Compared to previous times, the reason this event has exploded in popularity is mainly due to a heavy news release from Ten Thousand Nations, which stirs the imagination—
"Have you heard? BIGMOM has invited Shano this time!"
"Really? You mean that World's No.1 Sword Master who just defeated a Navy Grand Admiral?"
"Who else but that monster! Haha, by the way, we've also got an invitation. As a swordsman, I'll finally be able to witness his splendor firsthand!"
...
Joy Street.
"Yes, I understand."
Stussy, dressed in white, smiled at the microphone, "Rest assured, I'll be attending this tea party. If Lingling and that kid have any secret deals, they won't escape my notice."
She hung up the phone.
"Shano, huh?"
Stussy murmured to herself, "Quite convenient actually. Aside from the World Government, that old man is also interested in you. I might as well gather some intel for him."
She is the queen of Joy Street and a close friend of Charlotte Lingling.
A hidden High-level Special Agent of CP0, and more importantly...
Stussy smiled slightly at the mirror, took out a lipstick, touched up her makeup slightly, then gracefully stepped into the carriage waiting outside the house.
...
World Economic News Agency Headquarters.
Morgans lay flat on his back, happily swimming in a sea of green bills, then opened his eyes and laughed heartily at his deputy:
"What? You're asking if I'll attend the tea party? Of course, I'm going!"
"See all this cash, so much of it! Last year's profits almost doubled compared to the previous year!"
"How could I not meet my great benefactor who caused this revenue surge in person!"
...
From south to north, from west to east.
The entire New World's gaze is focused on that name.
"Shano."
Having directly defeated a Navy Grand Admiral, bearing a bounty of 2.86 billion Belly, a man feared by the World Government yet one they cannot help but compromise with is now about to accept BIGMOM's invitation as a VIP and enter Ten Thousand Nations.
This tea party is no longer the usual social event of the Charlotte Family, but the prelude to a storm capable of shaking the New World's hierarchy.
Four Emperors, Navy, underground forces, ambitious individuals... countless eyes from different factions are fixed on Cake Island.
Awaiting the tea party's commencement, anticipating the entrance of that black-haired young man.
————
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The festival atmosphere on Tokushima Island gradually faded as the year changed.
Rested and ready, the Endgame crew embarked once more on their journey deeper into the New World.
Golden morning light shone on the port of Dressrosa.
Standing at the bow of the Endgame, Shano gazed at the gradually fading land, the people waving desperately farewell, and the endless sunflower fields in the distance.
"What a beautifully scenic place, Captain."
Kuma stood behind him, speaking warmly, "King Liku, Princess Violet, they're all very wonderful and reliable people. With Rebecca and Mansherry as companions, having put Bonney here for now, I'm quite at ease."
"Indeed."
A curvaceous pink-haired beauty beside him crossed her arms, nodding in agreement, "Everyone was so, so nice. I've been crying nonstop the past couple of days. I can't bear to leave."
"Me too..."
Kuma turned his head, almost popping his eyes in surprise, "Bonney?!!"
Raising his voice, he looked incredulously at the pink-haired girl sticking her tongue out at him, "I thought it was Nojiko or Nami talking, how are you on the ship! Wasn't it decided you'd stay in Dressrosa!"
"No way~ I won't!"
Bonney made a face and, with a pop, turned back into her original little imp form, dashing behind Shano:
"Kuma, you always want to throw me somewhere, this time I won't let you have your way!"
"You!"
Veins bulged on Kuma's forehead from anger, but with Shano present, he couldn't lose his temper, so he took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice level:
"Bonney, listen, the deeper into the New World we go, the more dangerous it gets, whereas Dressrosa is very safe now. King Liku also promised to take good care of you, and—"
"And what?"
Bonney poked her head out from behind Shano's knee, interrupting angrily:
"I don't want to separate right after we've just reunited! You said the deeper into the New World, the more dangerous it gets, so how can I let you venture alone in such conditions!"
"Besides, Big Brother Shano can even defeat a Navy Grand Admiral, he's a super-super strong master. With him here, following you is the safest option, right? Why must I stay in Dressrosa, I won't!"
As for playmates?
Mansherry and the others are great, but everyone on this ship is interesting too!
There's the elegant, knowledgeable older black-haired sister, the grandfather chef who dotes on her and feeds her all sorts of goodies, cats and big dogs to pet, and Nami, whose personality and interests align with hers...
Anyway, she's going to cling to Shano's leg and refuse to leave the Endgame, hmph!
"..."
Kuma was left speechless for a long while, unable to find a counterargument.
He instinctively looked to Shano for help, but Shano stood with arms crossed, watching the father-daughter argument with great interest, a slight smile playing at his lips.
"Captain..."
Just as Kuma wanted to speak, Shano waved a hand to interrupt: