Golden City Port.
The Sweet Donut, having traveled a long distance, slowly docked at the harbor.
Katakuri's tall figure stepped out of the ship's cabin. He glanced around at the surroundings and muttered to himself, "This construction speed is really something. The Labor King truly lives up to the name."
The gangway was lowered, and Katakuri soon walked down from the ship.
Hina was already waiting there. As soon as she saw Katakuri come down, she stepped forward and greeted him politely.
"Mr. Katakuri, you've arrived."
Katakuri recognized the pink-haired girl as Ortoren's personal secretary, so he didn't put on any airs. He nodded mildly and replied, "Hina, long time no see. Where's your Admiral?"
Hina pointed toward a nearby ship. "The Admiral is having tea with Ms. Stussy from Pleasure District."
"Stussy?" Katakuri looked in that direction and, at just the right moment, saw Ortoren step out of the cabin on that ship, his face glowing with good spirits and a broad smile.
Behind him, Stussy shot him a flirtatious wink. The two exchanged a few inaudible words that looked suspiciously like flirting, and soon Ortoren strode down from the ship with an easy air.
As he came down, he spotted Katakuri and waved enthusiastically.
"Second Brother, you're here?"
Katakuri looked at Ortoren's spring-breeze expression and felt a surge of frustration. He stepped forward and scolded him outright.
"Ortoren, how can you do something like this? Both of your wives are waiting for you on Whole Cake Island, and they're both pregnant! And you still come all the way to Golden City to fool around with Stussy?!"
The moment Katakuri finished speaking, Hina froze. Then, as if she'd just been deceived, she cried out in disbelief.
"Admiral, didn't you say you were just going in to drink some tea?! Liar!!"
Ortoren was completely stunned. After standing there blankly for a moment, he hurried to explain.
"Second Brother, what are you talking about? How am I fooling around? I was discussing important matters with Stussy!"
"Wipe the lipstick off your face first!" Katakuri snapped, glaring at him.
Ortoren instinctively raised his hand and rubbed at the lip mark on his cheek, then protested, "It's not what you think…"
At this moment, Ortoren truly felt wronged. He honestly hadn't done anything improper with Stussy. It was just that Her Majesty liked teasing him, and when he was leaving the cabin earlier, she'd caught him off guard and stolen a kiss.
He barely managed to explain it to Hina and Katakuri, but clearly, neither of them bought it. Seriously, look at the gap in strength between you and Stussy. If she said she ambushed you, you expect us to believe that? More like you didn't even try to dodge.
And to be fair, Ortoren really hadn't tried to dodge. He'd just spotted Katakuri at the last second and forgotten to wipe off the lipstick mark, that's all.
"So," Katakuri said, raising an eyebrow, "what important business were you discussing with Stussy?"
Only then did Ortoren lift the dossier in his hand and give it a light shake, smiling.
"Do you know what this is?"
"What is it?" Katakuri asked, his curiosity piqued.
"This is the memorandum and invitation jointly signed by fifty member nations during last year's highest-level meeting of the World Government, the World Conference, held at the Holy Land, Mary Geoise," Ortoren said quietly.
"A memorandum of understanding and an invitation?" Katakuri was momentarily confused, but then realization struck and he exclaimed, "About Totto Land?"
"That's right," Ortoren nodded. "This memorandum represents the World Government's agreement to let bygones be bygones regarding Totto Land's past. It carries the highest legal authority. At the same time, it formally invites Totto Land to join the World Government system as a new member nation. This dossier has already been signed and stamped. After the World Conference concluded, it was secretly delivered into Stussy's hands. I don't need to spell out its purpose. After the summit battle at Achino Island, Mary Geoise considered recalling this dossier several times, but in the end, they never made up their minds. Just now, Stussy handed it over to me as a pledge of allegiance. In other words… this signed dossier can never be taken back by Mary Geoise."
Katakuri stared at the dossier in Ortoren's hand and said in a low voice, "So what you're saying is, as long as Totto Land signs this document and publishes it in the newspapers to announce it to the world, then legally speaking, we become a member nation of the World Government?"
"Exactly. And then, when next year's Heavenly Tribute deadline comes, you'll have to pay the Heavenly Tribute on time," Ortoren said with a laugh.
Hearing that, Katakuri couldn't help but snort. "Do you pay the Heavenly Tribute?"
"I don't," Ortoren waved his hand in disdain. "What kind of decent person pays Heavenly Tribute?"
Next year, they might very well be marching straight on Mary Geoise. Pay what, exactly?
That said, this dossier was undeniably valuable. It had been concluded through the World Conference, which meant even the Five Elders couldn't casually nullify it. From a legal standpoint, although the Five Elders sat at the pinnacle of authority, the World Conference stood above everyone.
"With this dossier in hand, once I get back to Whole Cake Island, cure the old lady's illness, and then cement ties with Kaidou through marriage, all we need to do is make it public in the papers. Then we'll be legitimately part of the same camp. At that point, we'll all be loyal and righteous servants of the World Government," Ortoren said with a sigh of emotion.
Kaidou's decision to betroth his daughter Yamato to Ortoren's son Ace was, in truth, his declaration that he was stepping onto the table to join this gamble. And the stake he put up was the Beasts Pirates under his command.
If he allied with Charlotte Linlin and defeated Ortoren, then the distribution of benefits afterward would be a matter between Charlotte Linlin and her "little brother." Ortoren wouldn't have any right to speak.
But if he joined forces with Charlotte Linlin and still lost, then the Beasts Pirates would become the wager, automatically passing into the winner's hands—namely, Ortoren's.
Naturally, Ortoren wouldn't refuse that outcome. He already had a plan in place. After the battle, Totto Land would directly absorb the entire Beasts Pirates, merging the two pirate powers into one.
From then on, there would be no Beasts Pirates anymore. There would only be Totto Land.
At that point, he would simply take out this dossier and use it. Kaidou would be "washed clean" and brought ashore along with them. Everyone would become part of the World Government system, loyal affiliates of Mary Geoise.
Only then could it truly be called legitimate. As the New World Navy, Ortoren could openly and straightforwardly engage in full cooperation with the member nation of Totto Land.
Of course, it was called "full cooperation," but in reality, by then, he would likely already be in control of everything.
That was the privilege of the victor.
By that stage, Mary Geoise and the World Government would have been completely squeezed dry of their remaining value to Ortoren. The historical infamy of absorbing two vast and evil pirate forces in the New World would be borne by the World Government instead.
Once the World Government had carried that burden to the end, Ortoren would raise the banner of justice and strike back at Mary Geoise.
After discussing the dossier for a while, Katakuri spoke up. "Alright, do you still have anything else to take care of here?"
Ortoren looked over at Hina. She quickly flipped open her schedule book, checked it over, and shook her head. "Admiral, all matters in Golden City have been taken care of."
Only then did Ortoren turn back to Katakuri. "Nothing left. Let's go. It's time to head to Whole Cake Island and deal with real business."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Katakuri's eyes. "Very well. Mama has been waiting for you for quite some time."
Soon, Ortoren and his group boarded the Sweet Donut. Before long, the uniquely shaped vessel left Golden City's harbor and set course for Whole Cake Island.
The family meeting that would determine the future direction of the New World was about to be held.
And the family showdown that would decide who would sit at the top of the New World was about to begin.
There were only three participants.
They were Admiral Benn Ortoren of Marine Headquarters… his elder mother, bigmom Charlotte Linlin, and his father-in-law, Kaidou of the Beasts.