Three days later.
The New World, Totto Land waters.
A massive pirate ship was docked at the harbor of Whole Cake Island, with a bustling crowd gathered on the shore, making the area appear crowded.
The crowd parted as a towering man stepped forward—the leader of the Sweet Commanders, Charlotte Linlin second son, Katakuri.
"Katakuri, why aren't you wearing your scarf anymore? Done being the perfect man?" Oven teased with a grin.
Katakuri was dressed in his usual attire—a black, metallic-styled outfit.
He wore a black vest that exposed his muscular chest, a spiked armband on his left arm and black gloves.
His lower half was clad in black jeans and spiked boots.
Unlike before, however, Katakuri neck was bare, no longer wrapped in his signature white scarf.
His scarred face was now fully exposed, his mouth revealing several sharp fangs, giving him an especially fearsome appearance.
"It doesn't matter. I'm not some perfect man. Let whoever wants to laugh at me do so" Katakuri replied calmly.
"Brother Katakuri!"
A woman voice called out.
Katakuri turned to see Charlotte Brulee pushing through the crowd toward him.
"Brulee?"
"Brother Katakuri, you have to bring Mama and Perospero back safely! Totto Land can't survive without Mama's protection!" Brulee shouted.
Katakuri grinned, his fangs on full display and said confidently.
"Don't worry, Brulee. I'll definitely bring Mama and our brother back! This time, only Oven and I will go to Wano. More people would just be a liability. The rest of you, lay low and stay out of trouble until we return!"
***
Meanwhile, in the waters near Wano Country, two Marine warships floated as Garp, Sengoku and Kizaru looked grimly at the three overturned vessels in the sea.
Just three days earlier, Kizaru had set out with five warships via the Marines' exclusive sea routes and arrived at the outskirts of Wano without encountering any obstacles.
However, before they could deploy their forces, a massive tsunami suddenly struck them — waves towering over a hundred metres high crashed towards them with devastating force.
The Marine officers aboard lacked Aokiji ability to freeze the ocean.
Even Kizaru, Sengoku and Garp, despite their immense strength, were powerless against the tsunami.
They could only watch helplessly as three of their warships capsized in the monstrous waves, with hundreds of elite Marines and officers lost — only a dozen or so survived by sheer luck.
''This tsunami... it's unnatural. It doesn't seem like a normal disaster. It almost feels man-made," Sengoku muttered, frowning.
Garp was startled. ''Man-made? That tsunami was no small feat. Who could have caused it? Sengoku, you're not thinking... Blackbeard?''
Sengoku shook his head. ''It doesn't have to be the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. Abilities that produce shockwaves, or even the aftermath of a battle, could have caused this.''
''Sengoku-san! Please don't say such terrifying things. You're scaring me'' Kizaru whined dramatically.
''A battle between Yonko-level fighters?'' Garp mused. ''Could it be Caesar? Sengoku, are we really just going to wait here and do nothing?''
Sengoku frowned. ''It's not that we're doing nothing, but that we can't do anything. Look, the sea currents leading to Wano Country are like Reverse Mountain — a massive waterfall. Sailing a huge warship up there is practically impossible. Unless you can fly, you're asking for death.''
''So what?'' Garp picked his nose, his face full of displeasure.
''Let Kizaru enter Wano first to scout the situation'' said Sengoku, turning to Kizaru.
Kizaru sighed and nodded helplessly. ''I'll go and take a look first'' he said.
''Be careful. If things go wrong and you can't find Ryokugyu, prioritise your own safety!'' said Sengoku gravely.
''Don't worry, I'm not one to throw my life away recklessly.''
Kizaru's body gradually began to glow, turning into dazzling points of light that shot straight into the sky.
A golden beam continuously refracted through the clouds, streaking towards Wano Country at an almost untraceable speed.
''I'm so envious. Watching this makes me want to eat a devil fruit too. Like the Goro Goro no Mi, bwahahaha! I've wanted that power since I was a kid.''
Garp looked up at Kizaru's light-form departure, envy evident on his face.
Sengoku sighed too. ''If you had eaten the Goro Goro no Mi, Garp, you might have truly realised the Marine grand vision. Unfortunately, that fruit hasn't appeared on the seas for two hundred years.''
Sengoku couldn't even imagine the kind of power Garp would have with lightning abilities.
***
Wano Country, Kuri, Okobore Town.
An expansive ancient complex stood here, with upturned eaves, painted beams, winding streams and rows of wooden structures nestled closely together.
Inside one of the buildings.
The wooden house shook violently, roof tiles clattered down and tea spilled everywhere, as if an earthquake had struck.
Trees in the yard rustled loudly and the rockery cracked open in several places.
It took a full half-hour for the tremors to finally subside.
A moment later, Caesar stepped out of the house looking thoroughly satisfied.
Casually yanking up a decorative tree as thick as a man's arm, he stripped off its branches and leaves, snapped it in two and began using it to pick his teeth.
He left the small courtyard and arrived at a large plaza where many long tables were set up and laden with meat, wine and delicacies.
Numerous people bustled about, seemingly preparing for a feast.
The busy pirates noticed the towering figure of Caesar and immediately froze, their faces stiff with awe. One by one, they stopped what they were doing and shouted.
''Caesar-sama!''
Caesar spat out the tree trunk in his mouth, walked over to a table, picked up a metre-long grilled fish and swallowed it whole.
''Bororo! Not bad at all! Carry on with your work, don't mind me.'' Caesar waved dismissively at the pirates.
He noticed that many of the pirates had obvious animal features — goat horns, deer legs, elephant trunks and lion heads.
''So these are the Gifters that Kaido mentioned? They don't look particularly strong, but they're definitely a cut above ordinary pirates. Elite, I'd say. There are just too few of them — only 500. If there were fifty thousand, or even five hundred thousand, now that would be something to see.''
Caesar sat on the ground.
''Caesar-sama, your wine.''
Caesar blinked and looked down to see a female pirate with fluffy cat ears. She was dressed rather lightly and was struggling to lift a large wine jar as she offered it to him.
He took the jar, his sharp gaze sweeping over the petite, adorable cat-girl pirate.
She blushed, lowered her head shyly and nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, avoiding his intense stare.
Almost as if possessed, Caesar reached out and stroked her fluffy cat ears a few times.
''Mmm~ My lord...'' The cat-girl pirate's body went limp and her sweet, delicate voice sent another surge of heat rising within Caesar.
''Your name is—''
Just as he was about to start a conversation with the charming cat-girl, a group of people came running from the distance, led by none other than the King.
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