As time passed, the Marines secretly monitoring the Elior Pirates discovered that their current route was headed straight for Whole Cake Island!
That's right—Whole Cake Island, the territory ruled by Big Mom
The Marine and the World Government were immediately shaken.
"Is that lunatic really going after Big Mom?"
"He's completely insane!"
"To think he'd actually pick a fight with her!"
"What should we do if he really goes through with it?"
Even the top brass of the Marines couldn't stay calm.
narrowed his eyes.
"Prepare to mobilize. Once both sides are wounded—or even if one is defeated—the other won't walk away unscathed. That'll be the perfect time for the Marine to strike and suppress whoever remains!"
"If we play it right, we might even wipe out two of the Yonko in one swoop!"
The hawks in the Marines were visibly excited at Akainu's idea — it sounded like the perfect scenario.
Tsuru spoke up calmly:
"There may be variables, but we should still send a fleet to monitor the situation. If things unfold like Sakazuki said, that would be ideal."
"Let's hope it goes that way…"
Just then, a special Den Den Mushi rang in the Fleet Admiral's office.
Akainu glanced at it, and his expression shifted—
It was a direct call from the Gorosei.
"Sakazuki, mobilize. That lunatic and that madwoman are about to clash. And unless something changes, it's going to erupt into war."
"What do you want the Marine to do?" Akainu asked, frowning. As Fleet Admiral, he had discovered firsthand how many political constraints came from above — especially from the Gorosei.
"Send a fleet to the waters around Whole Cake Island. Observe and wait. If either side falls, the Marine must be ready to intervene immediately. Even if Elior does intend to kill Big Mom, it won't come without a price."
"The Big Mom Pirates are one of the most powerful forces in the New World. That woman has over 80 children, more than 70 of whom are capable fighters. Add in her political marriages and the many factions she's absorbed, and her military strength rivals even the Whitebeard Pirates in their prime."
"If Elior wants to wipe out the Big Mom Pirates, he'll pay for it—even if he is monstrously powerful."
The Gorosei spoke confidently, as if playing a game of chess.
Two hours later, Marine deployed a fleet of eight top-class warships, heading toward Totto Land.
Their strategy? Let the monsters fight and swoop in after—the classic "mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."
But reality wouldn't play out how the Marine or the World Government expected.
After all… what if two Yonko were working together?
That possibility had never even crossed their minds.
Why? Because to the world at large, such a thing was impossible.
The Yonko never cooperate.
—
On the other side, the Red-Hair Pirates had also picked up on Elior's approach to Whole Cake Island.
Even Shanks, the so-called peacemaker, was deeply uneasy.
"Shanks, what's the situation?"
"I think that madman is preparing for all-out war with Big Mom. His entire crew is mobilizing. There's no way he's just passing by."
"Hah... Ever since Elior appeared, the world's felt more unstable."
"Unstable for sure. He might come for us next."
"Shanks, should we intervene?"
"...No—wait. Yes. Let's go observe. That lunatic's actions are beginning to shake the entire world."
And so, Shanks and the Red-Hair Pirates set sail for Whole Cake Island.
Now, with three powerful forces mobilizing—the Marines, the Red-Hair Pirates, and the Elior Pirates—the entire New World began to panic.
Whenever forces of Yonko-level power move, the ripple effects shake the seas. Most pirates trembled at the thought. Even those who hoped to exploit the chaos knew the ones benefiting from this wouldn't be them.
—
Meanwhile, the Big Mom Pirates also learned that the Elior Pirates were approaching—only slightly after the Marines.
(Of course, the Marines had learned first thanks to their own surveillance operations.)
But the Charlotte Family, famous for its vast intelligence network, wasn't far behind.
"That little brat—he's really coming to start a war!?"
Big Mom's fury echoed through Whole Cake Chateau. The entire Charlotte Family quickly assembled.
No one had expected Elior to actually make a move—but now he and his crew were closing in fast, bringing everyone with him.
Only a fool would think this wasn't a declaration of war.
And facing another Yonko was enough to make even the proud Charlotte Family nervous.
After all, their enemy was Elior—a madman among monsters.
Even Katakuri, Big Mom's most powerful child and her right-hand man, was tense.
Known as the "Strongest Sweet Commander", Katakuri was no ordinary opponent.
But even he couldn't confidently face Elior.
The one he was actually preparing to confront was Bullet.
And who was Bullet?
If Katakuri was a genius... then Bullet was a demon.
Even Katakuri couldn't deny it.
He's on a whole other level.
The pressure was suffocating.
Big Mom, seated on her massive throne, glared down at her children and commanders with bloodthirsty eyes.
"If it's war they want… then WAR IT IS! Prepare yourselves!"