BIG MOM's Marriage Alliance, Destination: Whole Cake Island

"What?!"

"Sanji is getting married—"

The next day, Luffy was surprised to hear Roman's 'message' and quickly asked:

"Did Sanji say when he'll be back?"

·······

"No,"

If it were anyone else, Sanji would probably add a lie like, "I'll be back as soon as possible." But saying that to Roman would be an insult to both of their intelligence.

"The bride is the daughter of one of the Four Emperors, 'Big Mom,' does that mean we'll be joining the BIG MOM Pirates?"

Brook inquired, since such 'marriage alliances' were quite common between nations and powerful forces.

When a pirate crew grows to a certain size, two models emerge: the 'Grand Fleet' and the 'all-elite' fleet. A 'Grand Fleet' typically begins by establishing a base, and this base, after expansion and development, becomes:

Nation!

In this world, a nation without the protection of a strong leader has no future. The swarms of pirates can destroy any town built by ordinary people, so even if the 'king' is a pirate, to most ordinary people, as long as one is powerful enough, one is a worthy king. Anyway:

What's the difference between paying taxes to the World Government and paying taxes to pirates?

Therefore, forces like the Four Emperors are far beyond the reach of mere pirate crews. They are "evil forces" and "aggressive nations." Thus, it's normal for them to recruit soldiers extensively through marriage alliances.

"Huh? I won't do that!"

Luffy was the first to object.

"If I join that ' BIG MOM Pirates, how am I supposed to become King of the Pirates?"

"So, Mr. Sanji is probably planning to stop contacting us, right?"

Robin empathized, after all, she made the same choice when facing CP9 in Water 7.

"Huh? Sanji is leaving our pirate crew?"

"Then I'm even less likely to do it!!"

·····

"Roman, why didn't you leave Sanji here?"

Roman spread his hands in response to Luffy's Luffy.

"Well... I'm just an advisor, not the captain. I have no authority to forcibly interfere if the cook wants to go there, and besides—"

"Moreover, Roman himself is the kind of person who faces danger alone,"

Nami picked up the conversation, rubbing her forehead.

"Just like back in Alabasta, honestly: why are all you men so competitive?"

"... What did you say when you ran back to Cocoyasi Village all by yourself?"

"Ah, this..."

Ultimately, in the hearts of every member of the Straw Hat crew, their comrades are more important than their own lives. Therefore, when faced with extreme danger, they will instinctively sacrifice themselves for others. However:

"Roman, there must be more than just that reason, right?"

Zoro, lying on the chair next to him, opened one eye. Although Zoro is usually a little bad with directions, he's still very reliable in the Straw Hat crew. And he's often very insightful, like now:

"If it's just pressure from the Four Emperors, the lecherous cook wouldn't abandon us. Then—"

"Let me explain,"

Pekoms walked in looking dejected, facing the Straw Hat crew:

Thump!

"Sorry!"

With his forehead slamming heavily against the floor, Pekoms, a lion-like Mink Tribe, remained in a prostrate position.

"I've heard about what happened to Mr. Sanji. I'm truly... truly... ashamed before all my benefactors!"

"Get up,"

Pekoms, who was kneeling on the ground, was helped up by a pair of hands; it was Luffy on his face.

"You haven't done anything wrong to us, so why are you apologizing?"

"Let's talk about why Sanji left us first,"

Upon hearing Luffy's words, Pekoms wiped away his tears, and his opening remarks caused the entire Straw Hat crew's expressions to change drastically:

"Kari Dadan from Foosha Village in the Kingdom of Goa; Koshiro, the master of Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village; Nojiko from Cocoyasi Village; Kaya from Syrup Village..."

!?

What does this mean?

Seeing Pekoms's serious Luffy, Pekoms sighed.

"And then there's the captain of the Baratie, the former 'Red Leg' Zeff. — Anyone who dares to refuse an invitation to the 'Mother's' tea party will receive a 'gift': someone's head!"

···········

This is the real One Piece world.

Assassinations are commonplace. Not to mention the One Piece world, which is hundreds of times more chaotic than Somalia, even in Roman's previous life, generals and scientists in the Middle East were frequently "given freedom by the sky."

And America's highly developed security industry is precisely for protecting the wives, children, and elderly mothers of wealthy people.

As long as one is not afraid of death or is powerful enough, assassination is the most convenient means to achieve one's goals. — And this world has no shortage of these two types of people.

"This is what 'strength' is all about, Straw Hat Luffy."

"Once the word 'threat' comes from the mouth of an overwhelmingly powerful being, it means 'the future that is bound to happen'! Faced with such power, yielding is the wise choice—just like Mr. Sanji."

"However," Pekoms stood up, "I will set off for Whole Cake Island immediately. After all, you are all my benefactors, and I will definitely take care of Mr. Sanji!"

This is the greatest act of kindness Pekoms could possibly do.

Strictly speaking, the BIG MOM Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates are actually 'enemies'.

"I want to go to the Whole Cake Island too!!"

Luffy stood up and adjusted his Straw Hat.

"Sanji is our comrade. If he wants to get married willingly, I won't stop him. But if anyone dares to threaten him—"

A terrifying surge of Conqueror's Conqueror's Haki erupted from Luffy, and the powerful Armament Haki sent Pekoms drifting backward as if pushed by an invisible hand. When he regained his senses, the lion man found himself unharmed, his feet firmly planted in the courtyard outside. He was utterly horrified.

