Everyone is a pirate, and moreover, seasoned old pirates, having roamed the seas for many years and seen many people.
Once a Vice Admiral, now an Admiral.
Six years ago, Red Hair became the fourth Sea Emperor.
And those who have fallen from the peak or retired from the sea.
Having seen so much, they're not those reckless rookies; they accept things faster.
Do the newly debuted rookies not know the power of the Four Emperors? But they certainly do.
Even if Mom is old, she is still one of the Four Emperors!
And Sage, who defeated Mom solo, is even more powerful.
Even the most hot-tempered, family-loyal Oven has to calm down and think carefully about Sage's proposal.
No pirate on this sea prospers forever because they're just pirates.
But pirates also vary in age.
All of them are older than Sage, and Sage can easily live another sixty or seventy years...
This is a long time...
Those who've been captured, except for thirty-five-year-old Smoothie who knows a bit less, all know the past.
Even Cracker, the tenth son and fifteenth child, is already forty-five. When he was born, Mom was twenty-three. At the time of the Divine Valley incident, he was eight and could remember everything.
Everyone else is even older; as the eldest son, Perospero knows what happens over a long time.
Forty years ago, Mom was still with Rocks; no one imagined the powerhouse Rocks would suddenly collapse thirty-eight years ago.
Later, Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Black Devil... that is Roger, the three overlords dominated the sea, until Roger became the Pirate King. But similarly, no one imagined that twenty-four years ago, fourteen years after the Divine Valley incident, the Pirate King who conquered the sea would be executed.
Later on, Mom became a Sea Emperor, and Kaido also became a Sea Emperor, maintaining a dominant position in this era of great pirates.
Until eighteen years later, six years ago, the position of Sea Emperor was again divided, and Red Hair became one of the Four Emperors.
And now, Mom, who has been at the pinnacle for several decades... is replaced by a younger person.
Even the supposedly smartest Seven Warlords of the Sea were established around Chronology of One Piece 1508-1510, and latest news suggests this decade-old system risks being overturned.
This only came after three World Conferences.
Whether Four Emperors, Seven Warlords of the Sea, or those silver medalists of the sea, the so-called 'peak' lasts only ten, twenty years at most; that's the norm for pirates.
And Mom is no exception.
Mom's death is an undeniable fact. As fellow pirates, being eliminated during the struggle for dominance is very normal, no matter how unacceptable; they must consider the future.
Defying Sage's goodwill is absolutely unwise. This guy dares to kill the Heavenly Celestial Dragons, casually annihilating countries; he will achieve his goals no matter what.
Preserving the family is very important to them...
"Since that's the case... there's nothing more to say."
Perospero retracts his protruding tongue, and with one hand, he offers his Candy Stick, "There's only one outcome; I will serve you."
"The eldest son is indeed the eldest son, assessing the situation wisely."
Sage laughed, "In my home, there's an old saying, wash away five-fold to become a warship... I appreciate you, Perospero."
Then, he looks at Katakuri, "How about you?"
"I have a question."
Katakuri thinks for a moment, then says, "Our family members can fly your flag and roam the sea in your name, but if we face undefeatable foes..."
"I will step in."
Sage says, "To subordinates who pledge loyalty to me, I am generous; those who want money will get money, those seeking security will have security, those desiring status will receive status... you have everything but governing power. The so-called formidable foes are just those few, and if you truly encounter them, I will intervene."
They're just a few, Navy Admirals and Four Emperors, maybe some lesser-known figures, but such figures wouldn't dare provoke the Four Emperors; and those top few, he's already planning to deal with them.
"Then I have no objections."
Katakuri said in a deep voice, "I will also pledge my loyalty to you."
"Excellent."
Sage smiled and finally looked at Smoothie, "How about you?"
"No objections."
Smoothie said straightforwardly, "I follow my eldest and second brother."
"This guy..."
Perospero took a deep look at Sage, lowered his head, and murmured, "So perceptive."
Family understands its own matters.
Within the Big Mom Pirates, if you must categorize, there are about three factions.
One is Perospero, the eldest son leading the rational faction, loyal to Mom's forces for the expansion of their territory.
One is the family faction led by Katakuri; no matter how his brother hides it, years together made Perospero aware of his thoughts. Katakuri values the family deeply, cherishing each member, even to the point of intending to defy Mom.
How to say it, Mom indeed shields them from external threats, but if there's no external danger, Mom is the biggest threat!
Not many pirate crews dare to venture here due to the Four Emperors' reputation, yet Mom causes many destructions each year, increasingly irritable with age.
If there's a disagreement, she might take her own children's lives and also lead in discriminating against her offspring.
This is unacceptable for good brother Katakuri who cares for every family member.
As for the last faction, that's the neutral faction led by Smoothie, adhering to any direction as long as it doesn't involve them, living most freely, yet also most marginalized.
Sage has seen through them all and brings the exact people he requires.
The Three Commanders, and the ones steering the family left or right, are all here.
"Release! Release!"
Seeing everyone agree, Sage laughed heartily, waved his hand for his men to unlock their Sea Stone Chains, and personally got up, pulling up Katakuri with one hand, saying:
"I have Katakuri, no worries about territory!"
Perospero is a good choice, Smoothie is great too, but Sage values Katakuri the most.
Not only impression points, but this guy's reputation is also superb across the seas.
Ranks second, unmatched in filial piety.
Loyalty?
Pirates don't discuss such things.
Lily is still healing; this guy's combat power is formidable enough.
No matter what, he deserves the title of Pirate Edition No. 2.
Undoubtedly the Emperor's deputy.
With him guarding here, there's no need to split troops for Big Mom's territory, just focus on development and tax collection directly.