It had to be said… among Big Mom's subordinates, Baron Tamago was one of the rare few who actually acted based on reason.
In the original timeline, when Luffy ate the sweets that were meant to be offered to Big Mom, it was Tamago who actively persuaded her to accept compensation in the form of treasure instead.
Unfortunately, for a hot-tempered, menopausal lunatic like Big Mom, Tamago's rationality had never earned her favor.
The moment Oven heard that the call was from Mama, he instantly snapped back to his senses.
Taking the Den Den Mushi, he spoke respectfully.
"Momma… what are your orders?"
Big Mom's voice was cold and calm.
"Oven. Don't act rashly. Hand the Den Den Mushi to Oguro."
Hearing that Mama wanted to speak with Oguro directly, Oven felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
That violent urge to attack vanished in an instant.
He stepped forward and handed the Den Den Mushi to Oguro.
Oguro was also a little curious about what Big Mom intended to say.
Was she going to compromise?
Or declare war outright?
"Charlotte Linlin. What do you want with me?"
To his surprise, Big Mom didn't erupt in anger or accusations. Instead, she burst into laughter.
"Ma ma ma… no need to be so guarded! Sith Oguro! Across the entire Grand Line, you're among the very best!"
"Compared to you, my sons are nothing but immature brats!"
Oguro frowned slightly.
Did she really contact him just to praise him?
The very next moment, Big Mom gave her answer.
"Sith Oguro… join us! You can marry any one of my daughters!"
"Oh right… how about Custard? She's standing right next to Oven! Looks, figure… she's easily top-tier among my daughters!"
"Her strength is outstanding too. Marry her and you won't lose out at all!"
"When the two of us join forces, we'll dominate the Grand Line without question!"
Custard, who had been silently observing the situation, froze on the spot.
Why was this suddenly about her?
Mama had just… picked her a marriage partner like that?
Yet Custard didn't speak up to oppose it.
Within the Big Mom Pirates, political marriages had long been a worn-out tactic.
Just look at Big Mom herself… she'd been married dozens of times.
Once she decided to use someone for a political alliance, refusal simply wasn't an option.
And from Custard's point of view… Oguro really wasn't a bad match.
Powerful individual strength.
A force that didn't lose to a Yonko crew.
Good-looking.
Young.
Thinking that far, Custard's face suddenly flushed red.
If this actually went through… wouldn't that mean she was robbing the cradle?
Just imagining it made her embarrassed to death.
On the other side, Oguro's mouth twitched uncontrollably when he heard Big Mom's offer.
She really was trying to eat her way across the Grand Line with political marriages.
And now she'd set her sights on him.
Soifon and the others beside him were practically radiating killing intent as they stared at the Den Den Mushi, making the poor little thing tremble nonstop.
This has nothing to do with me!
If you're angry, yell at the person on the other end!
Soifon and the others were close to exploding.
Even they, who stayed by Oguro's side day and night, had never dared to covet the position of queen.
And Big Mom actually dared to suggest that the Soul King marry her daughter?
Did she really think being a Yonko meant she was some kind of emperor?
Oguro said coldly,
"That's enough, Big Mom. Stop talking about this pointless nonsense."
Join her faction?
She really should ask herself whether she was even qualified.
"Ma ma ma… no need to rush your rejection! If Custard doesn't catch your eye, I still have a younger daughter named Pudding! She's a gentle girl… want to consider her?"
Pudding?
Oguro immediately recalled her.
The girl who was betrothed to Sanji.
A Three-Eye Tribe hybrid.
User of the Paramecia-type Memo Memo no Mi.
A master actress, incredibly skilled at disguising herself.
As that information surfaced in his mind, Oguro's gaze turned ice-cold.
This wasn't about marriage at all.
She wanted to use the Memo Memo no Mi to extract his secrets… to seize the mystery behind Shinigami power.
Exactly the same trick she'd used in the original timeline.
A marriage alliance in name, total devouring in reality… just like what she planned for the Vinsmoke Family.
A trace of killing intent crept into Oguro's voice.
"Big Mom. If you keep trying to play games with me, I won't mind using the heads of the people in front of me as a warning."
Big Mom's laughter stopped instantly.
Her voice became dark and chilling.
"Brat… are you refusing me?"
Oguro immediately laughed.
Yes… this was more like it.
The violent, temperamental Yonko.
"Big Mom. Spare me the threats. You and I were never going to be friends."
"And one more thing. Fish-Man Island is my territory now."
"If you don't want to lose a few sons or daughters today, tell your people to get the hell out."
"Heh heh heh…"
Big Mom let out an eerie, sinister laugh.
"Very good. Very good! It's been many years since anyone dared speak to me like this!"
"Looks like your stunt at Marineford gave you quite the confidence."
"Sith Oguro! You'd better never step into the New World!"
"Otherwise, everything that happens here today… I'll repay a hundredfold!"
Oguro merely scoffed.
"Who gave you the confidence to think I'd lose to you once I enter the New World?"
"Big Mom… maybe the day I enter the New World will be the day Totto Land falls."
The moment those words left his mouth, terrifying killing intent surged in Big Mom's eyes.
Totto Land was her life's dream.
Her blood, sweat, and obsession.
Anyone who dared destroy it was her mortal enemy.
"Sith Oguro! If you dare enter the New World, I will kill you!"
Big Mom's thunderous voice echoed through the Den Den Mushi… and across Cake Island in the New World.
Oguro gave a cold smile, hung up the call, and tossed the Den Den Mushi back to the stunned Oven.
"Why are you still here?" he barked.
Conqueror Haki mixed with spiritual pressure surged out like tidal waves, relentlessly hammering the minds of Oven and the others.
Oven didn't dare hesitate for even a second.
He immediately turned and ordered everyone to return to the New World.
He had no doubt that if he stayed any longer, Oguro would chop his head off without hesitation.
Watching Oven flee in utter disgrace, Neptune felt as if he were dreaming.
That was a Yonko commander.
And he'd been forced to retreat just like that.
Even more terrifying… Oguro had directly threatened Big Mom herself.
At that moment, Neptune realized something.
He might have just latched onto a truly massive thigh.
Oguro, meanwhile, let out a quiet breath.
The predicted future had been changed.
Which meant he wasn't bound by any bullshit destiny after all.