Looking at the expressions on Whitebeard and the others' faces, Cyrus did not really care.
Their bounties added up to more than ten billion berries.
Building the Skypiea examination site required a massive amount of funding.
If the venue were built on the sea, quite a bit could be saved.
But since it was being built on a Sky Island, many materials and later construction supplies had to be transported up from below.
Of course, if the Hunter Guild forced a group of people to do the work, they could save a great deal.
But Cyrus naturally would not allow that.
And so, Crocodile occasionally coming to him for help had become a recurring scene.
"I thought you were enemies with the World Government and the Marines."
Golden Lion bit down on his cigar and glared at Cyrus, his tone clearly unfriendly.
This was after he had already been beaten by Cyrus. If it had been before that beating, he probably would have said it with far more arrogance.
"We are enemies. But that doesn't stop me from earning your bounties. So the four of you should prepare yourselves. Next, I'll personally escort you into the Marines' Impel Down."
Cyrus said this with a smile.
Since they were worth bounties, being a little polite was not impossible.
The four of them exchanged looks.
"The four of us have basically recovered now. Aren't you worried we'll just leave?"
Whitebeard, who was still taller than Cyrus even while sitting cross-legged, spoke.
"Then will you?" Cyrus asked back, his tone relaxed. He truly did not seem to care.
"Even if I leave, I'll do it after beating you head-on, brat."
Big Mom snorted coldly.
"Good."
Cyrus's expression brightened.
His strength had just improved a little.
He had not originally planned to make a move, but if the four people before him wanted to test him, that was fine too.
"Issho, go back and have someone bring their weapons over."
Issho, who had stood silently since entering, had been on guard the entire time. Hearing Cyrus's words, he fell silent for a moment, then nodded and turned to leave.
Big Mom's expression shifted.
Her gaze swept across the faces of the other three, seemingly asking for their opinions.
But the other three were all staring straight at Cyrus.
Was this guy serious?
...
They did not wait for long, a short while later, footsteps sounded.
When Issho returned, a group of Homies followed behind him.
Whitebeard's Murakumogiri.
Big Mom's three Homies created from her own soul.
Golden Lion's Oto and Kogarashi.
Silver Axe's battle axe and armor.
After the weapons were placed before the four of them, the Homies who had carried them in quickly left.
Whitebeard and the others stared at the items in front of them before all turning their eyes toward Cyrus.
"Your things have been returned. So, are you going to make a move?"
"Jihahahaha! You really are…"
Whitebeard stared at Cyrus, then suddenly burst into loud laughter.
With a wave of his hand, the two swords that had landed before him flew toward Cyrus.
Cyrus did not move. The two blades flew to his front and then stabbed into the ground before him.
"A loss is a loss. I won't deny that. Since I'm your prisoner, do whatever you want with my life."
Golden Lion's words made Big Mom's expression shift, but she did not refute him.
As for the three Homies, no one knew what state they were in right now. They were curled up on the ground, trembling.
The battle with Cyrus had nearly killed all three of them.
"What about you?" Cyrus spoke again with a calm tone.
"Mamamama! In that case, I'll go take a look at Impel Down. I've never seen what that place looks like."
"I'm not your opponent."
Silver Axe was already a man of few words, and his answer was simple and direct.
Whitebeard raised a hand and gripped Murakumogiri before him, then flicked it forward.
The weapon also landed in front of Cyrus.
That was his answer as well.
"And here I thought I'd get to stretch a little."
Cyrus smiled.
"You were planning to take the chance to beat us up, weren't you?"
Seeing the smile on Cyrus's face, Whitebeard grinned and spoke.
"You don't seem to mind your current situation."
Although Cyrus could somewhat understand part of the mentality these great pirates possessed, they had dominated their respective territories for decades.
To face this situation so calmly was still something else.
"When I became a pirate, I already thought about what kind of ending I might have. An ending like this was one of them."
Whitebeard grinned, his eyes fixed on Cyrus.
