At that moment, everyone noticed Yamato walking behind Kaido. Her head was wrapped in rough bandages, and faint but unmistakable injuries marred her face. The handcuffs that once bound her wrists were now linked by a thick iron chain, the other end firmly gripped in Kaido's hand—as though she were nothing more than property being dragged along.
The sight immediately darkened the expressions of the Phoenix Pirates. Just yesterday, they had shared drinks with Yamato. Though they weren't particularly close, seeing her treated in such a humiliating manner by Kaido left a bitter taste in their mouths.
Yamato, however, wore her usual bright smile and waved it off.
"Oh, Ace, I'm fine! No need to worry!"
Kaido let out a cold snort, clearly displeased.
"I am simply keeping her from running around."
Ace's brow furrowed, anger rising in his voice.
"Kaido, Yamato isn't your pet. How can you treat her like this?"
Kaido's eyes narrowed as he replied flatly,
"Fire Fist, since you know she's my daughter, then you should also understand—this is a family matter. What right does an outsider like you have to interfere?"
The words left Ace momentarily speechless.
Yamato, however, immediately shouted in protest,
"I am not a girl! I am a man! Stop treating me like a woman all the time!"
Kaido clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed.
"I've told you before—stop saying such nonsense."
Big Mom burst into laughter, her massive form shaking as she grinned.
"Mama mama mama! Most of you Phoenix Pirates don't have children, so of course you don't understand how troublesome rebellious brats can be. I completely get you, Kaido."
She leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
"But if you ask me, your discipline still isn't harsh enough. I can tell—this kid's rebellion runs deep. Among all my children, none were ever this defiant. How about it? Want me to help you straighten her out?"
"Hmph. No need."
Kaido rejected the offer without the slightest hesitation.
Big Mom sighed dramatically.
"Mama mama mama! What a pity!"
Throughout the exchange, Marco merely observed in silence, his expression unreadable.
Finally, Kaido shifted his gaze toward Marco and Big Mom, his tone turning serious.
"Enough of that. There are important matters to discuss. Now that our alliance has been formed, the first issue is this—"
His eyes gleamed with authority.
"We need a new flag. A banner that represents the Beasts Pirates, the Phoenix Pirates, and the Big Mom Pirates together."
Hearing this, Marco fell into brief contemplation. Before he could respond, Big Mom burst out laughing.
"Mama mama mama! That's a splendid idea!"
Seeing her agree so quickly, Marco narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Hold on—don't tell me you two already discussed this, and calling me here was just a formality to inform me?"
"Worororo! Don't get the wrong idea," Kaido replied with a booming laugh.
"Linlin did bring it up yesterday, but everyone was in high spirits then. I figured it was better saved for today's meeting."
He continued, his tone firm.
"Relax. The new flag will include elements from all three of our crews."
Marco muttered under his breath, clearly unconvinced.
"A pirate flag that tries to combine all three… sounds like it could turn into some kind of monstrosity."
Kaido gave a noncommittal shrug, clearly acknowledging the possibility. Big Mom, however, tilted her head and grinned.
"Oh? Then do you have a better idea, Marco?"
That left Marco momentarily at a loss. He coughed lightly, then shifted the topic.
"Kaido, didn't you say before that you planned to start a world-level war? One meant to drag the Celestial Dragons themselves into the flames?"
"If that's the case," Marco continued, "then why not keep the flag simple? Instead of a rigid skull design, we could depict the symbols of our three Devil Fruits tearing apart the World Government's flag."
Kaido wasn't one to obsess over aesthetics. He glanced at Big Mom, who immediately nodded in approval.
"Alright! Let's have them make a few dozen first and see how it looks."
Kaido then leaned forward, his voice growing heavier.
"The second matter—strengthening our alliance."
Marco nodded.
"Then let's exchange special envoys. That way, we can relay information and requests immediately."
"Mama mama mama!" Big Mom laughed.
"That's a good start, but envoys alone won't make the alliance stable enough."
