A restaurant.
After landing on the island, Kong Tai and his group didn't rush to confront Doflamingo.
Instead, they went shopping, ate, and enjoyed their time.
After all, while Dressrosa was under Doflamingo's rule, it was always accompanied by hidden darkness.
But on the surface, it was truly prosperous.
It was the most prosperous country they had seen since leaving the Sabaody Archipelago.
They were currently in a restaurant.
Their group of eight, plus Morgans and Firebird, filled a large round table.
The large round table was laden with the specialty cuisine of the Kingdom of Dressrosa.
While admiring the seductive dance of the beautiful dancers on stage in the hall, they slowly savored the delicacies on the table.
Just then, Kuina, who had been resting her head on her hand, with electric arcs and red light flashing in her eyes, suddenly looked up at Kong Tai.
Kong Tai, with practiced ease, withdrew his gaze from the stage and turned his head to look at Kuina.
He smiled slightly and asked directly, "What did you hear?"
When Doflamingo's Observation Haki scanned him, his own Observation Haki had scanned Doflamingo back, embedding his killing intent within it, letting that guy know he had come for him this time.
And given Doflamingo's status, he should also know that no one in this world could escape him. Therefore, Kong Tai enjoyed himself leisurely, not worried about that guy escaping.
By doing so, he also wanted to see what that guy would do in such a desperate situation.
Kuina, ever since entering the restaurant, had been listening to Doflamingo's phone calls using electromagnetic waves.
That's why he asked her, "What did she hear?"
Kuina looked at Kong Tai, the electric arcs and red light in her eyes gradually disappearing. She tilted the corners of her lips upwards, her tone slightly serious, yet tinged with excitement, "Yonko, Beast Kaido."
"Indeed!"
Kong Tai nodded, as expected.
Considering Kaido's importance to Caesar, it made sense for him to make a personal trip.
"Anything else?"
He continued to ask.
Given Doflamingo's status as a Celestial Dragon, there should be the World Government involved.
Although the World Government might not send anyone, the Five Elders would definitely know about Im's situation, even if the lower echelons didn't.
Even Im couldn't do anything to him, so as long as the World Government wasn't foolhardy, the Five Elders wouldn't send anyone to their deaths.
Well...
Not necessarily. After all, the Five Elders hadn't personally witnessed him clashing with Celestial Dragons. While they knew he was strong, they didn't know exactly how strong he was.
With Yonko Kaido here, they might act rashly and send someone to join forces with Kaido to eliminate him.
Of course, this was just his speculation.
"Yonko, Big Mom Pirates, Charlotte Linlin."
Upon mentioning Charlotte Linlin, a torrent of fighting spirit erupted in Kuina's clear eyes.
Although her goal was to become the world's strongest female swordsman, how could she not be excited facing Charlotte Linlin, the world's strongest among women!
With her current strength, while she might not be able to defeat Charlotte Linlin, it wouldn't be easy for Charlotte Linlin to defeat her either.
Fighting against such a monster would also make her stronger.
Therefore, after hearing Doflamingo's conversation with Charlotte Linlin, her heart had been in a state of excitement.
"Linlin?"
Kong Tai was slightly stunned. Seeing the excitement in Kuina's eyes, he chuckled.
He certainly knew what Kuina was thinking.
If the peak for men in this world was the Pirate King, then the peak for women was Charlotte Linlin, one of the Yonko.
Charlotte Linlin, a true monster.
She had been a monster since childhood.
She had never seriously trained, and solely based on her physical prowess, she had reached the world's pinnacle.
In her youth, she was a member of the Rocks Pirates. After the crew was defeated and disbanded, she gradually became one of the Yonko in the New World through continuous development of her influence.
Well...
She tirelessly bore children, having 39 daughters, 46 sons, and 43 husbands (all of whom were abandoned).
She gradually became the Yonko who dominated the New World, the Queen of the Totto Land Kingdom, and the captain of the Big Mom Pirates, with her children and subordinates serving as her commanders and officers.
Therefore, her children and subordinates all referred to her as "Mama."
Her "Mama" was a true mother.
Unlike Whitebeard.
Although the Whitebeard Pirates had a father-son relationship, everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates was an adopted son of Whitebeard, not a biological one.
Actually, to put it this way...
If Charlotte Linlin hadn't been adopted by the nun and hadn't suffered from Sickness of Appetite, she might have grown into a very righteous person.
But there are no "if"s in this world. No matter how righteous her ideals were, it couldn't change the fact that she was an extremely wicked pirate.
Although her utopian ideal was righteous.
Her actions were extremely evil.
This was because all citizens residing in Whole Cake Island had to surrender one month of their lifespan every six months as protection fees for Big Mom, otherwise they had to leave.
However, anyone attempting to leave was sentenced to death.
So, in the end, if you went to live in Whole Cake Island, your life was no longer your own.
This darkness made Whole Cake Island appear prosperous, but it had long rotted from the core.
Since Kuina wanted to fight Charlotte Linlin, Kong Tai wouldn't say anything.
There were only so many strong individuals in this world.
Currently, the only ones who could contend with Kuina were the Yonko and Admirals.
Hearing Kong Tai and Kuina's conversation.
Ah Hua and the other two appeared indifferent.
Indigo and Robin showed slight interest.
Brook, like Morgans and Firebird, had shining eyes and was filled with excitement.
Regardless of their emotions, not a single person showed fear or apprehension.
After experiencing the Cocoyasi Village incident, the crew had fully grasped Kong Tai's might.
Moreover, with the heaven-defying Door-Door Fruit necklace, even the explosion that could have destroyed the entire Cocoyasi Village left them unharmed.
Even if the Yonko were formidable, no matter how powerful they were, they couldn't be more powerful than a flying dragon capable of destroying a country with a population of hundreds of thousands in a single blow, could they?
Therefore, even hearing that two Yonko were approaching, they felt no fear.
On the contrary, their hearts were filled with anticipation.
As for Morgans and Firebird, they were simply newsmen. They would only be excited by the earth-shattering battle that was about to unfold and would be etched into history, not fearful.
Looking at Kong Tai, who appeared calm and unfazed, Morgans happily raised the wine bottle in front of him and took a large gulp.
He said nothing and asked nothing.
Although he didn't know if Kong Tai could defeat a Yonko, he figured that Kong Tai, who could fight Garp to a draw, wouldn't be defeated by even a Yonko.
What luck!
This earth-shattering battle would once again be an exclusive report for their World Economic News.
Thinking of this, he gave Firebird a meaningful glance.
Under Morgans' gaze, Firebird puffed out his chest, and the smile on his face grew wider.
...