The entirety of Totto Land's sea territory was under constant surveillance by sea slugs, making it impossible to approach undetected. Knowing this, Stussy had already left to avoid suspicion. The infiltration plan proceeded in stages: Doflamingo was the first to enter Totto Land, followed by Stussy and Crocodile a few days later, and finally, Tesoro arrived with the three Marine Admirals in tow.
While Doflamingo held a prominent name as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and a king in the New World, his status was nowhere near Charlotte Linlin's in terms of power and influence. As such, he didn't receive any special treatment at Big Mom's tea party.
In fact, this marked the first time Doflamingo had direct dealings with the Big Mom Pirates. Without the chaotic inventions of Dr. Vegapunk coming into play just yet, there hadn't been any opportunities for collaboration. His relationship with Charlotte Linlin remained distant, with no significant business ties to speak of.
However, as a middleman in the underworld, a Warlord of the Sea, and the king of Dressrosa, Doflamingo had been invited to the tea party. Big Mom clearly saw value in building connections, aiming to establish a rapport with him for potential mutual benefits in the future.
Cake Island, true to its name, resembled a massive layered birthday cake. Its whimsical design gave it the feel of a fairy tale world, with animated Homies—living objects created by Big Mom's powers—adding to its surreal atmosphere.
Doflamingo, dressed in his signature flamboyant pink feather coat, orange-tinted sunglasses, and tight-fitting clothing, strode confidently onto the island. His pointed shoes clicked against the ground, exuding an air of arrogance that matched his reputation as the King of Dressrosa.
For this occasion, Doflamingo chose not to bring any subordinates along. They would have been a hindrance in such a high-stakes situation, unable to contribute meaningfully to a confrontation at this level. Even Doflamingo himself felt a certain pressure as he approached the heart of Big Mom's territory.
Trailing behind Doflamingo was Claudius, disguised as his younger brother Rosinante. Claudius had donned a black feather coat similar to Doflamingo's, along with matching sunglasses and colorful face paint. Mimicking Doflamingo's cocky swagger, Claudius walked with exaggerated steps, clearly enjoying himself.
"That's right," Claudius thought to himself with amusement. "In my last life, I always wanted to try walking like this with my cousin. But I was afraid someone would break my legs for it, so I never dared. Now, I finally get to live the dream."
He had to admit, there was something satisfying about the exaggerated strut. It almost felt like he radiated an aura of authority and arrogance.
Walking just behind Claudius was Gion, dressed in a modest maid outfit. Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment as she kept her head down, clearly uncomfortable with the attention her attire drew.
Doflamingo glanced back at Claudius, his expression one of bemused disbelief. "Cous—cough, Corazon, do you really need to copy my walk?"
Claudius waved dismissively. "You wouldn't understand. I've always wanted to do this. I have to savor the moment."
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow. "Always wanted to do this? What's stopping you? You could walk like this anytime, and no one would dare say a word."
Claudius chuckled internally, thinking to himself, It's not just about the walk. I'd also love to mimic Kizaru's lazy drawl, Whitebeard's catchphrase about making people his sons, and Shanks' casual plea for favors. But if I tried all that, I'd probably end up as public enemy number one.
Led by the guards stationed on Cake Island, the group made their way toward the central area. They stopped before a massive gate that marked the entrance to the island's core. Sitting in front of the gate was a towering figure whose presence was impossible to ignore.
Claudius and Doflamingo, both standing over three meters tall, were accustomed to towering over others. Yet the man before them, even seated, was still taller than either of them. His imposing presence exuded a quiet but undeniable strength.
This man was Charlotte Katakuri, Big Mom's second son and one of the Sweet Commanders.
Katakuri sat calmly, his half-covered face giving him an air of mystery. While his haki mastery wasn't yet perfected, Claudius knew that Katakuri's observation haki would one day allow him to foresee the future with terrifying precision. However, it was clear he hadn't reached that level yet.
Doflamingo approached with a smile, while Katakuri, understanding the importance of hospitality, stood to greet him. At over five meters tall, Katakuri loomed over the pair, his sheer size creating an intimidating aura. However, neither Doflamingo nor Claudius was affected, both being seasoned veterans accustomed to such pressure.
"Lord Doflamingo, welcome to Cake Island," Katakuri said politely. "We've been expecting you."
Doflamingo chuckled, his signature laugh echoing. "Fufufu… The honor is mine. I'm grateful for the Big Mom Pirates' invitation to the tea party."
Katakuri nodded. "Thank you for coming."
His gaze shifted to Claudius, his expression briefly puzzled. "And this is…?"
Doflamingo answered smoothly, "This is my younger brother, Rosinante. I brought him along to broaden his horizons."
Despite Claudius's eccentric makeup and flamboyant outfit, there was a familial resemblance between him and Doflamingo. Katakuri accepted the explanation without suspicion. After all, who would imagine that Doflamingo's "younger brother" was actually a Celestial Dragon?
Katakuri gave Claudius a curt nod but didn't engage further. His attention instead drifted to Gion.
Though her maid costume and makeup were designed to make her blend in, something about her seemed vaguely familiar to Katakuri. However, he couldn't place where he might have seen her before.
Noticing Katakuri's lingering gaze, Claudius decided to divert his attention. Wrapping an arm around Gion's shoulders, he deliberately let his hand drop to her chest, grabbing hold in an exaggerated display.
With a sly grin, Claudius turned to Katakuri. "Is there a problem? Have we kept you waiting too long, or do you find something wrong with my maid?"
Gion's face turned scarlet, and her fists clenched in rage. If they weren't in enemy territory, she might have kicked Claudius into the sea on the spot.
Doflamingo quickly stepped in, playing along with the act. "Corazon, watch your manners! This isn't Dressrosa," he scolded, before turning to Katakuri. "My apologies. My brother can be… impulsive."
Katakuri raised a hand, shaking his head. "It's fine. I was the one at fault for being impolite." He retracted his gaze from Gion, his suspicions dissipating.
***
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