When Caesar returned to Sweet Island clutching a Marine warship, the entire harbor erupted in chaos.

Aokiji was the first to rush forward, bypassing Daifuku and the others' deliberate obstruction to leap onto the ship's deck.

When he saw the soldiers frozen like wooden puppets, fury flashed across his face as he glared at Doflamingo nearby.

"Doflamingo! Release them!"

Doflamingo shrugged indifferently, waving away a dizzy Tashigi and retracting his controlling strings from the G5 soldiers.

"Admiral Aokiji!"

"Admiral!"

The soldiers, upon realizing it was Aokiji, immediately rushed over, pleading with him in tearful voices.

Listening to their jumbled explanations, Aokiji roughly grasped the situation at G-5 Base.

The number of casualties remained unclear, but one thing was certain—the military fortresses and buildings on the island had likely been completely shattered by Caesar.

Smoker had been knocked unconscious by Caesar but probably wouldn't die.

Aokiji felt slightly relieved and planned to find an appropriate time to inform Gion, asking her to send people to investigate G-5.

However, considering this, Aokiji guessed that the Marine Headquarters had probably already dispatched a team.

"Admiral Kuzan, why are you here? Where are we now? Please save Vice Admiral Smoker—he seems to have been defeated by that monster!" Tashigi pleaded urgently, her voice choked with tears.

Aokiji offered a bitter smile. "This is Sweet Island in Totto Land. Right now, I'm a member of the Beast God Pirates. Don't worry, Tashigi. As long as I'm here, no one will dare harm you. Caesar likely brought you here as hostages to demand something from Headquarters. Until the Marines arrive, I'll stay on this ship."

"What?!"

The G-5 soldiers were horrified.

They had actually been brought to the heart of the Beast God Pirates' territory—the core waters of Totto Land.

But what shocked them most was that the former Marine Admiral Aokiji had become a member of the Beast God Pirates!

Caesar reverted to his human form and landed in the plaza.

The entire round trip had taken less than an hour.

At the entrance of the hall, Judge and Queen were still waiting.

Seeing Caesar land, they hurried forward.

"Judge, your Germa 66 forces will arrive within three days. For now, go rest. We'll discuss the clone soldiers once your lab is here."

Judge's face lit up with ecstatic disbelief as he looked up at Caesar.

"R-Really, Caesar-sama?! Thank you for your assistance! Once my lab arrives, I'll invite you to inspect it immediately!"

Queen watched Judge with envy, thinking about his own virus weapon research in Wano

Country.He wondered if that might pique Caesar's interest.

"Father! What's…?" Katakuri stepped forward to ask.

Caesar waved it off. "Just a minor matter. Katakuri, how are the Tea Party invitations coming along? Did you follow my instructions?"

Katakuri reached into his coat and pulled out a gold-edged invitation, handing it to Caesar.

"Father, as you requested, I had Totto Land's craftsmen work overnight to produce hundreds of these. Do they meet your expectations?"

Caesar took the invitation.

On its cover, a pattern was embossed in real gold—the emblem of the Beast God Pirates.

A winged skull, with surging waves beneath its jaw.

Below it were the words 'Beast God Pirates'.

Opening the invitation revealed the lines of text Caesar had instructed them to include.

"Totto Land Tea Party. Barbarossa Caesar, Captain of the Beast God Pirates, cordially invites the great figures of the sea to gather at Whole Cake Island in Totto Land. Enjoy fine food and wine as we discuss matters of the sea." Caesar nodded after reading it.

"Not bad, the craftsmanship is quite exquisite. Remember this, Katakuri. From now on, these invitations will symbolize status and strength. Everyone invited by the Beast God Pirates will be renowned powerhouses of the sea, exceptionally talented youths, or those who might be hiding their true strength, as identified by our intelligence network!"

Katakuri nodded solemnly. "I understand, Father. I'll contact Morgans and have his News Birds deliver the invitations to the known recipients."

"Good. Also, remember to discuss it with Doflamingo. His Donquixote family's intelligence network spans across the seas and likely knows many hidden factions."

With that, Caesar didn't linger and returned to his residence.

*****

Two days later

One by one, News Birds took off from Sweet Island, carrying exquisite invitations to various seas.

These were the first Tea Party invitations since the founding of the Beast God Pirates, sent to the leaders of major factions, exceptionally talented youths, long-renowned powerhouses, and those living under fake names!

At the Shakky's Rip-off Bar on Sabaody Archipelago, a white News Bird descended from the clouds and dropped a gold-and-red invitation at the bar's entrance.

Inside, an elderly man heard the noise and stepped out to investigate.

He picked up the invitation from the ground.

Returning inside, he joined a round table surrounded by several burly men.

Among them was the legendary "Dark King" Rayleigh, unmistakable with his round-framed glasses.

"Gaban, what's that in your hand?" a towering, deep-voiced man asked the shorter old man.

Beside him, a slightly shorter but equally imposing fish-man leaned against a massive harpoon while conversing with an elderly man whose head was crowned with a ring of flower-like hair.

Gaban sat at the table and tossed the invitation onto it.

Rayleigh's expression changed when he saw the skull emblem on the cover.

"That's the Beast God Pirates' insignia."

Gaban plopped down and opened the invitation.

"Oh? An invitation to a Tea Party in Totto Land? It's addressed to you, Rayleigh. Seems like Caesar knows you're still alive."

"Hahaha! I guess I'm just lucky. If it weren't for Sunbell bringing Crocus here in time, I'd have met Roger ahead of schedule," Rayleigh laughed heartily, his arms wrapped in white bandages.

This small bar was filled with none other than the former crewmates of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.

Silvers Rayleigh.

Scopper Gaban.

The ship's doctor, Crocus.

The towering giant Isaac Jr, and the fish-man, Sunbell.

"That bastard Caesar who nearly killed you, is now inviting you to Totto Land for dessert? I think he's up to no good—probably wants to finish you off for good," Gaban tapped the table with his pipe.

Rayleigh picked up the invitation and examined it before shaking his head slowly.

"Caesar isn't that kind of man. Honestly, I don't think he even took me seriously. Otherwise, I wouldn't have escaped last time."

Crocus's eyes held a trace of concern. "So, you're planning to go back to the New World? Your arms haven't fully healed yet. You mustn't fight again."

"Don't worry, we're not going there to fight this time. Gaban, Isaac, Sunbell, will you come with me? Caesar seems to be making big moves—that guy is truly ambitious. He appears to know many secrets. Who knows, we might even run into some old friends!"

Gaban took a slow drag from his pipe, exhaling a smoke ring before speaking calmly.

"Then let's see what this Beast God Caesar is capable of."

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