All the guests were settled into the palace complex.
At this moment, quite a few couldn't suppress their curiosity and were leisurely strolling around the grounds, chatting casually while admiring the exotic sights of the Flower Capital.
Of course, even more people had their eyes fixed on the new faces still arriving.
After all, how many real heavyweights showed up—that was the only true measure of how valuable this invitation really was.
Just as the guests were gathering in small groups, bragging and exchanging pleasantries, the main event arrived.
The six infamous Dark Kings of the Underworld appeared, escorted by their guards like headlining superstars, and stepped into the palace complex.
Their arrival instantly drew every gaze in the venue.
"This place is really swimming in money—no wonder they call it the legendary Land of Gold!"
"Big News" Morgans had a camera Den Den Mushi hanging around his neck and went on a frenzied photo-taking spree, snapping shots of every corner of the Flower Capital.
"Of course it is. Wano Country is a veritable treasure trove."
The "Loan Shark King," Du Feld, chimed in, his tone tinged with barely concealed envy.
"Especially those craftsmen—their skills are second to none. A third of the New World's weapons and Seastone come out of this place."
"And grain has become hard currency too. I'm telling you two, your luck is really enough to make people jealous."
As he spoke, Du Feld shot a pointed look at Umit the Shipping King and Giberson the Warehouse King.
Ever since the transportation routes to Wano were opened, those two old rivals had been raking it in.
Even skimming less than half a percent off the top amounted to astronomical profits.
The two men who were named only chuckled, neither responding.
They could drink together on the surface, sure—but when it came to core interests, everyone here was a competitor with a knife hidden behind their back.
"I heard that with the Flying General overseeing things, even the mysterious Amazon Lily and the Tontatta Tribe have relocated here."
The "Queen of the Pleasure District," Stussy, spoke softly, her beautiful eyes drifting toward the bustling streets below.
Anyone paying close attention would notice that among the elevated decorative banners, there were indeed many Tontatta hopping around energetically.
"You mean those restricted zones? I'd really love to sneak in and see what's inside."
Morgans stared toward the mountain range behind the Flower Capital, his eyes glittering with investigative zeal.
He had long studied Wano's territorial divisions.
Especially Amazon Lily—an entire nation of female warriors. For men, its allure easily surpassed even Fish-Man Island.
"If I could snap a few photos and put them in the paper, the circulation would go through the roof."
"If you really plan on indulging that thought, I suggest you choose your newspaper's next editor-in-chief before you press the shutter."
Stussy teased with a half-smile.
She wasn't joking.
Not only were the women of Amazon Lily notoriously dangerous, but after arriving here, one could truly feel the unfathomable depth of Wano's foundations.
They ruled the underworld, sure—but they still had that much self-awareness.
Just look at the security personnel around them. Every single one radiated a terrifyingly steady presence, not to mention the heavily guarded restricted areas.
Stussy had the most authority to speak on this.
Her elite intelligence operatives had tried every trick in the book—and still hadn't even touched the edges of those forbidden zones.
"Heh, I'm just talking big. We're guests, after all—I know my limits."
Morgans laughed it off, continuing to scan the surroundings with his birdlike wide-angle vision.
Suddenly, he exclaimed as if he'd discovered a new continent.
"Eh? Those flamboyantly dressed guys over there—aren't they the Donquixote Family from the North Blue?"
The other five Dark Kings followed his gaze.
In the distance, a tall figure draped in a pink feathered coat strode forward with blatant arrogance.
It was Donquixote Doflamingo, the so-called "Heavenly Yaksha," accompanied by the family's four elite officers.
"This place is really lively."
Diamante glanced around, unable to hide his amazement.
"Judging by the scale, it's not inferior to those powerful World Government member states."
"When will we be able to hold an entire country in the palm of our hands too?"
Trebol's eyes darted around restlessly. From the moment they entered Wano, his worldview had been shattered again and again.
Compared to this, his days of playing king in the North Blue felt like child's play in the mud.
"Fufufufu, Trebol—don't look so provincial."
Doflamingo curled his lips into a wicked grin, ambition flashing behind his sunglasses.
"The future… who can say?"
That kingdom which once belonged to the Donquixote family—Dressrosa—he would reclaim with his own hands, no matter what.
"And besides…"
As if sensing something, Doflamingo lifted his head toward the heights of the palace complex.
Up there gathered the true powerbrokers of the New World.
As long as he could connect with them, his business could spread like tentacles into the New World.
Especially that emperor standing above them all.
Doflamingo fixed his gaze on the Shogun's Castle, looming over everything.
Although he hadn't yet fully penetrated the New World's underground network, relying on his authority in the North Blue, he quickly became acquainted with many figures.
