[158] : Dividing the Spoils?
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The Tea Party was underway.
The guests, whether they'd come willingly or not, feigned enthusiasm, their faces plastered with smiles.
In the gardens of the Cake Palace, the underworld's elite mingled, the atmosphere festive, a networking opportunity not to be missed. Successful collaborations here could yield immense profits.
"Welcome, everyone! Enjoy the sweets! Eat your fill!" Big Mom's laughter boomed, her jovial demeanor a stark contrast to her earlier rage.
Perhaps it was the impending wedding—or the promise of a massive wedding cake—that had put her in such a good mood.
Arthur sampled a few pastries, his appetite sated after his earlier feast.
He was quickly losing interest in this Tea party...
"Hey, Big Mom," Arthur called out, his voice cutting through the pleasantries like a foghorn, "—Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm finding this whole thing a bit tedious."
The festive atmosphere evaporated, the underworld bosses freezing mid-conversation, even Big Mom's children exchanging uneasy glances.
Interrupting Charlotte Linlin's meal? It was an act of incredible audacity.
"Tell me why you tolerated my provocations. Unless… you want to redecorate this place again." Arthur, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on Big Mom, who was currently demolishing a massive cake at the other end of the long table, his tone challenging, his words a thinly veiled threat.
The garden fell silent, the music stopping abruptly, even the Homies freezing mid-dance.
"Is he suicidal?" Morgans whispered, his beady eyes wide.
"That kid is interrupting Mama's meal…"
"He's done for…" The underworld bosses, sensing a good show, grinned, eager to witness Big Mom's wrath.
Arthur and Big Mom sat at opposite ends of the table, Arthur's expression impassive, his gaze unwavering.
Big Mom's face twitched, then her smile returned, wider and more menacing than before.
"Mamamama! You want to know? We'll settle it here and now—in front of everyone."
"Gladly!" Arthur said, his own smile widening.
Arthur was more than happy to skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point.
Perospero, Katakuri, Oven, Compote, Smoothie—Big Mom's children—quickly retreated, creating a wide space around their mother and Arthur.
The underworld bosses and the remaining Charlotte siblings formed a circle around them, their gazes fixed on the two powerhouses.
They were not privy to this conversation, not yet.
"Now—Let's hear it, Big Mom." Arthur's gaze swept over the assembled crowd, ignoring their stares, their whispers, their barely concealed amusement.
Big Mom wiped a bit of frosting from her lips with a napkin. "You've been causing quite a stir in the New World, Thunder God. What are your plans? Don't tell me you don't have any. You wouldn't have challenged me for Wheat Island otherwise."
Arthur threw his head back and laughed, his legs resting casually on the table, his body sprawled in his chair. "My plans? Shiki's lost his mind. Roger's at his peak. Redfield's a ghost. Whitebeard and his brats are playing house. That's what everyone sees. But beneath the surface…things are about to change. This era… it's ripe for the taking. What do you think?"
Big Mom's laughter echoed Arthur's, her voice laced with a manic energy. "Precisely, Arthur! Those fools—they're on their way out. A new era is coming!"
"The New World will be reshaped! The spoils… they're too big for any one pirate to claim. We'll have to divide them, won't we?"
Arthur's smile widened, his tone mocking. "Big Mom talking sense? I'm impressed. But what's your point?"
The New World was vast. No single pirate, not even Whitebeard, Shiki, or Roger, could control it all. It was a sea of competing powers, a constant struggle for dominance.
Big Mom was stating the obvious.
"My point is this—" Big Mom's breath hitched, the blood vessels in her eyes bulging.
She was on the edge, her fury barely contained.
The other guests, sensing the shift, instinctively retreated, only Arthur remaining in his seat, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable.
"Shiki's lost it. Everyone knows that. And Roger…even with the World's best doctor—he has less than two years to live. And when he's gone—who will claim his territory?"
The revelation was a bombshell, silenced the crowd...
The underworld bosses exchanged nervous glances...
"How do you know Roger is dying?" Arthur's voice was calm, but his eyes narrowed.
That information was known only to a select few.
"My Devil Fruit can extract a person's lifespan. Seeing how much time they have left is child's play." Big Mom's voice was sharp, her tone laced with annoyance. Arthur was changing the subject, ignoring her question.
"How about me?" Arthur's tone remained casual, his demeanor unchanged. "How long do I have left?"
"Eighty years." Big Mom's face twitched. He was pushing her, testing her patience.
BAM!
She slammed her fist on the table, the chocolate surface shattering, her Conqueror's Haki erupting outwards.
"Answer my question, you little brat!"
Arthur, adjusting his hat, his tall frame unwavering under the pressure of her Haki, met her gaze, his own Haki flaring.
"What do you want to know, Big Mom?"
"Shiki and Roger's territories. Join me. We'll take them together." Her voice was a low growl, a challenge.
If he refused…
A battle was inevitable.
Arthur threw his head back, his laughter echoing through the garden, his blue greatcoat billowing in the sudden wind. "Join you? You're joking, right?"
"If I want something, I'll take it. You think I need your help? You're nothing but a Gluttonous, Breeding machine!"
"You want to use me as a shield, while you claim the spoils, isn't that right?"
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