The grand opening of the Gold City was not held outdoors. In fact, there wasn't a formal opening ceremony in the traditional sense.
Tesoro simply took to the grand stage and sang a song, fulfilling a childhood dream of his. It must be said, his voice was genuinely impressive; he had likely spent a good deal of time and money on vocal lessons after striking it rich. His technique was polished, and his natural talent was undeniable. That single song carried the presence of a world-class vocalist.
Afterward, he made an appearance to offer a few words of thanks to Mariejois and Marine Headquarters. Everyone understood the gesture. Mariejois had officially designated the city as a Neutral Zone, and Marine Headquarters had formally acknowledged the status. Without the approval of these two giants, who would ever dare to declare a Neutral Zone?
As for why he didn't thank the pirates? On one hand, it was a public setting where such words would be inappropriate. Even the mastermind behind the scenes, Smoker, had chosen not to show his face. On the other hand, everyone knew that Smoker, the true boss of the Gold City, was himself a pirate, the first of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and a Yonko of the New World. Within the pirate world, his name alone carried enough weight; there was no need for him to thank himself.
The overall "itinerary" was quite simple. Following Tesoro's expression of gratitude, he declared the Gold City officially open, and that was that. The "small fry", the minor nobles and royalty, were free to scatter and enjoy the city's many distractions after the meeting adjourned.
Meanwhile, the true heavyweights were invited to an exclusive cocktail party following the event.
As for the Celestial Dragons, they hadn't appeared at the opening ceremony, and no one cared to look for them. Dealing with those troublesome individuals was a headache; as long as they weren't antagonizing anyone, it was considered a public service. Who would be foolish enough to go looking for trouble with them?
In this gathering of titans, Diarmuid was naturally on the guest list. However, he wasn't the only Marine representative; after all, an entire fleet had arrived. Sakazuki was also in attendance, along with several other Vice Admirals, such as the G-5 powerhouse Momonga and Vice Admiral Onigumo.
To be honest, when Diarmuid first discovered that Sakazuki's ship was part of the rendezvous, he was stunned. Every officer at Marine Headquarters knew exactly what kind of man Sakazuki was. Although his temper seemed to have mellowed slightly over the last few years, he remained the leader of the hardline hawk faction. He wasn't known for his hospitality toward pirates.
Had Fleet Admiral Sengoku lost his mind, sending Sakazuki to a celebration at the Gold City? If Sakazuki's temper flared and he decided to "purge evil" right then and there, what would happen? Whose side would Diarmuid have to take?
Fortunately, upon meeting, Sakazuki assured Diarmuid that he wouldn't cause any trouble. He claimed he had no intention of raining down "Absolute Justice" on anyone today—he was simply there to "clear his head."
Naturally, Diarmuid didn't believe a word of it. Sakazuki wasn't the type for leisure. More likely, he knew that a multitude of prominent pirates would be here and wanted to update his intel or personally gauge their strength. From a professional standpoint, Sakazuki was responsible for the armed suppression of pirates in the New World; it was perfectly reasonable for him to come to the "front lines" to assess his targets.
Given that Sakazuki had indeed become more composed recently and was a man who understood the big picture, Diarmuid stopped questioning it. After all, Sakazuki had managed to convince the Fleet Admiral. There was no need for Diarmuid to be a busybody.
Entering the party hall felt like stepping into a den of mixed company. In all his years in this world, Diarmuid had never seen a scene quite like it.
Pirates and Marines mingling was just the start. There were various moguls of the Underworld, merchant kings from every sector, members of the Revolutionary Army, high-ranking officials from Mariejois, agents from CP organizations, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and influential nobles like Vinsmoke Judge.
All these people, who normally wouldn't share the same air, were now gathered in a single hall of wine and meat. While dark undercurrents swirled beneath the surface, suggesting a massive brawl could break out at any moment, the atmosphere remained civil. Everyone suppressed their tempers, likely out of respect for the combined influence of Smoker, Marine Headquarters, and Mariejois.
Moreover, despite their mutual animosities, they all recognized the need for a neutral platform. A place like this served as a beneficial buffer zone for any power or individual.
As a Marine Admiral, Diarmuid's status was high, but there were plenty of others in the room with comparable standing. He wasn't exactly "unique." However, the moment he stepped inside, the hall fell silent.
Though his title of "World's Strongest" hadn't been widely publicized, it was an open secret among the elite. Combined with his reputation as the strongest Admiral in history, he was currently at the peak of his fame. Setting rank aside, he was one of the top figures in the room.
"Hahaha! Pleasure to meet you all. Don't be shy, eat and drink to your heart's content!" Diarmuid shouted, seeing everyone staring at him. He sounded less like an invited guest and more like the host of the Gold City.
Despite the informality of his words, the message was received. Seeing Diarmuid so "approachable," the stifled atmosphere relaxed once more. Several people who had minor connections to him came over to pay their respects.
In contrast, Sakazuki, who had entered alongside him, didn't enjoy the same "popularity." He didn't mind, however, and quickly vanished into the crowd.
After laughing and chatting with various "monsters and demons" along the way to familiarize himself, Diarmuid finally reached the heart of the venue. He snatched a glass from a passing waiter's tray, took a sip, and walked toward a specific individual with a wide grin.
Upon seeing Diarmuid, that person's face soured, and they immediately turned to leave.
