Relatives Under Threat, BIG MOM's Tea Party

"Us--"

Capone Bege had barely opened his mouth when Pekoms reached out and interrupted him.

"Let me tell you, our original goal was to 'lure' your Straw Hat crew to Whole Cake Island and then wipe you all out in one fell swoop."

!

"Pekoms, you—?"

"Bege, I remember telling you to call me senpai!"

Facing the menacing man in the pink suit and sunglasses, who turned around aggressively, Capone Bege, resembling a mob godfather, took a deep drag on his cigar:

Are you planning to betray 'Mom'?

"... We just didn't catch up with the Straw Hat Pirates, that's all for the report!"

Wiping away tears from behind his sunglasses, the Leo man named 'Pekoms' looked seriously at Capone Bege.

I will bear all the consequences myself!

"Useless thing—"

What an emotional idiot on a mission! If this were one of Capone Bege's own men, he would have shot him already...

"Um?"

Faced with the Straw Hat crew's questioning expressions, Capone Bege barely restrained the urge to shoot Pekoms several times. The Straw Hat crew's exploits had already spread throughout the New World in the past few days:

Two years later, upon his return, he defeated Donquixote Doflamingo, one of the Shichibukai Heavenly Yaksha, and also forced Jack, one of the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates, to retreat, as well as the pursuit of the BIG MOM Pirates. He was extremely arrogant.

Having just entered the New World, they immediately provoked two of the Four Emperors. What newcomer would dare to be so arrogant? Although the Straw Hat crew saw themselves as merely reacting passively, in the eyes of others, their 'plan' was meticulously crafted, their attacks as swift and devastating as thunder and mountains, and their 'ambition' was already crystal clear!

Especially after defeating Doflamingo, he recruited a Great Pirates with bounties of over 100 million to his ranks. Then, he sacrificed over a hundred pirate ships as a sacrifice for the formation of the 'Straw Hat Grand Fleet,' and his ruthless methods have drawn the attention of countless people.

Today, the Straw Hat crew are considered by many forces in the New World to be on par with the Whitebeard Pirates, and are strong contenders for the throne of the Yonko.

Anyway, the rumors were all kinds of amazing, which made Roman admire the imagination of those forces.

Of course, only Roman knows this information at the moment.

Lucci and the rest of CP0 are now working for Roman and are closely monitoring intelligence throughout the New World.

If the other members of the Straw Hat crew knew that the outside world regarded them as strong contenders for the title of 'Yonko', I wonder what they would think?

"Although I don't know what you're talking about,"

Pekoms reached out his hand to Luffy.

"We're not enemies now, right?"

"···Yes!"

"Hehehe, let's all come to the banquet together~~"

Seeing Luffy instantly Luffy from Turn Enemies into Friends, Capone Bege narrowed his eyes: This Straw Hat Kid is quite cunning. No wonder he dares to provoke two Four Emperors at the same time. Looks like I need to take action too, otherwise, wouldn't we be ridiculed as fellow members of the Worst Generation?

"Is Mr. Bege also attending the banquet?"

Faced with Roman, who was wearing a mask that covered the upper half of his face, and whose words were ostensibly an invitation but actually a way of telling him to leave, Capone Bege took off his cigar and turned to leave.

"No need, we're not close enough to have dinner together."

Tsk, that's a real shame.

The 'Castle-Castle Fruit' is actually quite powerful; one person is a military fortress.

However, Roman wasn't a madman who would attack anyone he saw. Since the other party chose to leave, he wouldn't attack them first.

This interruption meant the banquet was almost over. Especially for most of the wounded: even though the Mink Tribe had amazing physiques, their injuries were equally horrific, so after only a brief sip, Chopper ordered everyone to go back and rest.

The day passed just like that, and night fell:

Call,

A figure emerged from the Straw Hat crew's room and silently glided into the nearby woods. If it weren't for the fleeting glimpse of his slender silhouette, no one would have heard a sound. This demonstrates the figure's exceptional footwork skills.

"Come out,"

After bypassing the Mink Tribe's sentries and getting far away from the entire ancestral land of the Mink Tribe, the figure stopped, took out a cigarette, lit it, and calmly spoke.

"As expected of the Straw Hat crew, even a cook has such an excellent 'Silent Step'."

Wearing a coat and dressed like a mafia godfather, Capone Bege emerged from behind a large tree nearby.

"Don't compare me to those assassins," Sanji said, a spark from his cigarette illuminating Sanji face. "I just didn't want to disturb my comrades' rest. Here—"

Facing Sanji's outstretched hand, Capone Bege also opened his palm, revealing a small, fluttering piece of paper in his hand.

Vivre Card!

"Even if I give you this piece, the other BIG MOM Pirates officers will still possess this item that will forever be aimed at you. You can't escape."

After a few seconds of Sanji in response to Capone Bege's words:

"You... got my Vivre Card from that guy?"

Pekoms did not hide anything about how he tracked down the Straw Hat crew.

"'That guy'? It seems your family relationships are a bit strained. — That's not good. You can't achieve great things if your family can't work together."

With that, Capone Bege flicked the small piece of Vivre Card in his hand forward, sending it floating in front of Sanji. Then, with a flick of his wrist, another piece appeared between his fingers:

Invitation letter.

"That idiot Pekoms is emotional and doesn't want to complete the mission; but I don't want to face the punishment of 'BIG MOM', that's what we're giving you."

What is this?

When Sanji opened the invitation, the contents of it stunned him.

?!

"It's an invitation to the 'BIG MOM' tea party; the main event is the wedding—"

"The groom is Vinsmoke, the third son of the Vinsmoke Sanji, and the bride is Charlotte Brulee, the 35th daughter of the Charlotte Family."

Watt?

The groom was myself!

Sanji was so shocked he dropped his cigarette. He initially thought it was just some shady deal between the 'BIG MOM Pirates' and his scumbag father, but who knew... no, no, no, maybe this 'marriage' itself was part of a deal...

Congratulations!

?!

"Who goes there?" In an instant, the two people in the forest were startled!

The only difference is that Capone Bege has many 'holes' all over his body, and tiny figures in those holes are pointing various guns and cannons in all directions.

Sanji tensed up before letting out a sigh.

"Roman, what brings you here?"

"... Shouldn't this be my fault? Running out in the middle of the night not to meet a beautiful woman, but to chat idly with an old man—"

A white dove gently flapped its wings and landed on Sanji's shoulder, tilting its head and nodding at the invitation in Sanji's hand.

"Sanji, you usually look like a cunning old snake, but why do you act like you're going to the execution ground the moment you hear about marriage?"

"By the way, you don't need to be afraid of what kind of weirdo she is. Charlotte Brulee is 16 years old, a petite, stunningly beautiful brown-haired girl. Sanji, you've hit the jackpot!"

·········

"Isn't this the right time to talk about this?"

"Indeed,"

The white dove perched on Sanji's shoulder turned to look at Capone Bege, who was on guard beside him, and preened its feathers with its beak.

"So your 'mission' is to deliver wedding invitations?"

"Once Sanji goes with you, the Straw Hat Pirates will definitely not let it go. We'll definitely head to Whole Cake Island Totland, while the BIG MOM Pirates will be able to wait in comfort..."

Meanwhile, the Vinsmoke Family, on the other side of the wedding, will also enter the territory of Whole Cake Island. Simultaneously annexing Vinsmoke Family and the Straw Hat Pirates... What a cunning scheme, Charlotte Linlin! You underestimate her!

Facing the white dove whose eyes flashed with a cold light, Capone Bege across from him lowered his guard.

"When I delivered the invitation to Vinsmoke Sanji, my mission was half complete; the other half:"

Putting aside his previous caution, Capone Bege regained his 'Godfather' composure.

"Vinsmoke brat, my job is to show you the 'invitation' and then take you to the wedding. As for your wishes, they were never part of our consideration in the first place—"

A photo was flicked at him by Capone Bege. Sanji reached out, caught it, and took a closer look. His expression changed drastically once again!

Standing in the very center is Zeff, the serious-looking owner of the 'Baratie', next to him is Patty, the 'violent waiter' who is laughing and pointing behind him, and Carne, the 'rogue chef' who is waving a new Bounty Poster.

Behind them was the Baratie, with a sign above it featuring a Sanji image in the shape of Dibal, edged in gold...

If Sanji were to return to the East Blue, it would be a complete disaster!

But--

"How... how did you find out?"

"Stupid question,"

Seeing Sanji's pale face and trembling hands, Capone Bege knew he had won.

"Our master is the 'Big Mom,' renowned as the 'World's Greatest intelligence strategist.' There's no intelligence she can't find—"

"Lie,"

Squatting Sanji, White Dove disdainfully interrupted Capone Bege, "If Charlotte Linlin is really that amazing, I'd like to hear what information she's found about me?"

········

"Ahem, in short, the choice is now in your hands, Vinsmoke Sanji."

"I disdain threats, because once something is handed to you, it means you've already stepped onto the 'gambling table': anyone who dares to refuse 'BIG MOM's' tea party invitation will receive a 'small gift'."

A cruel smirk appeared on Capone Bege's face.

"A 'gift' containing someone's head!"

Hmph, an old trick, but very effective.

This world is teeming with powerful figures: the Three Admirals, the Four Emperors, the Revolutionary Army, and so on—all renowned and formidable! But who are their wives and children? Not only most people, but even various intelligence agencies are completely clueless. And the reason?

Just look at the tragedy of Admiral Zephyr to understand.

You can be very powerful, but you can't make your wife, children, and elderly mother as powerful as you are.

If others can't deal with you, can't they at least deal with your family? That's why the families of the Three Admirals are 'classified' information within the Navy. Even Garp secretly sent Luffy and Ace to the East Blue to be raised, and Kaido the Four Emperors, even handcuffed his daughter, whom he raised as his son, to prevent her from going out and having fun...

The stronger a person is, the more they need to appear 'unburdened', otherwise they'll end up like this:

"Roman, I'm sorry."

Please pass on a message to Luffy:

"... Just say I'm going to see a woman."

As Sanji slowly walked towards Capone Bege, the white dove flapped its wings and flew away.

"I said, Sanji."

"I won't comment on your attitude of trying to solve problems by yourself, because I've done the same stupid thing before."

Just like in Alabasta,

"But do you think Luffy would abandon you?"

······

"I'm sorry, Roman, I... I'm very confused right now."

It's certainly disheartening to have your loved ones threatened. Bai Ge nodded understandingly.

"Okay, I'll pass on the message, but:"

"Charlotte Linlin's tea party?"

White Dove turned to look at Capone Bege, her icy gaze making the Mafia 'godfather' catch his breath.

"Please also pass on a message to that old woman:"

"Prepare an extra table of snacks. Otherwise—"

"Watch out, we might blow up Whole Cake Chateau!"