It was nothing more than a bid for greater gain!
But wealth and territory were fleeting things.
On these vast seas, what was there that beings of their stature could not claim?
If the Big Mom Pirates stood beside him, Kaido was certain that El—this so‑called young and powerful pirate—would be swept aside as easily as dust!
He had already resolved within himself: so long as her demands were not utterly outrageous, he would simply agree to them.
If they truly lent their full strength, all matters could be settled…
Yet even steeled with that resolve, when Big Mom finally stated her terms, Kaido winced and sucked in his breath in sheer dismay.
"What?!"
"How many… how many billion berries?!"
It was not the gold alone that stunned him.
"And you would take my lands as well?!"
"Old hag… have you grown so bold you would seek to pick a fight with the Beasts Pirates before we even face El?!"
"Now, now—calm yourself, Kaido!"
Big Mom held the upper hand; she had been called upon for aid, and she knew it.
She spoke with unshakable poise.
"After all these years, you still cannot shed that rash, impulsive temper of yours."
She spoke as one who had always looked down on him, and indeed, there were precious few left alive on the Grand Line who could speak to him with such authority—only herself, and perhaps "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate.
"It is simple enough: give me the treasure and the lands, and I shall fight by your side!"
"And besides—that insolent whelp El has long been a thorn in my own side! I have been itching to put him in his place!"
She had her own grievances against El, true enough—but Kaido had come begging for help.
And what sort of pirate would pass up the chance to drive a hard bargain?
In short, there had been plenty of discussion and debate within the Big Mom Pirates—though confined entirely to her own children, the crew's ranking officers.
For this was truly her domain; her word was law, and once she had spoken, there was little left to argue over.
"Why should we lift a finger for that brute Kaido?!"
So spoke Charlotte Perospero, the Minister of Candy, eldest son of Charlotte Linlin, and wielder of the Stick‑Stick Fruit.
"Mother, have you truly forgotten? If you had not given him that Mythical Zoan Fish‑Fish Fruit all those years ago, would he ever have risen to such heights?!"
"And what has he done for us in return?!"
"Are we not still sworn enemies of the Beasts Pirates?!"
"Why would we ever lend aid to a foe?"
Linlin had set sail long ago, and borne her children while still very young.
Perospero had been there when the rift between the two crews first opened; even Charlotte Katakuri, strongest of the Three Sweet Commanders, had lived through those days.
The older children held no affection for Kaido, and no trust in his promises—and they stood firmly against answering his call.
"I would not be so quick to say so!" came the counter‑argument from her younger offspring.
"Our differences are not beyond mending…"
"The tides of power shift by the hour; if we bind ourselves to the Beasts Pirates now, we may yet reap great rewards!"
These were the children born later in life, still climbing the ranks and eager to prove themselves.
Ambition burned in every heart.
With so many siblings vying for standing, advancement was hard‑won—and upsetting the balance of the world offered one of the surest paths forward.
And so her officers—her own flesh and blood—had split into distinct factions.
But in the end, the choice rested solely with her.
"Enough of this!"
"All your squabbling leads nowhere!"
"Here is how it shall be…"
"We shall press Kaido for every concession we can secure."
"And we shall march together to bring El down."
With that, her decision was made.
All that remained was to decide how deeply they would commit themselves, and what Kaido would truly yield in exchange.
None of her officers were unaware of the name El.
This young pirate had blazed across the Grand Line with terrifying speed, earning a reputation as one of the most formidable newcomers in years.
Yet few truly understood the full extent of his strength; fewer still had stood against him and lived to tell the tale.
The New World was always teeming with prodigies and Supernovas, with countless gifted young pirates arriving each year.
Once, the Big Mom Pirates would scarcely have paid such news any mind.
But now…
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