Compared in terms of happiness, Dressrosa ranked much lower.
This was inevitable.
Ever since Doflamingo descended upon this island, a painful shadow had loomed beneath its seemingly prosperous and lively surface.
Now that the calamity had finally passed and reconstruction was underway, many citizens who had been turned into toys were just returning to their families.
With the burden of Celestial Tribute lifted, as long as they avoided frequent wars in the future, life would naturally improve gradually.
Beyond that...
Xiano glanced at the side of the coffee table, where several heavy treasure chests were piled up—compensation for the Celestial Tribute delivered as promised by the World Government.
Dressrosa's share had long been handed over to King Riku.
The old man had been leaving early and returning late these days, working tirelessly with Cyrus and others to distribute the compensation from the World Government to the persecuted citizens.
The remainder now belonged entirely to him—a total of three billion Berries.
This would serve as reserves for future base operations and construction.
"Base..."
Xiano turned his gaze to the parchment map.
In this vast New World, he had explored only seven or eight islands, and of those, merely three had fallen under his control as territories.
Most regions remained shrouded in darkness, veiled by the fog of war, divided among the Four Sea Emperors and other long-established Pirate powerhouses.
Surrounded by formidable foes...
So then...
Where should his base be established?
His eyes grew profound.
Outside the window.
The night wind of Dressrosa howled past, causing the Curtain Closer's flag to snap and flutter, its shadow stretching and shifting under the moonlight.
Like the sword embroidered on the flag, piercing inch by inch into the distant darkness...
————
New World, Totto Land.
"Oh, Mama~ Mama~"
A saccharine melody echoed through Whole Cake Castle.
BIGMOM sat upon her throne, her Bottomless Stomach placed on the long table as she shoveled cream cakes into her mouth with both hands, laughing heartily between bites.
"Mamamama! So delicious!"
She licked her fingers and scanned the children below. "Oi! The Tea Party's only half a month away, right? Have all the invitations been sent out?"
"All dispatched, Mama,"
Charlotte Compote, the eldest daughter, replied respectfully. "Major forces of the New World, the underground emperors, and representatives of the Beast Pirate Crew will all attend as scheduled."
"Just representatives... What about that brat Kaido?" BIGMOM narrowed her eyes. "He turned me down again, didn't he!"
"Y... yes, Mama."
Compote's forehead beaded with sweat. "He's refused many times now. This was no exception."
"Tch! After all these years, still refusing to see me, that ungrateful bastard!"
BIGMOM snorted coldly but soon broke into giggles:
"Ah well, never mind! Old faces fade, new ones arrive. At least there's one heavyweight among this year's guests who can carry the Tea Party's prestige. Mamamama!"
She turned to another child. "And we have you to thank for that, Katakuri!"
Katakuri bowed slightly and responded solemnly:
"For the family, Mama, it's what I should do."
"If only your younger siblings could be like you!"
BIGMOM nodded in satisfaction, then sighed regretfully:
"Too bad that brat didn't take a liking to Smoothie. Otherwise… Totto Land would have gained another formidable warrior, almost guaranteeing our dominance as the strongest in the New World!"
Smoothie, who was present, leaned against a pillar, idly sipping a glass of red wine. At these words, her expression stiffened, and she turned away with a pout.
—Hmph, that man just didn't know what was good for him. If she weren't outmatched, she would've knocked him out and dragged him back to Totto Land by force!
BIGMOM didn't notice Smoothie's reaction. Lost in thought for a moment, her eyes suddenly gleamed with a new idea.
"Hey, Katakuri! Pass down my orders! Double the scale of the Tea Party preparations! I'll make that upstart brat witness what true Four Emperor grandeur looks like!"
BIGMOM abruptly stood up, grinning as she commanded:
"Also, have Garette, Myukuru, and Brulee come to the castle when the time comes. Let them spend more time with that Xiano. I refuse to believe that among so many beautiful daughters, not one can capture his heart!"
Turning Xiano into a son-in-law would mean the Charlotte Family could surpass the Beast Pirates and Whitebeard, becoming the strongest Pirate force.
The temptation was simply too great. While his influence and ambitions hadn't fully expanded, they had to seize this chance, no matter how slim.
"Brulee is out of the question, Mama."
Katakuri frowned slightly. "She's too young. Lola, however, happens to still be home. I'll have her step in instead—"
"Lola????? LOLA?! Are you joking, Katakuri? How could someone like Xiano ever take a liking to her?!"
Why not?
Katakuri was puzzled. Lola was the right age, gentle and considerate—what was unsuitable about her?
As for looks… he had no eye for such things. To him, all his sisters were the most adorable.
"Yes, Mama! We'll handle the arrangements. Rest assured!"
The other siblings quickly cut off Katakuri before he could question further, answering in unison.
BIGMOM settled back onto her throne, stuffing a piece of cake into her mouth as she mumbled indistinctly, "Xiano, Xiano… mamamamama… I hope you won't disappoint me…"
———
Meanwhile, across the New World.
