Kaido and Big Mom both frowned slightly when they heard the word "Marines."
Big Mom's mood immediately worsened. Was she going to fight the Marines again? It had only been a little over a month since the war at Whole Cake Island. Her territory was still in ruins, and the number of pirates under her command had fallen to less than twenty thousand. Although she had recently created many Homies by taking the lifespans of several thousand Marines that Marco had captured and sent over, her forces were still far from their peak.
Kaido asked coldly, "Egghead Island. I remember that island used to belong to the Marines, right? Wasn't the agreement that we would deal with the Marines only after we had brought all the islands of the New World under our control? Why did you attack the Marines directly without informing me first?"
Marco grinned slightly. "I didn't have much of a choice. Dr. Vegapunk was researching the Poneglyphs, which already violated one of the World Government's greatest taboos. When the world's greatest scientist asked for my help, I couldn't just stand by and ignore it."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"However, I didn't call you to ask for help against the Marines. If it's only the Marines, the Phoenix Pirates can handle them ourselves. What I'm concerned about is the Gorosei, and possibly even the God's Knights. If they get involved, things will become troublesome. I want both of you to be ready to support me at any time."
When Big Mom heard this, her eyes widened in shock.
"Vegapunk? You captured Vegapunk?"
Kaido, on the other hand, looked excited.
"Are you saying Vegapunk can read the ancient texts?"
Marco ignored their questions and spoke in a more serious tone.
"Vegapunk is extremely important to the World Government. Because of that, the Gorosei are very likely to intervene personally, just like last time. If the Gorosei appear and arrive on Egghead Island through some strange method like they did during the Whole Cake Island incident, I want you to be ready to support me through Brulee's mirrors."
After hearing Marco's words, both Kaido and Big Mom fell silent.
Neither of them had expected that they would be fighting the Marines and possibly the World Government again so soon. However, the reality of their situation made it difficult to avoid.
Kaido suddenly laughed.
"Worororo, alright. This old man agrees. But I have one condition."
Marco frowned slightly. A condition?
He immediately showed his dissatisfaction.
"Hey, Kaido, are you taking advantage of the situation? When we formed the alliance, we agreed to advance and retreat together. Now that your ally is facing trouble, you suddenly want to add conditions."
Kaido grinned.
"Relax. It won't be difficult for you, and it's also for the sake of the alliance."
Marco's expression grew colder.
"This is about trust. When we formed the alliance, it was clearly agreed that if any party was attacked by the Marines or other pirates, the others would provide unconditional support. Yet now you're suddenly asking for conditions."
Kaido did not back down.
"If we're talking about trust, you were the first to break the agreement. You attacked the Holy Land Mary Geoise on your own, which led to Totto Land being attacked by the Marines. This time it's the same. We agreed to first bring the New World islands under our control, but you were the first to make a move involving the World Government's greatest scientist. That is why the Marines and possibly the World Government will attack you. This situation is the result of your own actions."
Big Mom also realized this after hearing Kaido's words.
When he mentioned the Marine attack on Totto Land, her anger rose again.
She had always believed that the Marines attacked Totto Land because Marco attacked Mary Geoise. She had simply been unlucky enough to become the target of retaliation against the Phoenix Pirates.
At that time, however, the Big Mom Pirates had already been weakened. Even if she was dissatisfied with Marco, she could only endure it.
Now the situation was different.
Marco's actions had put the Three Emperors Alliance into direct conflict with both the Marines and the World Government. If the Phoenix Pirates were surrounded by the Marines, the other two could not simply ignore it.
Even so, Big Mom did not want to be manipulated by Marco.
"This old lady feels the same way. Supporting you is not a problem, but I also have a condition."
Marco's expression immediately turned colder.
"Kaido, Big Mom, what exactly do you mean by this? We agreed to advance and retreat together, yet now you're both doing this. Big Mom, when your pirate crew was attacked, the Phoenix Pirates were the first to come to your aid. If it weren't for me, do you think you could have handled Sakazuki and Aramaki?"
Big Mom fell silent for a moment.
But when she thought about Vegapunk, the world's greatest scientist, she quickly made up her mind.
"That's different. Back then, this old lady didn't provoke the Marines. They attacked Totto Land on their own. According to the alliance agreement, you were obligated to help us."
She snorted coldly before continuing.
"But this time is different. Egghead Island originally belonged to the Marines, and you attacked them first. Something this big, yet you never informed us beforehand. Now that trouble has arrived, you suddenly come asking for help. Vegapunk is the world's greatest scientist, you can't monopolize all the benefits."
"This old lady doesn't want much. I only want Vegapunk to help complete my Giant creation experiment. That's all."
Marco's expression darkened slightly.
He had always known that pirate alliances were unreliable, but he did not expect these two to pressure him at such a critical moment.
His eyes gradually turned cold.
"Kaido, what about you? What's your condition?"
Kaido laughed loudly.
"Worororo, don't worry. This old man isn't greedy. Starting a world shaking war has always been my dream."
He continued with a grin.
"I've already pulled Pluton out of the sea. But the ship is in terrible condition. It has been submerged in seawater for far too long. Many of the cabins are completely flooded, and even draining the water will take a long time. The control systems are also written in ancient texts. I can't understand a single word."
Kaido looked at Marco meaningfully.
"You said Vegapunk asked for your help because he was researching Poneglyphs and violated the World Government's taboo. If that's true, then I want him to repair the battleship and translate the ancient text on the control panels."
Marco remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Fine. But I also have a condition. If both of you agree to it, then I will agree to your requests."
Both Kaido and Big Mom were slightly surprised.
Marco continued without hesitation.
"After this matter is resolved, the Three Emperors Alliance must choose a leader. Otherwise, if the alliance continues acting separately, we will never form a true united front. Every time I want to take action, the two of you refuse to cooperate. It ends up looking like I'm the only one fighting."
Big Mom immediately shouted angrily.
"What do you mean we refuse to cooperate? You never discuss anything with us first!"
Kaido, however, was briefly stunned before bursting into laughter.
"Worororo, Marco, it seems you're very confident in your strength now. Good. This old man agrees to that condition."
Big Mom's expression turned extremely grim.
She clearly understood the situation.
Among pirates, choosing a leader would always be decided in the most direct way possible.
Strength.
Whoever had the strongest power would become the leader.
And among the three of them, her strength was undoubtedly the weakest.
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