Big Mom Submits
Not long after, Kaido also transformed into his giant dragon form and flew back to Onigashima.
Naturally, he brought Princess Vivi, Rebecca, and of course, Reiju back with him.
When the head of the Vinsmoke Family heard about the marriage alliance, he was initially hesitant. After all, he had already been deceived by Big Mom once before.
He was bound to be cautious this time, but after Kaido displayed his overwhelming strength and resolve, he had no choice but to agree—and he did so gladly.
To him, perhaps this lord was a more suitable candidate for a marriage alliance. By leveraging this lord's influence, he might truly be able to unite the North Blue and realize his ambitions.
Seeing that her father had agreed and with Kaido personally showing up at their door, Reiju naturally had no power to refuse.
For her part, she was actually somewhat curious to meet this powerful emperor. A man capable of making Kaido submit was naturally no ordinary person.
Upon arriving on the island, Kaido listened to his subordinates' reports. It turned out that the Emperor had already conquered Wano Country and killed Kurozumi Orochi.
Hearing this news, Kaido was genuinely astonished. This lord truly acted with boldness; his decisiveness and speed outpaced even Kaido's own. Now, the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets was situated right on top of Wano Country.
He also learned that the Emperor was actually going to marry Kozuki Hiyori, who was none other than Oden's daughter. It was a remarkably brilliant scheme.
This way, he could completely subjugate Wano Country. This Emperor was far more suited to be a leader than he was; it was an open and flawless masterstroke.
Now knowing where the Emperor was, Kaido took the three women and flew toward him, as these were the people the Emperor had requested.
With this, the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets had taken its initial form. Nations bound by marriage alliances could naturally be counted as part of his own faction.
Crossing the sea and flying to Wano Country—which was now the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets—he spotted the massive sphere floating in the sky.
*'Why is Linlin's presence here?'* he wondered, a wave of suspicion washing over him. *'Did Linlin come here too?'*
He quickly flew over and landed on the giant sphere. It seemed this sphere was also the handiwork of that lord. Could it be that Linlin, who was roughly as strong as him, had angered that lord and was now imprisoned inside?
Such a massive sphere would likely be enough to imprison him as well. He decided it would be best to avoid angering this man in the future. The man simply had too many methods at his disposal—all of which left Kaido completely powerless to resist.
He called out with a laugh, "Linlin, are you in there?"
He could sense that Linlin was still breathing, though he didn't know how much life she had left in her. The three women on Kaido's back were also puzzled. *'Who is Linlin?'* they wondered. *'Is she the one locked inside this giant sphere?'*
A voice echoed from inside the massive sphere. "Kaido, you bastard! Hurry up and get me something to eat, or I'm going to starve to death!"
Big Mom's body was already incredibly weak, entirely due to starvation. The hunger was driving her mind mad, but she no longer had the strength to go on a rampage.
In the past, she would fly into a frenzy if she couldn't eat her favorite foods, yet now she was reduced to this feeble state. She never expected that even in her enraged state, she wouldn't be able to break free from this giant sphere.
Hearing this voice, Reiju's expression froze in shock. There was no mistaking it; this voice belonged to none other than Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors.
Having witnessed her berserk state with her own eyes, Reiju knew she was an absolutely invincible, undisputed tyrant. To think she was actually imprisoned here—who on earth could have done this?
Big Mom had likely come here tracking the Straw Hat boy. After all, Straw Hat had caused a massive uproar on Whole Cake Island. Could she have been imprisoned here by the Emperor of this country?
To pull off something of this magnitude... The man who was about to become her husband was truly extraordinary.
Kaido chuckled and said, "You're in a pathetic state. How did you end up like this?"
Big Mom, furious but lacking the energy to shout, replied weakly, "That damn Emperor of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets wants me to submit. But I'm not a spineless coward like you! I will never submit!"
The smile on Kaido's face instantly froze. "A spineless coward?"
"Linlin, you're dead wrong about that. I have never been a coward, and I have never bowed to anyone. Even if it were our old Captain Rocks, I might not submit to him now. But against that lord..."
"I don't have even the slightest chance of winning. He can control time, and he can even unleash power dozens of times greater than my own. That lord is the one who will change the world. I'm afraid the two of us old fossils don't have what it takes anymore."
For some reason, he always had a lingering feeling that the World Government clearly had the power to wipe them out, yet they never made a move. Perhaps keeping people like them alive made it easier for the government to maintain its rule.
Vivi, Rebecca, and Reiju were all dumbfounded. The Emperor of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets could actually control time?
He could even unleash power dozens of times greater than Kaido's? Just what kind of monster was he? Was he even human?
Even a monster shouldn't be capable of that. But these words came from Kaido, the strongest creature in the world. Surely he wouldn't just be joking around with Big Mom out of boredom.
Big Mom also spoke, her voice trembling. "Is what you're saying true? Something so astonishing... how did he do it? What kind of Devil Fruit power did he eat?"
If Kaido hadn't been the one to say it, she absolutely never would have believed it.
Kaido speculated, "It's neither Haki nor a Devil Fruit ability. It might be a power from beyond this world, or perhaps he is a true god."
"When I came back, I saw that the seas around Wano Country had become completely calm. Who do you think did that? Or rather, who else would even have the power to do so?"
"Then the only explanation is a god. So, I advise you to just obediently submit. Submitting to that lord is not a bad thing."
The others were utterly shocked. They couldn't fathom that the man was actually a god.
Any lingering reluctance the three women had about the marriage alliance completely vanished. After all, there was no better man in the world than a god.
Princess Vivi was shaken to her core. It seemed her father was right. They could indeed rely on this lord's power.
Originally, she thought this Emperor wanted to control her country through a marriage alliance, but looking at it now, that wasn't the case at all. Instead, it was a massive stroke of good fortune.
Big Mom was also stunned. To think that a guy like Kaido would give this man such high praise... A god?
She fell completely silent. *'Perhaps submitting wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.'*
"Fine, I am willing to submit."
Kaido was overjoyed. "Linlin, that's the right choice! Even if we aren't the main characters who will change the world, what's wrong with being on the winning side?"
"The world will tremble because of this lord's emergence. Even the World Government will be overthrown, and the one to replace them will undoubtedly be him."
"Of course, you'll have to stay hungry for a little while longer. I'm sure the lord will let you out soon."
With that said, he carried the three women and flew toward the Flower Capital.
As they approached, Kaido spotted the massive castle from afar. He figured it was yet another display of that lord's abilities.
If such a castle were built by human hands, it would absolutely take an immense amount of time. Especially for it to be so exquisitely crafted—yet he had only been gone for about ten days.