News of BIGMOM's upcoming Tea Party had spread like a storm, sweeping through the entire New World.
Compared to previous occasions, the hype this time skyrocketed mainly because Totto Land had dropped a bombshell of a rumor—one that set imaginations running wild.
"Did you hear? BIGMOM invited Xiano this time!"
"Seriously? That World's Greatest Swordsman who just defeated a Navy Admiral?"
"Who else could it be but that monster?! Heh, lucky for us, we snagged an invitation too. As Swordsmen, we'll finally get to witness his prowess firsthand!"
...
Pleasure District.
"Understood."
Stussy, dressed in white, smiled into the receiver. "Don't worry, I'll attend this Tea Party. If Linlin and that brat are really up to something behind the scenes, they won't slip past me."
Hanging up the phone.
"Xiano, huh?"
Stussy murmured to herself, "Perfect timing. Aside from the World Government, that Old Man is quite interested in you too. Might as well gather some intel for him while I'm at it."
She was the Queen of Pleasure Town, Charlotte Linlin's closest confidante.
A hidden High-Ranking Officer of CP0, and even more...
Stussy smiled at her reflection in the mirror, touched up her lipstick, then gracefully stepped into the carriage waiting outside.
...
World Economic Journal Headquarters.
Morgans lay blissfully on his back, swimming in a sea of green banknotes, then opened his eyes and laughed heartily at his subordinate:
"What? Asking if I'm going to the Tea Party? Of course I am!"
"See this? So much money! Last year's profits nearly doubled the previous year's!"
"How could I not meet the great benefactor who made my revenue skyrocket in person?"
...
From south to north, west to east.
All eyes in the New World were fixed on that name.
"Xiano."
The man who defeated a Navy Admiral in direct combat, with a 2.86 billion Berry bounty, feared yet reluctantly acknowledged by the World Government, was now about to enter Totto Land as BIGMOM's honored guest.
This Tea Party had long ceased to be the Charlotte Family's usual social gathering—it had become the prelude to a storm that could shake the foundations of the New World.
The Four Emperors, the Navy, underground forces, ambitious schemers... Countless eyes from various factions were trained on Whole Cake Island.
Waiting for the Tea Party to commence, anticipating the appearance of that black-haired young man.
————
Three more days passed in the blink of an eye.
With the new year fully arrived, the festive atmosphere gradually faded from Dressrosa.
The fully rested Curtain Closer crew once again embarked on their journey deeper into the New World.
Golden morning light bathed Dressrosa's harbor.
On Sunset's deck, Xiano stood at the bow, gazing at the gradually fading nation—the people waving desperately in farewell, and the endless sunflower fields stretching beyond the horizon.
"Truly a beautiful place, Captain."
Kuma spoke gently behind him, "King Riku, Princess Violet—they're all good, reliable people. With Rebecca and Mansherry as playmates, I feel completely at ease leaving Bonney here for now."
"Indeed."
A voluptuous pink-haired woman nearby nodded emphatically, hands on hips, "Everyone was so incredibly nice. I've been crying nonstop these past two days, not wanting to leave at all."
"Same here..."
Kuma turned with a smile, then nearly jumped out of his skin, "Bonney?!!"
His voice shot up an octave as he stared incredulously at the pink-haired girl sticking her tongue out at him, "I thought it was Nojiko or Nami speaking! What are you doing on the ship? You were supposed to stay in Dressrosa!"
"Nuh-uh! No way!"
Bonney made a face, then with a pop reverted to her child form, darting behind Xiano:
"Bear Bear, you're always trying to ditch me somewhere! Not this time!"
"You—!"
Kuma's forehead bulged with veins in anger, but with Xiano present, he couldn't lose his temper. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm:
"Bonney, listen. The deeper you go into the New World, the more dangerous it gets. Dressrosa is safe right now, and King Riku has promised to take good care of you. Besides—"
"Besides what?!"
Bonney peeked out from behind Xiano's knee, puffing her cheeks as she interrupted:
"I don't want to be separated from you again so soon after we just reunited! You said yourself the New World gets more dangerous the further in you go. How could I possibly let you go alone under those circumstances?"
"Besides! Big Brother Xiano is a super-duper strong expert who can even defeat Navy Admirals! With him around, sticking with you guys is the safest option, right? Why do I have to stay in Dressrosa? No way!"
As for playmates?
Mansherry and the others were nice and all, but everyone on this ship was interesting too!
There was the gentle, beautiful black-haired big sister who knew everything, the doting grandpa chef who spoiled her with all kinds of treats, cats and big dogs to pet, and Nami who shared her interests and hobbies...
Anyway, no matter what, she was going to cling to Xiano's leg and stubbornly stay on the Sunset! Hmph!
"..."
Kuma was left dumbfounded, speechless for a long moment as he couldn't find any counterarguments.
He instinctively looked to Xiano for help, only to find the latter crossing his arms with an amused smile, watching the father-daughter dispute with faint amusement.