"Conqueror's Haki? Armament Haki unleashed!?"

Such methods are at least possessed by powerhouses at the Sweet Commander level...

"Sorry, Viper Bogo."

Luffy slightly to the side, looking at Pekoms outside the room with an air of Haki. It would be perfect if he hadn't mispronounced the other's name.

"We need to discuss how to get Sanji back, so—"

"I understand, my benefactors." A shaken Pekoms turned around immediately, "The next time we meet, we will be enemies."

··········

"Then, Roman."

Luffy's so-called 'discussion' is of course:

"Quickly think of a way to get Sanji back! And we must protect our families in the in the East Blue too!"

"Yes, yes, yes,"

Roman, who had transformed from Doraemon into a 'wish-granting machine,' nodded. The Whole Cake Island 'server' was inevitable anyway. When Luffy allied with Law, he had already declared: he would defeat all Four Emperors!

Therefore, Luffy is never stupid. He can't become the rightful 'King of the Pirates' without defeating the Four Emperors. Not just any nobody can become the King of the Pirates after reaching Laugh Tale; first, you need the strength. Besides:

The Big Mom has one of the four Road Poneglyph pointing to Laugh Tale!

"As for the East China Sea, everyone doesn't need to worry."

Roman nodded to the crowd.

"I'm afraid I've already sent people to protect our relatives. Unless it's Great Pirates, they can't be harmed."

The Roman sent out was, of course, his CP0, which had been strengthened for two years. Each of them was already at the level of Marine Major General or Vice Admiral. In particular, Lucci, once he was 'on drugs', was so powerful that even Roman himself dared not say he would definitely win in hand-to-hand combat.

With such strength, unless the Sweet Commanders descend from the East Sea, ordinary assassins would be easy prey. Having resolved their worries:

"This time, our opponent is not an individual, nor a pirate crew, and unlike those unpopular figures before, our opponent is a nation united as one!"

Since their goal was to rescue Sanji, they absolutely needed to know detailed information about him. This wasn't some kind of 'adventure,' but a full-blown battle, so everyone, including Luffy, listened attentively to Roman's explanation.

"That's right, the entire BIG MOM Pirates are a huge country,"

Roman pointed to the sand table map before him. The Whole Cake Island Warcraft, impenetrable to the outside world, was no mystery to Roman. After all:

Stussy, one of the leaders of the underworld and the Queen of Pleasure District, is a frequent guest at Charlotte Linlin's tea parties, but her true identity is actually a member of CP0! It's not surprising that Roman has a detailed map of the kingdom.

"With Whole Cake Chateau as the main body, there are 34 islands scattered around it; each is governed by one of the 34 'ministers'. This sea area is collectively known as Totland."

"All the islands are themed around food, and because the BIG MOM Pirates have a large number of Paramecia 'food-type' Devil Fruit user, the resources here are so abundant that they can be used for construction... cough cough, never mind that for now."

With a wave of Roman's hand, countless red dots formed a huge network that enveloped the entire Totland.

"A frontal assault is not going to work. The enemy has an astonishing number of 'Surveillance Den Den Mushi' in the ocean, and a considerable number of candy pie-shaped reconnaissance ships are also roaming the surface. As soon as we get close, we will be detected, and then we will be outnumbered."

"What should we do then? We don't have enough manpower..."

Usopp raised his question not because he was afraid, but simply because of the overwhelming numerical disadvantage.

"Are we going to assemble a 'Grand Fleet'?"

"It's too late,"

Luffy twirled his straw Straw Hat. After parting ways in Dressrosa, the Straw Hat Grand Fleet had gone their separate ways. Some continued their journeys, some returned home in glory, and some continued selling Straw Hat merchandise... It was unrealistic to gather them all together in a short time.

"Avoiding external forces isn't actually that difficult for us, but—"

It's easy to get in, but hard to get out.

Don't forget, Roman can fly! Even if the sea defenses of the Whole Cake Island are impregnable, the sky can only rely on a small number of flying 'Homies' for surveillance, which pose no threat to Roman.

"If we enter Whole Cake Island, we'll be facing a complete 'Four Emperors' crew! Over hundreds of thousands of soldiers, dozens of the Charlotte Family children with considerable fighting power, a large number of pirate crews absorbed through marriage alliances, the 'Sweet Commanders' with bounties around 1 billion, and:"

"Charlotte Linlin, one of the Four Emperors with a bounty of 4.388 billion Beli!"

Roman looked around, and not a single person showed fear on their face, not even Usopp was trembling slightly.

"That's roughly the situation with our opponents. Luffy, give the order!"

"Roman, are you scared?"

"Afraid?"

When faced with Luffy's question, Roman licked his lips and, unusually, showed an expression of excitement.

"I've always been curious about just how strong the 'Four Emperors' really are."

"Zoro, are you scared?"

"Ha, I only care if there are any swordsmen there worth killing!"

Seeing Luffy Guotou, Zoro grinned, revealing a smile brimming with fighting spirit.

"As for that lecherous, foolish cook, I don't care at all—"

"So:"

Luffy looked around:

"Friends, are you scared?"

"We'll do as you say, Captain."

"You are the captain of this ship. Even if hell lies ahead, we will follow you to the death!" X9

"Then what are we waiting for—"

Luffy adjusted his Straw Hat, revealing only his two rows of grinning teeth.

"Forward to Whole Cake Island!"

P. S.: It's almost the end of the month, so I'd like to ask for some votes~~~