Chapter 346: Big Mom's Marriage Alliance - Target: Totto Land  

"What?!" 

"Sanji's getting married—?" 

The next day, after hearing Roman's message, Luffy was shocked and immediately asked, 

"Did Sanji say when he'd be back?" 

"...No." 

If it were anyone else, Sanji might have added something like, "I'll be back as soon as I can." But saying that to Roman would just be an insult to both of their intelligence. 

"The bride is the daughter of one of the Four Emperors, 'Big Mom.' Doesn't that mean we'd be joining Big Mom's crew?" 

Brook asked. After all, these kinds of marriage alliances were common between nations and powerful factions. 

Once a pirate crew reaches a certain size, they usually take one of two paths: forming a massive fleet or keeping only elite members. The ones with a big fleet tend to claim territory and use it as a base, and over time, that base grows into— 

A country. 

In this world, a country without a strong protector has no future. Pirates constantly raid and destroy any town built by ordinary people. So to most civilians, it doesn't matter if their "king" is a pirate—as long as they're strong enough, they're a qualified ruler. Either way, whether they pay taxes to the World Government or to a pirate, what's the difference? 

That's why groups like the Four Emperors are no longer just simple pirate crews. They're "evil forces" and "aggressive nations." So using marriage to recruit strong allies is a natural move— 

"Eh? No way, I'm not doing that!" 

Luffy was the first to object. "If I join that 'Big Mom Pirates' or whatever, how am I supposed to become Pirate King?" 

"Then... Sanji must have decided to cut ties with us." 

Robin understood. After all, back in Water 7, she had made the same choice when facing CP9. 

"Huh? Sanji is quitting our crew?" 

"Then I really won't allow it!!" 

— 

"Roman, why didn't you stop Sanji?" 

Luffy asked angrily. Roman shrugged. 

"I'm just the strategist, not the captain. If the cook wants to leave, I have no right to stop him. Besides—" 

"Besides, Roman is the same type of guy who tries to handle everything alone when things get dangerous," 

Nami cut in, rubbing her forehead. 

"Just like back in Alabasta. Seriously, why do you guys always have to act so tough?" 

"...And what about you, running back to Cocoyasi Village all on your own?" 

"Ah... this..." 

After talking for a while, in everyone's heart in the Straw Hat Crew, their comrades were more important than their own lives. So, when faced with extreme danger, they would instinctively put others before themselves. But: 

"Roman, there must be more to it than that, right?" 

Zoro, who was lying on a chair, opened one eye. Although Zoro had a bit of a bad sense of direction, he was still very reliable in the Straw Hat Crew. And often, he could cut straight to the point, just like now: "If it was just the pressure from the Four Emperors, even the cowardly chef wouldn't just abandon us. So—" 

"I'll explain," 

Pekoms, who looked very down, walked in. Facing the Straw Hat Crew, he slammed his forehead onto the floor with a thud. "Sorry!" 

Pekoms, a lion Mink Tribe member, kept his body prostrated on the floor. 

"I've heard about Sanji. I... I'm truly... deeply sorry to all of you!" 

"Get up," 

Pekoms was helped up by a pair of hands, and it was Luffy, looking serious. 

"You haven't done anything wrong to us, so why are you apologizing?" 

"First, tell us why Sanji left us," 

Pekoms wiped away his tears, and as soon as he spoke, the whole Straw Hat Crew's expressions changed. 

"From Foosha Village in the East Blue Kingdom, 'Kali Dadan'; from Shimotsuki Village, the owner of the One Heart Dojo, 'Koushiro'; from Cocoyasi Village, 'Nojiko'; from Xilob Village, 'Koya'..." 

!? "What does this mean?" 

Faced with Luffy's serious expression, Pekoms sighed. 

"Also, the captain of the Baratie restaurant, the former 'Redfoot' Zeff. — Anyone who dares to refuse an invitation from 'Mama' to a tea party will receive a 'gift': someone's head!" 

...This is the real pirate world. 

Assassinations are part of everyday life in such a world. Even in Roman's past life, generals and scientists in the Middle East were often 'freed' by 'falling from the sky'. 

And in America, with its advanced security services, they were just there to protect the wives and children of the rich. 

As long as you're not afraid of death or strong enough, assassination is the easiest way to get what you want. — And this world doesn't lack either of those kinds of people. 

"This is what 'strength' really means, Straw Hat Luffy." 

"Once the word 'threat' comes from a powerful person with overwhelming strength, it becomes a 'future that will definitely come true'! Facing such power, yielding is the wise choice, — just like how Sanji did." 

"However," Pekoms stood up, "I'll head straight to 'Whole Cake Island.' After all, you all are my benefactors, and I'll make sure to take care of Sanji!" 

This was the greatest act of kindness Pekoms could offer. 

Strictly speaking, the Big Mom Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates were still 'hostile' forces. 

"I'm going to Whole Cake Island too!!" 

Luffy stood up, adjusting his straw hat. 

"Sanji is our friend. If he willingly gets married, I won't stop him. But if anyone dares to threaten him—" 

The overwhelming presence of Luffy's Conqueror's Haki surged out, and the powerful Armament Haki made Pekoms feel like an invisible hand was pushing him backward. When he regained his balance, the lion Mink found his feet firmly on the ground in the courtyard outside, unharmed, his face full of shock. 