"Captain..."
Just as Kuma was about to speak, Xiano waved his hand to cut him off:
"Enough, Kuma."
He chuckled and ruffled Bonney's hair. "Since the little one followed us on her own, we might as well take her along. It's not like the ship can't handle one more."
"But—"
Kuma still wanted to object, but Xiano stood up and patted his arm:
"No buts. This kid's small but sharp as a tack. As long as we don't let her join any fights, she'll be perfectly safe on board."
He paused, then added with mock seriousness, "Don't forget, you're my crewmate now. This kind of thing is my call."
Kuma was left speechless.
He glanced around at the crew watching the scene with grins, then looked down at Bonney's triumphant expression, finally sighing in resignation.
"Kuma~"
Bonney sidled up to him, grinning as she linked arms. "I was wrong, okay? Don't be mad. I promise—no, I swear I won't cause any trouble!!"
"You..."
Kuma rubbed his temples with a headache. "I really can't do anything with you."
Despite his words, a hint of relief flashed in his eyes.
This little girl had finally grown up and become more sensible...
She was worried about him now.
"So that's a yes?"
"Mhm." Kuma nodded. "But as Lord Xiano said, you absolutely cannot sneak into any battles."
"Woohoo!"
Bonney cheered excitedly, high-fiving Nami who ran over. "Boarding Operation Plan A, complete success!"
There were other plans too?
These two really were birds of a feather. Robin, quietly reading nearby, smiled. "Bonney, since you can grow bigger and smaller... is that the power of the Paramecia-type Age-Age Fruit?"
"Yep!"
Bonny proudly lifted her chin, "And after all these days of research, I can now not only change my own age but also alter others' ages! Sister Robin, if you'd like to see, I can demonstrate for you!"
With that, she slapped Nami's knee with a swift motion.
Snap! A pink glow flashed briefly, and Nami's figure suddenly grew much taller, reaching around 185 cm. Her features matured significantly, and her physique became even more...
"Wow!!!"
Nami's eyes widened in excitement as she eagerly showed off to Xiano, "Bro! Look at this—I'm not even slightly inferior to Sister Robin now! Turns out this wasn't even my limit before!"
Look at what, you dummy!
Xiano scowled and gave her a light chop on the head.
Nami clutched her head, pouting pitifully, while Xiano pinched his chin, staring thoughtfully at his sister, who now stood just a little shorter than his Paper Drawing Martial Body form.
How did she get so tall?
Was it because she grew up well-nourished, free from hardship, without having to scurry around making money?
Probably so. He recalled that in the original timeline, adult Nami had only been around 170 cm.
"So, how about it? Pretty impressive, huh?" Bonny giggled and skipped over to Robin. "Big sis, why don't you give it a try too!"
To witness her future self as well?
Robin smiled gently at Bonny's eager expression, closing her book as she replied, "Alright."
Bonny's eyes sparkled, and she immediately pressed her small hand against Robin's arm with a snap.
A pink glow instantly enveloped Robin's entire body, and her figure began rapidly transforming—her mature, elegant form shrinking, her curves becoming more youthful and slender, her skin tightening into a smoother, fresher texture.
Within seconds, the light faded, revealing Robin now as an eighteen-year-old girl.
Why did she get younger?
Robin looked down at her hands, then touched her cheeks, a fleeting daze in her eyes.
"This feeling..."
Her voice was softer, more delicate, carrying the unmistakable lilt of youth.
"Right? Isn't it amazing?" Bonny struck a triumphant pose, hands on her hips. "This is my specialty—precisely pinpointing eighteen years old. I call it... Youth Returns!"
Robin didn't answer immediately. Instead, she instinctively glanced subtly at Xiano, lost in thought for a moment.
Eighteen...
That had been the most helpless period of her life—adrift alone in the dark world, nearly swallowed whole by its shadows.
No companions, no support, only endless betrayal and flight.
And yet now, here she stood on the deck of the Sunset, surrounded by reliable comrades, with a hopeful future ahead...
So why did she still feel a pang of regret?
"Please change me back, Bonny," Robin said with a faint, strained smile. "I suppose I'm still more accustomed to my original appearance and age."
"Tch, such a stubborn, prideful woman," Smoker remarked from the side, lighting his cigar with a smirk. "At your age, suddenly turning back into a youthful beauty—you must be secretly thrilled, right?"
Robin's eyes narrowed.
Thud!
The next instant, a pitch-black Haki-covered hand erupted from the deck, sending him—along with his cigar—screaming overboard into the sea.
Gurgle gurgle...
The white-haired figure on the sea surface struggled desperately, "H-help... someone save me! I can't swim, I'll drown!"
Who told you to run your mouth like that...
The onlookers were speechless. Xiano sighed and turned back toward the cabin. As he passed the doorway, he gave a kick to Agin—the professional lifeguard who had been dozing nearby—sending him tumbling overboard.
(End of chapter)