The celebration in the Golden City was pushed to an unprecedented climax the moment Tesoro announced the founding of the "Golden Sprout" Foundation.
Cheers, clinking glasses, and music were deafening. Golden petals fell from the ceiling like a storm.
"For Princess Rati! For the 'Golden Sprout'! Cheers!"
"Long live the Mist Lord! Long live Lord Tesoro!"
"I don't agree. That money should be split—" Some naturally wanted to stir up trouble. They suddenly fell into their own shadows. When they came out, they had pale skin and absolute reverence for Rhett. "Long live the Mist Lord! Long live Lord Tesoro!"
People raised their glasses. Pirates, Marines, kings, and commoners all seemed moved by this unexpected ending. For a moment, they put aside their positions and grudges, immersed in this unprecedented celebration.
Of course, that was the ideal surface. Human nature is diverse.
Several guards from a greedy member nation king, taking advantage of the revelry and relaxed security, had greedy glints in their eyes. There, stacks of unopened hundred-year-old sake and treasures from Fish-Man Island were stored. Even after the retreat order, their king had given a secret order: "Take whatever you can."
"You, go quietly take a little~ Not too much. A few billion berries will do."
"Yes!"
"Good. Go, Mr. Sun!"
Birds die for food. Humans die for wealth. It wasn't a joke.
Two pirate crew remnants with bounties over a hundred million, known for their audacity, had set their sights on the gold tables beside Rhett's throne, which were piled with delicate desserts.
They thought that if they could steal food that the "Mist Lord" had eaten, it would be a celebrity effect. Even a single pastry would be enough to brag about for a lifetime in the New World. They might even absorb a bit of "imperial luck." This wasn't just any pastry. It was a pastry the Mist Lord had eaten.
Their actions were stealthy. Their plan was bold. But it was also stupid. If they had just asked, Rhett wouldn't have cared. But sneaking around was different. Some lines couldn't be crossed.
But they forgot. This was the Golden City. Gild Tesoro's absolute domain. And it was within the sight of the "Mist Lord" Rhett.
Just as they were about to touch the sake barrels, just as their hands were about to reach the gold tables—
"HUM..."
A very faint vibration, like the hum of metal, passed through.
The limbs of the North Blue guards and the two pirates froze. An extremely thin, absolutely deadly layer of gold had covered their bodies.
Tesoro didn't even turn around. He was still smiling and clinking glasses with Neptune. He just slightly curled the index finger of his right hand, which was holding his wine glass.
The next second—
"CRACK... CRACK..."
The gold-covered limbs and pirates instantly crumbled into countless regular, fingernail-sized gold cubes. They scattered and rolled into the floor, disappearing.
No screams. No struggle. Not much attention was drawn.
Only a few nearby messengers from member nations who happened to see it turned pale. "Oh no. I saw something I shouldn't have. Am I going to be silenced?"
They looked around. Nothing happened. Still alive. Still alive.
On the other side, the group trying to approach the throne table fared no better.
Their steps stopped suddenly. They found themselves trapped in a thicket of ice roses.
Vivid blue roses bloomed silently beneath their feet. The cold instantly froze their calves in place. A sharp, cold pain shot to their brains.
Witte stood on her tiptoes, gently handing a strawberry-topped cake to the eager Shirahoshi. She didn't even look at the frozen pirates. She just flicked her fingertips.
A few ice-blue petals quietly fell, touching the pirates' foreheads.
Instantly, their eyes became vacant. They smiled foolishly, danced, and turned to join the celebrating crowd. They started dancing a ridiculous dance, as if they had completely forgotten their purpose, immersed in a blissful illusion.
Brainless fans. Rhett loved brainless fans. No wonder the Five Elders loved incompetent kings. Rhett did too. Position truly determined perspective.
"Hmph. Trash." Doflamingo glanced at the pirates dancing ridiculously. His strings quietly retracted. If Witte hadn't acted first, his strings would have crushed their throats.
Mihawk silently withdrew his black blade, which had been a fraction of an inch out of its scabbard. He took a sip of his drink. Red Hair laughed and put his arm around Buggy's shoulder, pointing at the dancing pirates. "Kuhahaha! Buggy! They dance even worse than you!"
"Nonsense! That was art! Pure art! You wouldn't understand!"
All the discordant notes were silenced in an instant.
Those who tried to steal. Those who disagreed with Tesoro's decision. They said, "No, no, you have to give us our share." Most of them disappeared before they could speak. There was nothing personal. They were dealt with humanely. Aside from a few plants Tesoro had placed, there were no other voices.
Rhett stayed on his throne the whole time, as if he knew nothing. He had just used a blood mist hand to steal a large piece of grilled meat from Ace. He was waving it triumphantly.
"I'm telling you, doughnuts should not be dipped in meat juice. You're a heretic." Rhett and Garp were head-to-head.
"This old man is willing to try new things! What if it tastes good? What do you know? Rhett, move! Give me back that pot of soup!"
"I won't let you waste food!!"
While fighting with Garp over the soup, Rhett glanced around the venue.
Like an emperor surveying his domain, confirming that nothing dared to defy his will.
Then he returned to his fierce academic debate with Garp about whether doughnuts should be dipped in meat juice.
The atmosphere of the banquet wasn't affected at all. If anything, it became even more lively and crazy because of this silent deterrence and the subsequent comical interlude. Everyone knew that as long as they followed the rules Rhett had set, they were perfectly safe.
People sang, danced, and drank. They enjoyed this extreme peace and joy, maintained by absolute power and paved with fifty billion berries and incredible boldness.
At this moment, the Golden City was the center of the world.
And the "Mist Lord" Rhett, seated at the peak, was the sole master of this celebration.