A few days later, the Revolutionary Army sent Vegapunk back. However, on that very day, something unexpected happened, something that shocked even the Emperors Alliance.
At Sphinx Island, Kaido and Big Mom stared at the old man standing before them with visible surprise. The man looked to be over seventy years old, thin and frail, completely unlike someone capable of killing a Marine Vice Admiral.
Big Mom leaned forward slightly, her massive figure casting a shadow over him.
"Is it really you? You're the one who killed that Marine?"
The old man trembled under the pressure radiating from her body. His face turned pale as he swallowed nervously.
"Y, yes... I did it. I heard that killing a Marine could earn a bounty reward. I desperately needed money."
" Worororo!" Kaido burst into laughter. "You did well, old man! I never expected this. The civilians the Marines swore to protect have started hunting Marines themselves. That's excellent news!"
Big Mom laughed as well.
"Mama mamamama! This proves the Marines and the World Government are reaching the end of their luck. Even ordinary civilians no longer believe in their rule."
After the Egghead Incident, the Emperors Alliance officially placed bounties on Marines. The announcement caused a massive uproar throughout Marine Headquarters, but the Marines initially dismissed it.
In the criminal underworld of the New World, Marine bounties had existed secretly for years. The difference now was that the Emperors Alliance had dragged everything into the open.
The Marines were furious, but with the overwhelming power of the Emperors Alliance, there was little they could do.
Marco quietly observed the old man.
The Marine he killed was Vice Admiral T-Bone.
In the original timeline, T-Bone had also died at the hands of a civilian before his body was exchanged for a bounty through Cross Guild.
But the world had changed far too much now.
The existence of the Emperors Alliance had completely shattered the balance of power. Cross Guild never formed. Buggy's Delivery still existed, but it was merely a mercenary dispatch organization that sent fighters across the seas wherever they were needed.
As for whether Cross Guild would ever appear in the future, Marco did not care.
If it appeared, he would simply destroy it.
"Old man, here's your reward. Count it yourself."
Ulti tossed a heavy box toward him.
The old man opened it and froze at the sight of the stacks of Berries inside. Tears immediately streamed down his wrinkled face.
"Thank you... thank you so much." His voice shook with emotion. "I'm sick. I needed money for treatment. Thank you all."
Then he hesitated for a moment before clutching the box tightly against his chest.
"I also heard... that after killing a Marine, people can join the Emperors Alliance." He looked toward Marco, Kaido, and Big Mom nervously. "I have nowhere else to go now. Can you let me join you?"
" Worororo!" Kaido sneered. "You've got guts asking that."
Although the old man had managed to kill a Vice Admiral, Kaido had no interest in recruiting someone so weak and useless.
But Marco spoke before anyone else could reject him.
"You can join."
Kaido and Big Mom both looked at him in surprise.
Marco remained calm as he explained, "One more person changes nothing. Besides, he's useful for publicity."
Big Mom immediately understood and grinned.
"Mama mamamama! I see what you mean."
Soon, the old man was escorted away.
The reason all three of them came personally to see him was partly curiosity. Pirates bringing Marine heads to join the alliance had already become fairly common during this period.
But a civilian bringing the head of a Marine Vice Admiral as proof of loyalty was unprecedented.
Naturally, they had to make proper use of it.
After the old man left, Marco's expression turned more serious.
"Kaido, Big Mom, since both of you are here, there's something important we need to discuss."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Marco continued, "I just received news that the Red Hair Pirates have entered the New World."
Big Mom nodded slightly.
"I've heard about it too."
Kaido let out a cold snort.
Now that his strength had grown even further, he no longer considered the Red Hair Pirates a serious threat. If Shanks had stayed away from the New World, Kaido might have ignored him.
But since he came willingly, then he could stay there forever.
Big Mom grinned.
"Should we eliminate him?"
Back when the Emperors Alliance was first established, Kaido and Big Mom had already proposed attacking the Red Hair Pirates in Wano. At the time, with three Emperors working together, destroying Shanks and his crew would not have been difficult.
However, Marco had refused back then.
This time, Marco nodded without hesitation.
"Yes. Shanks is standing in our way now."
Kaido smirked darkly.
"I heard that back when the Phoenix Pirates were preparing to attack Marineford, Red Hair interfered." He narrowed his eyes. "I still don't understand what that bastard was thinking."
Marco's gaze turned cold.
"It doesn't matter what he was thinking. Since he chose to stand against us, we can't leave him alive."
Big Mom's grin widened even further.
"Mama mamamama! We should've done this long ago." Her eyes gleamed greedily. "Maybe the final Road Poneglyph is in his possession."
===
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