A day passed in the blink of an eye.
The highly anticipated Fire Festival finally began.
In the plaza below the palace, a luxurious banquet had already been laid out to receive overseas dignitaries.
Welcoming attendants fired ceremonial cannons. Accompanied by distinctive music and dance, performers twirled gracefully across the Flower Dance Hall.
The courtesan dancers, with their flawless figures, swayed their hips and effortlessly stole the souls of the men present.
This setup was nothing like the Tea Party, where everyone sat at separate tables.
The entire arrangement resembled an ancient imperial audience—aside from the vacant highest seat, all other factions were seated below.
The flowing banquet stretched like a long dragon. Elegant dancers weaved among the guests, serving exquisite fruits, roasted meats, and fine wine.
"After getting used to the Tea Party's neat rows, this birthday-banquet style feels a bit unfamiliar."
Stussy took her seat gracefully, raised her glass, and took a light sip.
The rich aroma exploded across her palate, making her eyes light up instantly.
"Indeed. Compared to that nerve-wracking Tea Party, a festival like this feels far more relaxing."
Umit spoke while his greedy eyes were already roaming over the dancers.
Most of the men present were the same—some were already planning to indulge themselves in the pleasure quarters once the festival ended.
Doflamingo, however, paid little attention to the dancers.
It wasn't that he lacked appetite—but at this moment, all his focus was on the emperor who had yet to appear.
Boom! Boom! Boom—!!
Suddenly, thunderous ceremonial cannons echoed from the streets below.
Cheers surged like a tidal wave. Instruments rang out as hundreds of thousands of voices roared the Shogun's name, shaking the heavens.
The guests immediately realized—the emperor hadn't appeared in the city first, but had gone down to celebrate with the people.
Through projection Den Den Mushis displayed on giant screens, all of Wano could see that figure.
Not just the Flower Capital—even the usually secluded Amazon Lily was now swept up in the festival's frenzy, shouting along in unison.
With just the appearance of that single figure, wandering performers and singing courtesans alike froze in place.
The aura was overwhelming, pulling everyone into chanting Tenma's name.
Every guest present felt, firsthand, that terrifying degree of authority and popular support.
How beloved must one be to ignite an entire city into such frenzy?
Only after receiving the people's adoration did Tenma, amid ever-rising cheers, stride into the plaza where the banquet was held.
The once-noisy venue fell instantly silent.
Everyone stopped what they were doing, eyes turning in unison toward the king seated at the head.
"This truly is a festival of unparalleled luxury. Thank you for your gracious invitation, General Tenma."
Stussy, ever the social butterfly, was the first to rise, smiling warmly.
As she spoke, she gently pushed forward a woman beside her—one whose looks and figure were both top-tier.
"This is the next-generation top courtesan cultivated at great cost by our Pleasure District. Her name is Natasha."
"Her dance and musical skills are master-level, she's excellent in management and personal service—and most importantly, she's a Slip-Slip Fruit user."
Stussy's smile grew more suggestive.
"Before today, she was like a flower yet to bloom—never once having entertained a guest."
"So I'd like to offer her as a modest gift to congratulate you on this festival. I hope you'll accept her."
Because of the Slip-Slip Fruit, Natasha's skin gleamed with an almost luminous whiteness, smooth as jade.
Combined with her devilish curves and angelic face, nearly every man present had been staring at her just moments ago.
No one had expected that this woman wasn't Stussy's companion—but a gift for Tenma.
"That madam really knows how to play the game…"
Many cursed inwardly, especially when they saw the unmistakable curve of a smile at Tenma's lips.
"This gift suits my tastes very well. I also wish you an enjoyable Fire Festival."
Tenma nodded with a smile.
This was a tangible benefit—not some CP0 plant.
After all, Stussy's people hadn't even reached the edge of the restricted zones yet. Someone as shrewd as her would never risk her head by placing a spy directly at an emperor's side.
A peerless beauty plus a Devil Fruit ability—Tenma was naturally quite satisfied.
"If you're pleased, that's the greatest honor for me."
Stussy smiled sweetly, feeling she'd grasped one of Tenma's preferences.
Not wanting Stussy to steal all the spotlight, the other guests hurriedly presented their own carefully prepared gifts.
Since this was their first time giving Tenma tribute, and none knew his preferences, the offerings were a mixed bag.
Advanced household devices from technological powers, exquisitely packaged famous blades, congratulatory plaques forged from pure gold and jewels, and all manner of rare curiosities.
Tenma accepted them all with a smile.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly—no wonder Charlotte Linlin insisted on hosting a Tea Party every year.
Just this round of gifts alone was probably worth over 800 million Beli.
It wasn't just networking—it was a massive windfall.
