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While Sengoku had a headache, the Five Elders were having a fit. 'We just made you a Warlord, and you've already caused this much trouble?'
It's just a tea party. Just a husband. What's a little humiliation? You even get to... enjoy the fringe benefits.
When she was young, Big Mom was a real beauty.
You didn't want to go? You should have told us. We could have mediated. Did you really have to resort to violence and disrupt the peace?
The Five Elders had Cipher Pol contact Jin and warn him that in the future, he was to report such matters to his superiors before taking action. He was not to act on his own authority.
They also ordered him to return Smoothie and the others, to avoid escalating the conflict.
Jin refused. He insisted on a ransom of three Devil Fruits.
"I'm doing this to uphold the authority of the Warlords," he argued. "If I back down now, what will the world think of us?"
The Five Elders considered this.
He was right...
Hadn't they executed Hanafuda and recruited Jin for the very purpose of restoring the Warlords' tarnished reputation? This was a perfect opportunity.
Jin taking a hard line against one of the Four Emperors... it was a powerful statement. A way to prove the value of the much-criticized Warlord system.
This kid had some moves.
After some discussion, the Five Elders' anger turned to approval.
But... a hard line was one thing. An all-out war was another. A war with a Yonko, even just one, would upset the balance of power and throw the world into a chaos they couldn't control.
"Let Stussy handle the negotiations with Big Mom," they decided. "This time, we'll take a step back. Charlotte Linlin is a businesswoman. She knows the consequences of a real war. We are not without the means to eliminate her."
Stussy, one of the emperors of the underworld, the "Queen of the Pleasure Quarter."
No one knew that she was also an agent of Cipher Pol. And that she and Big Mom went way back.
In truth, the World Government and the Four Emperors, including Whitebeard, had always maintained a certain... understanding.
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Totto Land.
The minks Pedro and Zepo, on their travels, had an unexpected reunion with their old friend, Pekoms.
They were just catching up when a Den Den Mushi rang.
The color drained from Pekoms' face.
"Hey, Pekoms! What is it?" Pedro asked.
"This is bad," Pekoms swallowed. "REAL BAD."
The sky over Whole Cake Island was dark and stormy. Everyone was deathly silent, even Big Mom's own children were terrified.
The news that Smoothie and her siblings had been captured and their escort wiped out had spread, and everyone was in a state of shock.
"That guy has some nerve!"
"The 'King of Paradise'... is he trying to get himself killed? How dare he harm our family!!"
"Let's go! Let's kill him!"
Katakuri, Oven, Daifuku, and the other children all rushed back to Whole Cake Island from their various territories.
"Oi. Everyone calm down..." Katakuri said, his arms crossed. "Our priority right now is to manage Mama's mood. We can't let her go on a rampage. And we need to get Smoothie, Perospero, and Compote back."
"And then?" Daifuku asked.
Katakuri's eyes turned cold. "Anyone who harms my family... I will return their pain tenfold."
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Dressrosa.
Doflamingo had already returned.
When he received the news, he was surprised, then he started to gloat.
"That guy really has a death wish. But... for a new Warlord to take such a hard line against a Yonko... it's possible the five old men put him up to it. Big Mom is obsessed with her little tea party games. She's not as strong as she used to be. I doubt a real war will break out."
Doflamingo touched his cheek. The phantom pain of Jin's punch was still there. This was a debt that had to be repaid. That was not his style.
"Has Monet left yet?" he asked Diamante.
"Yes."
Doflamingo wasn't just strong—he was a master of intrigue. Know your enemy.
His specialty was planting moles in his enemies' camps, getting close to their secrets, and then destroying them from the inside.
Like Vergo, who he had planted in the Marines and who had risen to the rank of Vice Admiral and commander of the G-5 base.
And when he had taken Dressrosa, he had used a mole he had planted years before to take control of the princess.
Once a man succeeds with a certain method, he tends to fall into a pattern.
Doflamingo was no exception.
The moment he had returned, he had begun making arrangements to plant a mole in Jin's inner circle.
And then, he would wait.
For the perfect moment to strike.
