"Admiral Luoyu, this isn't the time for jokes! You're facing two Emperors and a death trap orchestrated by the Five Elders. Even if you joined forces with us, the Revolutionary Army, it wouldn't be shameful!"
Sabo spoke urgently.
The four army commanders nodded silently in agreement.
Even Dalmatian, who had been skeptical, found himself unable to argue.
Whether or not the conspiracy was real, even a 1% chance was too much to ignore. He didn't want Luoyu to act on impulse.
"That's enough, Sabo. Let me handle this," Dragon said, raising a hand to stop him, smiling.
"Admiral Luoyu, rest assured—this partnership is entirely voluntary. I'm only asking because Garp requested it."
"But I am curious—why did you choose this path?"
"Why?" Luoyu chuckled, taking a swig from his gourd and patting the staff on his back.
"Because I'm training… to cut down the Five Elders."
"Anyway, it's getting late. If there's nothing else, I'll get back to training."
With that, Luoyu turned and walked away, gourd in hand.
Everyone was left speechless.
They had expected any kind of answer—but not this.
To openly declare he was aiming to slay the Five Elders?
That was madness.
"Dragon?" Sabo called out, alarmed, watching Luoyu's retreating figure.
To him, this was the best chance to win Luoyu over. If they missed it, they might never get another.
"Heh… I know what you're thinking, Sabo," Dragon said, patting his shoulder.
"If he had agreed to work with us, I'd have overestimated him."
"But the fact that he's still unpredictable—that's exactly who he is."
"A man full of variables like him… only by staying in Marine HQ can he truly give the Five Elders a headache."
He looked toward Luoyu's fading silhouette and smiled faintly.
"Luoyu, remember—I can buy you five minutes. No matter what happens, you must escape within that time. Otherwise, you'll be beyond saving."
"Thanks." Luoyu waved without turning back, disappearing from view.
"Ow!"
Dalmatian jolted back to reality.
He'd been so stunned that his cigar had burned his lip again.
Sailing with Luoyu meant more than just keeping up with his unpredictable actions—
It meant smoking was a hazard.
One careless moment, and you'd end up with sausage lips.
Still reeling from what had just happened, Dalmatian quickly dialed Marine HQ's Den Den Mushi.
Meanwhile, in Totto Land, within the Big Mom Pirates' palace…
The grand hall had long since been restored.
Charlotte Linlin and her entourage were holding a feast.
Sitting beside Kaido, Big Mom was beaming, as if basking in spring sunshine after a long drought.
If Whitebeard's hobby was collecting sons—
Then Big Mom's was collecting lovers and having children.
But among all her past partners, none compared to Kaido.
Now, with this rare opportunity to tame the proud Beast Emperor and have him "plant a seed," she felt twenty years younger.
She glanced at her belly with anticipation.
If this worked, producing a monstrous heir wouldn't be hard.
Grabbing Kaido's hand, she laughed heartily:
"Wahahaha! Welcome, everyone! With our Four Emperors Alliance and your support, our power is unmatched. If we can unite all pirates under one banner, we'll build the greatest Pirate Empire the seas have ever seen!"
"Even if Rocks came back from the dead, he couldn't compare!"
"And I must thank Kaido for setting aside our past and joining forces with me!"
"Let's celebrate our union!"
She downed a massive jug of liquor.
The crowd cheered and followed suit.
Only Kaido, still holding her hand, looked like he was sitting on pins and needles.
He was a Yonko, after all.
If not for revenge, he'd never have agreed to this.
But Big Mom wasn't letting him off easy.
She kept twisting the knife in front of everyone.
It was salt in the wound.
Seeing King signaling frantically beside him, Kaido clenched his jaw and endured it.
"Heh… Mama, you're right," Perospero said with a forced smile. "Our alliance is at its peak. Soon, the whole sea will be ours."
Then he added:
"But Mama, what about Admiral Candidate Gion, the one we captured two days ago? What should we do with her?"
All eyes turned to Gion, bound nearby.
Feeling their stares, Gion's face turned pale. She gritted her teeth and shouted:
"Charlotte Linlin! If you're going to kill me, do it now!"
"Otherwise, Marine HQ will never let this go!"
She had always known that becoming an admiral candidate meant risking capture by a Yonko.
But she hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
Now she wasn't just a prisoner—she was a bargaining chip.
If her capture put Marine HQ in a bind, she'd rather die than be used.
"Heh… As expected of an admiral candidate. Still so defiant," Perospero chuckled.
"But I'm afraid you don't understand how terrifying our alliance is. Marine HQ won't even dare move, let alone avenge you."