# Chapter 707: What the Hell Is Going On!?
Morganes this guy is probably going to be in big trouble!
Although he hadn't slandered Ian in the news at all, instead reporting the entire process factually, the problem was... when BIG MOM was killed, it happened up in Skypiea. Not many people had actually witnessed the event, so he couldn't describe Ian and BIG MOM's battle in detail.
On top of that, Ian was also unlucky. If anyone else had been burned by the high temperature of the Black Dragon Wave, they would have been turned to charcoal. But coincidentally, at that time, BIG MOM had Prometheus by her side, so in the end, only her clothes were burned...
And to prove BIG MOM's death and the birth of the new Four Emperor, Morganes could only use photos of the corpse as supporting evidence. But he only had photos of BIG MOM with her clothes burned off—he couldn't get any other photos no matter what.
As a result, many people began to imagine unspeakable things that had happened between Ian and BIG MOM!
It wasn't just the Whitebeard Pirates who had dirty thoughts; even Shanks and Hawk-Eye were thinking along those lines.
Although the world knew of BIG MOM's terror, it also knew of her romantic escapades. Forty-three husbands—that wasn't something an ordinary person could achieve. So when these past stories were combined with the photos, it was impossible not to let the imagination run wild.
Of course, most people who knew Ian well were mostly joking. They knew that with Ian's personality, there was naturally no way he could have actually had anything with BIG MOM.
But for those who didn't know him well, it only deepened their fear of Ian.
At the base of the Buggy's Delivery Company, Buggy the Clown was clutching the newspaper, trembling uncontrollably!
He had originally wanted to see news about himself becoming a Warlord of the Sea, but instead of seeing himself, he saw a report about Ian becoming a Four Emperor!
Well, for someone like Ian, who had beaten Buggy until he called him "Daddy" back in the East Blue, Buggy wasn't surprised that he had ascended to the Four Emperor throne. Although it felt a bit sudden, Buggy also knew it was only a matter of time.
However, the image of Ian as a great demon king in the photo didn't frighten Buggy as much as the naked BIG MOM did.
"How terrifying! Even such a fat old lady he could lay his hands on—is there nothing he fears anymore!?"
After imagining many censored scenes, Buggy trembled as he spoke these words.
Mohji and Cabaji, who had been following him all along, stood behind him. Upon hearing Buggy's words, they nodded in agreement without hesitation.
Alvida, dressed in a sexy outfit, sat on the sofa nearby, resting her chin on her hand and said melancholically: "Really, if I had known he had this taste, I wouldn't have eaten the Smooth-Smooth Fruit back then. Maybe I could have become the woman of a Four Emperor..."
These words made Buggy and the others shudder again...
The core members of Buggy's Delivery Company were basically prisoners Ian had brought out of Impel Down. They were now holding the newspaper and whispering among themselves: "I never noticed that Lord Ian had such tastes back then!"
"No wonder he's been getting stronger and weirder..."
"So, do you think we should start collecting some fat women to give him as gifts in the future?"
"Right! He's become a Four Emperor now. We, who were saved by him back then, should at least go and congratulate him, right?"
"But speaking of which, Captain Buggy is so familiar with Lord Ian—could he also have this taste?"
"I think it's possible! Look at Captain Buggy—he's also a legendary figure. Not only does he know Whitebeard, but now he has a new Four Emperor friend in Lord Ian. With such an awesome person, having some special hobbies is normal!"
"So, should we start arranging things for Captain Buggy first?"
"Great idea!"
When Buggy heard his subordinates' whispers, he almost cried. Having such "considerate" subordinates was really too much for him...
There were many others who had similar thoughts to Buggy.
In their understanding, anyone who could become a Four Emperor had to have some quirks. Just like Shanks liked drinking, Whitebeard liked adopting sons, Kaido liked committing suicide, and BIG MOM liked sweets and marriage—it was normal for Ian, the new Four Emperor, to have some quirks too.
But this quirk was probably the most terrifying among all the Four Emperors, wasn't it??
Not only did he have demon-like terrifying strength, but he also had this strange hobby that made people shudder. Ian, this new Four Emperor, absolutely could not be provoked! That's what people thought...
Of course, Ian couldn't possibly know about these thoughts that arose after the world saw the newspaper. Although the Dragon Hunter Pirates also received the newspaper the next day, Ian only glanced at it briefly. After confirming that Morganes hadn't written anything false, he tossed it aside. He had too many things to deal with now to have any other thoughts.
Although he had successfully occupied Whole Cake Island, there were still many die-hard members of the BIG MOM Pirates on the surrounding islands of Totto Land. They hadn't been able to leave with BIG MOM's children who had escaped, so they could only hold their ground on the islands. When Ian sent the Dragon Hunter Pirates to take over the island territories, conflicts and battles naturally broke out.
