"Miss Smoker is here, you weren't waiting for us, were you?" Beckman stepped forward and asked.
Logically, if we were to rank them by "seat," Smoker should be fourth or fifth in the Big Mom Pirates...
However, on the Red-Hair Pirates' side, Lucky Roo only knows how to act recklessly, Sig is too scattered, so Beckman has to step forward and talk things out himself—if Shanks steps forward, it would seem like he cares too much about Smoker, after all, she is not Big Mom!
Smoker saw Beckman step forward, while Shanks remained calm and silent, her tone turning colder. "Then I'll get straight to the point! Since we've run into each other here... Shanks, right? Mom wants to see you."
It seems Smoker didn't come specifically to see Shanks, but the Big Mom Pirates had a plan in place for inviting him after they met Shanks.
"Big Mom wants to see our Captain? What's the matter?" Beckman pressed, showing no respect whatsoever.
"It's nothing, just the wedding," Smoker said matter-of-factly.
Bang--
Sig pulled a balloon out of nowhere, blew it up, and then popped it with a needle.
Beckman activated his Observation Haki to its fullest extent, knowing what was going on without even turning around. A "well" shape appeared on his forehead. Shanks turned to look at Sig without saying a word, while the others all wore sly smiles.
"What is Big Brother doing?" Jack asked Lucky Roo with a puzzled look on his face.
"Oh...you know Big Mom has a nickname, 'Iron Balloon'? This is..." Morio was interrupted halfway through his sentence by Lucky Roo: "Don't corrupt the children!"
Smoker pretended not to care and stared at Beckman without flinching. Her two sisters, one fat and one thin, along with Strengths and Snack, were already glaring at Sig.
"Our Captain isn't interested in your Mom," Beckman replied directly.
The atmosphere between the two sides immediately became tense, as if a sword were about to be drawn.
But just then, Smoker said, "You've misunderstood. My Mom admires your strength. As long as your Captain marries my sister Marnier, you can fly the flag of our Big Mom Pirates!"
If BigMom takes a fancy to someone's bloodline, she will bring them back to "breed" with her. If she takes a fancy to someone's strength, she will arrange a marriage between her daughter or son.
When Smoker and her crew are sailing, they have a list given to them by Big Mom, and they try their best to "bring back" any pirate crews on the list they encounter.
Despite their fame, the Red-Hair Pirates have only just entered the "New World." Big Mom sees them as "kids from Roger's ship," within the realm of those she could "marry."
"No, then our Captain also..." Beckman was about to refuse when Shanks patted him on the shoulder.
Beckman looked over with a puzzled expression, while Shanks said, "Don't say that... Since Captain Charlotte is so sincere, then..."
Just as Smoker thought he was about to sensibly agree, Shanks changed his tone and said seriously, "Let me formally refuse myself as a sign of respect... I have no intention of ending my single life, much less changing my flag!"
"You little rascal... do you know what it means to refuse your Mom?" Fat Strengths's eyes sharpened, and his muscles bulged even more.
"Excuse me, if this is all for this matter, you've made a wasted trip. I can go to Whole Cake Island later and personally express my refusal to Captain Charlotte." Shanks was still very polite to the Great Pirate of the same era as his old Captain.
However, in Strengths's view, this was undoubtedly a provocation!
"No need! You won't have a chance to go..." Strengths said, his arm, which had become even stronger, instantly hardened and turned black, and he slammed it down on Shanks was only 1.98 meters tall.
Shanks neither dodged nor avoided the attack, his eyes showing no tremor whatsoever; only the ends of his hair were slightly blown about!
In an instant, Lucky Roo appeared to Shanks' left and raised his hand to Strengths's punch.
Strengths delivered a punch, while Lucky Roo raised his arm to block. The two remained locked in a stalemate—clearly, the former had the advantage in terms of force exertion, meaning the latter was superior in absolute strength!
"Captain, was that punch... a joke, or a signal to start a war?" Lucky Roo raised the bone-in roasted meat with his other hand, bit off the last large piece, and then casually threw it away.
If Shanks nods, Lucky Roo will immediately swell up and punch his opponent's head off.
Strengths's pupils contracted, never expecting that a "fourth-ranked" officer with a bounty of less than a hundred million could so easily block his punch, and... remain completely unmoved!
This was clearly a display of pure power that far surpassed his own abilities...
Neither of them was using an umbrella, and they were constantly being "massaged" by lightning.
Even more surprised than her was Smoker, who could sense that Shanks had locked onto her with Conqueror's Haki.
She sensed Shanks' will from him—if war were to break out, Shanks would absolutely fight to the bitter end!
George had already secretly gone to inform the villagers—if a guest was fighting with "God," then of course they should help "God"!
Seeing that the two sides were about to clash, Smoker softened her tone and said, "As expected of that former crew member... Mom also said that if you don't agree, you can give up for Roger's sake."
"Eh? Captain Charlotte is quite reasonable." Shanks curled his lips in a sarcastic smile. He didn't believe it. Charlotte Linlin was definitely not the kind of person who would "take care of someone's feelings".
"Well, but Mom has her pride too! How about this, this boy will marry Marnier, and then your Red-Hair Pirates can fly our Whole Cake Island flag if they want, or sever ties if they want." Smoker said, pointing at Sig.
Sig looked at her strangely...
Before Shanks could answer, Sig blurted out, "Isn't this your real purpose?"
It wasn't that Sig thought too highly of himself; he sensed it from Smoker's demeanor!
"What did you say?" Smoker's expression turned serious upon hearing this.
Indeed, Sig was right. Not long ago, Big Mom had instructed a few of the "Captain" who were out there: if they encountered Siegfried, they should bring him back at all costs!
Neither Strengths nor Snack knew about this...
Sig didn't argue with her, but simply spread his hands and said, "No, I don't know any Marnier, and I have no intention of becoming Captain Charlotte's son-in-law for the time being."
Aside from the most famous ones, Sig didn't remember most of Big Mom's children—there were just too many!
However, overall, there are still quite a few "pitfalls" to marrying BigMom's daughter.
There are quite a few that look decent, but even more that look absolutely outrageous!
Furthermore, Sig could roughly guess that Big Mom was probably involved in the "Sea King" affair...
Big Mom and Kaido have some knowledge of the Ancient Weapon, Joy Boy, and the like, and they care about them quite a bit!
Smoker's face darkened, but glancing at Red-Hair and his group, she realized that if a conflict broke out, her side, being just a small squad, might not be able to forcibly escort Siegfried back. However, her Mom's orders were absolute, so...
Sig immediately sensed that Smoker had made up her mind!
"Don't you recognize me? Well... now you do, right?" Smoker stood up, ran her hand over her chest, then placed it on her hips, striking a pose. "How about that?"
Sig's Observation Haki told him that this woman had already planned to trick him back, drain him dry, and hand him over to Big Mom...
However, since the other party had asked, out of respect, Sig asked a few more questions, "Hey? Would you mind if your husband was away from home for long periods of time? If you found out that your husband had an ambiguous relationship with other women, would you fight him to the death?"