Silence swallowed the entire reception hall.
For a single moment, not even breathing could be heard.
"Pfft!"
Then the stillness shattered.
"Hahahaha, hey, Golden Emperor! Your jokes are getting funnier by the day!"
"Did you seriously gather us all here just to tell a joke?"
"Hehehe, Tesoro, you even dressed this formally for a punchline. You are far too dedicated."
"Oh ho ho ho! Golden Emperor, are you done yet? I was hoping this banquet would actually be entertaining."
The Kings of the Underworld laughed openly, their mockery echoing across the golden hall.
Not a single one of them took Tesoro's declaration seriously.
To them, it was nothing more than another tasteless prank.
Only one man felt differently.
Doflamingo.
Half reclined on the golden sofa, his sunglasses gleaming faintly under the light, his smile did not reach his eyes.
Tesoro… what are you really planning?
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Tesoro spread his hands wide atop the stage, his expression helpless, almost apologetic.
"You all think I am joking? What a shame. This is no joke."
Boom!
The golden hall trembled violently.
The floor below began to bubble.
Gurgle… gurgle…
Liquid gold surged upward without warning, wrapping around the lower bodies of the laughing Underworld Kings in an instant.
"Ah!"
Only when their legs were locked solid did the reality finally sink in.
Tesoro meant every word.
They slammed their palms against the hardened gold in panic and rage.
"Tesoro, you bastard! You actually dared to attack us?"
"What do you want?"
"Release us at once! Do you want the entire Underworld to hunt you down?"
Most were captured instantly.
Only a small handful had reacted fast enough to leap free.
"Fufufufu…"
Doflamingo remained seated, partially trapped in gold himself. He glared coldly at Tesoro, his voice dripping with menace.
"Tesoro, have you finally lost your mind?"
"To do something this foolish right in front of me?"
"Are you expecting me to clean up the aftermath for you?"
"That's right, Joker! Kill him!"
Umit, bound diagonally in the golden floor, roared furiously.
"This bastard is openly disrespecting you!"
"Joker!"
Tesoro turned toward Doflamingo, a mocking smile curling across his lips.
"Oh? I did not even notice you earlier."
He scratched his head as if puzzled.
"Strange… I do not recall inviting you. How did you get in?"
"Tesoro…"
Doflamingo's expression hardened.
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
"What do I want?"
Tesoro's smile vanished.
"I already said it from the start. Submit… or die."
"Are you playing with me?"
Thin, nearly invisible threads began to stir behind Doflamingo.
Golden liquid also rose behind Tesoro, forming silently in the air.
"Oh no… they are about to clash."
Stussy hovered in the air with her rocket parasol, eyes wide.
"This is massive news!"
Morgans flapped excitedly beside her, recording relentlessly.
"The Golden Emperor is attempting to assassinate every Underworld King at once! This is a banquet soaked in blood and conspiracy!"
"Strange…"
Stussy gazed at Tesoro and then shifted her eyes to the very ordinary man standing beside him.
"Morgans, do you recognize that man next to Tesoro?"
"Never seen him before. Looks completely average."
Morgans paused, then blinked.
"…Wait. Tesoro is positioning himself to shield him?"
"You noticed too?"
Stussy's smile faded.
"What kind of person makes the Golden Emperor willingly act as a guard?"
A terrible realization struck her.
Two days ago, intelligence had reported that Tesoro fought an unknown figure on the rooftop of the Golden King Hotel.
That figure moved at light speed.
Stussy inhaled sharply.
Someone who could meet Tesoro privately, command light speed, and force Tesoro into a defensive role…
There was only one answer.
She lowered her gaze slowly to Morgans with pity.
"You are about to witness reality."
"What are you talking about?"
Morgans froze.
"The Fifth Emperor you fabricated… is standing right here."
The gold across the room suddenly rippled again.
The captured Kings of the Underworld were lifted and thrown free onto the floor.
They scrambled up furiously.
"Count yourself lucky, Tesoro! This will not end here!"
"If you do not give us an explanation, this goes straight to our records!"
Amid the chaos, the unremarkable man finally stepped forward.
"Heh…"
"Gentlemen, there is no need for agitation."
He smiled gently.
"The true host of this banquet… is me."
Tesoro bowed and stepped back.
"You? Who are you?"
Feld sneered viciously.
"You think a nobody like you is worthy of summoning us?"
"Perhaps I am."
The man's features began to shift.
In an instant, the face that emerged made every Underworld King freeze in terror.
"You…"
Feld stumbled backward in horror.
"You are the man who defeated Big Mom and Kaido…"
"The Fifth Emperor…"
"The Plunderer, Shirogai Yamikuro!"
A hush fell like death.
Doflamingo's knees went weak.
It is him.
The monster who crushed Kaido.
The nightmare who assaulted Marineford and defeated Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Fear wrapped around the room like chains.
"Do not be nervous."
Shirogai smiled faintly.
"I am not here to hunt you."
"Sit."
The pressure exploded.
Conqueror's Haki flooded the room in a crushing wave.
Every King dropped instantly to the ground.
Even Doflamingo trembled violently as he forced himself to remain upright.
Shirogai stood casually on the stage, hands in his pockets, his presence alone dominating the entire hall.
Doflamingo gritted his teeth.
One final step.
His body collapsed.
"I… offer… my… submission."
The Joker bowed.
The Underworld had chosen its ruler.
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