After a long time, the smoke cleared and the haze subsided. No one could be seen where Luo Chen had been standing. The place that Sovereignty had swept through was left with only a charred black hole with a diameter of over a hundred meters. The people inside had long since disappeared.
"Is he dead? Oh well, let's go back first. I'm starving after all this trouble..."
BIGMOM only glanced at it a couple more times. Her Observation Haki sensed nothing unusual, and after confirming that it was correct, she stepped onto Zeus without hesitation and turned to leave.
Meanwhile, on the deck of the Isel, which had already sailed out of the waters of the Totto Land, everyone stared at the small, almost burnt-out Vivre Card in their palms, which recorded the life status of their captain Luo Chen, and fell into grief.
" Luo Chen, what's wrong with him...?"
After a long while, Catherine's face was filled with grief, and she uttered a hoarse, sorrowful voice.
"No, the captain should still be alive, but his condition is very bad. We don't know if he can survive against Big Mom..."
After she finished speaking, Monbuma looked at the Vivre Card and shook her head.
"It seems the captain's condition is quite precarious. If we don't hurry to get him, I'm afraid..."
As a native of the New World, Violet knew very well what this Vivre Card, which was about to burn out, represented, and said with deep concern.
"So what's going on now? Has the captain broken free from Big Mom's control? Why is the Vivre Card pointing in the other direction instead of Totto Land?"
At this point, Lulith chimed in.
"That's obviously the case, but I just don't know if you have the time to look for him..."
Just then, an unfamiliar voice rang in everyone's ears.
"Um??"
"Who are you? What brings you to our ship? Are you an enemy?"
As soon as the sound came out, everyone immediately realized something was wrong and turned to look at the source of the sound. There, they saw a tall, strong man wearing a white cloak and coat.
"Hahaha, who am I?? That's an interesting question. Well then, let me introduce myself. I am Mammon, one of the Seven Deadly Sins under the King's rule— the Sin of Greed. I have been ordered to come here to welcome the Celestial Dragons Glücksburg Catherine, back to the palace, and at the same time to erase everything related to her that has tarnished her reputation!!"
Hearing Catherine and the others ask him questions, especially Catherine's deeply questioning gaze, Mammon dared not Pride refuse, and after bowing to Catherine, he replied haughtily.
" Catherine Palace, you and your family have been living in the mortal realm for nearly twenty years. The esteemed figures of the Holy Land recently agreed to the proposal to restore the Glücksburg Family Clan's status and sent us to take you back. Please come with me. Do not resist in any way; otherwise, I will have no choice but to resort to some means. I believe the esteemed figures of the Holy Land will understand us!"
Ignoring the furious, livid stares of Phil and the others, he continued.
Let's see why Mammon is here, and when he separated from Stussy on the Whole Cake Chateau and arrived on the Isel.
Rewind to half an hour earlier, to the representatives from various parties attending a tea party atop the Whole Cake Chateau at the Totto Land Center.
"..."
After gazing at the scene below where Mammon was rescued by a mysterious figure after fighting with Big Mom, he secretly made a decision. In a secluded corner, he vanished in the One Flash of an eye and headed towards Isel, who was coming to meet Luo Chen and his companion in the surrounding seas of the Totto Land.
"Hey, aren't you going over there? If you stay any longer, their lives could be in danger!"
After scanning the area ahead a few times, Stussy spoke quietly to his companion beside him.
"Um??"
However, to her surprise, she didn't receive a response from the person next to her for quite some time after she finished speaking, which made Stussy turn her head to look at him in confusion.
Sure enough, at a glance, there was no one else around her; the people who had been standing there had already left while she wasn't looking.
"Damn it, are all those people like this? They just left without saying a word. I hope Linlin and the others didn't find out, otherwise I don't know how to explain it to them later."
Stussy gritted her teeth and pouted, complaining.
Swoosh...
Meanwhile, Mammon, whom she was complaining about, had already used Geppo to chase after the graceful figure that was skimming across the sea.
Mammon's mastery of the Six Powers was dozens of times greater than Catherine's. His footsteps in mid-air were silent, and he quietly followed behind her without being noticed. Then, when Catherine boarded the ship, he also quietly followed her. While everyone's attention was focused on Luo Chen, he sat quietly among them, unnoticed by anyone.
Then Phil joined them, and the group worked together to escape the threat of Big Mom's Thunderbolt. While they were worried about Luo Chen, they finally intervened and said something.
Then came the scene we see.
"Eh?? Miss Catherine, she's... a Celestial Dragons, Celestial Dragons Noble? This is the first time I've ever heard of this!!"
Upon hearing the man reveal Catherine's true identity, Violet, the last member of the group to join, gaped in astonishment.
"Hmm, I'd heard about this before, but I didn't expect government officials to come and take Catherine away at this time. What should we do, Brother Phil? This guy's strength seems to be no less than the captain's!"
Although George had not yet Awakening Observation Haki, his primal instincts, inherited from the Ancient Zoan, constantly reminded him to stay away from the monster before him through the tremors that ran through his body.
"Uh, it seems there's no way to avoid it now. Damn it, of all times, this has to happen, before the captain has even returned..."
Phil clenched his fists, staring intently at the other person.
" Catherine Palace, what is your answer? Will you surrender and return with me, or will you fight to the bitter end, intending to fight me to the death and then be forcibly taken away by me?"
Mammon said arrogantly, his words showing no regard for anyone on the ship.
"I've said it many times already, I'm not going back with you. If you want me to go back, then go ahead and do whatever you want!!"
Without much thought, Catherine shook her head and refused him, then Flowing Shadow the Skillful Grade Sword, Ryūkyō, from her waist and pointed it at him.
"Is that so? Then I understand. Please forgive my rudeness..."
Mammon closed his eyes and sighed, then opened them and said.
"Hmph, who's afraid of who? Whether you can get Sister Catherine back is up to you! I'll go first, you guys follow!"
Roar~
After speaking, George ignored the trembling warnings coming from his senses, ran a few steps, transformed into an ancient giant ape, roared, and raised his hairy arm to smash it down on him.
"Hey, this is too much, George, transforming on the ship..."
Swoosh... Swoosh... Swoosh...
Upon seeing George transform, his enormous size almost filling the bow deck of the Isel, the group immediately moved aside and began to complain.
"I'm sorry, everyone..."
boom...
After George, in his giant ape form, apologized to them, his beastly eyes narrowed, and an ancient, savage aura erupted. His fist shattered the air in front of him, heading straight for the opponent's head.
" Ancient Zoan? Interesting, but its speed seems a bit lacking!!"
Rumble...
As Mammon spoke, he lightly jumped to the side, his Giant Fist shattering the deck. Wood chips flew everywhere, and the fracture continued to spread, instantly creating a light-filled hole.
brush...
George, unwilling to give up, pulled his arm back and swung it at him again.
boom...
boom...
boom...
The fist imprint exploded, and amidst the fluttering figures, wood chips flew everywhere. George's angry attack failed to work again. Mammon seemed to have sensed his attack before he even made it, managing to narrowly evade each of his attacks.