After hearing Marco's proposal, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi fell silent.
Neither of them had expected Marco's true objective to be this direct.
The two exchanged a glance. Although they constantly argued and behaved like sworn enemies, years of ruling Zou together had given them a deep mutual understanding.
After a moment, Inuarashi spoke in a serious tone.
"Although we live isolated on Zou, we still understand what happens in the outside world. As I said earlier, we hear the major news. So I want to ask you something, Marco. Why did you form an alliance with Kaido?"
Nekomamushi's expression darkened as well.
"That is right. Why would you ally with Kaido? That monster killed Lord Oden."
Marco sighed softly, clearly tired of hearing the same question.
"Why are there so many questions about this?" he said calmly. "I am a pirate too. Yes, Oden was once the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, but that was over twenty years ago. He had already left the crew long before his death."
Marco's gaze became steady.
"People have to move forward. The world does not revolve around Oden. We cannot spend our lives chasing revenge forever just because he died."
The room became quiet again.
After a pause, Inuarashi spoke firmly.
"Kaido is our enemy. He murdered Lord Oden. As Oden's retainers, and as former apprentice members of the Whitebeard Pirates, it would be natural for us to refuse your invitation."
He looked directly at Marco.
"If you want the Mink Tribe to join the Phoenix Pirates, then you must end your alliance with Kaido."
Marco frowned slightly.
Inuarashi continued,
"There are less than two years remaining before Lady Toki's prophecy comes true."
Marco remained silent, allowing him to continue.
"Eighteen years ago, Lady Toki foretold that twenty years later, the one who would avenge Oden would appear. We believe that person is Young Master Momonosuke."
"Momonosuke?" Marco let out a faint scoff.
Inuarashi's voice remained unwavering.
"We believe in Lady Toki. She used the power of the Toki Toki no Mi to send Young Master Momonosuke twenty years into the future. Soon, those twenty years will pass. When he returns, he will lead us to defeat Kaido and reopen Wano Country's borders."
Hearing this, Marco felt nothing but disbelief.
Momonosuke.
Just hearing the name annoyed him. Unlike the two rulers before him, Marco clearly understood what kind of person Momonosuke truly was.
His expression turned cold.
"You are clinging to unrealistic hopes," Marco said. "Oden is dead. You should face reality instead of living in the past."
Both rulers frowned.
Marco continued without hesitation.
"The one truly responsible for Oden's downfall was Kurozumi Orochi, and Orochi is already dead. More importantly, Wano Country itself has already been destroyed."
"What?"
Both Inuarashi and Nekomamushi stood up in shock.
"Wano Country was destroyed?"
Marco nodded calmly.
"Not long ago, the World Government used an Ancient Weapon. The protective walls surrounding Wano were largely destroyed. Wano Country, as it once existed, is gone."
The news struck them heavily, but Marco did not allow the silence to linger.
"Now the Three Emperors Alliance has been formed. Our first objective is to dominate the New World. Red Haired Shanks has already withdrawn his crew from the New World."
He continued,
"We also defeated the Marines at Whole Cake Island recently. At this point, there is no remaining force in the New World capable of opposing us."
Marco's tone became more serious.
"The reason I came here is simple. I do not want to see the Mink Tribe wiped out by Kaido or Big Mom. If either the Beasts Pirates or the Big Mom Pirates reach Zou first, they will not spare you."
He paused briefly.
"And you also possess a Road Poneglyph."
Both rulers froze again.
"How do you know about that?" Inuarashi asked cautiously.
Marco remained calm.
"Is that information truly difficult to obtain?"
Their expressions immediately grew guarded.
"Marco," Inuarashi said seriously, "is your true goal the Road Poneglyph?"
Marco shook his head.
"No. I have no interest in it. You can keep it."
He looked directly at them.
"I came here to save you."
Nekomamushi let out a rough laugh filled with sarcasm.
"Save us? That sounds noble, but you simply want the strength of the Mink Tribe to join your forces."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Marco's eyes turned cold.
"Nekomamushi," he said quietly, his voice heavy with pressure, "I came here out of respect for the friendship we once shared. But it seems you no longer see me as a comrade."
His gaze sharpened.
"Or perhaps ruling this place for too long has made you forget how the world truly works."
The air grew tense.
"Do not force me to speak more harshly."
Both Inuarashi and Nekomamushi immediately sensed the shift in Marco's presence. Instinctively, they became alert.
Inuarashi quickly tried to calm the situation.
"Marco, Nekomamushi did not mean it that way."
Marco's eyes did not soften.
"Then what did he mean?"
At that moment, an overwhelming wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Marco.
The terrifying pressure exploded outward.
The ground cracked instantly. Windows shattered as violent winds swept across Zou. Throughout the island, members of the Mink Tribe collapsed one after another, unable to withstand the immense willpower.
Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, standing closest to Marco, struggled to remain standing before being forced to their knees.
Moments later, Nekomamushi's eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness entirely.
Only then did Marco slowly withdraw his Haki.
Elsewhere on Zou, the members of the Phoenix Pirates stared in shock at the fallen Minks around them.
"Was that Captain Marco's Haki?"
"What terrifying power..."
"Did the negotiations fail?"
One crew member turned toward Jozu.
"Captain Jozu, aren't the rulers of this country former members of the Whitebeard Pirates? Why has things turned like this?"
Jozu felt the lingering pressure of Marco's Haki and understood the situation immediately.
"There is nothing strange about it," Jozu said coldly. "Nekomamushi and Inuarashi were apprentice members of the Whitebeard Pirates, but that was more than twenty years ago."
His expression hardened.
"Everyone stay alert. Do not lower your guard."
"Yes!"
The previously welcoming atmosphere vanished completely.
Between the Phoenix Pirates and the Mink Tribe, tension rapidly filled the island.
If negotiations had truly collapsed, then only one outcome remained.
Battle.