Click!
The loud ticking of a massive clock Homie struck eleven o'clock sharp.
Trees, flowers, tableware, food, ice cream, and even cake-shaped houses—
Everything on the island that wasn't human suddenly burst into excitement.
Grinning from ear to ear, they all began singing loudly in a magical, fairytale melody reminiscent of a Disney musical.
"It's starting! Mama's tea party is about to begin!"
Those invited to the event were some of the most powerful figures at the very top of the New World.
Transported in pig-drawn carriages, the honored guests arrived at the inner venue first.
The King of Loan Sharks, "God of Fortune" Lu Feld, baring his sharp fangs.
The elegant and seductive Queen of Pleasure Street, Stussy.
A mortician whose style screamed serial killer, Drug Pecl.
The bird-man and friend of Doflamingo, Morgans.
The elusive black-market broker, Giberson.
The Shipping King, "Deep-Sea Currents" Umit.
These six were the regular guests of the tea party.
They were also known as the Emperors of the Underworld—ruling over finance, entertainment and intelligence, assassinations, media, contraband, and transportation.
In their respective spheres, they were absolute.
But these so-called emperors of darkness—
Before a true sovereign, they were little more than oversized bugs.
The surrounding crowd roared in excitement as these powerful figures approached.
"Morgans-sama! Look at my handsome face—put me in today's paper!"
"Stussy-sama!!"
...
Amid the cheering, Morgans adjusted the bow tie on his chest, his beak raised higher than ever.
He shouted out excitedly along with those around him:
"Two emperors joining by marriage—this wedding is the biggest news the world has seen! And besides, Doflamingo is one of my closest friends!"
"Heh heh heh~" Lu Feld puffed on his cigar and let out a mocking laugh.
"Doflamingo, Big Mom, and Kaido formed an alliance ages ago. That's old news in the underworld—nothing new there."
"Exactly, exactly!"
Giberson waved his liquor bottle, cheering along.
"Morgans, haven't all your big scoops these past few years come from Doflamingo?"
For once, Pecl didn't pick a fight with Lu Feld. Waving his scythe toward Morgans' neck from across the room, he chimed in as well.
"Tell me, are you the president of the World Economic News or Doflamingo's pet?"
Only Stussy and Umit, the Shipping King, watched coldly from the sidelines.
In the New World, Doflamingo had proposed, and with Big Mom and Kaido backing him, a network of underground bounty contracts had emerged.
Covering assassinations, loans, drugs, weapons, geishas—you name it. The operation had been growing rapidly in recent years.
Of the five, Lu Feld, Pecl, and Giberson had all taken hits to their businesses.
Only Umit, thanks to his hold on shipping routes and a neutral stance, had remained largely untouched. In fact, the increased movement during the Great Pirate Era had even boosted his profits.
As for Stussy—she simply didn't care.
The more chaotic the tea party, the more useful information she could gather.
Just as Morgans was about to retort, a heavy hand clapped down on his shoulder.
"Fufufufufufu~"
A low, drawn-out laugh echoed through the hall, growing louder with each syllable.
Twisted, volatile, and oozing with evil—yet tinged with a strange, sacred air—the suffocating aura rolled straight toward Lu Feld and the others.
The source of the pressure: one of the main stars of today's tea party—
The Heavenly Yaksha, Doflamingo!!
As Morgans caught sight of the man now standing beside him, he instantly straightened like a lapdog finding its master.
He puffed up his chest and flared his wings, shooting a smug glare at the trio who had just mocked him.
Under the piercing red gaze—
Pecl instinctively took two steps back. When he realized what he'd done, his face darkened.
He was one of the world's top assassins, an emperor of the underworld—and yet he'd just flinched in fear before Doflamingo!
Lu Feld and Giberson didn't fare much better.
Sweat drenched their faces, necks, and backs, soaking right through their custom-tailored suits.
This man stood on the same level as Big Mom—a true Emperor of the Sea!
His Conqueror's Haki poured out unchecked.
Even those in the crowd and the Homies not directly targeted could sense the sudden shift in atmosphere.
Wisely, they all fell silent, afraid to draw attention.
"Is there a problem, gentlemen?"
Doflamingo strode toward them, lips curled into a faint grin. His voice was laced with amusement, and behind his sunglasses, his eyes glinted with anticipation.
If they made the first move, he'd have the perfect excuse to take them out early—no need to keep playing house with Big Mom.
"Doflamingo-sama! I… We didn't mean anything by it—it was Morgans who was using your name to show off!"
Lu Feld bowed his head immediately, showing a remarkable will to live.
"Yes, yes! Exactly right, Doflamingo-sama!"
Pecl and Giberson bobbed their heads like pecking birds, echoing in sync.
Creaaak—
The cake tower's central door—shaped like a giant red-lipped mouth—swung open.
And out leaped the strongest woman in the world.
"Mamamamamama~ Doffy, you know I hate it when a party can't get started properly. Don't hold up the guests!"
"Fufufufufu~ Of course. Just giving them a warm welcome, that's all."
With Big Mom stepping in, Doflamingo—merely a guest—couldn't push his luck any further.
Obediently, he hooked a wing around Morgans' shoulder and stepped aside.
"Morgans, come. Let's drink."
Morgans cast a triumphant glance at the still-shaking Lu Feld trio and let Doflamingo pull him away.
The rest of the crowd turned their attention back to the true host of the event.
Big Mom spread her arms wide, grinning with overwhelming enthusiasm.
"A banquet filled with schemes and ambitions from every direction! It's finally begun!"
"Everything you see here is made of delicious treats!"
"Eat to your heart's content! Drink without restraint! Indulge!"
"Savor everything that happens today!"
"Ooohhhh!!"
The guests raised their glasses in loud response.
The banquet had officially begun. One after another, the guests took their seats.