After several days on Cake Isnd, Stussy's ship finally arrived.

  Somehow, Stussy ma Crocodile, Enel, and Mihawk with her. Cudius wasirely sure how they got in, but they had succeeded without raising suspi.

  Crocodile didn't bother hiding his identity. He showed up as himself, expining that he was already w on something with Stussy and, upon hearing about the tea party, decided to join in the fun.

  Although Crocodile had been stirring up the first half of the Grand Line i years—going as far as earning the title of "national hero" in Abasta—his influen the New World wasn't particurly strong. That expined why Big Mom's tea party had not included an invitation for him. However, as a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile still had enough status to justify his appearance, especially when apanied by Stussy, who had some rapport with Charlotte Linlin.

  Under such circumstances, Big Mom's crew didn't turn him away.

  Enel, oher hand, was disguised by Stussy. Wearing a sharp bck suit and carrying Stussy's bag like an attendant, he blended in well enough to avoid suspi. His usual arrogance was hiddeh the fa?ade, allowing him to enter Cake Isnd quietly.

  As for Mihawk, his situation was simir. Initially, he had beeant to go undercover, arguing that if Crocodile could enter openly as a Warlord, he should be able to do the same. But whatever Stussy said to him must have worked, as Mihawk eventually relehough not without some visible disfort.

  Now, in Dofmingo's room, the group gathered to discuss the situation.

  "It's easy enough for pirates or people from the underworld to slip in," Cudius began, leaning ba his chair. "But when Tesoro and the others arrive, things will get more plicated. Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino arely the type to blend in."

  Their distinct temperaments and imposing presences would make it nearly impossible for them to move unnoticed.

  Stussy, sitting elegantly nearby, smiled. "Yhness, there's been a slight adjustment to the pn. Since you've already made it onto Cake Isnd, there was no need for Tesoro t them in. Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino will be arriving with Bartholomew Kuma. Tesoro will e alone."

  Cudius the expnation. "A good ge. It'll make things smoother."

  Stussy's gaze shifted to Gion, a knowing look in her eyes. Having heard from Dofmingo that Gion and Cudius had been sharing a room for the past few days, she was intrigued. Though she had a close retionship with Cudius, Stussy never saw herself as someone who could—or should—trol him. He was a Celestial Dragon after all.

  But her attention lingered on Gion for a moment longer, her sharp instincts pig up on something. Despite their time together, Stussy could tell that Gion was still… inexperienced. Iing, she thought. His Highness hasn't made his move yet?

  Her observatio her mildly surprised. "How strange… His Highness hasn't taken the 'meat' that's been offered to him," she muttered under her breath, a pyful smirk tugging at her lips.

  "What was that?" Cudius asked, oblivious to the text of her remark.

  Stussy waved it off. "Nothing, Yhness. I was just thinking aloud."

  Dofmingo, meanwhile, leaned back with a grin. "It's going to be quite a show when Sakazuki and the others drop in. A sudderance from the sky? I like it."

  Cudius chuckled. "It's a solid pn. We'll keep the pressure on from within while they unch their assault from above. That kind of i attack should throw the Big Mom Pirates into chaos."

  Mihawk, sitting nearby, crossed his arms, looking annoyed. "Had I known this was the pn, I would've chosen to join them instead."

  "You, traveling with three Admirals?" Dofmingo ughed. "That would've been awkward for everyone involved."

  Mihawk ighe remark, though his expression soured further.

  Crocodile took a drag from his cigar, exhaling a thin plume of smoke. "You've been here a few days already," he said, turning to Cudius. "What have you learned? How strong is the security here?"

  Gion answered before Cudius could. "Big Mom seems to be taking this tea party very seriously. There are plenty of guests from the underworld, and most of her high-ranking officers are present as well. Katakuri, Smoothie, and Cracker—the three Sweet anders—are all here."

  Crocodile houghtfully. "And our objectives?"

  Cudius smiled, leaning forward. "First and foremost, Charlotte Linlin. If we capture her, we will. If not, we kill her—or at the very least, leave her severely injured. Ideally, we'll cripple her entirely.

  "After that, Katakuri, Smoothie, and Cracker are our argets. If we capture them, great. If not, they o be eliminated. Beyond that, any Mom Pirates we take down are just a bonus. But don't expend unnecessary energy on them if it promises the mission."

  Crocodile smirked. "Simple enough."

  He paused for a moment, then asked, "And what about Cake Isnd itself? The pce is heavily guarded. We 't exactly smuggle in explosives, we?"

  Cudius chuckled. "Who needs bombs when we've got six Logia users?"

  Crocodile blihen ted on his fingers. "Let's see… You, me, Enel, and the three Admirals. That makes six."

  "Exactly," Cudius said. "The bombs are just a nice bonus, but they're not essential. When the six of us get to work, we'll wreak more havoc than any bomb ever could."

  Enel, visibly excited, raised his hand. "Yhness, I've developed a new move! It's powerful enough to destroy all of Cake Isnd!"

  Crocodile sighed, ping the bridge of his nose. "And no doubt destroy us along with it."

  Enel scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. "Well… maybe…"

  Cudius ughed, waving off the . "Don't worry, Enel. I've got aask for you. Wheime es, I want you to intercept all external unication from Cake Isnd. Cut off their phone bug signals and make sure they 't call for reinforts."

  Enel perked up at the assig, eager to prove himself.

  Cudius tinued, "If we disrupt their unication, it'll throw their forces into disarray. The more chaotic things get, the better it is for us."

  The group spent the hour exging information, carefully pnning their strategy. They discussed how to pair up against their oppos based on abilities and weaknesses, aiming to maximize their effi the uping battle.

  Finally, Cudius cpped his hands. "Alright, everyone. For the few days, stay vigint and avoid ag alone. Big Mom has plenty of strange abilities, and we don't want ating caught off guard. Be especially wary of mirrors.

  "Don't gather in rge groups, either. We don't want to draw unnecessary attention. For now, let's disperse and wait for the tea party to begin."