[Third-person perspective]
"Hey, was that really okay, Mama?"
Whole Cake Island, after Sue and most of the guests had already departed.
In one room of Whole Cake Castle at the island's center, Perospero, the eldest son of the Charlotte Family, posed that question to his mother while she was in the middle of eating her snacks.
"What do you mean, Perospero?"
"The Pirate Literary Master. Even we were surprised to learn she's the Golden Lion's daughter, but to just let her go that easily..."
He spoke while recalling Sue, the woman they'd planned to bring into the family through a political marriage.
It had taken the form of a proposal, sure. But the moment they saw profit in the marriage, it was already a done deal. They hadn't intended to finalize things right away, but their mother's will was, as always, an absolute decree that none of the brothers and sisters could overturn. The will and standing of others were irrelevant.
Which was precisely why he was asking: even though someone with a big name, an old acquaintance of their mother's who was still known and feared to this day, had turned out to be backing Sue, was it really wise to let her go so easily?
Big Mom just laughed at her son's question.
"Mamamama... Is that all, Perospero? You don't get it at all. I haven't given up on that girl one bit. I simply decided now isn't the right time."
"...? What do you mean?"
"It's because every last one of the preconditions has changed, Peros-bro."
Katakuri, the second son sitting beside Perospero, picked up where their mother left off.
"What we originally planned was a marriage purely to make use of the Pirate Literary Master and the name recognition and connections she brings. But now, a massive background has come to light. If she's the Golden Lion's daughter, the way we leverage her changes entirely."
"Ahh... well, true enough. Even if it's in the past, if she's family to a Great Pirate who once stood alongside Mama... there'd be plenty more to gain. Beyond the woman's own fame and connections, there's also the Golden Lion's."
"Yes, but to make full use of all that, we'd need comparable preparations on our end, and timing becomes critical. Pushing too hard right now wouldn't yield sufficient returns."
"That'd be a real waste, for sure. Whether we make her hand it over or just take it by force..."
"Indeed, there are many things we can do and should do. What of it? We have time. No need to rush."
Cracker and Smoothie continued the discussion in turn. The other brothers and sisters present in the room nodded along.
"We should scoop up everything beneficial that's there for the taking, but going about it haphazardly would let too many things slip through our fingers. Heh heh heh... then yes, preparation is certainly in order."
"Long as you all understand. Let's just watch and wait for now... Ha-hahahaha! Besides, there are other promising candidates out there too. Maybe we should push forward with those arrangements first."
"...Also, Mama, I'm sure you've already noticed." Katakuri spoke as if suddenly remembering something.
"Not that it changes anything in particular, but that woman is clearly stronger than her Bounty suggests. Probably because she hasn't engaged in any conspicuous activity, but her actual strength was obviously well beyond the hundred-million level."
He hadn't witnessed her fight. There hadn't been any other occasion where she'd displayed her power either. Yet from her bearing and presence alone, Katakuri had discerned that Sue's strength was, at the very least, absolutely not on the same level as some run-of-the-mill pirate.
"By the time we make our move to bring her in again, her Bounty may well have risen."
"I see. In that case... maybe Mont-d'Or wouldn't be a suitable match after all."
It wasn't that Big Mom was being considerate, trying to pair Sue with someone befitting her status. What they were orchestrating was a political marriage, so matters of suitability, the wishes or compatibility of the parties involved, were completely beside the point. As always.
Even so, considering the prestige she now carried as a pirate, pairing her with someone of matching stature might yield greater benefits for their side. It was purely that calculation driving the deliberation.
What never changed was Big Mom's creed: she never restrained herself from getting what she wanted, and she would seize it by any means necessary. That this absolute rule must never be bent was something beyond mere arrogance or obsession. Even if what she coveted belonged to someone else, to an old acquaintance, that made no difference whatsoever.
"Well, we can think about all that in due time. In any case, what must be taken will be taken. Everything that Shiki has been building up while hiding away and scheming for twenty years... I look forward to the day it all becomes ours... Ha-haha-mamamama!!"
☆☆☆
"...Is what Linlin's probably thinking. Even now."
"'Probably thinking,' Grandpa? Seriously..."
"This isn't a laughing matter... Mama was being targeted by someone that dangerous?"
Several years later. The present.
During a meeting to discuss their next moves now that Sue had become a Shichibukai, the topic of the Tea Party from several years ago came up.
There, from the mouths of Shiki and Sue, everyone learned that one of the Four Emperors, Big Mom, was targeting Sue as a candidate for political marriage.
"So what you're saying, Big Boss, is that Big Mom is still after Sue?"
"Most likely. She realized it'd be dangerous to approach carelessly now that she knows I'm behind her, but her plan is probably to pull back for now and eventually swoop in and snatch everything at once. Well, Sue becoming a Shichibukai means they'll need to adjust their approach, so they probably won't make a move for a while yet."
"But someday they might come for her... We'll need to think of something on our end before that happens."
Even Blume and Beauty, the two close aides, wore grave expressions.
If Sue were taken through a political marriage, it would essentially mean the Golden Lion Pirates being brought under the umbrella of the Big Mom Pirates. Considering that possibility, it was a future utterly unacceptable to the two aides and to Sue's daughters alike.
"Anyway, this is the guy, right? The one they were considering as a match back then?"
Alice held up a Wanted Poster for everyone to see.
"Charlotte Mont-d'Or... Bounty of 120 million... That's lower than mine or Alice's."
