Chapter 260: The Tea Party Invitation (Two-in-One)
The cool moonlightn Fall upon the earth.
Looking at the man in the ninja outfit lying on the ground, Sanji, having just finished his battle, lit a cigarette.
After he slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, he suddenly caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye, and his expression changed.
"One, two... five!?"
Within the range of his Observation Haki, five powerful auras were incredibly piercing.
Sanji's face grew heavy. He turned his head and shouted towards the distance, "Luffy! Reiner! The Marines are here!"
Hearing his voice, Reiner and Luffy, who was resting on the ground, simultaneously turned their heads and looked towards the sea in the distance.
A full ten warships! They were already approaching the coast.
"A Buster Call? But this formation..."
Reiner, who had spread out his Observation Haki to investigate, couldn't help but frown. "So many experts have come. Anyone who didn't know better would think another Summit War was about to start."
"Hee hee hee, let's run!"
Luffy did a kip-up, got up, and started running towards the other side of the island where the Merry was docked. He shouted without looking back, "Time to retreat, everyone!"
"Yeah, coming!"
"I see Kizaru! Run, run!"
"Wait for me!"
Nami and the others stopped their entanglement with the NEO Marines, broke free, and followed.
"This way, this way! Where are you going, you idiot!"
At the last moment, Sanji didn't forget to grab a head of green hair and drag back a certain someone who was going the wrong way.
Reiner looked down at Z on the ground, whose pupils had slowly closed, his gaze losing focus. He then looked up and glanced at a certain man with a backpack and a light blue coat on the cliff.
They made eye contact for a few seconds, but neither spoke. Reiner turned back and followed the others, leaving.
On the sea...
"Kowai ne~~." ("How scary~~.")
"So restless just after entering the New World."
Dressed in a yellow-and-orange striped suit, Kizaru stood at the bow of a warship with his hands in his pockets, his expression sleazy as he said in a frivolous tone, "What a troublesome bunch."
"Ahahaha!"
Laughter came from the rear deck.
At a small round table where three people were seated, the white-haired Sengoku stuffed a handful of senbei into his mouth, chewing with one cheek puffed out, and said with a smile:
"Good thing this old man is already retired. It's finally you young people's turn to have a headache."
"Sigh~~," Tsuru sighed with her head down. "Ever since you retired, you've become more and more like Garp. More and more improper."
"Ahahaha!"
Garp threw his head back and laughed, picking up a donut and stuffing it into his mouth. "You're too serious, little Tsuru. Have a donut and relax."
Tsuru closed her eyes and ignored him, picking up her teacup and sipping it on her own.
Kizaru at the bow looked on helplessly. Let's just finish this mission quickly and go back to play mahjong. It's rare for the four slackers to get together.
This game, which had somehow spread from a small sky island, had now become popular all over the world. Reiner, in a way he had never imagined, had achieved a cultural invasion of another world.
Soon, the warships all docked, and a host of Marines jumped off.
The trio of Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru didn't move, still sitting around the small round table in silence.
Only Kizaru transformed into a golden point of light and flew towards Z.
He was too lazy to chase the Straw Hat crew. It was a thankless task, and they weren't his target this time anyway.
Overtime...
Dame da ne.
One by one, the Marine officers waved their hands and ordered the soldiers to charge and suppress the NEO Marines, while they themselves walked towards the prone Z.
The warships were dispatched at the scale of a Buster Call, but almost all of the available officers from headquarters, aside from those on other missions, had come.
"Can't sense a pulse."
"That's good. The mission is complete without us having to do anything."
"Indeed..."
Momonga, Doberman, Gake, and a host of other officers stood not far away, silently looking at the peacefully lying Z.
"Long time no see, Master Z. Although the occasion is a bit inappropriate," Kizaru murmured in a low voice.
His orange sunglasses concealed his expression as he slowly walked over.
Just then.
Zing!
A dagger came flying, sticking into the ground at his feet with a ding. He looked up, and a blue-haired young woman was reflected in his smooth lenses.
Ain clutched her bleeding right arm, dragging her scarred and weary body forward.
"Yare, still resisting?"
Kizaru's face returned to its usual sleazy expression. "The situation is already decided. If you surrender, you'll suffer less. What do you think, little girl?"
"You filthy things are not allowed to touch Master Z."
Ain's steps were faltering, but her eyes were exceptionally firm. She said in a hoarse voice, "I'm going to take master back to his hometown and bury him with his family."
A bleak wind rustled, gently stirring up dust.
The various officers stood quietly in place.
Kizaru was silent for a while, then said lightly, "That won't do. We have a mission too. How can we explain ourselves if we go back empty-handed?"
Just then.
A cold wind blew past, and the bone-chilling cold made the very air freeze.
Crack—crack!
A streak of white swam along the ground, slowly condensing into ice between the two of them and rising up into a giant high wall, separating the crowd.
"Kowai ne~~"
Kizaru slowly looked up at the curly-haired man standing on the cliff, his expression sleazy as he said:
"If the opponent is a former Admiral, the fight could result in heavy losses. Sakazuki probably won't blame me."