Ian naturally showed no mercy to these stubborn elements and directly ordered their extermination!
So in the following days, the Dragon Hunter Pirates and their ally Germa Group under Judge's command went out everywhere, clearing out and taking over the original Totto Land territories.
These were all part of the original BIG MOM Pirates' property, but only a portion. The thirty-plus islands around Whole Cake Island were the BIG MOM Pirates' direct territory, under their direct control.
As for indirect control, there were many more in the outer seas of the New World. These countries and islands, large and small, basically flew the BIG MOM Pirates' flag and sought their protection.
And as the news spread, these countries and islands that knew the BIG MOM Pirates had been destroyed panicked. They sent envoys one after another to Whole Cake Island to pay respects to Ian.
This was why BIG MOM had been called "Queen" back then. The saying that the Four Emperors were the emperors of the New World's seas wasn't wrong at all. It was just that now it was Ian's turn to experience being paid tribute by thousands.
The purpose of these envoys coming to Whole Cake Island was simple. They hadn't met Ian before and didn't know what kind of temper he had. Afraid that Ian might also be moody, every envoy's first words to Ian were the same. Humbly and cautiously, they told Ian that upon hearing the news of the Dragon Hunter Pirates' rise, they had immediately taken down the original BIG MOM Pirates' flag. Now they had come to seek Ian's permission to raise the Dragon Hunter Pirates' flag.
They dared not delay this matter at all. They knew that the flag of a Four Emperor couldn't just be raised casually. If they used a Four Emperor's flag without permission, they might have to face that Four Emperor's wrath!
And before obtaining permission, the longer the delay, the longer the blank period for their country or island. If they were attacked by pirates during this time, they wouldn't even have anywhere to seek justice.
For this reason, they didn't hesitate to bring large quantities of gifts to pay tribute to Ian, all for the sake of being able to take back a Dragon Hunter Pirates flag...
This resulted in Ian, even after clearing out the area around Whole Cake Island, still not having a moment's rest. Every day on Whole Cake Island, he received large numbers of envoys. This gave him the illusion that he had really become a king.
And Ian had no choice but to receive these people, because these countries that had used BIG MOM's flag for protection all had one thing in common—their countries had very unique and delicious sweets!
In fact, Ian even saw an envoy from an island he was familiar with—BBQ Island! That's right, it was the first island Ian had stopped at when he entered the Grand Line!
BBQ Island had special honey-grilled meat, which was their "tax" paid to BIG MOM as protected subjects. The other islands and countries were similar, using cakes, biscuits, chocolate, and such as tribute, and the quantities were enormous, often calculated in tons.
Ian naturally couldn't continue asking for these food items. He didn't want to become a big fat man years later.
So when receiving these envoys, Ian not only gave them his flag for protection but also changed the original tribute plan, uniformly changing it to Berry currency as tribute money.
Ian didn't want to act like a landlord collecting rent from these people, but this was the rule. He couldn't refuse even if he wanted to!
Because for these people, if Ian didn't collect their tribute, they would actually feel uneasy!
This could only be said to be a deformed system of this world in the Great Pirate Era...
In the end, after discussing with the members of the Dragon Hunter Pirates, Ian set the rules for himself as the new Four Emperor. Although he collected tribute money, the amount was very small. Poorer countries and islands paid a symbolic amount, while wealthier ones paid a bit more.
Ian was well aware that many of these countries under his protection were actually member states of the World Government. But the kings of these countries were also smart—they knew that being in the New World, the World Government alone couldn't protect them.
And the citizens of these World Government member states not only had to endure their own country's taxes but also had to pay the "Heavenly Tribute" tax to the Celestial Dragons. If Ian, as a Four Emperor, demanded even more tribute, it would only make these common people's suffering even worse!
Ian didn't want to do such a sinful thing, so the tribute amounts he set made the envoys almost unable to believe it. After confirming that Ian was serious, they were all moved to tears of gratitude, bowing and thanking him profusely.
They could also calculate. Compared to the original BIG MOM Pirates' tribute in food, although the Dragon Hunter Pirates demanded money as tribute, when converted, the amount was much less than what the BIG MOM Pirates had demanded!
In this situation, every envoy who came to pay respects was deeply grateful to Ian. Some were even so excited that they wanted to kiss Ian's shoes to express their inner excitement...
Ian enjoyed this kind of regard and accepted it with a clear conscience.
But there was one thing Ian really couldn't understand...
Why were there so many fat girls among the attendants who came with these envoys!?
And they were all looking at him with affectionate eyes, winking at him—what the hell was going on!?