"Conqueror's Haki? Armament Haki external release!?" 

...This kind of power could only be possessed by someone at least at the level of a star-tier fighter... 

"Sorry...." 

Luffy slightly turned his body, still with Haki around him, and looked toward the outside of the room at Pekoms, making sure he didn't misread his name. 

"We're going to discuss how to get Sanji back, so—" 

"I understand, my benefactors." Pekoms, still shaken, immediately turned around, "Next time we meet, we'll be enemies." 

... "Then, Roman."

Luffy's so-called 'discussion' was of course:

"Quick, think of a way to get Sanji back! And we need to protect our family in East Blue too!"

"Yes, yes, yes," 

Roman, who had turned from a small robot into a 'wish-granting machine,' nodded. After all, the 'Wanko' [Roman's organization] was inevitably going to happen. When forming an alliance with Law, Luffy had already said: he would defeat all the Four Emperors!

So Luffy was never foolish. He couldn't become the 'Pirate King' without defeating the Four Emperors. Not just any random nobody could become Pirate King by reaching Laugh Tale; they needed the strength to back it up. And besides, one of the four red Poneglyphs pointing to Laugh Tale was in Big Mom's hands! "As for East Blue, everyone need not worry."

Roman nodded to everyone.

"I'm afraid we already have people protecting our family members. Unless it's a sea pirate with a bounty in the hundreds of millions, they can't harm them."

The ones Roman sent out were, of course, CP0 members who had undergone two years of enhanced combat training. They were now at the level of Marine Rear Admirals or Vice Admirals, especially Lucci. Once he 'popped a pill,' even Roman himself wouldn't dare to say he'd definitely win in hand-to-hand combat.

With such strength, unless the Three Sweet Commanders came to East Blue, ordinary assassins would be no match. After solving the concerns about their families, Roman continued: "This time, our opponent isn't just one person or one pirate crew, and they're not like the previous people who were unpopular. This time, we're facing an entire nation, united as one!"

Since they were going to retrieve Sanji, they needed detailed information about the enemy. This wasn't some 'adventure,' but a full-scale battle, so everyone, including Luffy, listened carefully as Roman explained.

"That's right, the entire BIG MOM Pirate Crew is a massive nation."

Roman pointed to the sand table map in front of them. To the outside world, Wanko was an impenetrable fortress, but to Roman, it wasn't mysterious at all. After all, one of the heads of the dark world, Queen Stresy from Happy Street, was a regular at Charlotte Linlin's tea parties and was actually a member of CP0! So it wasn't surprising that Roman had a detailed map of the kingdom.

"With Cake Island at its core, there are 34 islands scattered around, each ruled by one of the 34 'ministers.' This whole sea area is called Totto Land."

"All the islands are food-themed, and since the BIG MOM Pirate Crew has many Superhuman-type 'Food' Devil Fruit users, the materials here are so abundant that they can be used for construction... uh, never mind, let's not go into that."

With a wave of Roman's hand, a dense network of red dots surrounded the entire Totto Land.

"A direct breakthrough has no chance of success. They have an incredible number of 'monitoring transponder snails' in the sea, and there are plenty of candy pie-shaped reconnaissance ships patrolling. As soon as we get close, we'll be spotted, and then we'll face a strategy of overwhelming numbers."

"What should we do? We don't have enough people..." 

Usopp raised a question, not because he was afraid, but because of their sheer numerical disadvantage.

"Should we call for the 'Grand Fleet'?"

"It's too late," 

Luffy turned the straw hat on his head. Since they split up after Dressrosa, the Straw Hat Grand Fleet had gone their separate ways. Some continued traveling, some returned home, and some kept selling Straw Hat merchandise... Gathering them all back together in a short time was unrealistic.

"Avoiding the outer forces isn't that difficult for us, but—"

Getting in is easy, getting out is hard.

Don't forget, Roman can fly! Even though Wanko's sea defense was solid, the few flying 'Homies' in the sky wouldn't pose any threat to Roman.

"If we enter the Land of the Four Emperors, we'll be facing a full 'Four_Emperors Crew'! Over hundreds of thousands of soldiers, dozens of strong Charlotte family members, and a large number of pirate crews acquired through marriage. The 'Three Sweet Commanders' with bounties around 1 billion, and:"

"'Four Emperors BIG MOM' — Charlotte Linlin, with a bounty of 4.388 billion Berries!"

Roman glanced around, but no one looked scared, not even Usopp, who was slightly trembling.

"That's the general situation of the opponent. So, Luffy, give the order!"

"Roman, are you scared?"

"Scared?"

In response to Luffy's question, Roman licked his lips and showed a rare excited expression.

"I've always wondered how strong the 'Four Emperors' really are."

"Zoro, are you scared?"

"Heh, I only care if there are any swordsmen there worth fighting!"

Looking at Luffy turning to him, Zoro grinned, his fighting spirit burning.

"As for that idiot cook, I don't care."

"Then:"

Luffy looked around, "Crew, are you scared?"

"We'll follow you, captain."

"You're the captain of this ship. Even if it's hell ahead, we swear we'll follow you to the end!" X9 "So what are we waiting for—"

Luffy pressed his straw hat, showing nothing but a big grin.

"Let's head to the Land of the Four Emperors!"

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