"Since the NEO Marines have all been captured, we are also preparing to retreat."
With that, Kizaru put his hands in his pockets, transformed into a golden point of light, and flew back to the warship.
Objective to subjugate Z complete. Withdraw troops and go back to collect the bonus.
He seemed to have mastered the knack for dealing with the Straw Hat crew.
"Hey, hey, hey, if Admiral Kizaru isn't here, we can't beat Mr. Kuzan."
The simple and honest Momonga scratched his head and also turned to walk back to the warship.
The remaining people rolled their eyes. You won't even exchange a couple of blows for show?
Oh well, it was an Admiral's order anyway.
Having lost their backbone, the NEO Marines had already lost their will to fight. They were soon swept up and arrested by the Marines.
The Straw Hat crew, on the other hand, returned to the Merry, which Franky had repaired long ago, and set sail, fleeing the area and continuing their journey according to their original plan.
Two days later.
The sun was high in the sky, the sea and sky a single shade of azure. A sailboat gently parted the ripples, blurring the reflection of the white clouds in the water.
The Merry sailed slowly with the gentle sea breeze. Not far ahead, a pirate ship happened to pass by.
In the crow's nest, someone spotted the flag with the yellow straw hat, put down his binoculars, and jumped down the mast, rushing into the ship's cabin.
Inside a closed, dark room, a purple-haired man leaned back in his chair. A cart beside him was filled with desserts.
The man leisurely picked up a donut and, with a wide, splitting mouth, took a large bite, his face an expression of enjoyment.
Knock, knock, knock!!
An urgent knocking sounded. The man stopped his movements, his face showing displeasure.
Only during afternoon tea time was he usually not to be disturbed.
He wasn't too angry. Since his subordinate dared to knock, it was probably something important.
"Speak."
The man said just one word. The person outside the door was so scared he broke out in a cold sweat and said frantically:
"Lord Katakuri, we've spotted a pirate ship. It seems to be the Straw Hat crew."
"Seems?"
"Uh, based on the flag, it's confirmed to be the famous Straw Hat crew from two years ago."
"..."
Putting down the donut he had just picked up, Katakuri thought for a moment, then his expression turned serious as he stood up and said in a low voice, "Bring the ship alongside."
He wrapped his scarf tightly, covering the lower half of his face, and Katakuri's face returned to its usual unsmiling solemnity.
On the other side.
In the Merry's crow's nest, the on-duty Apis also spotted the other party.
It came to the stern to signal him. Reiner stepped on its head and jumped to the rooftop.
Looking out, he was immediately attracted by the other's pirate flag.
A pink afro wearing a Napoleon hat, with bright red lipstick painted on its skull face.
Below on the lawn, Chopper and Usopp also spotted the pirate ship that was turning towards them and shouted up to the second floor:
"Luffy! Pirates!"
"They're heading this way!"
In this world with the sea as its theme, there was never a shortage of people sailing, especially pirates and Marines, whom they often encountered.
In the past, the pirates they met would basically take the initiative to give way and go around after seeing their flag.
Occasionally, a clueless one would come over and contribute to their funds.
"Where, where!"
Hearing the sound, Luffy rushed out excitedly, jumped onto the sheep's head figurehead, and looked out. "—Whoa! It's a donut!"
"They're coming over! Hee hee hee, do they want to fight!"
Luffy was slightly excited. He put his hand on his shoulder and swung his arm in a circle.
"If I'm not mistaken..."
Reiner jumped down from the rooftop and came to the side of the three of them. He lit a cigarette and said lightly, "That seems to be Big Mom's flag."
"Big Mom?"
Luffy turned his dazed face and asked, "Is it something to eat? Their ship looks delicious."
Reiner: "..."
Delicious... well, it does have the shape of a donut.
Reiner was speechless. "She's one of the Four Emperors... should be one of the Five Emperors now. Her epithet is 'Big Mom', Charlotte Linlin."
"What!?"
"A Sea Emperor is here!?"
Chopper and Usopp were so scared their faces turned pale. A cry of alarm also drew Nami and Zoro over.
Zoro hurriedly jumped over and asked, "Hey, what Sea Emperor are you talking about? Where?"
"Are you in a hurry to die?" Reiner sneered contemptuously, then said to the others:
"Looking at the ship's design, it's probably just one of her subordinates. I'm not sensing any exaggeratedly powerful aura either."
"Tch."
I thought I could have a go with a Yonko. If it's just a subordinate...
Zoro's interest immediately waned considerably.
"Should we avoid them, Luffy? I have a bad feeling," Nami couldn't help but say with worry.
Looking at Luffy, Chopper and Usopp felt a sense of foreboding and immediately nodded quickly in agreement.
They didn't want to provoke any Sea Emperor.
"It's fine, Nami."
Luffy said with a cheerful laugh, "Maybe they're just coming to bring us food."
"How is that possible, you idiot!"
"Your train of thought is too bizarre!" Nami immediately rolled her eyes and roared.
Before long, after a short wait, the donut sailboat, which was much larger than the Merry, came alongside.
A man with a resolute face slowly walked to the bow, looking down at them from above.
