Join my crew

Sanji and Reiju went inside to enjoy their reunion. And Reiju didn't appear to be cold or anything towards him as she was not under watch this time. Rather she enjoyed his company and wanted him to tell her everything that happened so far.

And Sanji agreed. But not before pointing out that she would have to do the same. He had noticed her attempt at steering the subject off of her topic. He too wanted to know what happened to her all this time.

And at that, she could only nod her head with a sigh. She knew that there was no way out for her.

****

With big mom's side, she had already known about Ian nearing her island.

She sported a vicious smile on her face.

She planned to torture him into submission, and if not, she would kill him. She never liked that old man Whitebeard anyway… and for them to dare to threaten her… they would pay, oh they would pay. And it would start with Ian and his crew.

In fact, his crew can be used to threaten him into obeying her. She couldn't wait for that to happen. Just imagining Ian marrying one of her daughters was enough to change her smile to a happy one.

After all, he was still quite young and she had seen his strength on those projections about the war. So combining his genes with one of her daughters would give her quite specimen child.

"Haaaaaahaha'mamamama" She laughed loudly to her heart's content. Not caring at all that she was scaring the hell out of her children.

Katakuri who was near her started to think that she was losing what was left of her brain. Still, he was fiercely loyal to her, as she was his mother.

But this time he thought that she had been hasty. He felt a bad premonition about the coming fight they were going to have.

Although Charlotte Linlin had assembled all her children and was now lying in wait for Ian at the island he was going to dock at, he still felt something bad was about to happen.

Looking at the side, he also saw the vinsmoke family of assassins nearby in their suits ready to fight.

Originally they didn't want to fight, but big mom put them in a tough situation. She had told them that if they were to become her allies, they would have to fight with her. Although she remarked at the end that they were likely to need their strength.

He couldn't see the eldest daughter of Vinsmoke judge, but he had heard earlier that she was with Ian, and she would be able to deliver a cheap shot before joining back with their side.

He didn't care about that anyway.

Continuing to look around he saw all his brothers and sisters happily chatting with each other, leaving only him as the one most worried… He just hoped everything would go smoothly for them. Even as unlikely that was, he still hoped.

Looking back at his mother, he saw her wolfing whole cakes into her mouth.

'With Mama on our side, there is no way Ian Louis would win right?' He thought to himself.

Plus they were going to have the element of surprise to themselves as Ian would be thinking they are invited for the tea party, and if anything was going to happen it would be after that time, or at least during.

Shaking his head he looked at the guests that had already reached the island I annoyance. Whatever was going to happen when Ian comes, it was going to be twisted in a way none of them would like.

****

Back to Ian. He was briefing his crew on what was most likely going to happen.

They were all right now standing on the deck, snacking on some Barbequed meat skewers.

Each one was holding one and munching on it while listening to Ian. Even Ian himself was taking a few seconds to take a bite and then resume talking.

Why? Because it was made by Sanji and Bert.

That's like the two greatest chefs in the world collaborating to make this barbeque. You bet your ass they would salivate over this.

As evidenced by Kuzan who at first was looking from the crow's nest and listening to Ian, but the moment the food was brought he came down as fast as he could and tried to make it look as if he was there from the start.

Of course, Stella called him on it and they got into an argument just like they used to until Elene called her off, and Ian called Kuzan off.

"Anyways, so that's that." Ian finished off what he was saying at last.

Sanji and Reiju were of course there too. Reiju was trying to make herself seem entirely focused on the skewer, so as to not be called on hearing their plan.

"You mean to say… that right now, the whole crew of the old hag is waiting for us in ambush?" Elene in between bites said.

Ian nodded.

"That's right. She would have already known about us coming. And since I know how she is, she would not wait until the tea party and would attack as soon as we land to repay my offense against her… What a child!" Ian said and finished sarcastically.

"You're right, she really is a child in the body of a grown-up. But getting back to the point… Since I am the one going to fight her, you and the rest would make sure to stop her children and possibly Sanji's family from interfering? Let me get another skewer, sigh, this so tasty. I'm going to become fat and it's your fault, Sanji, and Bert…" Elene continued speaking, as she reached for another skewered from the plate.

The two guys sweated at her words. Sanji and Bert shared a look as they took a few steps back from Elene, discreetly of course…

"Haha, yeah I'll get another one too… Anyway back to the subject, yes, we will make sure to stop her children and the Vinsmoke's from interfering… Their joining is not a speculation but a fact." Ian said as he bit into the meat.

He looked sideways at Reiju.

He knew that her family would be expecting her to attack them when they least expect… but by then Ian was sure she would already be part of his crew.

That's right, during a deep session with Elene and Robin, they agreed with him on her joining the crew.

"Reiju, I know that if your family asks you to attack us, you will not hesitate to do so… but don't worry I won't hold that against you. Still, I'm going to give you a way out of that right now. I can teleport you straight to your brother Yonji right now. I would be stupid if I waited for you to ambush us right?" Ian said as he spoke.

And seeing Sanji about to speak up. Ian raised his hands.

"Another choice you could take is to join my crew." Ian dropped a bomb on them all.

Even Kuzan didn't expect that at all. But the most shocked one was Sanji. This was exactly what he was going to ask from Ian as a favor.