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Jin paid no attention to the outside world. After his communication with Cipher Pol and his persuasion of the Five Elders, he had taken Smoothie and her siblings on board his ship and left Hannabal.
He first returned to Drum Island.
He took Kuma, who had been "vacationing" there, with him.
As Jin's profile grew, so did the number of eyes on him. It was no longer safe to leave Kuma on the island.
The upgrades to the port facilities, the construction of the medical center and the ski resort... it was all proceeding at a feverish pace.
Dalton and the others' greatest strength was their loyalty. They would faithfully carry out all of Jin's orders.
Next, Jin went to Asuka Island, dropping off a shipment of supplies and picking up the latest harvest of mushroom products.
At the base, he tested the progress of Nami, Nojiko, Carina, and Kaya's training, easily besting them all. Hina, too.
He didn't just beat them—he pointed out their weaknesses and helped them improve. Their progress was remarkable.
At night, he... developed his relationships with Hina and Nojiko.
Nami, Carina, and Kaya were still too young. Fourteen, fifteen... it would be an unforgivable sin.
After handling his personal affairs, Jin went to Little Garden to harvest some timber for his factories.
He then sailed to Alabasta, docking at Nanohana to unload his cargo and restock.
After that, he headed for the royal capital, leaving the demonic carrier under Ai's control to go to the mining district to refine some minerals.
Jin stayed at the royal palace for two days, exchanging views on the world situation and national governance with Cobra.
Then, with Princess Vivi as his escort, and with Pell and the other royal guards in tow, he went to Rainbase for a "vacation."
He spent a few days at the casino, just relaxing, but in reality, he was waiting for Crocodile.
Crocodile had already made the necessary arrangements in the West Blue. He was planning on entering the Grand Line and expanding his bounty hunter guild.
He was also going to act as the intermediary for the prisoner and ransom exchange between Jin and Big Mom.
After some pressure and back-channel mediation from the Five Elders, Big Mom had agreed to Jin's terms.
Three Devil Fruits in exchange for Smoothie and her siblings.
But... Jin had to give her some face. He had to attend her tea party this year, to maintain the Yonko's dignity.
Both sides had made a concession.
Jin had gotten what he wanted, so he readily agreed.
Besides, he had to go to the New World anyway. Chinjao of the Kano Kingdom had contacted him, wanting to purchase another shipment of arms. A transaction in Paradise would be too easily monitored.
As for Big Mom's family trying to get revenge at the tea party...
Jin wasn't afraid.
If worse came to worst, he'd just have to crash the party.
The one who should be worried was Big Mom.
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Shortly after Crocodile returned to Rainbase, the ship sent by Big Mom also arrived in Alabasta.
The one leading them was Charlotte Katakuri. With him were Charlotte Oven and Charlotte Daifuku.
And Stussy. She was the one who had persuaded the enraged Big Mom to agree to the deal, the one who had vouched for it.
To avoid any collateral damage to Alabasta's towns, the exchange was to take place in Erumalu.
Katakuri and his party were led there by a guide arranged by Crocodile. They arrived first.
Jin was delayed because Robin had discovered an ancient ruin on the way.
"Is that guy here yet?" Oven, hot-tempered and still fuming, was growing more and more irritable in the desert heat. "Is he scared?"
"This incident has brought shame upon our family," Daifuku said, his face grim. "And our family was harmed. It's unforgivable."
Stussy, holding a parasol, her posture elegant, said, "Patience. There was an unexpected delay."
Katakuri, who had been standing ramrod straight, calm and composed, suddenly opened his eyes. He looked off into the distance. "He's here."
"Hm?" Oven and Daifuku both looked.
The desert was empty.
But a moment later, an exquisite, ornate carriage, pulled by a giant turtle, came speeding toward them.
The Baroque Works land-and-sea transport turtle pulled up in front of them.
The door opened.
Crocodile stepped out, a cigar in his mouth. To hide the fact that his left hand was intact, he had fashioned a new, hollow golden hook. It was another one of his trump cards.
"You're early," he said.
Jin stepped out from the other door, and all eyes were on him. He scanned the group and smiled. "Where's the merchandise?"
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