Katakuri scanned the area below, his gaze falling on Luffy on the sheep's head.
"You must be the super rookie from two years ago, Straw Hat."
"That's right!"
Luffy nodded decisively.
Faced with the pirate crew that was rumored to stand at the pinnacle of the sea, an inexplicable sense of rivalry rose in his heart. He shouted with determination:
"I am the man who will surpass you and become the Pirate King!"
"Who asked you that!" xN
The group shouted, their gazes turning upwards as they questioned loudly:
"Hey! What do you want with us!"
"We're not to be trifled with!"
"That's right! I'm a man who commands eight thousand subordinates! I advise you to think carefully before you start a war!"
"Only eight thousand?" A hint of disdain appeared on Katakuri's face. "That number of troops is not worthy of going to war with us."
"What!" Usopp covered his face and exclaimed. He actually believed it!
And he even looked down on him!!?
Hearing this, the group couldn't help but become nervous.
If this atmosphere continued, what would happen?
"I'm not here to cause trouble with you."
Before they could speak, Katakuri asked first, "I'm just here to see the man who will marry my sister. Which of you is Vinsmoke Sanji?"
He was out this time to prepare for his mother's upcoming tea party, collecting rainbow candy on the nearby Risky Red Island.
Encountering the Straw Hat crew was a coincidence.
It was only after learning two days ago that the Straw Hat crew had regrouped and entered the New World that Germa 66 had approached them with a marriage proposal. That's why he had come over to take a look.
"Is there a Vinsmoke Sanji on our ship?"
"It must be Sanji, right?"
"No, Sanji is Sanji. He said 'Svin Sanji'."
"It's Vinsmoke Sanji, you idiot."
"Wait a minute, Sanji's surname is Vinsmoke?"
The group looked at each other, chattering. They were clearly a bit confused.
"Marry your sister?"
These words were so direct and sudden that even Reiner was stunned for a second. He immediately reacted and shouted towards the second-floor kitchen, "Sanji! Your big brother-in-law is looking for you!"
"Huh!?"
Bang!
Bang!
The doors on the first and second floors were opened at the same time. The explosive news made the other few people rush out as well.
"Hey, Sanji! You're married!?"
"And your partner is one of Big Mom's people!?"
"Really! You never told us!"
Faced with the shocked questions, Sanji, however, looked bewildered. "What are you guys talking about?"
What big brother-in-law?
When did I get married? How come I don't know myself?
Is she a beauty?
No, no!
Sanji shook his head. That's not the point. The point is!
He frowned and looked at Katakuri. "Who are you?"
"So you are Vinsmoke Sanji."
Katakuri's expression was blank as he sized him up for a while. That curly eyebrow was very characteristic. "It seems you still don't know about the marriage alliance?"
"Vinsmoke..."
Hearing this surname that had been sealed in his heart for many years, Sanji's face suddenly darkened. He clenched his fists, his eyes cold.
"How do you know that? And the marriage alliance, what's going on?"
"It seems you really don't know anything. Is this how the people of Germa 66 arrange marriages?"
A hint of displeasure appeared in Katakuri's eyes. To propose a marriage without even informing the person involved, what did they take his sister for!
"It seems there's nothing much to talk about today. Someone! Bring an invitation over."
"Yes, Lord Katakuri."
A subordinate respectfully handed over an invitation. Katakuri took it between two fingers and flicked it towards Sanji. The high-speed spinning white paper stabbed directly into the ground at his feet and stood on the lawn.
"See for yourself. We'll meet in Totto Land."
After speaking coldly, Katakuri turned and walked straight back into the ship's cabin.
"We're going back."
"Yes, sir!"
Soon, the donut ship gradually sailed away under everyone's gaze, until it was completely gone. Only then did they hurriedly turn back and rush to Sanji's side.
"Are you okay, Sanji?"
"Hey, what's wrong, curly-brows?"
"You don't look so good, Sanji."
Seeing Sanji's expression, Usopp spoke to comfort him, at the same time picking up the invitation on the ground and handing it to him, asking with concern, "Should we open it?"
"—Phew! I'm fine. You guys were worried. Let's open it and see."
Sanji let out a long sigh, took the invitation, took another deep breath, and then opened it.
There wasn't much written inside, just very normal invitation text. The key information that attracted everyone's attention was just one sentence:
[Big Mom and Germa 66 have reached a marriage alliance. The 35th daughter, Charlotte Pudding, will hold a wedding ceremony with Vinsmoke Sanji at the tea party.]
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, there's a wedding banquet to eat."
Reiner nudged Sanji with his arm and teased, "A wife delivered right to your door, Sanji."
"Hey, hey, hey, I never agreed to this kind of thing."
"Is that so? I heard their family's 35th daughter is a cute beauty," Reiner continued to tease.
Sanji: ???
Hearing this, Sanji coughed. "Luffy, I have some family matters... you see, later we..."
"Let's all go together!" Luffy said with a cheerful laugh. "There'll be a wedding banquet to eat then, right?"
Reiner: 6. So he really is here to bring you food.
(End of chapter)
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