"Oh? What kind of intel? You've seen countless major headlines, Morgans. Don't scare me now."
Stussy covered her mouth with a delicate laugh as she caught the thrown documents and flipped through them casually.
As one of the most outstanding intelligence officers in the CP organization, Stussy's experience far surpassed that of Rob Lucci.
Not only was she highly skilled—comparable to an elite vice admiral and proficient in the Six Powers—but she also possessed an exceptionally sharp mind.
Reading ten lines at a glance and memorizing everything instantly were just basic skills for her.
But as her eyes skimmed the documents, her playful smile vanished in an instant, replaced by sheer disbelief.
"This… this can't be!"
Stussy's body trembled uncontrollably as an inexplicable fear rose in her heart.
"Heh, nothing is impossible. When the news of Sengoku's death spread last time, many didn't believe it either. Yet it was the truth—the legendary marine hero Monkey D Garp, who captured countless great pirates and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Pirate King, fell in battle on the waters of Totto Land!"
Morgans rose from his lounge chair, walked to the ship's railing, and gazed at the distant, fathomless sea with a sigh.
"Not only that, but Marshall D Teach and Red Hair Shanks joined forces against Beast God Caesar—no, perhaps even adding Redfield to the mix. Three terrifyingly powerful figures couldn't suppress him, and Caesar alone severely wounded them all. Shanks nearly died at Akainu's hands because of it."
Stussy felt her mouth go dry as she picked up a photograph.
It showed the port of Whole Cake Island, capturing the Beast God Pirates' war god Katakuri, with the former Admiral Aokiji lying motionless at his feet.
Stussy's thin red lips trembled.
"Aokiji... is dead too?"
"Most likely. It was seeing Aokiji's corpse that drove the Admirals to attack Caesar in fury, escalating the conflict. If not for the intervention of Revolutionary Army leader Dragon and the Roger Pirates' Rayleigh and Gaban, the situation would have spiraled into even greater chaos."
Morgans pulled out a thick cigar but didn't light it, instead rubbing it absently with his white, wing-like hand, his gaze distant.
"The Beast God Pirates are truly on the rise this time. According to intelligence, the great swordsman Ganzui from forty years ago has joined them. Supernova Gin, along with powerful pirate crews from across the world, are considering allegiance as well. And then there's Redfield—this legendary figure seems to have been captured by Caesar. Heh, he might even join them too. If that happens..."
"Impossible! Redfield is a solitary man, always acting alone. Even when Roger and Whitebeard invited him back then, he refused without hesitation."
Stussy blurted it out, as if trying to reassure herself, then added.
"Besides, Brook of straw hat pirates was his benefactor. He came here to avenge Brook—there's no way he'd join the Beast God Pirates."
"What Redfield desires, Caesar possesses. Do you really think the Red Count is some rigid old noble? Don't forget—the pirates he's killed number in the thousands, and the civilians drained of their blood are beyond counting. A benefactor? Hah, don't make me laugh. Just a meaningless joke. Whitebeard was stabbed by his own son after all."
Morgans sounded weary.
He hadn't rushed to Whole Cake Island out of fear from Doflamingo and Katakuri's threats.
If he were a coward, he'd have long become the World Government's lapdog—no chance of ever becoming the head of a news agency.
No, Morgans hurried to Totto Land for this very Tea Party, sensing its significance.
With his sharp instincts, he knew this gathering would influence the future of the New World—no, the entire world.
And he wasn't the only one who realized it.
****
Far away, above Fish-Man Island at the gateway to the New World, the new Navy headquarters at G-1 Marine Base was packed with dozens of high-ranking officers, holding a solemn meeting.
To discuss how to deal with Totto Land's Tea Party, even the major incident of the marine hero Garp's sacrifice was temporarily set aside.
The office of the Fleet Admiral was packed with over twenty vice admirals and higher-ranking officers, all intently focused on the blackboard before them.
As usual, the meeting was presided over by the Navy Headquarters' "Conference King," Rear Admiral Brannew.
Akainu, Kizaru, Fujitora, and Ryokugyu hadn't rested.
After rushing back to Navy Headquarters overnight, they had merely received hasty bandaging and medication before taking their seats here.
"Gentlemen, as shown in the diagram, with the Beast God Pirates at the center, Totto Land has now gathered over a hundred pirate crews."
"Among them, Yonko-level crews include the Blackbeard Pirates, the Red Hair Pirates, and the Beast God Pirates. Additionally, there's the Roger Pirates, who disappeared twenty years ago."
As Brannew's words fell, the vice admirals in the office couldn't help but change their expressions, each wearing looks of concern.
Brannew continued.
"Furthermore, among the attendees are former Warlords Crocodile and Gecko Moria.
Other pirates with bounties exceeding—well, there are thirty-seven with particularly high bounties, and hundreds with bounties over a hundred million. It's safe to say that nearly seventy percent of the world's most powerful pirate forces have gathered here! If Caesar uses this meeting to unite them under his banner, then—"
"Impossible! Such a thing will absolutely never happen!"
A deep, hoarse voice rang out.
Akainu, his body wrapped in bandages as he spoke grimly.
"Red Hair and Blackbeard aren't the types to willingly submit to others. Even if Roger were resurrected, he couldn't make them bow! However, many of the other pirate crews might indeed seek to join. The Beast God Pirates will undoubtedly grow significantly stronger this time. Brannew, didn't you say the Buggy Pirates have already fully allied with Red Hair?"
Brannew nodded.
"Correct. Buggy has thrown in his entire fortune and joined forces with Red Hair Pirates, creating a formidable alliance. Though Buggy himself isn't particularly strong, the mercenary group developed under his Buggy's Delivery service numbers over a thousand—a force with immense potential. It's been confirmed that the former Warlord Edward Weevil has been killed by Caesar. As for Hawkeye... his status remains unknown..."
Akainu fell silent.
He didn't know Hawkeye's fate either.
At the time, he and Garp had been airborne, focused solely on pursuing Shanks.
Hawkeye had been in Garp's grip, but when they landed, Akainu hadn't seen any sign of him.
He guessed Garp must have discarded him somewhere.
Hawkeye's injuries were severe.
If Garp had dumped him into the sea, he might well have died.
"So, the Red Hair Pirates' strength might not be inferior to the Beast God Pirates after all?" A middle-aged man who had remained silent until now suddenly interjected.
Dressed in a black uniform with a long sword at his waist and the Justice cloak draped over his shoulders, his hair was streaked with gray.
His square-jawed face resembled Akainu's, and his eyes held an indifference to life and death.
Even surrounded by admirals and vice admirals, he remained utterly composed.
In fact, he carried an air of superiority.