When Carl heard the news that Teach was going to marry Chiffon, he was momentarily stunned.
In the anime, it was Capone Bege who married Chiffon. The two seemed quite happy together and even had a child.
But in this world, Bege had already been taken down by Carl on Sabaody Archipelago, along with Sanji from the Straw Hat Pirates.
Carl initially thought the political marriage on Whole Cake Island wouldn't occur in this timeline, but here it was happening again.
It didn't take him long to figure out the reasoning behind it. A playful smile appeared on his face as he remarked,
"Interesting… Seems like these people are scared and trying to huddle together for warmth."
The Den Den Mushi's face took on a sultry smile as Stussy's charming voice rang out,
"That's because your reputation has grown so formidable. Even the Four Emperors are beginning to feel uneasy."
Stussy wasn't merely flattering Carl, she truly believed what she was saying.
She continued,
"Master, many powerful forces will be attending the wedding. According to the intelligence we've gathered, even the Revolutionary Army might make an appearance!"
Carl nodded at this. The news didn't surprise him. After all, Dragon had recently visited Shanks to propose an alliance, leaving behind an arm in the process.
Failing to win Shanks over, it was only natural that Dragon would turn his attention to Big Mom.
From a certain perspective, the Revolutionary Army and pirates shared a common enemy. Cooperation between them made sense.
Based on the anime, this wedding was likely to attract many heavyweights, including the five underworld kings, Stussy among them.
Doflamingo, on the other hand, wouldn't be attending. As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea with close ties to the Marines in the public eye, he'd never receive an invitation.
But the Big Mom Pirates, Whitebeard Pirates, and the Revolutionary Army...
Having these three major factions in one place sounded like the perfect opportunity for a trap.
With this thought, Carl's lips curled into a smile as he said,
"Stussy, accept the wedding invitation. I'll accompany you to Whole Cake Island."
"Huh? Master, are you planning to...?"
"Heh, it'd be a shame to miss such a grand occasion. I intend to prepare a very special gift on behalf of the Marines."
A month later, a luxurious ship docked at the shores of Whole Cake Island. Leading the welcoming party was a tall, striking woman draped in a purple feathered coat: Charlotte Galette, Big Mom's 18th daughter and Butter Minister.
As the ship came to a halt, Stussy descended gracefully, flanked by her entourage. She wore a vibrant red dress with a white hat adorned with a glowing red rose. A white fox mask obscured the upper half of her face.
Beside her stood a tall man in a white suit wearing a simple, full-face mask with crescent-shaped eye slits. His stoic presence contrasted sharply with Stussy's flamboyance.
"Welcome, Miss Stussy," Galette greeted, her tone calm with a hint of arrogance. "I am Charlotte Galette, and I welcome you on behalf of the Charlotte family."
Stussy gave a small smile, her red lips curving elegantly.
"Thank you, Miss Galette," she replied.
Galette's eyes lingered on Stussy's mask before she asked,
"Miss Stussy, would you mind removing your mask?"
Stussy chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
"I'm afraid I'm not quite used to large crowds," she said smoothly. "Why? Are you doubting my identity?"
Galette's gaze remained sharp, but she said nothing.
Stussy tilted her head slightly, raising her hand. With a snap of her fingers, the rose on her hat brim dissolved into liquid, swirling into crimson tendrils that coiled around her fingertips.
Seeing this, Galette's expression softened as she nodded.
"As expected of the Blood Rose," she said.
While Galette had never met Stussy in person, she knew of the woman's moniker—"Queen of the Pleasure District"—and her infamous ability to manipulate blood.
Satisfied, Galette turned her attention to the man beside Stussy.
"And who might he be?"
Stussy's smile grew playful.
"Oh, he's my personal bodyguard. I call him Zero."
"Bodyguard?" Galette raised an eyebrow, glancing meaningfully at Zero.
Understanding the implication in Galette's gaze, Stussy simply laughed.
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