Chapter 622: Shocking Words
“Um... are you sure you haven’t mistaken the person?”
Ian stared at the tea party invitation on the table, pointing at his own nose in disbelief as he said to Katakuri: “Big Mom’s tea party? Inviting me!?”
It wasn’t just Ian; even the members of the Dragon Hunter Pirates exchanged glances, looking utterly bewildered.
Being in the New World, everyone had naturally heard about Big Mom’s tea parties. As one of the Four Emperors, she didn’t hold these tea parties often—only when something important came up, because the tea party seemed to hold great significance for her.
Thus, Big Mom’s tea parties were quite famous. Each time, she invited many heavyweight figures to attend, almost all of them big shots from the underworld. So her tea party could be considered a gathering of the underworld’s elite, something many pirates and criminal groups envied.
But at the same time, Big Mom’s tea parties were also chilling. She hated it when someone was absent. If someone received an invitation but didn’t want to go, their family and friends might suffer. The Big Mom Pirates would use every means to threaten them...
For those wanting to get close to or curry favor with the Big Mom Pirates, the tea party invitation was an honor. But for those wanting to keep their distance, it was a huge burden and a source of fear...
Knowing all this, the Dragon Hunter Pirates found it incredible that their captain, Ian, had received an invitation. And if handled poorly, it could turn into a massive problem.
Facing Ian’s question, Perospero and Katakuri both nodded seriously, confirming that the invitation was indeed for Ian!
Frowning, Ian picked up the invitation from the table. It was in a white envelope, with the Big Mom Pirates’ emblem stamped in red wax on the seal. But when he opened it, he found a postcard that looked like a child’s doodle. It had a sun drawn like a mosquito coil ring, a bird, and a bunch of stick-figure-like little people gathered around a table, presumably having a party.
Beside the drawing, there were a few crooked lines of text noting who was invited, the time, and the place for the tea party...
When Ian saw the drawing on the postcard, he almost burst out laughing. What the hell was this? Did Big Mom draw the postcard herself?
Perospero and Katakuri both looked visibly awkward when Ian glanced at them with the postcard, a strange expression on his face.
Ian had guessed right. Out of her emphasis on the tea party, every formal invitation was actually hand-drawn by Big Mom herself, Charlotte Linlin. But clearly, her art style... well, no one seeing this invitation would think it came from a Four Emperor. They’d probably think it was a kindergarten prank...
After scanning the invitation, Ian put it back in the envelope and tossed it back to Katakuri, saying: “Sorry, but I have to decline Big Mom’s kindness. I really can’t spare the time, so I won’t be going.”
Katakuri caught the invitation and said: “Don’t refuse so quickly. You should know that rejecting Mama’s invitation comes at a huge cost.”
Ian tilted his head, looking at Katakuri curiously, and asked: “Are you threatening me?”
He found it strange. He didn’t understand where the Big Mom Pirates got the courage and confidence to threaten him. The Dragon Hunter Pirates were no nobodies in the New World now. Almost everyone in the New World secretly called them the “Hidden Emperor” Pirates, meaning the “hidden Four Emperor.” Everyone was guessing when the Dragon Hunter Pirates would rise to power...
And in the war with the Marines, the live broadcast had already confirmed that the Dragon Hunter Pirates had close ties with two Four Emperor crews. The Whitebeard Pirates went without saying, and the Red Hair Pirates clearly had a friendship with them. Under such circumstances, was Big Mom out of her mind to threaten him?
But to Ian’s surprise, Katakuri said: “This isn’t a threat to you—it’s you threatening the Big Mom Pirates.”
“What do you mean?” Ian asked, puzzled.
“The New World is vast,” Katakuri said, spreading his hands. “But no matter how vast, it’s still limited. It might be able to accommodate four Emperors of the Sea, but not a fifth. Right now, you and your Dragon Hunter Pirates are showing signs of becoming that fifth. Your appearance has already challenged the established Four Emperor powers. We’ve truly felt your threat. But honestly, Mama doesn’t want to go to war with you right now. So this invitation isn’t so much asking you to a tea party as it is a gesture of goodwill from Mama. You can choose to refuse, but refusing means rejecting the Big Mom Pirates’ goodwill. What happens then is unclear. Maybe Mama would be willing to team up with Kaido once to eliminate the threat of the Dragon Hunter Pirates...”
Katakuri’s words made the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ faces change color. If the Big Mom Pirates and the Beast Pirates really joined forces against Ian, then...
Even Aokiji felt this situation was extremely dangerous. Indeed, the rise of the Dragon Hunter Pirates would affect the established power groups. Ian had good relations with the Whitebeard Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates, so his rise directly threatened the Big Mom Pirates and the Beast Pirates. None of the Four Emperors were pushovers. Once they sensed this threat, they would do everything to eliminate the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Especially since Ian had a powerful figure like Whitebeard backing him, it might really push Big Mom and Kaido to join forces...
One move affects the whole board. Ian was no longer the small-time bounty hunter catching pirates for money. Every decision he made would have huge repercussions.
So now, everyone’s eyes were on Ian, waiting to see how he would decide.
Frowning, Ian looked at Katakuri and the invitation in his hand. After thinking it over, he reached out and took the invitation back from Katakuri, then asked: “What exactly does Big Mom mean by ‘goodwill’?”
“Simple,” Katakuri shrugged. “Mama hates Kaido too. If you can have a good talk with her at this tea party and reach a consensus, maybe the Big Mom Pirates could side with you and help take down Kaido, letting you take over his Four Emperor throne.”
When he said this, Smoker and Tashigi were so shocked they nearly jumped up: That was an option!?
Ian was also quite surprised. He never expected Katakuri to say something like that. He had thought Katakuri would at most suggest they stay out of each other’s way.
Now, hearing his meaning, Big Mom actually wanted to help him rise to power!?
Perospero was very pleased with Ian’s surprised expression. Licking his candy cane, he laughed weirdly: “Don’t be surprised. I’m still annoyed that you took my lifespan in Dressrosa, but strictly speaking, that’s just a personal grudge between you and me. You don’t have much enmity with the Big Mom Pirates. As long as Mama thinks well of you, I, as her son, will naturally follow her will.”
Ian glared at the guy but didn’t say anything. He placed the invitation on the table and said: “Fine, I’ll keep the invitation here. I’ll think about it. Now, you can leave.”
Perospero nodded. As long as Ian accepted the invitation, it was fine. Whether he came or not was his choice. He and Katakuri had completed their mission and could go back to report to Mama.
But just as Perospero was about to turn and leave, Katakuri suddenly grabbed him and said: “Wait!”
“Is there something else?” Ian asked, frowning.
“It’s not about us—it’s about you,” Katakuri said with a smile, though his mouth was hidden behind his scarf, so it wasn’t visible. He pulled Perospero back and said to Ian: “And it’s a big matter. I think you might find us useful.”
Perospero was initially puzzled about why Katakuri wanted to stay, but then he remembered Katakuri’s ability.
Katakuri was Big Mom’s second son, but in terms of strength, he was probably the strongest among her children. With a bounty of over 1.057 billion Berries and the special Paramecia Mochi-Mochi Fruit ability, he also had incredibly powerful Observation Haki, allowing him to briefly see into the future!
Katakuri must have “seen” a bit of what was about to happen, which was why he insisted on staying!
Ian also recalled Katakuri’s ability at that moment and frowned. Aokiji had come to see Ian, apparently wanting to stop Dragon from being captured. What they were about to discuss was naturally that matter. If Katakuri had really “seen” this future fragment, it meant he had already guessed what Ian was planning next.
So Ian asked him directly: “You want a piece of the action?”
“Of course,” Katakuri nodded. “We’re pirates. How could we miss out on something like this? Mama’s tea party needs a gift, and now is the perfect opportunity.”
“How much do you want?” Ian asked.
Katakuri held up one finger and said: “Ten percent. We want ten percent.”
But Ian shook his head and said: “Too much. Five percent.”
“Deal!” Katakuri agreed readily.
Their conversation left everyone else confused, not knowing what riddle they were solving. Konenai couldn’t hold back anymore and asked: “What are you two talking about with this ten percent and five percent?”
Then Ian dropped a bombshell: “We’re talking about robbing Gran Tesoro!”
For a moment, everyone was completely stunned...