"Dying in battle, or ending up in a situation like this, I can accept either."
Cyrus nodded lightly.
"Escaping from Impel Down would be easier than escaping from you." Silver Axe suddenly spoke.
Big Mom and Golden Lion both froze for a moment, then actually showed expressions of agreement.
That was… not wrong.
"In that case, we set out in a few days."
Cyrus nodded, then turned and left.
Issho watched Cyrus show off and walk away just like that, a speechless look appearing on his face.
After sighing, he followed him.
A moment later, the Homies who had carried the weapons in earlier returned and moved all the weapons away again.
"Mama! Mama!"
The three living Homies spoke, but they did not dare show the slightest threatening movement.
They only wanted to return to Big Mom's side.
What had they done wrong?
Unfortunately, they did not dare act recklessly.
Because they really would die!
...
After leaving the tower, Cyrus found Katakuri already waiting outside.
"You're not going to see your mother? Once this is over, seeing her again won't be so simple."
Cyrus glanced at Katakuri and spoke.
"I already saw her before. Mama doesn't want to see me." Katakuri spoke with a stiff expression.
"What a touching mother-son relationship."
Cyrus shook his head slightly.
"Say it. What is it this time?"
Cyrus waved his hand and continued walking forward, with Issho and Katakuri following behind him.
"It's about the Guild. The Guild has already been fully established according to Miss Robin's instructions. However, within Totto Land's waters, the only people who can join the Guild right now are my brothers and sisters."
Katakuri spoke with a serious expression.
"That's it?"
Cyrus's tone was calm.
"According to Miss Robin, that is clearly inappropriate. I also believe it may alter the nature of the Guild and turn it back into something like a pirate crew."
Katakuri said this very seriously.
"Totto Land was originally the Charlotte Family's territory. Other pirates wouldn't dare enter recklessly, and people with decent strength won't approach this place easily either.
"After all, Big Mom's deterrence still exists." Cyrus spoke.
That was simply how the New World was.
Ninety-nine percent of the strong people here were pirates or had some connection to pirates.
If the Guild wanted to spread throughout the New World, pirates were unavoidable.
For now, what could be done was simple: accept the obedient ones and remove the disobedient ones.
"As for your family…"
Cyrus's steps paused.
"It seems some of them aren't very obedient."
Katakuri had originally been expressionless, but the moment he heard Cyrus say that, his face changed sharply.
"That is true. But those people will not have any impact on the Guild. I will not allow them to leave my control either."
"All right. I'll take that as your guarantee."
Cyrus nodded. He did not care too much about those people.
"Prepare a few ships. Three days from now, I'll personally escort Big Mom, Whitebeard, and the other two to the Marines' Impel Down."
"Ah?"
Katakuri was stunned when he heard this.
Then the expression on his face became extremely colorful, clearly reflecting the complexity of his current mood.
"I didn't hear wrong, did I? You said you're going to send Mama and the others to Impel Down? The Marines' Impel Down?"
Katakuri confirmed again.
"You heard correctly. Go prepare! Also, if your brothers and sisters want to see your mother, I'll allow it."
Cyrus waved his hand.
"Understood."
Katakuri took a deep breath, then nodded.
Although he did not understand why Cyrus was doing this, he only needed to carry out the order.
After waving Katakuri away, Cyrus turned to Issho.
"Issho, contact Robin. Tell her and Baby 5 to come back. After this, we'll head to Impel Down together."
"All right."
Issho nodded.
After returning to his residence, Cyrus took out a Den Den Mushi.
"Later, I'll have the Marines send the bounty money to your side. The Sky Island matter cannot delay the exam."
"Understood."
Crocodile's voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
However, the Crocodile being imitated by the Den Den Mushi had heavy dark circles under his eyes, and even his voice sounded weak and exhausted.
"Don't work yourself to death." Cyrus spoke.
"Chairman, since you can see that, you should personally take charge of some matters!"
The moment Crocodile heard this, he immediately voiced his own suggestion.