Even Katakuri raised his trident. "Don't think you can insult Mama just because she favors you!"
"Who wants the favor of such an ugly, fat woman!"
"Damn it!"
"Silence!"
Charlotte Linlin scolded her children, then looked angrily at Ian with a cold smile. "Your subordinate seems impolite. Should I teach him a lesson for you?"
"The joke ends here. This guy isn't my subordinate, so you don't need to teach him anything."
Ian raised his golden axe while smiling at Charlotte Linlin. "Also, feelings can't be forced. Why don't you try dating first?"
"Hey, hey, hey, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Enel glared at Ian. "Who would want to date such a fat woman!"
"Rude Skypiean!"
Already fuming from repeated insults about her weight, Charlotte Linlin looked at Ian. "Seems you want to reject an alliance with me! I've already given you a lot of face, so now..."
She waved her hand, and then the hat above her head transformed into a huge sword. "Let me see your strength! Ian, the God of Sun, if you lose, I'll give you one chance, not only will you have to let me marry this Skypiean, but you'll also have to become my son-in-law!"
As Charlotte Linlin spoke, her massive sword swung down toward Ian.
"Ikoku Sovereignty!"
An indescribably terrifying shock wave swept toward Ian.
…
"Captain Smoker, that rebel Lieutenant, Ian, is going to fight the captain of the Big Mom Pirates!"
"Let them fight, so what? Do you plan to stop them?"
Hearing his subordinate's urgent words, Smoker, who had been somewhat irritated at being sent on this mission, instead became calm at this moment.
Lying on the deck in a lounge chair, he puffed on his cigar expressionlessly. "The battle between the boss of Umbrella Corporation and the captain of the Big Mom Pirates; looks like tomorrow's news headline is set."
He flicked his cigar, his face indifferent as he said: "Have the ship continue to retreat and keep some distance.. Don't get caught between those two monsters' fight."
"Huh? Retreat back even further?"
Tashigi looked at Captain Smoker in confusion. "If we go further back, we might not see it. How can we report this to the Marine Headquarters?"
"If you can't see it, then you can't see it. Do you really think Marine Headquarters is just waiting for our report?"
Smoker looked at Tashigi while speaking plainly. "Besides, it's Marine Headquarters that should be worrying, not us."
As he spoke, he looked through his military binoculars at Enel, the Umbrella Corporation executive in the distance.
"By the way, remember to report the information about that guy's fight to Marine Headquarters. Also, tell the Marine Headquarters..."
His tone grew serious. "Umbrella Corporation and the Big Mom Pirates might become allies. Of course, the exact outcome is unknown, so let Marine Headquarters prepare accordingly."
"Yes, Captain Smoker!"
After receiving the order, Tashigi wasted no time and hurried to report the intelligence to headquarters.
As for Smoker, he continued to watch the battlefield through his military binoculars, his gaze flickering.
"What will the result be?"
Or rather… who will win?
He put the military binoculars away and, upon sensing something, he shouted to the marines behind him: "What are you still standing there for? Didn't I tell you to retreat? What, you want to join the fight yourselves?"
...
"The marines have also sent people; it's the West Blue's branch he used to be part of, the 315th Branch."
Kaku said seriously to Lucci. "But they're also retreating. Should we negotiate with the Marines?"
"No need. Let's act as if they don't exist."
Lucci crossed his arms and shook his head. "Right now, what's more important is waiting for the battle's outcome. No matter the result, we need intelligence on where the Umbrella Corporation's base is."
"Alright, alright! I get it, you sure know how to give orders!"
Kaku sighed helplessly, then rubbed his chin while watching the scene before him with interest. "Who do you think will win?"
"I don't know. But it seems like whoever wins, it's good for us."
Lucci's eyes flickered slightly, and a mysterious smile appeared on his face. "Now we just wait and see how the Marine Headquarters will respond."
...
"Became an ally? Damn it, those hyenas are reckless!"
At the same time, Sengoku, who hadn't dismissed the meeting, received the intelligence from the other side and shouted angrily. "If Umbrella Corporation really became allies with the Big Mom Pirates, I will never forgive them!"
"Calm down, Sengoku."
Seeing Sengoku angrily slapping the table, Tsuru quickly reassured him.
"They haven't really become an ally yet, and Ian already refused. Besides, Zephyr probably wouldn't agree to ally with the Big Mom Pirates either, and..."
A unique glint flashed in her eyes. "Even if they do become an ally, it's not necessarily bad for us. Perhaps we can salvage Zephyr out."
"Salvage that old guy out?"
Sengoku squinted slightly at Tsuru, then snorted coldly. "If he could think clearly so easily, I wouldn't be having such a headache now."
After saying this, he didn't get angry again. Watching the busy marines in front of him, his gaze fell on the lazy, hands-behind-his-head Borsalino.
"Borsalino, do you think that guy can defeat the captain of the Big Mom Pirates?"
"Him? Ah, I don't know!"
Borsalino's eyelids lifted lazily, but his tone carried a hint of seriousness.
"But that kid is indeed very strong. It's not like the analysis team guessed... that my ability was simply countered!"
"Your ability wasn't countered back then?"
"Hmm, it should have been countered, I guess!"
Borsalino mused for a moment, then laughed heartily. "I didn't pay much attention back then anyway."
Even so, a profound light shone from his eyes.
Faced with Borsalino's ambiguous answer, Sengoku pressed his hands to his head, frustrated.
"What kind of answer is that? Forget it. Kuzan, Borsali... No, Sakazuki, you two get ready! If things go badly, you might have to intervene."
Kuzan and Sakazuki: "Understood!"
After hearing Kuzan and Sakazuki's serious responses, Sengoku felt a heavy sense of relief.
Just as he was about to say more...
"Purururu!"
The Den Den Mushi rang.
Sengoku's eyelids twitched, and a bad premonition came over him. He took a deep breath and answered the call.
Soon enough, as he had feared, his expression changed, and he slammed the table, shouting: "Damn it, why is that guy going to the West Blue too? Is it not chaotic enough there already?"