Ace's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. In that moment, he finally understood how Whitebeard must have felt when he sailed to Marineford to save him. On one hand, he had an unwavering trust in his comrades; on the other, his younger brother was in mortal danger. Marco sensed the turmoil within Ace and offered a reassuring smile.
"Ace, you're our captain now," Marco said softly. "If you want to do it, then do it. We'll all support you."
Ace fell silent. He desperately wanted to act, but he could not risk the lives of his crew. When Whitebeard had mobilized for him, it was because he was a commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Luffy was simply his younger brother. Marco understood the hesitation and proposed an idea.
"Let's put it to a vote," Marco suggested. "We'll follow the same rules we used when we chose our captain."
Five minutes later, every commander of the Whitebeard Pirates had gathered on the deck of the Moby Dick. The group included the veterans and those who had joined more recently. Marco explained Luffy's dire situation. Most of the commanders were already aware of the news, as many had encountered Ace's brother during the Summit War. Even so, the reality of the situation set in quickly.
"Captain Ace, Marco, it's not that I don't support our captain," one commander began, "or that I don't like Luffy-kun. But do we really have to go to war with Charlotte Linlin? She's one of the Four Emperors, just like Pops used to be."
"That's right," another added. "It's not that we're afraid, but with our current strength, we're simply no match for her forces. And don't forget that scoundrel Teach is waiting in the shadows. If we win, that's fine, but if we lose…"
"Don't be ridiculous, it's impossible to win," a third voice interrupted. "If we really go to war, we won't just be facing Big Mom. We might have to deal with Kaido of the Beasts as well!"
The deck fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. Everyone knew that those two Emperors had formed an alliance. While they had remained relatively quiet for the past two years, the ongoing situation in Wano Country was a constant reminder of their dangerous partnership. Ace felt his spirit sink, though he could not blame his crew for their caution. Luffy was only his brother, yet he knew deep down that he had to save him, especially after Luffy had risked everything to rescue him in the past.
Just then, a voice cut through the tension. "Hey, hey, did everyone forget something? I think the Whitebeard Pirates should save the captain's younger brother."
All eyes turned to the speaker—a man who had joined their ranks six months ago. He served as the commander of the Twenty-Third Division and possessed fearsome swordsmanship. Ace and Marco had never truly warmed up to him, as he had openly declared his desire to use the Whitebeard Pirates' influence to become the Pirate King. Still, he had proven his worth in battle, and they had no reason to turn him away.
Feeling the weight of their gazes, the man continued without masking his ambition. "Don't forget, Straw Hat Luffy's grandfather is the Navy Hero Garp, his father is Dragon of the Revolutionaries, and he has a strong bond with Red Hair, one of the Four Emperors. If we rescue him, all those powerful figures will owe us a massive favor."
The mood on the deck shifted instantly. The commanders had been so focused on Big Mom's power that they had overlooked the web of influence surrounding the boy. These were individuals who could stand their ground even if Kaido decided to intervene. Excitement rippled through the crew as they began to shout in support.
Watching the scene, the veteran commanders shared a complex look. Ace and Marco felt it too. The original Whitebeard Pirates had never been driven by such naked ambition or impulsive greed. The crew's loyalty was shifting, and the unity they once enjoyed was fraying. Ace realized he lacked the commanding presence that Whitebeard had used to keep everyone in line. He felt like he was failing as a captain.
'Pops, if you could see me now, you'd be so disappointed,' Ace thought to himself.
Yet, if this ambition was the price of ensuring his crew's help to save Luffy, perhaps it was a necessary trade. Seeing the energy in the air, Ace finally made his choice.
"I'll leave the rest to you all," Ace declared. "Let's prepare to pay a visit to Charlotte Linlin!"
Meanwhile, in Totto Land, the atmosphere inside the castle on Whole Cake Island was tense. Big Mom had sent most of her children away, leaving only Perospero, Katakuri, and Mondor behind. In the vast treasure room, Charlotte Linlin stared greedily at Luffy, who had been captured by her son.
"Mamamama! Mamamama!"
The hungry, predatory glint in Big Mom's crimson eyes terrified the Straw Hat pirates who were trapped within the pages of Mondor's books. Their legs shook in fear.
"It's so scary!" one of them cried.
"Don't be afraid, Usopp!" Luffy shouted, though he was bloodied and exhausted. "I'll get you out of here!"
In reality, the newspaper reports had been exaggerated. Thanks to the power of Law's Op-Op Fruit, only Luffy and Usopp had been captured. Katakuri stood nearby, his own body disheveled and wrapped in bandages. The Straw Hat pirates had fought with incredible tenacity; the wound on Katakuri's waist had been dealt by their swordsman, Zoro. Eventually, the crew had been forced to split up, with one group escaping on their own ship and the rest fleeing on the Heart Pirates' vessel. Luffy had stayed behind, acting as the shield for his crew's escape.
"Sorry, Mom," Katakuri said, bowing his head. "The rest of the Straw Hat pirates escaped."
Big Mom ignored him, her focus entirely on her captive. "It's okay, Katakuri, you did well. The others aren't important. Straw Hat is all that matters." She turned to Mondor and commanded, "Open the cell!"
Mondor obeyed, releasing the ability that held Luffy in place. As soon as his bonds vanished, Luffy dragged his broken body forward, lunging at Big Mom in a desperate strike. She didn't even flinch; she simply met his charge with a palm strike as solid as an iron hoop.
"Ah!" Luffy screamed, coughing up blood as he was sent flying.
"Tch," Big Mom grunted, watching him fall. He didn't look like the legend Kaido had described. Was this really the Sun God Nika? She didn't care. She threw Luffy to the ground with a bone-jarring thud. "Perospero, I'm leaving this brat to you. Find a way to make him stronger."
"Eh?" Perospero blinked in surprise, but a wicked grin quickly spread across his face. "Leave it to me, Mom!"
Big Mom turned her gaze to Usopp, a malicious light in her eyes. "Is this long-nosed boy your companion, Straw Hat?"
Luffy's eyes widened in panic, a terrible feeling rising in his gut. Before he could react, Perospero kicked him back down. As Usopp let out a cry of pain, Big Mom leaned in, whispering words that shattered Luffy's hope.
"Mamamama, starting today, I will drain ten years of this boy's life every single day, Straw Hat. If you want to save your friend, you'll have to find a way to defeat me. Let's see if your potential is as great as Kaido claims."
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