Marco frowned slightly, while Kaido let out another deep laugh.
"The method is simple—marriage."
Big Mom slammed her hand on the table, eyes gleaming.
"Exactly! A marriage alliance. Of all bonds, blood ties are the most reliable."
"…Marriage?"
Marco's brows knit tightly together.
Listening to the two of them speak in perfect rhythm, Marco finally snapped.
"Hey! Be honest—did you already plan this too? First the flag, now marriage? Are you two trying to railroad me here?!"
Big Mom waved her hand dismissively, still smiling.
"Mama mama, don't misunderstand. We didn't discuss this beforehand. It's just unfamiliar to you because the Phoenix Pirates lack precedent."
She then explained calmly,
"Pirate alliances are usually short-lived and end in betrayal. If you want an alliance to last, blood ties are the surest foundation."
"Most of the crews under me are connected to the Charlotte Family through marriage. You only find this strange because you lack experience."
Marco's expression darkened, and several captains of the Phoenix Pirates showed clear displeasure as well. Still… none of them could deny it.
When it came to this kind of thing, they truly had no experience at all.
Marco pressed on, his tone firm.
"Then explain it clearly. What exactly does this so-called marriage alliance involve? If you dare propose something outrageous, I won't agree."
The Whitebeard Pirates had never relied on alliances, let alone marriage ties. Even so, Marco chose to hear them out first. If this arrangement brought no real benefit—or crossed a line—he would reject it without hesitation.
Sensing Marco's caution, Big Mom explained plainly, wasting no words.
"In simple terms, each of our three pirate crews will send two trusted members to the other crews as special envoys. At the same time, those envoys will form marriage ties with trusted subordinates—or children—of the host crew. That's how the alliance is reinforced."
Ace and the others exchanged confused looks. Marriage alliances were completely foreign to them. Marco, however, quickly grasped the gist and nodded slowly.
"I see. I understand the idea."
Kaido let out a deep laugh.
"Worororo! Don't worry. We're all Emperors here. Marriage alliances are meant to strengthen cooperation, not force obedience. Nothing will happen without the consent of both parties."
Marco nodded again. That much was reasonable. After all, these were Yonko crews. If Kaido or Big Mom tried to trap him, Marco was more than capable of withdrawing from the alliance—and even turning to the Red Hair Pirates to oppose them instead.
In the end, alliances were built on strength. And Marco had absolute confidence in the Phoenix Pirates. Even among top-tier forces, their sixteen division commanders alone possessed power comparable to All-Stars and Sweet Commanders.
Having weighed the risks, Marco finally spoke.
"Alright. Then who exactly do you plan to involve in this marriage alliance?"
A sharp smile tugged at Kaido's lips.
"On my side, Yamato will serve as a special envoy to your Phoenix Pirates and take part in the marriage alliance. Page One—one of the Tobiroppo—will be sent to the Big Mom Pirates as well. One is my daughter; the other is a trusted subordinate."
He continued without pause.
"In return, I want the Phoenix Pirates' First Division Commander, Zack, to come to the Beasts Pirates and marry my goddaughter, Ulti. That will establish a marriage bond between our two crews."
Marco's gaze shifted to Ulti standing behind Kaido, surprise flickering in his eyes.
"Goddaughter?"
"Worororo! I adopted her just yesterday," Kaido said proudly, wearing the grin of an indulgent father.
"She's the daughter of an old friend of mine. Making her my goddaughter was only natural."
Marco frowned slightly.
"So you're raising her status… You really know how to pick your targets, Kaido. Zack is our First Division Commander—one of the Phoenix Pirates' core members."
Kaido laughed again, utterly unapologetic.
"Worororo! That's precisely why. A marriage alliance has to involve people both sides truly trust. Only then can betrayal be minimized."
At last, realization dawned on Ace. His eyes widened as he slammed a hand on the table.
"So that's it! You're planning to exchange our friends, aren't you?!"
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