"But you can't take those numbers at face value. With the Big Mom Pirates especially... some pirates don't get a Bounty that matches their real strength."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, it's pretty common among New World pirates. When they limit their activities to within their Territory, they don't go out causing havoc or get their strength assessed very often, so the figures lack accuracy."
The same could be said of other Executive-level members of the Big Mom Pirates, such as Oven and Daifuku. Both had Bounties of 300 million Berry. But their actual strength clearly far exceeded what 300 million would suggest.
Members who operated outside the Territory more frequently, combat agents like Baron Tamago and Pekoms, had higher posted Bounties, probably for exactly that reason. That was the assessment of those who knew the New World firsthand, like Sue and Shiki.
"To begin with, a Bounty doesn't measure strength. It's an index of how dangerous someone is to the World Government. For example... the Straw Hat that Sue fought alongside during the Summit War. The Archaeologist on his ship, Nico Robin, is a perfect example. Because she was considered to have inherited the knowledge and ideology of Ohara, which the World Government feared, a Bounty of 79 million Berry was placed on her when she was just an eight-year-old girl with zero combat ability."
"And they even went and fabricated the false charge that she'd 'sunk multiple Marine warships.' Seriously, those bastards just have the law on their side and they're worse than pirates."
"Well, the Government being garbage aside, let's set that topic down for now. Even if we're probably safe for a while... you're going to start taking countermeasures, right, Papa?"
"Obviously. Or rather, I've already started. Even before you went to that Tea Party."
"Ohhh... Grandpa, as expected."
"Do your best, Grandpa. We'll help with whatever we can."
"Yeah, yeah! There's absolutely no way I'm handing Mom over to some guy with a face like a Goblin Subspecies!"
'Goblin Subspecies...'
The thought echoed through several minds at once as Alice deployed another one of her uniquely indescribable insults, or comparisons, or whatever they were. Still, looking at that hooked nose and villainous mug... more than a few of them privately conceded that the resemblance wasn't entirely off.
"Well, goblin or not, I've got no intention of sending Sue off as a bride to that monster of a hag, and I sure as hell don't intend to let her take my Pirate Crew. But it's also a fact that this isn't an opponent we can deal with easily. We'll need to keep preparing for a while yet."
"...When the time comes, will we fight?"
"Against the Big Mom Pirates?!"
"It might come to that. Or it might not. We'll prepare for every scenario. But no matter what path we end up taking, it won't be easy. Which is exactly why bolstering our fighting strength is an urgent priority."
With those words, Shiki rose from his seat. The meeting concluded there, and he opened the door and left the conference room.
"Going forward, we'll continue expanding our forces, including Dr. Indigo's research and strengthening our subordinate pirate crews. Fortunately, Sue joining the Shichibukai has made it a lot easier to maneuver. While we still have that golden Symbol to use, we'll make the most of it. If any of you find promising recruits, bring them in however you see fit. But watch out for spies. If someone seems suspicious... no, even if they don't seem suspicious, have Sue check them at least once."
"With Heaven's Door, right?"
"That's right."
With a parting "See you," Shiki disappeared beyond the door.
"...The Four Emperors, huh. When you really think about it, that is pretty nerve-wracking."
"Sue sure got herself noticed by one hell of a character."
"Well, the fact is that their eye for talent was spot-on. Just look at the Bounty before it was rescinded."
1,087,400,000 Berry. A staggering Bounty. That prestige, surpassing even that of Katakuri, the No. 2 Bounty in the Big Mom Pirates, was more than enough to attract the attention of a member of the Four Emperors.
Which also meant Big Mom would be even less likely to give up on Sue now. Even if it took time, as Shiki said, she would undoubtedly try to claim her.
"Getting stronger ourselves goes without saying, but..."
"Like Grandpa said, we need to increase our numbers too."
"And everything else we can possibly do, we should do. Let's give it our all."
It wouldn't come right away. But a future of confrontation with one of the Four Emperors was likely unavoidable.
To avoid losing what mattered most when that day came, there was still so much they needed to do.
Sue and the others reaffirmed that during the meeting.
'Building up our fighting strength, huh... Gaining more allies, advancing our technology... Now, how should we go about this? Trustworthy people we could reach out to... Nothing comes to mind right away, but... I hope we find some.'
☆☆☆
"By the way, Perospero?"
"? What is it, Mama? Something else on your mind?"
"Yeah... Has that runaway daughter of mine come home yet?"
"'Runaway daughter'... You mean Lola? She hasn't even sent word in years, so tracking her down would be..."
"No, that's not who she means, Peros-bro. The other one."
"...Ah, you mean Parfait. Not at all, Mama. Doing whatever she wants, going wherever she pleases, never listens to a word anyone says. Honestly... if she wasn't the next Sweet Commander candidate, she'd be in for serious punishment. Whether she even understands that is anyone's guess."
"Ha-haha-mamama, what a hopeless child. Well, if she were 'leaving,' I wouldn't forgive it... but if she's just 'wandering around,' I'll let it slide. She always brings back lovely souvenirs."
"Sorry, Mama... Next time she comes home, I'll have a stern word with her myself."
"I'm counting on you, Katakuri. Besides Mama, you're her combat mentor, so you and Pudding are pretty much the only ones she'll listen to... That girl. ...And even that's hit or miss."
"Play nice, all of you. In time, that child will make for a fine piece in a major political marriage too. Send her a Den Den Mushi later, won't you? Her twin sister Pudding has been lonely, you know. Ha-haha-mamama!"
To be continued...