Zeff is the key

[keeper1h]

I think that I'm stating the obvious here, by saying that the whole point of this arc is saving "Zeff".
Well, not only him.
I chose his name to represent every single person loved by every single crew member...

Think about this: WG knows about Luffy's family and friends, Big Mom knows about Sanji's, Wapol could've spoken to the Tenryūbitos regarding something about Chopper and Dr. Kureha, and so on.

"Do as I say, or someone you know will get hurt" is the only way to destroy the Straw Hats, and it's also a cheap one.
So obviously what happened in chapter 813, when Vito whispered in Sanji's ear... well, "that" must not happen ever again.
Luffy cannot simply save Sanji in the same way he saved Robin: to save him he must make sure that Big Mom and Germa 66 won't retaliate, and for the future he also needs to make sure that "pretty much everyone out there" won't try again to use this dirty trick against the SHs.

...I wanted to see this happening later in the story, I think it's too early for this... but I keep asking myself some questions:

1) "How is Luffy going to save the day... without beating Big Mom?"
2) "Is BM stronger than Kaido?"
3) "If she's weaker: why would Luffy avoid this fight, only to "beat Kaido senseless" in the next arc or so?"

I think that Luffy will defeat Big Mom but won't claim her title, he'll say something silly like "I won't tell anyone about this, I want to be Pirate King, not a Yonko!".

I think that Luffy will be officially recognized as a Yonko after Kaido's defeat, and after that it will become clear to the world that hitting a Straw Hat in the feels will always result in... well, something far worse than "the Battle of Marineford".

 

[doppioandante]

I don't know, let's even suppose that Luffy beats big mom 1 on 1. Why should big mom not use her power to take revenge on e.g. zeff? Unless he kills her of course, and this would probably make him recognized as a yonkou, you can't hide that.

My point is that to beat big mom you can't just beat her, but her whole crew and network of world-wide influences. I don't think luffy could pull that alone.

 

[Zehahaha]

I don't know, let's even suppose that Luffy beats big mom 1 on 1. Why should big mom not use her power to take revenge on e.g. zeff? Unless he kills her of course, and this would probably make him recognized as a yonkou, you can't hide that.

My point is that to beat big mom you can't just beat her, but her whole crew and network of world-wide influences. I don't think luffy could pull that alone.

Do you think anyone would dare to do something to anger someone who beat a Yonko ? Not even BM herself would mess with Luffy if he beats the crap out of her, that's how it works in the OPverse

 

[doppioandante]

Do you think anyone would dare to do something to anger someone who beat a Yonko ? Not even BM herself would mess with Luffy if he beats the crap out of her, that's how it works in the OPverse

This is true, but I don't think one can get to the yonko without dealing with the crew first.
Annihilating Big Mom would be a very good way to prevent the possibility of blackmail as OP suggests, but I can't see that coming with so few men.

 

[keeper1h]

Do you think anyone would dare to do something to anger someone who beat a Yonko ? Not even BM herself would mess with Luffy if he beats the crap out of her, that's how it works in the OPverse

I totally agree with you, very few have the guts to touch something or someone protected by a Yonko.

I don't know, let's even suppose that Luffy beats big mom 1 on 1. Why should big mom not use her power to take revenge on e.g. zeff? Unless he kills her of course, and this would probably make him recognized as a yonkou, you can't hide that.

My point is that to beat big mom you can't just beat her, but her whole crew and network of world-wide influences. I don't think luffy could pull that alone.

I think instead that beating BM in front of her children will be enough to make her reconsider her priorities.
As for the infinite amount of powerhouses that stands between BM and Luffy, you forgot what happened in last chapter: Luffy is facing Big Mom's Enraged Army.
I doubt he will die, I also doubt he''ll defeat them all, and I don't think that any miracle will save him from what's going to happen, so... I guess Luffy and Nami will be forced to join the wedding ceremony, where Big Mom plans to eat them alive.

 

[Onyx Darkmatter]

The way I see this, there has to be someone in her crew that provides such valuable information. But I'm afraid that even if the person (or group, or organization, or whatever that case be) gets taken out, they are already informed about this.

I guess the only better way for this to happen is for the SH to blackmail as well (which, ironically, did happened by accident from Fishman Island). Only problem is who's someone valuable enough to release Sanji?
That, or Nami could at least try to persuade her. Maybe Lola is someone BM values a lot.

 

[Baum]

Maybe Lola is someone BM values a lot.

I keep seeing people mention Lola in that context (that she'd become an asset to manipulate Big Mom) but didn't she imply she left her because she couldn't find someone to marry? Wasn't that her whole shtick, that she tries desperately to marry someone so she can return to BM? I feel like Lola tries to prove something to Mama because she doesn't feel as "valuable" as her sisters who all married into other pirate crews or kingdoms.

I'm convinced that Lola's "role" in this current arc is already fulfilled and that's the whole Nami-controls-Homies thing. The other children are outright forbidden to carry parts of the Vivre Card, so the Homies may be worth a lot more in this conflict than most people probably expect/ed.

 

[Zehahaha]

I keep seeing people mention Lola in that context (that she'd become an asset to manipulate Big Mom) but didn't she imply she left her because she couldn't find someone to marry? Wasn't that her whole shtick, that she tries desperately to marry someone so she can return to BM? I feel like Lola tries to prove something to Mama because she doesn't feel as "valuable" as her sisters who all married into other pirate crews or kingdoms.

I'm convinced that Lola's "role" in this current arc is already fulfilled and that's the whole Nami-controls-Homies thing. The other children are outright forbidden to carry parts of the Vivre Card, so the Homies may be worth a lot more in this conflict than most people probably expect/ed.

In the end, if the homies end up helping Luffy against the army of revenge, they still only obey BM so once she shows up, that Vivre Card will mean nothing
It's an asset for sure, but it is only useful as long as BM herself isn't showing herself

 

[Onyx Darkmatter]

I keep seeing people mention Lola in that context (that she'd become an asset to manipulate Big Mom) but didn't she imply she left her because she couldn't find someone to marry? Wasn't that her whole shtick, that she tries desperately to marry someone so she can return to BM? I feel like Lola tries to prove something to Mama because she doesn't feel as "valuable" as her sisters who all married into other pirate crews or kingdoms.

I'm convinced that Lola's "role" in this current arc is already fulfilled and that's the whole Nami-controls-Homies thing. The other children are outright forbidden to carry parts of the Vivre Card, so the Homies may be worth a lot more in this conflict than most people probably expect/ed.

It doesn't have to be manipulative towards Big Mom tho. It just needs to be about letting her know that Lola is fine. You're right that she left to find someone to marry, but for someone like her to obtain BM's infused Vivre Card (where none of her children are allowed to carry one) seems pretty big if you ask me.

It doesn't have to be that Lola's role is fulfilled. It could mean that BM truly values Lola compared to any of her children. Think of it like Pekoms: He has an unfriendly relation with the Straw Hats until they saved Zou. Maybe BM will have a change of heart?