"Hiss!"
Pushing open the door and walking out of the room, Ian stood under the sunlight and suddenly shivered.
Even though it was noon with the blazing sun overhead, he didn't know why a sudden chill had surged up. It even made him wonder if it was because he had been going to bed too early recently, but sleeping too late.
But that shouldn't be the case.
After all, even injuries as severe as those he suffered in the battle with the Five Elders had healed.
Exercising a bit at night and staying up slightly later shouldn't make it impossible to recover.
Just as Ian was thinking about whether he should go ask Kuma and Law to examine his body, Zephyr suddenly walked over from the front, his face carrying a serious expression.
"Ian, I heard the Big Mom Pirates invited you to attend a birthday and engagement ceremony. Are you planning to go?"
"No."
Hearing Zephyr's words, Ian stretched his waist and said, "What's wrong? Do you want to go?"
As he spoke, he seemed to think of something and rubbed his chin.
"Come to think of it, you could also be considered Sanji's teacher. It would be normal for you to attend your disciple's engagement."
"Sanji? What are you talking about? What does this have to do with that kid?"
Ian: "…"
Looking at the confused Zephyr, Ian fell silent for a moment before saying, "That's Sanji's engagement ceremony."
Zephyr: "...?"
"When did that kid get involved with the Big Mom Pirates?"
"… I don't know either. Forget it, let's not talk about that."
Ian complained irritably for a moment, then looked at Zephyr with confusion. "You're not seriously planning to go, are you?"
"Of course."
Zephyr's eyes flickered slightly, and a trace of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Don't forget the Devil Fruit that Aria wants! This might be an opportunity!"
Ian: "...?!"
Ian froze for a moment, as if recalling something, and rubbed his chin.
"The Book-Book Fruit?"
…
As one of the Four Emperors of the New World, standing at the pinnacle of countless pirates on the seas, the birthday party of the Big Mom Pirates' captain still caused a considerable stir across the ocean.
On top of that, it was also the engagement between Charlotte Linlin's daughter, the captain of the Big Mom Pirates, and the son of the North Blue's dominant family, the Vinsmoke Family.
In no time, countless major figures invited by the Big Mom Pirates arrived at Whole Cake Island, ready to attend this double celebration, making the already lively Whole Cake Island even more bustling.
However, as time passed, not a single member of the Umbrella Corporation that the Big Mom Pirates were expecting showed up.
Even as the banquet was about to start, there was still no news at all from the Umbrella Corporation. In contrast, the Straw Hat Pirates, who had only recently entered the New World, were causing a huge commotion on the island.
Instantly, the faces of the Big Mom Pirates, which had still held a bit of anticipation and excitement, turned sour.
Even though they were very unwilling to admit it, the banquet was about to start, and it seemed the people from Umbrella Corporation would not be coming.
After rejecting the Big Mom Pirates' invitation, they hadn't even sent a single message back; it was as if they didn't even regard them!
Suddenly, all the Big Mom Pirates' crew felt a surge of anger, but they also knew… that the Umbrella Corporation was no longer someone the Big Mom Pirates could provoke. Therefore, even though they were internally furious and wanted to kill someone, they said nothing and even had to console their mother, who also looked displeased.
But now, without a doubt, the plan remained unchanged. They would proceed as intended, using the engagement ceremony to conceal all actions regarding the Vinsmoke Family, and at the same time… eliminate the Straw Hat Pirates who had snuck into Whole Cake Island like sewer rats.
Since the Umbrella Corporation clearly didn't care about those kids, as one of the Emperors of the Seas, the Big Mom Pirates were not something to be trifled with, especially for a group of pirates who had just entered the New World.
Immediately, the entire Big Mom Pirates sprang into action.
On one hand, they wanted to vent their anger on the Straw Hat Pirates.
On the other hand, they intended to make the Umbrella Corporation understand… that although the Umbrella Corporation was powerful, the Big Mom Pirates were also one of the emperors of the New World.
Since the Umbrella Corporation refused to give them face, they wouldn't give them any face either.
However, the Big Mom Pirates, who were venting their anger, had no idea that far away on a relatively secluded location in the Whole Cake Island, the members of the Umbrella Corporation they had been expecting had already arrived.
"Hey, hey, hey, why not just storm in and take the person?"
Enel, who had also been brought along, yawned, his tone full of impatience. "It's just a defeated enemy. Why bother with all this trouble? With your strength, what's the problem with taking the person right in front of that old lady?"
"Sure, that could work, but the fewer problems, the better."
Hearing Enel's words, Ian paid no mind. He even had the leisure to sip hot tea with Zephyr and Gini beside him.
Smiling, he looked at Enel. "Besides, today is someone else's special day. We'd better not disturb them."
Sipping his tea again, he continued, "By the way, did the person you were supposed to watch notice anything? And make sure nobody comes near here, okay?"
"Don't joke. In this boring place, who else would even come besides us?"
Enel puckered his lips in disdain. "As for that… guy, don't worry. I've been keeping an eye on him the whole time!"
Even as he said this, he used his Devil Fruit ability to scan the surroundings again. Suddenly, his face froze, and he sat up straight, his expression dazed. "Wait… there really is some boring fool coming here!"
Ian: "...?"
Hearing this, Ian and Zephyr both looked at him in confusion.
Could they have been discovered?
They immediately used Observation Haki. When they scanned the approaching figure, Zephyr furrowed his brows, stroked his chin, and said with a puzzled expression, "This aura seems familiar."
"Of course it's familiar! Didn't we just see him not long ago?"