After Katakuri led Vic and the others into the castle hall, Vic was able to see clearly that besides Big Mom, several prominent figures from the Underworld, such as Morgans, Stussy, the Shipping King, and the King of Loan Sharks, were also there, as well as Big Mom's eldest son, eldest daughter, and other children.
Vic glanced at the others before fixing his gaze on the Big Mom, Big Mom was 55 years old at the time, and whose appearance was not much different from what she would look like more than ten years later.
If there's any difference, it's that the current Big Mom aren't as overweight as they were later, but they've already shown signs of aging. Their clothing and appearance are starting to resemble the later styles: a pink onesie with spots, a captain's hat made from Napoleon, rings of various colored gemstones on their fingers, and an expectant look on their faces as if they're waiting for something.
Vic's arrival also attracted the attention of everyone in the hall. After all, he was personally received by Katakuri, the most outstanding son of the Big Mom, which shows how much the Big Mom valued the visitor.
When they saw Vic standing next to Katakuri, Big Mom and Stussy's eyes lit up. Vic's real appearance was much more handsome than those deliberately chosen fierce photos in the newspapers, and few women could ignore him.
The Big Mom had long harbored feelings for Vic, so it wasn't surprising that she was staring at Vic. She hadn't given up on the idea of Vic being the father of her child. And although Stussy was Colon, he still possessed human aesthetics and emotions.
Morgans's eyes darted away when he saw Vic. He had been following orders from the World Government to fabricate a lot of fake news that was bad for Vic, and now he was a little afraid that Vic would retaliate against him.
As for the other underground kings, their gazes towards Vic were much more normal. They had no grudges or interests with Vic, and now that Vic had become a lackey of the World Government, they had no intention of provoking him. They were just a little surprised that the Big Mom would invite such a person to a tea party.
"Oh my god! Vic! You're finally here! The wedding is tomorrow, and we can't eat the wedding cake until tomorrow. We'll stay on Whole Cake Island tonight, and I'll make sure they take good care of you."
Hey! Mantis! Stop hiding, I can see you! I didn't expect you to Vic Vic's pirate crew after all these years!
When Vic and his group approached, the Big Mom immediately greeted them warmly, which puzzled Vic. "I almost beat your son and daughter to death, is this kind of enthusiasm appropriate?" However, he didn't show anything amiss.
After greeting Vic, the Big Mom quickly scanned Vic's companions and spotted Mantis hiding behind Katakuri. With Mantis's towering height, the others couldn't possibly block him.
In Vic's team, everyone else is of normal human height, except for Mantis, a Zoan user, whose height is affected by his Devil Fruit ability, making him extremely tall, much taller than Katakuri, and impossible to hide.
Vic looked at Mantis with great surprise. He had previously wondered if Mantis and Big Mom had had a past relationship when he learned that Mantis had been on the ship of the Rocks. Mantis had seemed a little awkward at the time.
Now, seeing Mantis's behavior, he was even more certain that Mantis had definitely slept with the Big Mom before, but he didn't know if they had any children together.
The Big Mom was quite attractive in her youth, and judging from the number of children Big Mom had, she was a very proactive woman. How many men could resist a beautiful and proactive woman who actively seeks pleasure? Moreover, she doesn't have to take responsibility afterward, making it even harder for men to resist.
"Ahem! Linlin! Long time no see!"
Mantis awkwardly walked around from behind Katakuri and greeted the Big Mom, his expression still somewhat hesitant.
" Mantis! This isn't the time for you to reminisce, Bigmom! I'm not here for your son's wedding; I have something to discuss with you."
Vic interrupted Mantis, warning that a fight might break out later and that reminiscing now would affect morale. However, Vic didn't act immediately; a peaceful resolution would be best, and it would sound better to be courteous before resorting to force.
"Oh! What do you want to discuss with me?"
The Big Mom's smile vanished, her expression turning somewhat gloomy. How could she possibly maintain a pleasant demeanor after being disrespected in front of so many prominent figures, no matter how much she admired Vic?
She only wanted Vic to be her man because she valued Vic superior bloodline and wanted to have stronger offspring with him to enhance the pirate crew's strength. She didn't really want to spend her life with Vic. Although Vic was handsome, she thought he was too thin and small, not enough for her to handle a few times.
Moreover, it's highly unlikely she'll have a pleasant experience. She's a little giant nearly nine meters tall; what kind of pleasant experience could a toothpick stirring up a jar have? Just think about it. So, Vic is just a tool she chose. This humiliation has already angered her.
" Wendy! Come here to me."
"Big Mom! Do you see her? This is my partner, she's been with me since the Navy, but unfortunately, she's also the one who's going to marry your son tomorrow, the princess of the kingdom you forced into this situation!"
But Wendy told me she doesn't want to marry your son; she already has someone she likes, so she came to me for help. I've already promised to help her resolve this matter.
So, Big Mom! Let your son find another marriage partner, and I can compensate you with a Devil Fruit. Of course, I'll also take Wendy's kingdom with me. Do you agree to this exchange?
Vic brought Wendy to his side, revealed Wendy identity, and then a Devil Fruit appeared out of thin air in his hand. It was Zoan Devil Fruit that he had always kept in his Dimensional Ring, and it was the greatest price he could pay.
It's not that Wendy is worthless, but rather that Vic originally intended to take a hard line, so that he wouldn't have to spend a single penny. Offering a Devil Fruit was already a great show of sincerity, which is what Vic meant by "courtesy first, then force."
Everyone in the hall looked at each other in surprise. The Big Mom's children and the invited guests were all astonished. Morgans ' eyes darted around, revealing a hidden glint of excitement—an instinctive reaction to hearing Big News Morgans.
Everyone else admired Vic immensely. Daring to cause trouble at the wedding of the newly Emperor of the Sea's son—wasn't that incredibly audacious? It was a huge slap in the face for the Big Mom; they all felt sorry for Big Mom!
They knew there was going to be some excitement, so they figured they'd come for the best. Their relationship with the Big Mom wasn't close enough for her to stand up for them; it was all about mutual benefit. Now that there was going to be some drama, they had to watch it closely!