Diarmuid accelerated, closing the distance. "Hey, hey! Don't be so stingy. I only beat you up once, are you really still holding a grudge?"
"I'm trying to avoid suspicion. There are Mariejois officials here, CP spymasters, and plenty of reporters. It's hardly appropriate for a grand Marine Admiral to come looking specifically for the world's most wanted rebel, is it?" the man grumbled. It was none other than Dragon.
"Hahaha! This is a Neutral Zone. Besides, everyone knows you're a Marine defector and that we used to be close. What's the harm in a few words? If anyone wants to misunderstand, let them," Diarmuid laughed.
Dragon's eyes flickered, as if realizing something. In the past, Diarmuid would have been the first one to avoid him in public to save himself the headache. This sudden forwardness...
Had the Marines made up their minds? Or... were they finally ready?
Seeing Dragon remain silent, Diarmuid teased, "What? Still feeling the sting from Alabasta?"
At the mention of Alabasta, Dragon's expression darkened. He rolled his eyes and said, "Thanks to you."
"Don't mention it, and don't thank me. I wasn't trying to protect your Revolutionary Army," Diarmuid said with a casual wave of his hand.
Dragon almost choked. As if I was actually thanking you!
Still, he knew what Diarmuid meant. Regarding Crocodile's final " scorched earth" plan, Diarmuid had indeed saved many members of the Revolutionary Army, even if it wasn't his primary intention. Being in his debt in that regard, Dragon didn't feel like arguing.
His eyes narrowed slightly as a faint breeze swirled around them, seemingly isolating their voices. He whispered, "Do you need help?"
Diarmuid knew exactly what kind of "help" he meant. However, he had no intention of letting the Revolutionary Army swoop in and snatch the fruit of his labor. He feigned confusion and waved it off. "Help with what?"
Dragon looked at him, then suddenly smirked without saying a word. In his heart, his mind was made up: he had to go see the situation at the upcoming Reverie. The Goa Kingdom was participating; it wouldn't be hard to arrange an infiltration into Mariejois.
Just as Dragon was about to chat a bit longer, his pupils shrank. He looked behind Diarmuid with a look of pure annoyance. "Later."
With that, Dragon turned and vanished into the crowd. A few moments later, Diarmuid spotted him chatting with Morgans, the President of the World Economy News Paper. Likely trying to polish the Revolutionary Army's public image?
Diarmuid didn't dwell on it. Instead, he turned around to see what kind of "powerhouse" could make someone like Dragon scurry away.
He came face-to-face with Mihawk, carrying his massive black blade, and Doflamingo, who were wandering around. As Warlords, they were "colleagues" of Smoker, so they had naturally received invitations.
Doflamingo was in his element. In the New World, he was a social butterfly with acquaintances everywhere. He moved through the hall like the protagonist of the event, exchanging pleasantries with everyone he passed. He wouldn't miss a networking opportunity like this for anything.
As for Mihawk, he was simply bored out of his mind. Whether it was a major event or a minor gathering, if someone called him, he showed up. Wandering around here was surely more entertaining than farming on a lonely island. Who knew? He might even see something interesting.
As for why Dragon avoided Mihawk, Diarmuid suspected it was out of sheer annoyance. It wasn't about strength, but rather Mihawk's legendary "persistence." Mihawk had likely tormented Dragon quite a bit back in Alubarna.
Doflamingo spotted Diarmuid, excused himself from his companions, and approached with his signature bow-legged swagger. He took a glass from a passing waiter and naturally toasted with Diarmuid.
"Admiral, you look like a truly busy man," Doflamingo joked.
"I can't compare to you," Diarmuid replied in high spirits.
After a bit of small talk, Doflamingo lowered his voice. "About that Gum-Gum Fruit..."
"Found something?" Diarmuid asked, intrigued.
"Yeah." Doflamingo nodded, his expression turning strange. "It's in Mariejois, held by the World Government. It seems this Devil Fruit is a bit... special? Or it holds some other significance? Either way, it won't be easy to get out."
Diarmuid found that odd. The Gum-Gum Fruit was special? Could it really be as impressive as the Dark-Dark Fruit?
But since Doflamingo had tracked it to Mariejois, it wasn't easy for him to make a move. Diarmuid suppressed his curiosity. If the Gum-Gum Fruit really was special...
Well, he could just give Luffy a different power. There were plenty of powerful fruits in Impel Down; there was no need to hang himself on this one tree. He had no intention of taking risks for such a thing. As for what made the fruit special, he wasn't interested. It was probably related to some dusty, ancient history, and Diarmuid never cared for the past, as he was busy creating the future. History was important, but one shouldn't get stuck in a dead end over it.
"Then forget it. With the Dark-Dark Fruit, we aren't lacking in power," Diarmuid instructed.
"Understood." Doflamingo had no desire to take on extra trouble. He leaned in and whispered, "If we don't find a suitable excuse or reason soon, I've got quite a bit of 'dirt' piled up..."
Diarmuid looked at Doflamingo with a complicated gaze. "You're really in a hurry, aren't you? The type to bring your own rations to the front lines?"
"Fuffuffuffu..." Doflamingo chuckled, a ruthless glint entering his eyes. "For me, even if I have to pawn everything I own, I'm getting on that battlefield!"