On Whole Cake Island, preparations for the tea party were in full swing.

With Pica's assistance, the construction progressed at an astonishing pace.

In just three days since the previous massive battle, the shattered island had fully regained its former splendor.

However, unlike its previously haphazard layout, the island was now divided into inner and outer zones by two massive circular roads.

At the center stood a grand tower, splitting the island into four quadrants.

One broad road led directly to the harbor.

"Good work, Pica. How about some Oolong tea?"

King, clad in loose robes, approached Pica with two amber-colored drinks in hand.

Pica now resembled a foreman, his spiked armor replaced by linen shorts that exposed his muscular torso and hairy legs.

His dirt-streaked upper body and dust-covered face spoke of hard labor.

"No thanks. Besides, that's not really tea, is it? And didn't Smoothie make this? Is it even safe to drink?"

Pica's voice remained as high-pitched and childlike as ever, as if he were speaking through pinched nostrils.

Yet King showed no trace of mockery, simply chuckling as he pressed one cup of Oolong tea into Pica's hand.

Then, King raised his glass and downed his drink in one go, still wearing a friendly smile on his face.

"Bottoms up, take your time." Pica's expression stiffened instantly.

After a moment of hesitation, he still accepted the drink from King's hand.

Staring at the pale yellow liquid in the glass, Pica hesitated briefly before steeling himself and chugging it down.

"Pfft!"

As expected, Pica spewed a pillar of flames towards the sky, his face instantly turning beet red as if on fire.

King shrugged and returned to the shade of the nearby parasol with his empty glass.

"Hmph, only Pica would humor you like this. I wonder who'll help you next time," said Smoothie from under the parasol, her long, pale legs crossed with a peculiar charm as she glanced at the smiling King.

King pursed his lips but remained silent, maintaining his cheerful expression.

Smoothie rose from her chair, her current height towering over King by a full head, making her already slender legs appear even longer and fairer.

She approached King, extending her fingers to suddenly caress his firm jaw.

Leaning in with a faint fragrance, she whispered in his ear.

"Tomorrow, your task is three glasses. If you fail... heh, I'll punish you in a different position."

King's body instantly stiffened.

With a light chuckle, Smoothie strode away on her long legs, disappearing from King's sight.

"Pfft!"

The moment Smoothie left, King's face flushed crimson as he spat out a burst of flames, coughing while covering his mouth.

"Heh! King, you've completely lost your dignity as a top executive. It's time for Queen-sama to take over your position," said Queen, who had somehow appeared under the parasol wearing suspenders and a forked wig resembling an aristocrat, his plump face full of disdain as he put on airs.

Queen spoke while holding a giant scoop of ice cream.

"Cough, I find it hard to believe you could manage the crew's affairs," King gasped, his gaze falling on the ice cream in Queen's hand.

Queen looked indignant and snapped, "How dare you say that? Uncle Queen is really capable!"

King smirked, then suddenly widened his eyes, looking behind Queen in shock.

"Caesar-sama! What brings you here?"

"What? Caesar-sama?"

Queen jumped in fright, hastily turning around—only to find no one there.

When he turned back in confusion, he saw King lounging on the deck chair, legs crossed, happily licking a massive scoop of ice cream.

"My chocolate-frosted ten-layer crispy sandwich ice cream!" Queen let out a wail of despair.

King shook his head in contentment.

"See? This is why you can't be in charge."

.....

Meanwhile, in the hall of Hachinosu, Blackbeard, who had been enjoying life, suddenly changed expression and waved off the girl draped over him.

"Dark Hole."

A swirling black current emerged from his hand and from the darkness appeared a rapidly burning white slip of paper.

"Pizarro's Vivre Card—what's going on? Why is it burning so fast? Has something happened to him?"

Blackbeard hastily pulled up his pants and rushed to the back of the hall.

A row of various Den Den Mushi lay here, used to contact different individuals and factions.

Blackbeard swiftly picked up one of the snails and dialed Pizarro's communication number.

"..."

Not even a ringtone sounded—the snail simply went limp in his palm.

"Even the Den Den Mushi is dead?" Blackbeard's brows instantly furrowed.

Whoosh.

At that moment, the white Vivre Card in his hand suddenly accelerated its burning rate, consuming itself at a terrifying speed!

"Pizarro!"

Blackbeard gritted his teeth and let out a low growl, forced to watch helplessly as the Vivre Card in his grasp turned to black ashes in mere moments.

Crack.

Blackbeard clenched his fist, crushing the ashes of the Vivre Card in his palm, his face darkening with rage.

"Damn it! Earlier, Shiryu mentioned that Pizarro was tailing a lone traveler, aiming to steal their ability. Seems he failed—the target's strength far surpassed his. That's the only way he'd be killed without even a chance to call for help. Whoever dares kill my man, they'll pay!"

A murderous glint flashed in Blackbeard's eyes as he quickly grabbed other Den Den Mushi from the table and began dialing numbers one after another.

"Purupuru, purupuru."

The snails on the table rang intermittently.

After a while, each call was answered.

"Teach, what's the matter?"

"Captain Teach, do you need something? I'm currently... harvesting fruits."

From the other end came the voices of Shiryu, Lafitte and others, occasionally punctuated by the sound of tearing flesh and agonized screams.

Blackbeard spoke in a heavy tone, "Everyone, return at once. Pizarro's dead—likely that lone traveler's doing."

"What? Pizarro's dead?" Lafitte's usually soft voice trembled with shock.

"I'll be right back," Shiryu replied with his usual calm before ending the call.

Blackbeard strode out of the hall, gazing at the endless sea, his face etched with icy killing intent.

From his left hand, an endless stream of pitch-black darkness swirled forth.

His right hand clenched into a fist, causing visible cracks to form in the air—the very atmosphere splitting from the tremors of his power.

Bzzzt!

In an instant, the entire Hachinosu Island trembled faintly, every pirate on the island turning towards Blackbeard's direction with awe.

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