys actually came to BIGMOM's tea party too?"
"So that's the Sky Pirates? What an overwhelming presence..."
"They've already entered the New World?"
"So that's their captain, Yemu. What a handsome man..."
"Hey, stop acting lovestruck. That guy's a Great Pirate with a bounty of 940 million Belly. He's not some ordinary man..."
Unlike in the first half of the Grand Line, there was not a single person attending the tea party now who did not recognize Yemu and his crew.
And for that, they had Morgans and the World Government to thank.
At that moment, under everyone's gaze and with BIGMOM's third daughter Amande leading the way, Yemu and the others walked over to Morgans and the group. Looking at the two men before him, he said with a hint of feeling,
"We meet again, Morgans..."