To everyone's disappointment, after venting her anger, BIGMOM returned once again to her "childlike innocence."
She still had no clue about her past memories.
After learning what had happened, BIGMOM immediately demanded to go find Leno and take revenge.
If this had been before her amnesia, her word would have been absolute law. No one would have dared to object.
But the situation was different now. The moment they heard she wanted revenge, all her children turned pale and began trying to persuade her at once.
Fortunately, the amnesiac BIGMOM was willing to listen. Seeing that everyone opposed the idea, she finally gave up on revenge, looking somewhat aggrieved.
After that, her children accompanied her around Cake Island, playing and showing themselves in front of the subordinates to stabilize morale.
Once BIGMOM had been properly settled, her children finally dispersed, each harboring different thoughts.
At the same time, somewhere in the New World, aboard the Red Force.
The officers of the Red-Haired Pirates were drunk out of their minds on the deck, completely lacking the tension one would expect during a voyage.
Near the ship's railing, Benn Beckman stood with a cigarette in his mouth, reading the newspaper in his hand. Beside him was their already tipsy captain, Shanks.
After a while, Beckman exhaled a puff of smoke and turned toward Shanks, speaking uncertainly.
"I feel like something about the Thunder God's actions this time is a bit strange."
"Hmm? Didn't he just defeat another Emperor again? What's the problem?"
Shanks, who had been leaning on the railing enjoying the sea breeze, snapped back to attention and looked at his vice captain with confusion.
At this point, he really didn't want to deal with matters involving that guy anymore.
Their earlier plan had already succeeded, and he didn't want to stir up unnecessary trouble.
As long as it didn't cause chaos across the seas, there was no reason for him to go looking for discomfort himself.
Beckman looked at Shanks' flushed face and hazy drunken eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Sometimes their captain was extremely sharp and capable.
Other times he was unbelievably dense.
He lifted the newspaper in his hand and said helplessly,
"His motive. The Thunder God deliberately broke into BIGMOM's territory with such a clear objective. It can't have been just to fight someone."
"When you put it that way..."
Shanks scratched his head, then suddenly his eyes lit up as realization dawned on his face.
"I got it! That guy probably has his eyes on BIGMOM's daughter. He must've gone there to kidnap her!"
"..."
Hearing this, Beckman's eyes widened in disbelief and he froze on the spot.
Only when the cigarette nearly burned his lips did he snap back to his senses, immediately staring over with a face full of black lines.
Seeing his shocked expression, Shanks planted his hands on his hips and laughed proudly.
"Hahahahaha!"
"I'm not wrong, am I? That lustful bastard would definitely do something like that!"
"...What exactly goes on inside your head all day?"
Beckman rolled his eyes speechlessly. Then he turned his gaze toward the sea and said calmly,
"First Kaido, then BIGMOM. If I'm not mistaken, he must have already gone to Zou as well..."
"You mean..."
Shanks suddenly turned around, staring at Beckman with suspicion.
"He's also set his sights on that place?"
After a pause, he nodded in realization.
"Well, makes sense. No one could resist being tempted by that place."
"The current situation is that if our guess is correct, then sooner or later that guy will come looking for us as well."
Even Beckman, known for his strategic brilliance, felt a headache when Leno was mentioned. He rubbed his brow in frustration.
Turning to his captain, he asked with clear concern,
"If we run into him again... Shanks, can you stop him?"
"Well... although I hate to admit it, judging from his recent record, the current me probably isn't his opponent."
Shanks laughed casually, not embarrassed at all by acknowledging the objective truth.
If he couldn't win, he couldn't win. Hiding it would be even less like him.
Although he had expected this answer, Beckman's expression still darkened.
After thinking quietly for a moment, he finally said,
"In that case, we can only act according to the circumstances when the time comes!"
"Don't worry. Even if he eventually reaches that place, he won't gain anything."
Shanks patted Beckman on the shoulder and reassured him.
"Captain Roger once said that if the timing isn't right, it won't matter who goes there."
"Oh? There's such a saying?"
Beckman looked at Shanks with surprise.
He had never heard him mention this before. Since when was there something like that?
Did opening that place require some kind of opportunity?
Shanks chuckled lightly and replied vaguely.
"Well, I'm not really sure about the details. But Captain Roger said something like that back then."
As he spoke, he suddenly wrapped an arm around Beckman's neck and dragged him toward the deck.
"Enough worrying about troublesome things. Let's drink!"
"..."
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford, Fleet Admiral's Office.
Several high-ranking Marine officers had gathered together, holding one of their usual meetings.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat behind his desk. His eyes swept across the newspaper on the tea table as he spoke calmly.
"Putting aside the Thunder God's identity, allowing him into the New World back then seems to have been the correct move."
"At the moment, the major pirate crews in the New World are all contracting their influence. That gives us a lot of room to maneuver."
"I called you here today to discuss the Marines' next deployment strategy in the New World."
After throwing out the topic, Sengoku glanced around the room before picking up his teacup and taking several noisy sips.
He wanted to see the attitudes of the officers representing different factions regarding advancing into the New World.
He was getting old and wouldn't be able to remain Fleet Admiral for much longer.
To make up for previous mistakes at Marine Headquarters, he believed he could still make one or two bold moves during his remaining time in office.
And thanks to Leno causing chaos everywhere, the opportunity had practically delivered itself.
Thinking about that bastard Leno made Sengoku both angry and annoyed—partly toward the World Government and partly toward Leno himself.
Back then the two sides had clashed fiercely, but now they were suddenly cooperating again.
In the end, he, the Fleet Admiral, had become the one taking the blame.
Truly infuriating!
"What's there to discuss? Just send the troops."
Admiral Akainu exhaled a heavy cloud of smoke and looked around the room, his voice deep and full of killing intent.
"With the BIGMOM Pirates weakened right now, it's the perfect time to wipe them out in one strike."
"Oh my~ Sakazuki, have you forgotten about the other pirate crews?"
Admiral Kizaru blew gently on the nails he had just finished polishing and spoke meaningfully.
"If the Marines move, they definitely won't just sit by and watch."
"..."
...
...