Then, Doflamingo stepped forward, and the gift-giving segment reached its true climax.
With his move alone, the total value of the gifts soared past the terrifying threshold of one billion.
"Fufufufu… honored General Tenma, thank you for the invitation. I hope this small token catches your eye."
Doflamingo wore his trademark arrogant smile, clearly confident in what he had brought.
He gestured to his subordinate. Trebol hurried forward and presented the briefcase in his hands.
The case opened.
A Devil Fruit covered in strange blue patterns, shaped like a cluster of snowballs stacked together, was revealed to everyone.
—A Devil Fruit.
Many people sucked in a sharp breath.
No one expected this country bumpkin from the North Blue to start with such hard currency.
Even Stussy's expression changed.
But Doflamingo wasn't done yet. He smiled and added another bombshell.
"This fruit… is a Logia-type— the Snow-Snow Fruit."
Boom—!
The entire venue exploded.
Every guest stared at Doflamingo, eyes wide.
Not just a Devil Fruit—but a Logia, standing at the very top of the pyramid!
Was this man out of his mind, throwing something like this out just to curry favor with an emperor?!
The value of a Logia was immeasurable.
Even an ordinary person could dominate the first half of the Grand Line with it.
In the hands of a pirate emperor or the Marines, it could at worst cultivate a vice-admiral–level combatant.
The Snow-Snow Fruit might not be the absolute strongest element, but it was far from weak.
It was obvious—Doflamingo had paid a massive price to latch onto Tenma.
In truth, this fruit was indeed one of Doflamingo's long-hoarded assets from years of operating in the North Blue.
He'd originally planned to use it to groom a future family executive.
But since he was here, he had to max out the impression score.
Compared to the combat power a single fruit could bring, he valued the long-term returns even more.
Doflamingo was both a gambler and a shrewd investor.
Back then, he'd even used the precious Gold-Gold Fruit as the finale item in an auction just to build prestige—so this wasn't surprising.
If he wanted to truly gain a foothold in the New World, he had to board Tenma's colossal ship of the era.
Tenma had only intended to make use of Doflamingo's resources.
He hadn't expected the man to be this perceptive—and to deliver such a huge gift package.
Why would he ever refuse something like this?
Laughing heartily, Tenma nodded.
"I like this gift very much. Don't leave after the festival—I have some things I'd like to discuss with you."
"Fufufufu… the honor is mine, General Tenma."
Doflamingo replied smugly, handing the briefcase to an approaching attendant.
He was full of anticipation about that "discussion."
This gamble—he'd won it.
As long as he could latch onto this New World emperor, the Snow-Snow Fruit was well worth the price.
The gift-giving continued, but with Doflamingo's offering setting the bar, all subsequent gifts—no matter how carefully prepared—paled in comparison.
Still, Tenma accepted them all graciously.
But the sharp-eyed could tell—no one else was asked to stay behind for a "chat."
Clearly, the champion of this gift-giving contest had already been decided.
Many gazes once again turned toward the Donquixote Family.
Envy. Resentment. Shock.
Who could have imagined that this North Blue tyrant might truly soar to the skies on this opportunity?
A single word from a New World emperor—even just a symbolic gesture—was enough to trigger an earthquake in the underworld.
Once the unspoken ritual of gift-giving finally ended, the banquet returned to full-blown revelry.
This time, unlike the earlier restraint, the major figures began drinking freely and truly enjoying this top-tier feast.
Of course, if the Fire Festival were just a meal, that would be seriously underestimating Tenma.
With a casual wave of his hand, the dancers and singers on stage immediately understood and retreated like a tide.
"Since it's a birthday celebration, what fun is it to just eat and drink? There should be some real entertainment, don't you think?"
The guests were momentarily puzzled, but nodded along.
Tenma didn't move at all—he merely willed it.
To everyone's shock, several massive floating islands suddenly rose from deep within the mountains behind him, soaring into the sky.
Then, a colossal projected image appeared above the banquet stage.
In the image, those floating islands assembled into an enormous martial arena!
"What is this supposed to be?"
Morgans couldn't help shouting, his camera shutter clicking furiously while his other hand scribbled notes.
"Every year during the Fire Festival, for a bit of excitement, Wano holds a grand combat tournament."
"Anyone who thinks they have the strength—no matter who they are—can participate."
Tenma pointed at the screen, a playful smile curling on his lips.
"Through the matches, the top two strongest contestants will take home the prizes I've prepared."
As his words fell, the projection shifted to the reward display.
"Holy—are those?!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd, eyes nearly popping out.
Because at the very center of the image—
Two Devil Fruits were displayed.
When the guests saw the names labeled beneath them, their shocked expressions froze solid, and even their breathing quickened.
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